The view from my "office"

[Pushka]

Busy day at the office this morning.

 

[kookaburra75]

I’m not sure if the story is apocryphal or not, but until the late 1980s the regrowing vegetation on the hillsides was actively cut back to preserve the “moonscape” appearance of the hills which was which was considered a tourist attraction. And it probably was a bit of an attraction.

But of course that couldn’t continue so they just let the vegetation grow and not surprisingly it grows very quickly on the denuded hillsides a bit quicker all around the town. It’s now a rainforest where are used to be just reasonably shrubby hills 30 years ago.

A couple of us mentioned how spruce the town was looking at the moment. There’s nothing economically that’s come up over the last few years - the mine still closed on care and maintenance, but adventure tourism is increasing. I think it’s a combination of some civic pride in adversity and a very nice sunny day or two, so far.

Certainly that was what I saw when I first visited Queenstown in 1980. The locals told us that the tour buses came into town, to show how bleak the landscape was. It was a pleasant surprise when we visited earlier last year, and saw how much things had changed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then on to Mt Jukes and a view over Lake Burbury and Frenchman's Cap



And back towards Queenstown





Paragon Theatre, Queenstown





Then it was on to the Lake Margaret hydro power station. The oldest in the country, 1912, put in by the Mt Lyell mining co. for their own use at Queenstown. About 18 MW.

The village still had a number of houses there and they are being maintained by Hydro Tas.







The penstock coming down from the lake into the 'run of river' power station.



At this point my phone ran out of power, so to be continued.

 

[RooFlyer]

This morning we walked 3 hrs return to Montezuma Falls near Rosebery, starting at Williamsford.

I think @JessicaTam is 4W driving in the other way, sometime ( I did notice about 4 4WD at the start, today!). That track ends at the other side off the falls, here. Bit of a tight turn!



Beware of the mud!



The walk is great. It follows the old NE Dundas tram-way, 2 foot gague. Just some old log sleepers remain



And an old bridge over a creek





An old adit on the way. Silver in these thar hills!



The falls, best view is from this::



Watch step!



Yes, it sways a lot . Falls aren't running much - it's been a ( relatively) dry summer in the west. Highest falls in Tasmania, 104m

 

[Flashback]

You call that a falls? Now THIS is a waterfall...

 

[Steady]

My waterfall view this morning was less spectacular - Lilydale lower and upper falls + a little local

 

[TheRealTMA]

You call that a falls? Now THIS is a waterfall...
View attachment 274261

Are you in Merlin’s cave?

 

[Flashback]

Are you in Merlin’s cave?

Gljufrabui

You had to get a bit wet making your way there...... made it better though, as less people visited as a result and instead went to the much easier Seljalandsfoss.

Getting wet.....


The easier one to get to.

 

[RooFlyer]

You call that a falls? Now THIS is a waterfall...
View attachment 274261

Conceded. England will always be wetter than western Tasmania

 

[tgh]

THIS is a waterfall….

You need to send me a pic from the bottom fb.. to prove that you really have "done" Iceland…

I would have walked down but management vetoed the idea

 

[TheRealTMA]

Conceded. England will always be wetter than western Tasmania

Well, everyone knows Merlin came from Iceland and viking gods of the north, not just Wales!

 

[Flashback]

Conceded. England will always be wetter than western Tasmania

Iceland, the land of waterfalls!

THIS is a waterfall….

You need to send me a pic from the bottom fb.. to prove that you really have "done" Iceland…

I would have walked down but management vetoed the idea

View attachment 274270

Qué?

 

[tgh]

Esto est …..Haifoss

Háifoss Travel Guide | Guide to Iceland

Háifoss, or the 'High Waterfall', is a waterfall in Fossárdalur valley, innermost of Þjórsárdalur valley, in south Iceland. Read more here.

guidetoiceland.is

Bit of a rough track in tho….

 

[OATEK]

Some former sea bottom at The Burren, Ireland, and the Monastery at Clonmacnoise.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Maintenance crew keeping the hotel lawn in order.

Also a working mother.



This one was a lot less productive. Must be a supervisor.



And a couple from the afternoon walk office.

Upstream, looking west.



Downstream, east.


Maroochy River, Queensland.

 

[ayebee]

loved Iceland ...

 

[Flashback]

Let's hope today bares some fruit... Our current portable office

 

[OATEK]

Gleninagh, Ireland

 

[Flashback]

No whales today, but I did find this downtown... Who knew AFF had a store?

 

[tgh]

Another Iceland waterfall , first from the ship

and then from the end of the track