Walk At Don River, Tasmania

If you're stuck in Devonport for a day or two, it's definitely worth heading to Don, and the river and headland there.

Apparently there was a railbridge, but not a footbridge, to take you from Mersey Bluff to the east and over the Don River to the west, but now they've put a footbridge in, it's more accessible. We met a retired PE teacher who'd been living there for forty years and was keen to tell us about the walk toward Penguin to the west - we had no plans on walking that far, but politely listened anyway. Had my hip been better and the day cooler, we may have considered it.

^{Footbridge over the river}

Like many towns in Tasmania, there was a history interwined with it's original people and colonisers, nature and industry, tourism and residential life. It was originally home to the Punnilerpanner people, but was settled by Europeans in the 1850s, displacing the indigenous population.

^{Some very posh houses overlooking the Don}

The Don River was, like many good rivers, a lifeblood of the community, supporting the timber industry that capitalized on surrounding forests. Whereas now there are lovely houses with stellar views, once they would have been lined with sawmills, and the Don River Tramway (one of Tasmania’s earliest rail systems) transported timber to the growing port at Devonport for local and international trade until they deepened the Mersey where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry comes in from the mainland now.

There is still agriculture on the way down to the river estuary, but it's mainly a large complex that grows seedlings for nurseries. The area is largely peaceful with some lovely houses which made us think that if we had to live in the area, it'd be around here.

^{Driving down to Don Head}

^{Looking toward Mersey Bluff and Devonport}

The Don Reserve is obviously a drawcard - walking rails wind through bushland along the riverbanks where people walked their dogs, jogged or walked in chatty pairs.

We did walk along the cliffs where I spotted a fluffy baby penguin crossing the path, hiding in the grasses there. We could see their white excrement and paths leading up from the sea. I was so excited to see one - it was totally unexpected. About six minutes away there's a penguin viewing spot that draws hundreds of tourists every night but I think you'd be able to spot them here too with no one around at all!

^{view from the walking track}

As we walked along the headland we were treated to some gorgeous views - the clear blue water below looked so inviting. We were told the views got even better as you walked along.

^{view from the walking track down to the rock formation}

I would have liked to continue but we hit a lot of grass and we both thought it wasn't worth running into snakes! On Snaps the other day I spoke about how we'd run into a woman screaming on a path who'd been laying under a gazebo in the shade and a tiger snake crawled over her pregnant belly! So yeah - height of summer and grass? No thanks.

Instead we walked back toward the estuary, and looking along the beach in the same direcion we'd just come from we saw a basalt rock formation we hadn't noticed on the walk way.

I love a bit of basalt on the shore - it makes for some interesting formations. I imagined how photogenic it would be during sunset and sunrise, but it was about midday and quite warm. Still, the breeze from the cool sea kept things at a reasonable temperature.

I love looking at rockpools, as the minuture life contained within is a universe of amazingness - cherry like anemones, tiny blue starfish, whelks slowly creeping along. The anemones were starting to fall asleep as the temperature rose in their little microclimates but in some more shaded ones, their tendrils reached into their world in the hope of finding food. I often touch them with my finger - can't resist.