The Climes Track is very much only for experienced 4WDrivers and for vehicles with decent ground clearance. It is slow going, has lots of steep hill climbs, rock climbs, rotting timber bridges, waterfalls, and wonderful coast and mountain views. It takes about 3 hours (more or less depending on how long you stop at lookouts, and how many times you stop for photos, etc).
Climes track starts at Granville Harbour and traverses the cliff tops of the coast before finishing at Trial Harbour. The track can be challenging in places with large rocks, side inclines and lots of eroded gully’s to negotiate. Careful placement of wheels and slow speeds are needed to navigate along the track - with predominantly first and second gear low range all the way.
The bridge over Granite Creek has collapsed and access is only possible by taking a bypass on the west side of the Climes Track. This track starts about 15 metres north of the bridge and rejoins the main track around 100 metres to the south. This alternate crossing is pretty steep on the opposite side (southern side), with some rock ledges to climb to make the ascent potentially difficult, especially with no winching points above. The crossing is even more difficult and possibly dangerous if coming from the southern end. Please do not attempt the crossing, during or after rains, and if the creek is in flood.
Once in Trial Harbour, its a great place to stay - but campsites may be full to overflowing. A good idea is to spend a bit of time here and take a tour of the Trial Harbour "History Room". This fascinating room of a house has been lovingly and carefully prepared to show bits and pieces of memorabilia and relics showing the history of the area, including mining and fishing. There are photos, gemstones, relics, and bits of general flotsam and jetsam that have washed up from the beach and lots more. Perched on a grassy headland to the south of the town, the outside area is also full of treasures for the kids to explore.
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
The weather in this region can be unpredictable and like most places along the coast, is often pounded by the ‘Roaring 40s’ - a name given for the latitudes between 40°S and 50°S because of the boisterous and prevailing westerly winds.
The coastline in this area is known to be very scenic and wild, with a number of old mines that dot the area, and great scenic views of the Southern Ocean and inland mountain ranges. Vegetation near the coast consists of heath and scrublands, whilst buttongrass dominates the poorly drained moorlands. Numerous wildflowers and orchid species dot the coast and plains during specific times of the year. Regarding bird species along the coast, you may see the red-capped plover, fairy tern, pacific gull, ruddy turnstone, raptors, and pied and sooty oyster catchers.
The coastal hamlet of Trial Harbour has magnificent beaches, fishing and spectacular views from the surrounding hills. There are no shops or facilities. Granville is a small fishing and holiday community, although as with Trial Harbour, there are no shops or facilities.
History
Trial Harbour is a small anchorage on the northwest Coast of Tasmania. It was an exposed and particularly vulnerable anchorage susceptible to the prevailing local weather of the Roaring Forties. Named after the cutter Trial, which first anchored there in 1881, the harbour was utilised for a short while during the establishment of the early mining communities of Zeehan, and Queenstown, prior to the establishment of the settlements and facilities at Strahan and Regatta Point.
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