Silver Ridge Retreat

O'Neill's Creek Nature Trail is an easy 15-minute walk (approximately 700 metres to O'Neill's Road) and leads to the start of the Mt Roland Regional Reserve walking tracks. Spectacular Mt Roland forms the backdrop to the Mt Roland Regional Reserve east of O'Neill's Creek Picnic Reserve. You will find White Gum eucalypts, Blackwood trees, Browntop Stringybarks, Myrtle trees, Sassafras trees, Dogwood trees and fern glades. . O'Neill's Creek is host to the iridescent dragonfly, frogs, yabbies, freshwater crayfish and platypus. There is logging evidence from a bygone era. You may encounter tree stumps with notches cut out of them for holding boards that were used for axemen or sawyers to stand on whilst felling trees. Bullock teams or draught horses were used to skid out the logs. Next to the creek and rodeo ground, this pretty forest reserve has places for vans for short stays (2 nights maximum), BBQ facilities, and shelter with tables and benches. The neighbouring Gowrie Park Wilderness Village has cabins and powered van sites for longer stays. You can access the trail from the C136 at the O'Neill's Creek Picnic Reserve, 16 km (5 minutes’ drive) south-west of Sheffield.

For fit walkers: three to five hours return or a circuit. Similar 360 degree panoramic views to those from Mt Roland and Mt Claude. Follow the main Mt Roland walk and turn right after 700 metres for a steep 45 minute climb through the forest, before taking a left turn at the intersection. The track climbs very steeply with a few awkward sections for about 30 minutes before entering the alpine area above the trees. The summit, a small rise covered with boulders, is to the right via a 10 minute walk off the main track. Return to the car park by the same route or, for the circuit, keep walking north on the main track for about 30 minutes to a platform, where the track to the left leads to the car park.

Musical genius and Tasmanian icon, Ben Salter will be performing under the mountains at Wilder Tasmania on Nov 30th at 6pm. Dinner and drinks will be available on the night.