Flora at Hartz Peak

This is the right time of year for wildflower displays.

Anisotome procumbens, Mountain Celery.

Orites revolutus, Revolute Orites.

Donatia novae-zelandiae, Snow Cushionplant.

Donatia novae-zelandiae, Snow Cushionplant.

Unidentified

Epacris serpyllifolia, Alpine Heath.

Ozothamnus ledifolius, Mountain Everlastingbush.

Bauera rubioides, Wiry Bauera.

Drosera arcturi, Alpine Sundew, on cushion plant, Donatia novae-zelandiae.

Drosera arcturi, Alpine Sundew, on cushion plant, Donatia novae-zelandiae.

Bellendena montana, Mountain Rocket, flowers not fully opened.

Bellendena montana, Mountain Rocket

Bellendena montana, Mountain Rocket

Unidentifed

Unidentifed

Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah. This extremely profuse display is right beside the track close to the carpark.

Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah.

Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah.

Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah.

Richea scoparia, Scoparia

Eucalyptus coccifera, Snow Peppermint or Snowgum.

Miligania densiflora, Silky Milligania. This pant has been flowering very profusely this year. Apparently it flowers profusely every now and then.

Unidentified.

Hartz Peak - 23rd December 2012

Nice walk on a Sunday afternoon, even if everyone else had a poor excuse for not coming.

Mount Picton seen across Hartz Lake from near Hartz Peak summit - 23rd December 2012

Hartz Peak and Mountain Celery in flower (Anisotome procumbens). Precipitous Bluff and other peaks of the Southern Ranges in the background - 23rd December 2012

Hartz Peak with an incredible field of ice-shattered dolerite. This lies just to the left of the marked track just below the summit - 23rd December 2012

Mount Wellington - 21st December 2012

For Isaac's birthday, we took our German visitor Gabi up Mount Wellington, so he could at least say he'd walked up it. It was a cool day lower down, but on the summit the breeze was quite icy. We noted later that the apparent temperature was about -1°C, so the need for our jackets was unsurprising.

The wildflowers were very attractive.

Cyathodes glauca, the Purple Cheeseberry, with both drupes and flowers - 21st December 2012

Leptecophylla juniperina subsp. parvifolia, Mountain Pinkberry (I'm uncertain about this identification, largely because this plant seems to have been reclassified at least once over time.) - 21st December 2012

Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah - 21st December 2012

Eucalyptus coccifera, the Snow Gum or Snow Peppermint - 21st December 2012

Gaulthria hispida, Copperleaf Snowberry - 21st December 2012

Homo sapiens, Gabi Eyeselein - Having walked to the top of Mount Wellington - 21st December 2012

Niveoscincus microlepidotus, Metallic Skink(s), having a cuddle, Mount Wellington - 21st December 2012

Overland Track - 12th to 18th December 2012 - Photo

I walked up the Horse Track, where I haven't been for about 12 years. Crater Lake from Crater Peak - 12th December 2012

The peaks of the central part of the park, including Mt Ossa, Du Canes, Pelions, as seen from Cradle Mt. This was the first day of my walk, and the weather was superb. Taking photos is Chris from Germany, who I got to know as we walked further - 12th December 2012

Barn Bluff seen from the Overland Track between Kitchen Hut and Waterfall Valley. The Barn Bluff track can be seen stretching along the ridge - 12th December 2012

Richea scoparia in flower, Cradle Mountain. One of the benefits of an early summer trip is the profusion of wildflowers - 12th December 2012

Mount Pelion West from just above Waterfall Valley towards sunset. Paddys Nut, Mt Thetis and Mt Achilles are arrayed behind - 12th December 2012

Barn Bluff from near the Waterfall Valley hut, as the sun sets behind it. Long summer days mean that you can dawdle along the track, sit on top of mountains, take photos or whatever you like, and still set up your tent before it gets dark. - 12th December 2012

Barn Bluff seen from Waterfall Valley - 13th December 2012

There was an interesting skyscape behind Barn Bluff - 13th December 2012

Which became a thunderstorm, and was quite impressive for a few minutes - 13th December 2012

The central mountains of the park from just above the Waterfall Valley hut. The rest of the day was drizzly and cool, with occasional solid rain for the walk to Lake Windermere - 13th December 2012

Barn Bluff seen from the track to Lake Windermere - 13th December 2012

Barn Bluff and Lake Windermere at sunrise - 14th December 2012

Reflections in Lake Windermere at sunrise - 14th December 2012

Spider's web, Lake Windermere - 14th December 2012

Mount Pelion West from Pine Forest Moor - 14th December 2012

Mount Oakleigh seen from Pine Forest Moor - 14th December 2012

The mountains seen from Frog Flat, Paddys Nut, Mount Thetis and Mount Achilles - 14th December 2012

There followed quite a deal of rain, on and off. In the "off" moments, the sun came out at times. Mount Pelion East seen from near Kia Ora hut - 16th December 2012

Mount Ossa from near Kia Ora hut - 16th December 2012

Snow on the Du Cane Range - 17th December 2012

One pleasant result of the rain is that it improves photos of misty forests and waterfalls. This is the forest between Kia Ora and Hartnett Falls, which has a Tolkienesque feel to it - 17th December 2012

D'Alton Falls on the Mersey River - 17th December 2012

The Mercury confirms Mt Wellington guidance is lacking

The front page of The Mercury today confirmed the lack of useful guidance for tourists, and the need for better information. I might suggest that they read my guide.