Platts Lo ST1011 Goulds Country, Tasmania, Australia
By Geocaching Australia on 23-Nov-09. Waypoint TP5227

Have been up to the start of the track so many times over the last 8 years, and the boom gate has always been locked, today we got lucky and the gate was open, so without hesitation we headed up the hill. When we arrived we were greeted by the guy in the fire tower, who was more than happy to chat, would be a lonely job up there all day. Great views all round, a little bit hazy from the bush fire smoke that’s drifted down from the mainland.
Thanks for the cache and bringing us up here.
Cheers
Rocket

Rated: for Overall Experience

Found on the 2017 Northeast 4WD trip. After spending the previous day traversing Sun Flats Rd (opposite the road to Platts Lookout), our overnight stop was a quarry just back up the track we finished. As the day was getting on, it was decided that we would set up camp and that I would attempt this trig the following morning.
At about 8am, after a rain free night, VK7HCH was about to start packing up his tent when the skies opened up again and drenched everything, but only for a few minutes.
After making breakfast and packing everything away, we headed back to the cross roads where I had started walking.
As with others, it took me 20 minutes to walk up to the trig, and 15 to return. With the required photos taken, all up I was away for 55 minutes.
The views were pretty good but there was some haze around. Also rang redtag to confirm our meeting point later in the day.
Another excellent trig Swamped at 0950.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Left Huonville about 1100hrs and drove to St Helens with a short stop at Campbell Town. Arrived in St Helens at 1445hrs, booked into Killraine Units and headed out to this cache. So all over drive covered 424 kilometres for one cache.

WEATHER: Fine at time of leaving Huonville right through to completion of the cache find. Rain and hail in St Helens now. Hope not so tomorrow morning as cache finding will be made difficult and won't be pleasant.

From St Helens, headed West to find Murdochs Road off Lottah Road - easy navigation soon had me at the boom gate. On the way to it, I was lucky to see a wedge tail take off from a fence post; unfortunately, not fast enough to get a photograph of the spectacular moment.

From the boom gate, the walk to the tower was gentle and easy on the "track" that went to the top. First sight of the tower was exhilarating. The walk up the hill had taken twenty minutes. The walk back to the car was not as slow, it took only fifteen minutes. As the crow flies the distance to the trig was 1.14 kilometres, the round trip covered 3.26 kilometres utilizing 4475 steps and burning 268 calories. A very pleasant walk, good track to walk on with the sound of kookaburras singing in the back drop as were the jo-wickies. The only fauna seen on the track was a dead wallaby, nothing else except two rabbits at the start of Murdochs Road.

The cache was Sainted at 1600 hours. Appropriate photographs were taken, both for the cache purposes and for personal reasons re scenery. The views were specky and I even enjoyed climbing the tower beginning the walk back to the car.
Plenty of ground clearing here lately ensuring the purpose of the tower can be maintained without the view being impaired.

This cache would be really good if you were able to drive to the top but the walking is easy anyway. The rise is gentle.
Murdochs Road was good to travel today, dry and only one or two pot holes.

Back in St Helens, time for a sherbet at the RSL and then back to the unit to log the cache.

DISCUSSION:
A Trig Point is a virtual cache which requires a cacher to locate the Trigonometric Station at GZ:
Done at 1600hrs most enjoyably.

A trig point (also known as a Trigonometric Station) typically consists of a black disc on top of four metal legs or concrete pillar, resembling a navigation beacon. It is also accompanied by a metal disc, which is located directly below the center point of the tripod or on top of the pillar itself:
This one does not fit the definition as given above; no black disc but the metal disc was found in between all four tower footings.

Trig points are generally located at the top of hills or points of prominence in the landscape. Many provide unique views and challenges, with some being difficult to get to:
Definitely at the top of the hill with great views but not a difficult one to get to.

These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps:
Main purpose for this "trig" would be fire watching and other forms of observation during fire danger periods.

To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the trig point, along with your GPS receiver and (preferably) yourself. Long distance / telephoto type pictures are against the spirit of this cache. You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point:
Description of my journey is given above and the required photographs are attached.

Please respect local laws and regulations when searching for trig points. If you believe that a trig point is located on private property or in a dangerous location, you may archive the cache, by clicking on Log this Cache and place an "Archived" log on the Geocaching Australia website:
Complied in all ways with requirements as described here.

If you feel that you can add to the description of this trig point or adjust the difficulty / terrain ratings, please feel free to edit this cache and amend the information suitably. Vandalism of the cache description or other information will result in your account being terminated:
Unable to assist here.

Best accessed via Murdochs Road which exits off Lottah Road at S41 14.262 E148 02.943

Would be touch and go with 2wd at the moment...though should be ok when dry. There is a locked gate at the start of Platts Road....either walk in or would be an easy bike road up to the tower...just over 2km return:
See above.

Rated: for Overall Experience

ST1011 added to the trig point name

Found on our North East caravan and caching weekend, easy walk up to the tower, good day for views.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Murdoch's Road was reasonable today - we had to take it quite slowly to navigate around numerous washouts but provided we took it slowly, we got to the parking spot without any dramas. It was a very pleasant walk up to the lookout and firetower. The views were nor great due to the mist and haze in the medium distance and beyond. An enjoyable walk.

Finally found the right way in...easy but gradual climb up to the tower on a well graded road. Good view across to Mt. Victoria(I presume).
TFTC...GCA...Cheers.

Rated: for Overall Experience

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