Tasmania :: Day 06 Mt Field Government Huts :: Fingal Valley to Mt Field

After a breakfast, we packed up and sang goodbye to the cicadas who had been swarming towards our light during the night.

In Ross, we discovered a little bakery called Ross Bakery. They had been baking bread in the same wood-fired oven for over 100 years. The people who served us were wearing old style clothes. 

They had the best vanilla slice here. Also, I tried my first every scallop pie which was delicious.

We visited the Wool Centre which was small but interesting.  We also had a look at Ross Bridge.  

Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park was wheelchair accessible. The paths were wide and the boardwalk had handrails. Furry yellow caterpillars invaded every surfaces I could see. Some were hitching rides on walkers. Horseshoe Falls was a bit of a hike. There were narrow steps and stairs. Both falls were not in any way breathtaking but they were worth seeing.

One thing that we found perplexing is how terribly strangers take our family photos when we do ask them. Maybe one out of 10 will take a good photo of us. Sometimes the photographers have very expensive cameras but they didn’t have the eye of how to frame a scene.

When we returned from the waterfalls walk, we asked the ranger to examine Thomas’ swollen leg. He was bitten by something that had made a large welt on his leg. As he didn’t have a fever, they were not stressed. They gave him a cold pack and ointment. 

Like big arms of giants, the tree ferns gave us continuous hug as we drove up to the Government Huts. The road changed from bitumen to unsealed road. The unsealed road had potholes and ruts that were formed by vehicles, rain and snow. This was graded once in a while to smooth the surface. The temperature dropped and the vegetation flattened to alpine vegetation.

The Government huts were quite remote. There were 6 huts. Three were joined together, a couple and then an individual. We all share one male and one female drop toilets. It had a terrible smell that wafted like a witch into the pristine air. I supposed this was 5 stars camping. The bench seating outside were not used too much due to the smell. It was essential for us to close and lock the gate once we drove our car into the yard. It was possibly to prevent caravans from parking here.

The first task we did was to build a roaring fire at Red Telopea hut which slept 6 people. Firewood was provided. This was definitely a necessity even though it was the summer. The temperature dropped to 3 degrees that evening. More wood could be gathered from the shed nearby.

There were not enough windows in the living area. It seemed to be inward looking. If there were animals walking pass at day and night, you wouldn't know. There are better ways to address the landscape with the architecture. Design ideas filled in my head such as a fire pit surrounded by fallen logs under the starlit sky.

We were lucky to have running cold water from the cabin. As I was cooking up the sausages for dinner, I set of the smoke alarm! I ran around the room fanning the smoke alarm with the tea towel like a crazed moth to light! 

The children wanted to sleep on the top bunks. Kim and I were hesitant but we gave them a go. I slept next to Ella Mae and I placed my large pack under Thomas’ feet.  The bunk had mattress and we placed our sleeping bags on top. After the children read, they fell asleep.