Excursion Information
Return to Vale of Belvoir Excursion
Regatta Day Long Weekend, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February 2023
At our Easter Camp, Keith and Syb Corbett introduced us to the sub-alpine grasslands and rainforest of the Vale of Belvoir. It stimulated our interest in a unique area and Keith and Syb would like us to return to survey the vegetation and wildlife of their block when the grasslands are at their peak of flowering. Being 4 ½ hours driving time from Hobart without breaks, many may want to book accommodation overnight for both Friday 10th and Saturday 11th nights. Accommodation in the area is used for visitors to Cradle Mountain, and being the peak of tourist season, anyone interested will need to make bookings early before they book out. Prices for accommodation at some venues can be off-putting so getting in early gives the opportunity to pick up something reasonably priced. Nearby options include Cradle Mountain Discovery Park Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania | Discovery Parks (discoveryholidayparks.com.au) and Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village https://www.cradlevillage.com.au/accommodation . More options are available closer to Burnie and Ulverstone. Better deals and further ideas may be available from your favourite internet accommodation booking provider. More details about the excursion will be provided closer to the excursion. In the meantime, for more information about the Vale of Belvoir, please look at Keith’s 2012 article in The Tasmanian Naturalist https://www.tasfieldnats.org.au/naturalist/ .
Accommodation offer
Irene MacFarlane has kindly offered members some accommodation at her Ecoshack. It is located a few kilometres east of Waratah, about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from the Vale of Belvoir. Waratah has a roadhouse, petrol station, café and a hotel.
The Ecoshack is only 5 m x 3 m and will only accommodate four in single fold-up beds (supplied). It has minimal furnishings, and minimal water supply. There is a shower, a composting toilet, and basic kitchen facilities. You will need to bring your own bedding and anything you might need.
Irene is also offering the use of her block for camping. There is plenty of flat land. You will need to supply your own water and porta-potties and share the kitchen facilities. There is plenty of room for a campfire, but at that time of year there may be a fire ban. There are no barbeques available, so you are welcome to bring your own. It would be preferable for campers to be fully self-contained.
Those staying in the Ecoshack can stay from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. Campers may stay as long as they like.
If you are interested, please contact Irene by email irenemacfarlane123@gmail.com .
Posted 9 September 2022
About iNaturalist and TFNC
Since June 2021, observations from excursions have been recorded as projects on iNaturalist. Please use this link to see them https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tasmanian-field-naturalists-club-tfnc.
More observations made on excursions can be added at any time, so it is never too late.
If you are familiar with any of the species observed, we would appreciate if you could either agree with the species ID or suggest the possible ID so the observation can become “research quality” and available to other users.
The link also allows you to become a member of the TFNC umbrella project so you can receive notifications from iNaturalist when excursions are updated.
********************************************************
Carry list
List of items recommended to be carried by members on excursions.
Excursion Guidelines
Bush Hygiene notes