Christine Anderson’s walk to Mt Mawson has been cancelled twice in previous years because of poor weather, and even this weekend it had to be postponed by a day, again because of the weather. How lucky were her lucky band able to walk on Sunday instead of Saturday, in glorious weather. Finally we made it.

The walk from Wombat Moor in the Mt Field National Park starts on the Lake Belton Track in the Mosaic Garden – an area of many different moorland plants, well explained on little signposts. We walked on through open woodland with snow gums to our morning-tea spot with jaw-dropping views.

Soon afterwards, we turned off to begin climbing Mt Mawson. A slope of dolerite boulders, large and small, gave our hip flexors, knees and ankles an excellent workout.

After an hour or so we arrived at another wonderful view, where we had quick refreshments before the final ascent of our mountain. Here the peak-finder app was in high demand – it seemed we were looking at the whole of southern, south-western and western Tasmania. (Well, perhaps not quite all of it but any more would have been too much.)

Back to our packs for well-earned lunch, and then we set off for a good look-out in the hope of seeing Lake Belcher. Lake Belton was well in view but it took a fair bit of exploring until we could see its companion down in the valley.

Honour satisfied, we turned to cross a beautiful garden of more low-lying plants, interspersed with many healthy cushion plants.

Finally we reached the trig point at the top of the ski slope and descended to explore the swish visitors’ centre (and excellent toilets), before walking down the lovely Urquhart Track to Lake Dobson and on back to the cars.

Mt Mawson has long been a goal for me so to finally get there on such a beautiful day, in great company, and with expert organising from Christine was very special.

Robyn Colman, 5 December 2021