3 replies to this topic

[Mystic]

Access this location via the C225, heading down through Forest, and on towards South Forest. You will see a sign pointing to the picnic area on your left just past the point where the road returns to a single level. Head down this narrow road for about 6km, where you will find a causeway across the river. Be careful if there has been a lot of rain recently as the river may be up making crossing it difficult. No matter though as there are picnic shelters and room for your tent on both side of the river.

This may not be an official campground, and whether or not camping is permitted is unknown, but it does make an excellent overnight stop.

The guide we used to find this location listed facilities that included

pit toilet, barbecue, firewood, and a rubbish bin

The pit toilet has been removed by parks & wildlife, the barbecues have suffered damage over the years and now only exist as shells that make for a good fireplace, firewood is available, but only in the form of fallen branches and such that you will need to scout around for, and there is no rubbish bins. There are picnic shelters here though, and that is about the extent of the facilities.

The water in the river may be drinkable, but you would be well advised to pick water up in Forest rather than use the river water.

This spot is, in a nutshell, beautiful! Surrounded by tall trees and some of the tallest tree ferns I have ever seen are a couple of very small campsites. The river is aptly named, not due to the colour of the water, but because of the way the light is filtered by the trees, and the calm waters form a mirror like surface. If you want to get some good water reflection photographs, this is the place for you. Beware the crazy light here though as it will drive you insane trying to figure out how to best capture the reflections, whilst avoiding light blowouts. Get your angles and settings right, and the rewards are magical.

Numerous paths meander through the ferns and forest to provide some great walks, and the bird life is amazing. Day or night you will be constantly entertained by birdsong. Huge varieties of sounds from them during the day, whilst at night you will enjoy the various owls that inhabit this forest.

We only made this an overnight stop, and would have liked to spend longer there, but will definitely be returning. I could rave about the various features of this little hideaway for pages, but it is far better if you go see it for yourself. Even if you only go there to picnic and have a great lunch among the ferns, make sure you visit this location.

Black River Campsite

Location map

Map supplied by Tasmap, for more mapping information
please see www.tasmap.tas.gov.au

[Shane V]

Black River, I think, is the nicest spot on the whole North Coast...sorry everyone up north. When we pulled up at the site, after the disappointment of Marrawah, I was delighted to see all the trees and the river. It had been a warm day and the coolness of the forest was refreshing.

The tent was set up very quickly and easily. After this was done we went for a wander around the area and discovered lots of places to sit by the river and watch the water flow slowly by. The reflections on the water were absolutely beautiful.

This is a rainforest area and the trees were massive. The tree ferns were huge. Some even had more than one fern growing out of the root. I haven't seen this before. It was quite interesting and unique.

The bird life here is amazing. The sounds they made were constant but they were not annoying. This is one place I would like to go back to and record all the sounds. The noises of the forest were very relaxing. We didn't see any larger animals, but probably would have if we had stayed longer. Insects were everywhere. There were some very interesting looking bugs. I enjoyed looking at the different spiders in the area.

There was only one problem with this site. The mosquitoes. Remember to take your repellant.

This is definitely a must see place on the North Coast. for this site.

[Dickiespole]

Stopped for lunch there on the way home(13/02/2012), not a camper trailer or motorhome option due to space restrictions but still very nice for one or two tent sites as an overnight stop. There is a basic barbecue shelter with a wood fireplace but deadfall wood is very scarce, as it is around most picnic areas this time of year.

To access go through South Forest and keep heading South going over a couple of traffic islanded hills until you see a very obvious "Black River Picnic Ground" sign on the left. Follow your nose for a while being very careful of the single lane gravel road in the middle of the forest. When leaving keep driving through and turn either left or right once you hit the bitumen, left is the smithton/Burnie highway(goat track) right is to Dip falls- worth a visit. The gravel road is maintained by Forestry Tasmania so is in very good nick.

I lived in Stanley for 18 months about fifteen years ago and this is a very popular spot with locals, on a weekend.

Lovely spot still.

[Mystic]

Thanks Dickiespole. actually found deadfall wood quite plentiful there, but only small branches, which I don't really mind as fires are usually just for cooking and don't need to be raging bonfires. Did not see many people (if any at all) when I stayed there, though it may have been mid week. The thing that got me most about this location was the incredible non stop birdsong.