Location
Flagstaff Hill, Flagstaff Road ST HELENS TAS 7216 Lat: -41.3574 or (-41° 21' 26") Lon: 148.23772 or (148° 14' 15") Elevation: 323.21m
In 1996 The Mercury, published an article about the public support for walking track from Boggy Creek to Flagstaff Hill in St Helens Tasmania.
In 2017, there is little evidence of the walking track, however there is still four wheel drive access to the top of Flagstaff Hill. For those without a 4X4, there is the option to park at the turning circle at the bottom of the hill and walk up the Flagstaff Track.
How to find Flagstaff Hill? When heading south out of St Helens, continue 1.7 kilometres past 100 Kilometre sign on the Tasman Highway. Then take a right on to Flagstaff Road. This is a gravel track. Follow Flagstaff Road for approximately 1.2k's. If you are adventurous and have a 4X4, follow the power lines straight up the hill. If you want to park and walk up, take a left and follow the track for another 400m. You can park anywhere here and begin your uneven ascent.
The track is quite rough. It is is littered with large loose rocks that could roll an ankle quite easily. The elements have not been kind to the track and a lot of the road has been washed away. Once you reach the top you will ask yourself, how did they get cement trucks to the top of this hill to pour the footings to the two communication towers at the top? Legend is, they employed a rather large bulldozer to help pull the trucks to the top of the hill.
Once you are at the top of the hill, don't be dissapointed by the lack of views. Being at only 323 meters high there is quite thick vegetation and some rather tall trees. If you look around you will find some amazing "windows" that will provide you with views of Georges Bay, the Tasman Sea, and west towards the mountain ranges of Mount Barrow, Mount Saddleback and Ben Lomond.
The best vantage point that we found was down a small track to the north of the summit. The track can be difficult to find, but if you stand to the north side of the smaller of the two towers and head to the edge, you will find a gravel drop off. Carefully follow that down, taking in the amazing view, both on the left and the right of you. about 10 meters down you will find the best view of the mountains to the west.
I believe the mountains are, from Left to right, Ben Lomond, Mount Sadleback and Mount Barrow.
You will continue to come across amazing windows like this as you continue on the path down the hill.
Do be careful and keep note of any noises coming down the hill.... this track is often used by mountain bikers. It will not be hard to hear them as it is so peaceful and quiet.
Don't be in a rush to do this walk... you will miss so much.
Around 150 meters down the hill you will come across the best vantage point for a view of Georges Bay. A flat rock perched a few meters above the track. Look behind you under the rocks and you will see a frequented wombat hole.
Looking east across Georges Bay to the mouth of the bay and out to the Tasman Sea.
North eastern view over Pelican Point and Moulting Bay.
Eastward view towards the mountain ranges that divide the East Coast and Launceton the Tamar Valley.
I had taken my wife and my 3 daughters with me on this walk. The lighting was so great, the sun was setting, so we played around taking some family photos. After about an hour, we decided to walk back to the summit and take some photos of the setting sun.
Looking across the rolling hills of the north towards Pyengana.
I would highly recommend this walk later in the afternoon. The lighting is amazing. The ground can get quite difficult with a lot of loose gravel, dry leaves, all on unformed paths can make it quite difficult. Maybe take a torch, is it so easy to sit and watch the letting sun and before you know it, it is too dark to find the right path back to your vehicle.
