Dick wrote:I am confused, I have read the forum and conducted a search but still do not know where Lady lake and Higgs track exactly is, or how to get there, can some one please help me out on this, I am new to Tasmania, which road do you take and where is the nearest town .
If you want to know the whereabouts of any location in Tassie, TheLIST is a good source. (Land Information System Tasmania). Check out LISTMap at
http://www.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/listmapstart.jsp Click on the Tourism Button, enter the Place Name and click Search. Select the location from the list (if there's more than one) and a map will appear. Depending upon the size of the feature you select, the map may be zoomed in to a point where it's impossible to see where in Tassie you are. If that's the case, use the zoom out tool (magnifying glass with minus sign).
Another great resource is whereis.com. "Suburb or town" is compulsory which is tricky for bush locations but you can get around this. I just put "Westrope Road, Hobart" into whereis and it came up with "westrope road, Western Creek" - bingo! I even tried an obscure road like "Little Fisher Road, Hobart" and it came up with "Little Fisher Road, Mersey Forest." You can then get directions from wherever.
Back to the tracks off Westrope Road, there are 5! In order as you head up the gravel road, they are:
* Higgs Track - The lowest road, starting at 750m above seal level. This is the best marked and most well used of the tracks.
* Western Creek Track - This starts from a carpark at the 850 metre level and essentially follows the valley of Western Creek to the plateau. At one point, it crosses a ledge halfway up a waterfall. (Have you been there taswaterfalls.com?) This track ends at Whiteleys Hut which is beside a clearing NW of Mt Ironstone. Not near any lakes or streams though.
* Lees Track - This starts from the Western Creek Track carpark. Instead of heading towards the creek, this track is a slightly shorter route as it heads directly uphill, joining the Western Creek Track beside a scree slope before you reach the waterfall. Not very well used and may be tricky to find.
* Syds Track - Definitely the shortest route onto the platea as the carpark is around 950m. Last time I walked this one (10 years ago), we had to walk the last 500 metres due to a large log over the track. Small cars were able to proceed as they could fit under the log! This is the track described in "The Abels" book as the way to Mount Ironstone although Western Creek/Lees Track would be a shorter route.
* Mother Cummings Peak (North) Track - This is the furthest track along Westrope Road and it climbs straight up the pointy northern peak of Mother Cummings. However, if you want to climb the highest part of Mother Cummings, this is on the long flat bluff further south and is accessed either from Scotts Road or Smoko Road via Meander.