MONDAY 13TH - LEVEN CANYON

The weather has slightly improved in that we haven't had any rain today but it is still very windy and overcast. There are gale warnings for coastal waters and Cradle Mountain. The weather has been described as unseasonably cool. We agree.

 

 

As we spent most of the day deep in the rainforest, the weather hasn't effected us much. The forecast temperature for tomorrow is 21 by comparison with today's 15 so perhaps that means that the strong westerly winds bringing the cold air are going to abate.

We are camped beside an idyllic section of the Leven River but we saw a completely different Leven River in the Leven Canyon, upstream from here. There are two separate walks – one at the top of the gorge and the other in the base of the canyon. We did them both including a track only recommended for “experienced bushwalkers”.

The upper walk goes to the Cruickshank Lookout, then down the 650 Forest Steps to the Edge Cliff Lookout and then 500 metres back up the hill to the car park. A great circuit and a good workout.

This is a photo of the upper lookout taken from the lower lookout, still a long way above the river.

 

The lower walk is described on the sign at its entrance as moderately difficult but somebody has put a line through that and written “very steep” It's a lovely walk down and well worth it to get up close and personal with the river raging through the base of the canyon. We went along a short portion of the Penguin to Cradle Mountain track to visit Devil's Elbow, a more isolated bend in the river – very rugged. The long distance bush walkers are welcome to it.

Tomorrow we head back up to the coast and further west. Hopefully the weather improves.

 And, as we were driving out of the Leven Canyon car park, we saw a quoll cross the road in front of us! Trish was very excited. Unfortunately he ran off into the bush before I could get a photo.