For a relaxed drive along the scenic Tamar River, combine the Notley Gorge walk with lunch at Moon Lily cafe in Beaconsfield and a winery or two on your drive back to Tin Dragon Cottages.
Where is Notley Gorge?
From Tin Dragon Cottages, you turn left and drive towards Scottsdale on the A3 Tasman Highway and keep driving to Bridport. The B82 will take you to the intersection with the A8 Georgetown Road. Here you will turn left towards the Batman Bridge. From here follow your GPS through Loira and Exeter to Notely Gorge road.
Notley Fern Gorge Walk
The circuit track starts and ends at a small car park. The well-formed track passes through wet sclerophyll forest down into a fern-filled gully where it crosses the Notely Gorge Creek at several points. This is an easy walk. But be aware that there are many steps–see the image, above. Therefore, the walk may not be suitable for everyone. Allow a generous hour to complete the walk. This will allow you to admire the forest and take photos.
The moisture created by the creek in this valley creates the perfect environment for brightly coloured mosses and ferns.
Canary worm
A brightly coloured worm took my eye. It was slowly sliding across the small mosses (or ferns?) growing on the side of a tree fern. It is commonly called a Canary worm, although it is actually a carnivorous flat worm (Fletchamia sugdeni). These flatworms prey on small invertebrates. It’s shiny appearance results from the production of mucous by numerous cilia on its underside. The motion of the cilia enables it to “glide” over over rough surfaces.
Textures
Of course it is hard to miss the stunning green ferns–of all sizes–surrounding you, as you walk through the gorge. But, I was also drawn to the beauty of the different textures–like the tree bark and small mosses covering the trees.
Facilities at Notley Gorge
Interpretation
At the entrance to the walking track there is a small open-sided shelter shed with display signage. These displays are certainly worth a read, if you wish to learn about the human and natural history of the gorge. You will learn that the Gorge was originally on private land. But as it became more popular for their friends and family to visit, the owners allowed public access via a new road, and in 1940 the Gorge was declared as a Reserve. Other displays describe the different ferns you will see along the walking track.
Further signage along the walking track names the larger trees and ferns in the Gorge.
Car park
There is a small car parking area at the entrance to the Notley Gorge walking track. But, be aware that the walk is very polular. So, on public holidays the car park may be full and it can be tricky to find alternate parking on the side of the gravel road leading in to the Gorge.
Picnic area
Although websites such as Discover Tasmania suggest you should, enjoy the picnic and barbecue area, I couldn’t actually find these facilities at Notley Gorge. There is however a well-maintained family-friendly toilet block.
Lunch break
To make the most of your day out, I recommend you visit one of the excellent small cafes in the region. In our case, we made a last-minute decision to have a Mother’s Day out. So, we drove to the Low Head Pilot Station after completing the walk. I reckon the cafe here serves up the best fish and chips I have ever eaten in the North East! But, sadly that recommendation is now past-tense. Apparently, the local Council shut down the cafe’s deep fryer due to concerns with the heritage building. We made do with cake and coffee instead. But, very good cake and coffee!
I think we should have planned ahead and booked a table at Moon Lily cafe in Beaconsfield. If you do this, you will not be disappointed!
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