After seeking advice from a number of people, I arrived in Tasmania prepared with plenty of warm clothing. The transition from the arid Flinders Ranges to the snow-capped peaks of Tasmania was stark.
Used to the dry, open landscapes of South Australia, the sheer amount of water and vegetation was a pleasant surprise. Driving the winding Tasmanian roads took some getting used to, though the stunning scenery made it worthwhile. I even spotted a spotted-tail quoll in broad daylight!
My first month was spent at Cradle Mountain where I joined the team at the visitor centre. I helped with the induction of a new field officer, familiarising myself with their systems – which were very similar to our own back home.
Daily tasks included opening the interpretation centre, checking water storage supply levels, updating weather information for hikers and maintaining the boot washing stations to prevent the spread of disease. I also attended meetings about upcoming projects, explored nearby tracks, and learned about their track classification system.
Visiting Winterbrook Falls
I quickly learned that weather plays a huge role in Tasmanian park operations. One day I would be hiking Cradle Mountain and a number of the iconic short walks in perfect conditions, the next we were dealing with road closures and flooding from a large weather system which had formed quickly.
Fallen trees, power outages, and limited communications made things challenging. With the visitor centre closed, we relied on the Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN) to stay connected. I helped to clear roads, maintain fuel supplies to the generators and manage tourists who were determined to hike despite the extreme conditions.
During a calmer spell, we conducted a wombat survey, checking the age and health condition of these iconic creatures.
Once the weather settled, I ventured south towards the Triabunna Field Centre but not before stopping to visit the impressive Russell and Horseshoe Falls in Mount Field National Park.
After arriving at Triabunna, I made a trip out to Maria Island which involved delivering supplies by boat and helping the TAFE Conservation and Ecosystem Management students with their work. This included erecting fences around an erosion site to protect revegetation and setting up camera traps that even managed to photograph a Tasmanian devil!
At Freycinet National Park, I joined staff in assessing old infrastructure at Meadstone Falls and explored potential new lookout points. I also spent time cleaning toilets at Wineglass Bay (the 'glamorous' side of being a ranger), helping in the visitor centre, repairing tracks and removing hazardous branches along Freycinet Drive.
The iconic views of Wineglass Bay
The final days of my Tasmanian adventure concluded with a final track inspection and clearing at Winterbrook Falls, the satisfying task of clearing ice from Dove Lake Road to ensure the shuttle buses could operate, and getting to meet the returning track rangers for the seasonal opening of the Overland Track.
I also had the opportunity to attend the annual Fire Prep Day at Ulverstone where staff involved in firefighting get to brush up on their skills ahead of the summer bushfire season. I got to test out new technologies and applications as well as attending training sessions for TasGRN, manual handling and water pump operations.
Both Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service share a similar passion for conservation, but the Tasmanian focus on walking and hiking is more pronounced.
This is no surprise considering many of the spectacular waterfalls, lakes, rivers and mountain views are only accessible by foot. The extensive network of boardwalks and well-maintained tracks provide great access to these breathtaking wilderness areas.
I'm incredibly grateful to PWS staff for their generosity, for showing me around their patch and for sharing their expertise with me over the past eight weeks of this Ranger Exchange program.
I hope I've been able to pave (or duckboard) the way for future exchange opportunities.
Conservation and Ecosystem Management students erecting fences around an erosion site
Thankful that I packed plenty of warm clothing