Today we joined our friends Hadie and John MacLeod on a walk to Pine Lake. First we drove from our home in Launceston to Deloraine, then we took the Lake highway which climbs steeply up to the highlands. We soon left the spring sunshine behind and disappeared into the clouds that were hugging the highlands for most of the day.
When we reached the beginning of the walk we put on our hats, gloves and extra layers of warm clothes to guard against the cold winds that were sweeping off the nearby peaks across the lake and surrounding moorland.
The wintry day provided a very mysterious atmosphere in which to explore the landscape of pines and other exotic plants that grow in this mountainous area. The variety of mosses, rivers of rocks and clumps of snow added to the beauty of the environment.
The Pine Lake walk offers a rare opportunity to get close to one of Tasmania’s rarest trees without having to go on an extended bush walk. The pencil pine is an ancient species that evolved before flowering plants and which is only found in the Tasmanian highlands.
Many of the Tasmanian conifers are unique to Tasmania. The pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides), is generally restricted to sub-alpine areas above 800 m. Like its relative, the King Billy pine, it can reach ages greater than 1200 years. Pencil pines are often seen around the shores of highland lakes and tarns, creating the unique ambience of these beautiful areas of Tasmania.
When we reached the lake we offered some prayers and oms. I was very mindful of 3 dear friends who have recently passed. They were each passionate lovers of nature and worked hard in their efforts to help protect our beautiful Tasmanian natural environment: Margaret Thompson, Christopher Strong and Juliet Partridge.
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