Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Discussion specifically about the Overland Track should be posted in this subforum, including side trips and the Cradle Mountain day walk area. Alternative access routes and connecting routes belong in the parent forum.
Forum rules
Overland Track App
An electronic guidebook for planning and walking the Overland Track.
Download this app for loads of information about planning, gear, food, accommodation and much more about the Overland Track.
You will also find topo maps, terrain profiles and track notes for offline use.
$10 -- Discount to $3 until December 15
Image

Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby dalegphoto » Fri 08 Oct, 2021 6:35 am

Hi all,

I'm heading to the Cradle Mountain area for a day mid-December this year (limited to a day)

I want to head to Barn Bluff & capture an image with Barn Bluff & scoparia similar to this image by Peter Dombrovskis https://wildislandtas.com.au/products/dombrovskis-barnbluff

I was wondering if it's possible to do the trip there & back within a day leaving from the Dove Lake carpark & if you've done it how long it took

Cheers,
dalegphoto
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2021 6:52 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby dee_legg » Fri 08 Oct, 2021 2:30 pm

I would expect most groups would take 8-10 hours to summit Barn Bluff and return to Dove Lake/Ronny Creek/Waldheim. I have done this trip before and can’t specifically remember the times but it was a longish but comfortable day.

It’s worth noting that the picture you reference looks to have been taken from a southern perspective. Perhaps from an area around Lake Holmes? If so then this is an hour or so past Waterfall Valley I’d take that into consideration of walk duration.

Dee.
User avatar
dee_legg
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 450
Joined: Mon 01 Oct, 2007 4:12 pm
Location: Hobart
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby Rai » Fri 08 Oct, 2021 6:34 pm

There are some nice clumps of scoparia near the track junction between OLT and the Barn Bluff turnoff. You may be able to get a nice image of Barn Bluff with flowering scoparia in the foreground from that point (I did, with a bonus pic of an eagle). From memory it took around 8.5 hours from Dove lake going up via the goat track to Marions.

Edit: I meant return trip to Barn Bluff summit and back
Rai
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat 28 May, 2016 3:58 am
Region: Tasmania

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby 1iron » Sat 09 Oct, 2021 5:46 pm

Dove Lake to the base of Barn Bluff is my training walk. Depending on my fitness I can go from Dove Lake (via Marions Lookout)to the base of Barn Bluff in about two and a half hours. Last time I did was a couple of months ago took 2hrs 50min but I am not fit and in my mid 70s. So should have plenty of time to take photos especially if you don't climb the peak itself.
User avatar
1iron
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 68
Joined: Thu 26 Nov, 2009 3:45 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby eggs » Mon 11 Oct, 2021 2:33 pm

That Dombrovskis shot will have been taken near the track to climb Barn Bluff - not far after the turn off. About where Rai is suggesting.
User avatar
eggs
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 10441
Joined: Fri 23 May, 2008 2:58 pm
Location: Para Vista, South Australia
Region: South Australia

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby headwerkn » Fri 22 Oct, 2021 12:16 pm

dalegphoto wrote:I was wondering if it's possible to do the trip there & back within a day leaving from the Dove Lake carpark & if you've done it how long it took


Very achievable, depending obviously on the ability to walk at a decent pace, and get away early enough. In December you'll have no lack of daylight hours, just remember that access to Dove Lake is bus only now and they don't start until 8am or so, which is kinda late. Get in at 6am (or earlier), drive and park at Ronny Creek... it's only an extra 2km along the road to Dove Lake. Or alternatively take the start of the actual track from Ronny Creek via Crater Lake, bit longer distance to cover but the climb up to Marions is less intense.

As a guide... YMMW of course... I've been able to get out to the Barn Bluff track turn off in around an hour or so, but admittedly that involved a bit of running. Managed to get to Waterfall Bay in 2hrs15min with a fairly heavy pack once, but that was in a minor blizzard, on my own, so I wasn't mucking around ;-) Maybe 2-3 hrs would be a realistic allowance to the turn off for most capable walkers, then maybe another 1.5-2hrs to summit and return.

If you're going to go on further south to get that particular angle, we managed Dove Lake to Lake Will in a shade under 4 hrs at a more sensible pace (doing Mt Inglis in a day - 16 hrs) with daypacks. Most of the track from Cradle Cirque down past Lake Holmes is boardwalk/stairs, so expect to manage a comfortably good pace.

Good luck with it. Scoparia in December is one of life's simple pleasures.
User avatar
headwerkn
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 617
Joined: Sat 09 Nov, 2013 3:50 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Barn Bluff from Dove Lake Carpark & back in a day?

Postby Bluff » Sun 27 Feb, 2022 10:32 am

Last week I left Ronny Creek for Barn bluff at 7.30 ,returned by 3.30pm.
Fast walking, cool weather,
Great to do Barn Bluff ( never have despite wandering around the area on several occasions)
The acsent is a little challenging, I was surprised how small and rocky the top plateau is
Bluff
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue 04 Aug, 2020 12:00 pm
Region: Victoria


Return to Overland Track and Cradle Mountain

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests