Track notes for Crescent Beach and Mount Brown
Shirley Storey co-author of "Peninsula Tracks - 35 Walks in and around the Tasman National Park" has generously given permission for tasmanpeninsula.com.au to publish these track notes.
She invites visitors to share her own passion for bushwalking in this region, to take a walk in Tasman National Park and experience for themselves the inspiration of Tasman Capes, seascapes, promontories, beaches, wildlife and coastal vegetation. Walkers of average fitness would expect to complete this trip in around four to five hours return.
Crescent Bay bushwalk is on marked tracks or routes, graded 'medium', and contains patches of rough ground, overgrown vegetation, occasional natural obstacles such as rocks or fallen logs, and include sections of steep gradient.
Although at relatively low-altitude, allowing year-round bushwalking on the Peninsulas, south-westerly weather changes can suddenly roar across Storm Bay bringing rain, hail, and a drastic drop in temperature, even in the summer months, so it is wise to be prepared. It is recommended that walkers are equipped with sturdy footwear, such as boots or non-slip runners, carry sufficient drinking water, spare food, clothing, sun-hats, sun-screen, wet-weather gear, first-aid kit, maps and other necessities. It is essential that walkers exercise extreme caution where there are unguarded lookouts with high drops, cliffs with loose or crumbling edges, blow-holes, or slippery inclines, and that children are accompanied by responsible adults to ensure that children are under constant supervision.
"Peninsula Tracks - 35 walks in and around Tasman National Park", includes maps and photographs, and is published by Tasmanian Conservation Trust. This book is available in Hobart from Service Tasmania, Wilderness Shop, Map Shop, bushwalking stores & bookshops, and is also stocked by most shops and tourism outlets on Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas.
Although the authors and publisher have tried to make the information as accurate as possible, they accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained regardless of how that loss, injury or inconvenience was caused by any person using this book.
Track notes for Crescent Beach and Mount Brown
GRADE : MEDIUM
TIME : 4 TO 5 HOURS
(Alternative short walk Maingon Blowhole only - Grade easy - 1 to 1.1/2 hours return)
MAP : Raoul 1:25000 No.5521
This walk to Crescent Beach is quite a bit longer than the traditional route but it has the advantage of being entirely within Tasman National Park and there is not the problem of obtaining permission to cross private land. The route is also more scenic, taking in Maingon Blowhole, a spectacular rocky shoreline and Mount Brown, as well as the dunes behind Crescent Beach and the blowholes along Stand-up Point.
Getting there - Turn left off the Arthur Highway (A9), approximately 500 metres past the entrance to the Port Arthur Historic Site, onto the C347 road to Remarkable Cave. Drive 5km to the Cave parking area.
Walk back up the road for approximately 100 metres and locate a sign at the start of the walk. The track crosses a series of low ridges which are, in fact, vegetated sand dunes which were formed during the last ice age, when sea levels were much lower and strong southwesterlies deposited sand from what is now the sea bed into these formations.
The vegetation along this part of the walk is low coastal heath and is some of the most diverse in Tasmania, with plants flowering at all seasons of the year. There are views westward along the coast to Cape Raoul and ahead to Mount Brown and Black Rock, whilst from the top of the ridges you can get the occasional glimpse to the east to the Cape Pillar shore.
After 30 minutes walking, the track approaches Maingon Blowhole. Great care should be taken in inspecting the Blowhole as the edges are steep and crumbling and a slip could be fatal. It can, however, be rewarding to take a short side-trip onto the wide expanse of rocks nearby to inspect the gulch between the Blowhole and the sea. (This is an ideal picnic spot for those undertaking the short walk to Maingon Blowhole hole only, returning to Remarkable Cave carpark by the same route.)
After inspecting the Blowhole, locate the main track to Crescent Bay 30 metres to the southeast and follow it as it returns to pass close to the rocky shore. If you have time and energy you might like to explore the shoreline, but keep a watch for freak waves which can be very dangerous. The walking track swings inland towards Mount Brown and crosses a shallow valley before climbing onto the lower slopes, where you get your first views of Crescent Beach.
After about 20 minutes walk from Maingon Blowhole a rock cairn marks the start of the side-trip to the summit of Mount Brown. If taking this side-trip, turn right and climb in a general southerly direction, following the cairns over open rocky ground onto a rounded knob, before continuing south to the summit trig point. The view from the summit take in Cape Pillar and Tasman Island, whilst the southern tip of Bruny Island can be seen peeping out from behind Cape Raoul. To the north, the full extent of the sheltered waters of Port Arthur are revealed. For the more adventurous, an unmarked walk to the western extremity of the summit plateau provides a breathtaking view, down onto Dauntless Point and Black Rock, but great care is required near the edge, especially in windy conditions.
Return to the main track at the foot of Mount Brown and continue in a north-easterly direction, dropping down onto the southwestern end of Crescent Beach, with its sweep of sand dunes containing spring systems stemming from the wetlands up above. The top of the dunes are colonised by She Oak and Banksia as well supporting a diversity of coastal heath type vegetation. From Crescent Bay there are magnificent views to Tasman Island and Cape Pillar, with the Blade clearly visible.
Walk along the beach to the northeast end where, if time allows, another side-trip is available, providing the walker with a chance to inspect two unusual blowholes and Stand-up Point. Scramble across the rocky shoreline past the beach for approximately 150 metres which is where the first blowhole is located. From here to the second larger hold and to Stand-up Point itself, the going can dangerous especially is slippery, wet conditions. Both blowholes put on a spectacular display in a heavy southwesterly swell and the writers have observed a Tasmanian Fur Seal fishing in the larger one during relatively calm conditions. Approximately 100 metres past the second blowhole you will reach Stand-up Point, which provides spectacular views across the mouth of Port Arthur to Arthur's Peak, Cape Pillar and Tasman Island.
Return to Crescent Beach, and retrace the outward route to Remarkable Cave car park.