Getting High ....Up Mount Wellington

Mount Wellington certainly dominates the Hobart skyline and effects the weather too. What is it that compels us to get to the top things though? The concept is even buried in our speech 'Feeling on top of the world', 'On top of things', 'On top of your game' etc... We'd already suggested to Malcolm and Jenny that in the event of a clear day, they should not miss the opportunity to visit the summit of Mt Wellington. The summit is not always visible and can be shrouded in clouds or rain, sometimes for days at a time.  The Bloke had already been to the top with Glen and the little nephews and given the experience a 'tick'.

It is as much as 8C cooler up there, Jenny, Malcolm and the Bloke agree.

We were in luck and while the weather window presented itself, we jumped in the car to get an all-round view. Reports of the yacht race indicated that Wild Oats XI had already rounded Tasman Island, perhaps we'd get a glimpse. As it happened we thought we could see a smudge on the horizon through the telephoto lens. Fact or artifact, it certainly raised our excitement levels and anticipation of the racers arrival later in the day.

What is up there?

The Trig. point on Mt Wellington.

Everyone is keen to get as high as they can.

1,271m

The first recorded European ascender was George Bass on December 25, 1798.

217 Years and 3 Days later.... The Bloke takes in the same view.

The dolomite rock - up close.

There are weather instruments too.

 
Looking West to the ranges.

 An outcrop of dolomite rock.

 Comms tower.

Water, Islands, Bays..... as far as the eye can see.

The view to Cape Raoul and beyond.

On the way up I saw lots of coloured flora and begged to be allowed to pull over for a closer look later. The vegetation changed markedly as we popped our ears progressing upwards. Staggeringly, there were more than a few cyclists and those we had passed on our trip up were near the top when we began down again!

There is lots of colour in the flora if you get close and personal.

Some flora further down

View once down in the tree line.

Mount Wellington is laced with walking trails of varying length and difficulty. They could be a holiday in themselves! Meantime, back to the river shore to watch for those yachts headed this way!