Diary of a Dawn Forest Walker
Join Helen on her early morning walks along a forest track in Hobart, Tasmania, as she immerses herself in the experience, writing insights, reflections and inspirations in a daily journal.
5 October 2025 - Day 1
It’s the first day of daylight saving – yesterday’s 5:30am is now 6:30! It’s also the first day of my new forest walk resolve. I aim to walk for an hour, starting by 7:00. That’s half an hour up, and half an hour down.
I drove ten minutes to the start of the Myrtle Gully track. After twenty-five minutes of walking, I reached the third bridge. I spent five minutes meditating on being there, then turned around. I was a bit out of breath, but with more time, would love to have continued further up the hill.
On this first day I started making acquaintance with the trees and tree ferns, hearing the resident birds calling, noting the water flow (quite low), wondering if I would ever see a platypus, and thinking about a future time when the forest has regrown properly, humans are perhaps extinct, or almost, and nature has had time to reassert.
I saw no-one. Decided to leave an offering from my body (colloquially known as a bush wee).
Took a few photos and recorded some thoughts. Oh yes, and I chanted as I walked.
6 October 2025 - Day 2
It was cold, wet and windy, so I walked along the Hobart Rivulet Track instead. Around the climbing cliffs the wind blasts were extra cold. Icy. It reminded me of forty years ago, guiding groups on the Overland Track (Cradle Mt to Lake St. Claire) in all weather. In those days, however, I had a balaclava, gloves and a big pack upon my back.
Here at the bottom of a suburban valley, stormwater drains were pouring into the rivulet like industrial waterfalls; the flood mitigation dam (which always annoys me) was overflowing. No platypus today. Caught the tail end of spring blooms in the Cascade Gardens. When the clouds cleared, kunanyi/Mt Wellington was snowy and proud, standing solid, wild and distant.
As I walked, I had the idea to do some research about walking when I got home. I discovered that people love RULES! Here am I doing a natural thing, a primal thing. Google ‘walking’ and up come RULES. Too weird.
So I did some research about the Myrtle Gully Track instead. It was built as a Great Depression employment project funded by Hobartians dropping spare shillings in a box. And there’s a waterfall called Secret Falls, hidden but close to the tack. Therefore, not so secret anymore, as people have worn a muddy track to view it.
7 October 2025 - Day 3
I emerged from the house at 7:00 to see a pale but complete rainbow across the mountain. Always magical.
Bit drizzly but the wind has left for now. As I set off, I noticed a walker ahead of me. No other cars so he must have come off another track. He disappeared into the beyond. Before long, however, I met him returning. I said, ‘Good morning’, and he said, ‘hello’, and we smiled and went our ways. Soon it occurred to me that it was possibly Pete Walsh, locally known as the ‘Platypus Guardian’ doing his rounds. An older man with a grizzly beard and twinkling eyes in a blue rain jacket. There is an enchantment about him.
I continued, hugging old growth trees as I met them. I needed to pause and be with them, rest my beating heart on their strong tall body, and relate. Here we are together. I move around for several decades, they stand still for hundreds of years, connected to earth and sky and plants and creatures. I realise that our movement (as humans) enables disconnect, reducing rootedness, unlike these old trees.
Visited the Secret Falls, which I read about yesterday. Such a sweet waterfall! Also, I had more awareness and appreciation of the track construction, its beauty and the effort and story that made it. And the pile of mossy rocks which is all that remains of a hut.
On the way back down, I passed two women. One, a beautiful young woman in active wear, who looked like a track runner but was walking, and a runner with a dog. There was one other car parked – presumably the dog person.
Had many lovely insights, feelings and thoughts. I wondered, where is everyone?
In Manly where I grew up, there would be hundreds at that time of day, on the beach front, in the ocean, surfing, jogging, drinking coffee. Then I reflect that I haven’t been here until now. It’s so perfect to be walking or trail running in the forest, yet people are in gyms or pounding the footpaths.
As I approach the car, I find myself wishing for a cabin in the woods, so that I don’t need to drive home.
8 October 2025 - Day 4
Very windy, so I just walked to the South Hobart shops and back.
9 October 2025 - Day 5
It was windy at home but still and peaceful on the track. I reached the third bridge and decided to keep walking until 7:30 before turning around. There were some fallen trees (only small ones) over the track, so clearly there has been wind. On the way back I sat with a big old tree and thought about its experience of the world – fires, wind, blizzards, the massacre of its family, the building of the track, and now, climate change. Also, the coming and going of birds and other critters, the pain of a broken limb, the joy of sunshiny days and gentle rains, mists, peoples’ chatter, perhaps lovers kissing.
10 October 2025
VERY WET and yucky weather. No walks today.
13 October 2025 - Day 6
To the Rivulet, up the hill all the way to Liverpool Crescent, then down the other side, along the Rivulet to shops – bought bread, picked up something from the post office, then walked home.
15 October 2025 - Day 7
Slept in a bit, so went to the Rivulet again – up the hill and down and home the usual way. Counted the steps – 210 + the 16 to Cascade Road, x 2 (up and down).
19 October 2025- Day 8
Still really windy but I went to Myrtle Gully anyway – I’ve learned that it’s sheltered.
Such a relief to be in the forest again. I was chanting three mantras 1 in my mind. It occurred to me during Gayatri that I was surrounded by the intelligence of nature, of forest, of organisms, of creation. The mantra was no longer about refining my own intelligence, but was a recognition/reverence for the intelligence of the place I was walking in. In the same way, the Mahamrityunjaya mantra was invoking the healing, sattwic 2 energies of the forest and stream, and my activity there, my walking sadhana 3.
I experienced the Durga Path as invoking the power of the forest to remove distress. It all made perfect sense, which is the sattwa of insight.
I walked to the fourth bridge in half an hour, so I’m faster and fitter. I explored the remains (ruins is too structured an image) of another hut, above the track between the third and fourth bridges. There was a level shelf where one could spend the night. I imagined in midsummer, walking in after dinner, with mat and sleeping bag and breakfast. Perhaps my son would join me.
Other thoughts had the beauty of inspiration.
Re the camping idea – shower under the Secret Waterfall!
25 October 2025 - Day 10 - Myrtle Gully
I decided to take longer and go further. I walked for fifty minutes before turning back. The return only took about thirty. I would have liked to go further – it would be good to reach Junction Cabin. I went beyond the fourth bridge. There was a HUGEMUNGOUS old growth tree, the biggest so far. I saw a lyre bird. I went to where a big mossy log across the track is cut.
Used the bridges to time the mantras. Had many good thoughts. I love this sadhana.
27 October 2025 - Day 11 Rivulet
Climbed uphill behind the toilet block, rainy and cold. Wandered up a track above McRobies Rd, looking across to Louden St. Returning home, sun shining on all the raindrops in the trees, like fairyland, and lots of birds singing. A lot of native cherries. Gentle breeze in the canopy. Sparkling jewels in the trees. Mountain covered in snow! (later it snowed at home, excited flurries).
6 November 2025 - Day 12 Myrtle Gully
Las week I didn’t bushwalk. I’ve been digging the grass up in the front yard instead, and there was cold, wet weather. The waterfalls are pumping after all the rain! It’s great to be back in the bush. There were a lot of chattering parrots in the gum trees, and I wondered if they might be Swifties as I’ve heard that they chatter in groups. And now would be the time they are in search of food and nesting sites. Maybe. I don’t know, but they were gone on my return.
8 & 9 November 2025
Garden digging is taking priority – my dawn forest walking sadhana has lasted for one month. It was beautiful. Now it’s time to plant a micro forest.
Helen Cushing
Freerange Journalist
Join Helen on her early morning walks along a forest track in Hobart, Tasmania, as she immerses herself in the experience, writing insights, reflections and inspirations in a daily journal.
5 October 2025 - Day 1
It’s the first day of daylight saving – yesterday’s 5:30am is now 6:30! It’s also the first day of my new forest walk resolve. I aim to walk for an hour, starting by 7:00. That’s half an hour up, and half an hour down.
I drove ten minutes to the start of the Myrtle Gully track. After twenty-five minutes of walking, I reached the third bridge. I spent five minutes meditating on being there, then turned around. I was a bit out of breath, but with more time, would love to have continued further up the hill.
On this first day I started making acquaintance with the trees and tree ferns, hearing the resident birds calling, noting the water flow (quite low), wondering if I would ever see a platypus, and thinking about a future time when the forest has regrown properly, humans are perhaps extinct, or almost, and nature has had time to reassert.
I saw no-one. Decided to leave an offering from my body (colloquially known as a bush wee).
Took a few photos and recorded some thoughts. Oh yes, and I chanted as I walked.
6 October 2025 - Day 2
It was cold, wet and windy, so I walked along the Hobart Rivulet Track instead. Around the climbing cliffs the wind blasts were extra cold. Icy. It reminded me of forty years ago, guiding groups on the Overland Track (Cradle Mt to Lake St. Claire) in all weather. In those days, however, I had a balaclava, gloves and a big pack upon my back.
Here at the bottom of a suburban valley, stormwater drains were pouring into the rivulet like industrial waterfalls; the flood mitigation dam (which always annoys me) was overflowing. No platypus today. Caught the tail end of spring blooms in the Cascade Gardens. When the clouds cleared, kunanyi/Mt Wellington was snowy and proud, standing solid, wild and distant.
As I walked, I had the idea to do some research about walking when I got home. I discovered that people love RULES! Here am I doing a natural thing, a primal thing. Google ‘walking’ and up come RULES. Too weird.
So I did some research about the Myrtle Gully Track instead. It was built as a Great Depression employment project funded by Hobartians dropping spare shillings in a box. And there’s a waterfall called Secret Falls, hidden but close to the tack. Therefore, not so secret anymore, as people have worn a muddy track to view it.
7 October 2025 - Day 3
I emerged from the house at 7:00 to see a pale but complete rainbow across the mountain. Always magical.
Bit drizzly but the wind has left for now. As I set off, I noticed a walker ahead of me. No other cars so he must have come off another track. He disappeared into the beyond. Before long, however, I met him returning. I said, ‘Good morning’, and he said, ‘hello’, and we smiled and went our ways. Soon it occurred to me that it was possibly Pete Walsh, locally known as the ‘Platypus Guardian’ doing his rounds. An older man with a grizzly beard and twinkling eyes in a blue rain jacket. There is an enchantment about him.
I continued, hugging old growth trees as I met them. I needed to pause and be with them, rest my beating heart on their strong tall body, and relate. Here we are together. I move around for several decades, they stand still for hundreds of years, connected to earth and sky and plants and creatures. I realise that our movement (as humans) enables disconnect, reducing rootedness, unlike these old trees.
Visited the Secret Falls, which I read about yesterday. Such a sweet waterfall! Also, I had more awareness and appreciation of the track construction, its beauty and the effort and story that made it. And the pile of mossy rocks which is all that remains of a hut.
On the way back down, I passed two women. One, a beautiful young woman in active wear, who looked like a track runner but was walking, and a runner with a dog. There was one other car parked – presumably the dog person.
Had many lovely insights, feelings and thoughts. I wondered, where is everyone?
In Manly where I grew up, there would be hundreds at that time of day, on the beach front, in the ocean, surfing, jogging, drinking coffee. Then I reflect that I haven’t been here until now. It’s so perfect to be walking or trail running in the forest, yet people are in gyms or pounding the footpaths.
As I approach the car, I find myself wishing for a cabin in the woods, so that I don’t need to drive home.
8 October 2025 - Day 4
Very windy, so I just walked to the South Hobart shops and back.
9 October 2025 - Day 5
It was windy at home but still and peaceful on the track. I reached the third bridge and decided to keep walking until 7:30 before turning around. There were some fallen trees (only small ones) over the track, so clearly there has been wind. On the way back I sat with a big old tree and thought about its experience of the world – fires, wind, blizzards, the massacre of its family, the building of the track, and now, climate change. Also, the coming and going of birds and other critters, the pain of a broken limb, the joy of sunshiny days and gentle rains, mists, peoples’ chatter, perhaps lovers kissing.
10 October 2025
VERY WET and yucky weather. No walks today.
13 October 2025 - Day 6
To the Rivulet, up the hill all the way to Liverpool Crescent, then down the other side, along the Rivulet to shops – bought bread, picked up something from the post office, then walked home.
15 October 2025 - Day 7
Slept in a bit, so went to the Rivulet again – up the hill and down and home the usual way. Counted the steps – 210 + the 16 to Cascade Road, x 2 (up and down).
19 October 2025- Day 8
Still really windy but I went to Myrtle Gully anyway – I’ve learned that it’s sheltered.
Such a relief to be in the forest again. I was chanting three mantras 1 in my mind. It occurred to me during Gayatri that I was surrounded by the intelligence of nature, of forest, of organisms, of creation. The mantra was no longer about refining my own intelligence, but was a recognition/reverence for the intelligence of the place I was walking in. In the same way, the Mahamrityunjaya mantra was invoking the healing, sattwic 2 energies of the forest and stream, and my activity there, my walking sadhana 3.
I experienced the Durga Path as invoking the power of the forest to remove distress. It all made perfect sense, which is the sattwa of insight.
I walked to the fourth bridge in half an hour, so I’m faster and fitter. I explored the remains (ruins is too structured an image) of another hut, above the track between the third and fourth bridges. There was a level shelf where one could spend the night. I imagined in midsummer, walking in after dinner, with mat and sleeping bag and breakfast. Perhaps my son would join me.
Other thoughts had the beauty of inspiration.
Re the camping idea – shower under the Secret Waterfall!
25 October 2025 - Day 10 - Myrtle Gully
I decided to take longer and go further. I walked for fifty minutes before turning back. The return only took about thirty. I would have liked to go further – it would be good to reach Junction Cabin. I went beyond the fourth bridge. There was a HUGEMUNGOUS old growth tree, the biggest so far. I saw a lyre bird. I went to where a big mossy log across the track is cut.
Used the bridges to time the mantras. Had many good thoughts. I love this sadhana.
27 October 2025 - Day 11 Rivulet
Climbed uphill behind the toilet block, rainy and cold. Wandered up a track above McRobies Rd, looking across to Louden St. Returning home, sun shining on all the raindrops in the trees, like fairyland, and lots of birds singing. A lot of native cherries. Gentle breeze in the canopy. Sparkling jewels in the trees. Mountain covered in snow! (later it snowed at home, excited flurries).
6 November 2025 - Day 12 Myrtle Gully
Las week I didn’t bushwalk. I’ve been digging the grass up in the front yard instead, and there was cold, wet weather. The waterfalls are pumping after all the rain! It’s great to be back in the bush. There were a lot of chattering parrots in the gum trees, and I wondered if they might be Swifties as I’ve heard that they chatter in groups. And now would be the time they are in search of food and nesting sites. Maybe. I don’t know, but they were gone on my return.
8 & 9 November 2025
Garden digging is taking priority – my dawn forest walking sadhana has lasted for one month. It was beautiful. Now it’s time to plant a micro forest.
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