Menamatta Tarns - Ben Lomond Nat Park
Posted: Mon 13 May, 2013 4:08 pmI've been looking at these tarns on the map for a few years and have always wondered what they would be like. I finally got the chance the other weekend to go for a walk and have a look.
Basically I walked up from Car Villa with the weather clearing just nicely for me once on the flat. I turned roughly SSW at 55G 553544 5403311 for about 2.5km. There is no path but it's not too bad getting through. Every now and then you have to circumnavigate a few sharp bushes and water holes, and there is also some walking over rocks. The rocks are all around the same height though so it's not too hard to just trundle along over them.
The tarns are in my mind really quite beautiful. Not everybodies cup of tea I suppose. I found it really quite stark, desolate, even a bit eerie. It's as flat as a pancake and very exposed, no cover or protection from the elements and over 1400 up. Seems to stretch out around you for ever, especially when your looking northish.
I took some photos but with my phone so not the best quality. Anyway, I really enjoyed it and cant wait to go back for a night or two. Strangely enough I even got some limited phone coverage (just SMS) around the top of the ridge coming onto Sprent Plains and the tarns. And I was also lucky enough to have an awesome eagle fly over head. Looked to be only about 40 or so metres up. Absolute magic.
Basically I walked up from Car Villa with the weather clearing just nicely for me once on the flat. I turned roughly SSW at 55G 553544 5403311 for about 2.5km. There is no path but it's not too bad getting through. Every now and then you have to circumnavigate a few sharp bushes and water holes, and there is also some walking over rocks. The rocks are all around the same height though so it's not too hard to just trundle along over them.
The tarns are in my mind really quite beautiful. Not everybodies cup of tea I suppose. I found it really quite stark, desolate, even a bit eerie. It's as flat as a pancake and very exposed, no cover or protection from the elements and over 1400 up. Seems to stretch out around you for ever, especially when your looking northish.
I took some photos but with my phone so not the best quality. Anyway, I really enjoyed it and cant wait to go back for a night or two. Strangely enough I even got some limited phone coverage (just SMS) around the top of the ridge coming onto Sprent Plains and the tarns. And I was also lucky enough to have an awesome eagle fly over head. Looked to be only about 40 or so metres up. Absolute magic.