Day 1: Dixons Kingdom

Apr 30

Written By Helen McKerral

We catch a bus from Launceston, planning to camp at Dixons Kingdom. We are slow hikers and, once on the track, we take plenty of time to absorb the amazing scenery, with expansive views westward to the Overland Track, as well as the Walls themselves, including a short side trip to the very beautiful Pool of Bethesda.

Weather and track condition warning sign — Our route for the day in blue

Map of route from trail head to Dixons Kingdom in Walls of Jerusalem NP

Luckily, the weather is glorious

Man with backpack walking away along fern lined track — A gentle gradient before the steady climb begins

Ferny track in dappled sunlight — Many colourful and special plants tucked away in the eucalypt forest including greenhoods (Pterostylis decurva)

small green snail orchid Pterostylis decurva — Pterostylis decurva

Spiky bush with red berries Leptocophylla juniperina Walls of Jerusalem National Park — Leptocophylla juniperina

Grevillea shrub with pink bell shaped flowers — Grevillea sp

Woman hiker standing in doorway of rusty corrugated iron and weathered grey timber Trapper Hut — The obligatory Trappers Hut stop

Hiker seated on rock slab beside tarn Walls of Jerusalem National Park — Lunch on a sun-warmed slab of rock at one of the the tarns before Solomon’s Jewels

Home made seeded crackers with dehydrated hummus dip

Geoff’s homemade seeded crackers with my home made dehydrated hummus: a lightweight nutritious lunch, just add water and a splash of olive oil

Hiker with blue backpack gazing across trees to distant Overland Track — View west towards the Overland Track

Hiker with blue backpack looking at Solomons Jewels tarns and Mt Ophei — Solomon’s Jewels with Mt Ophei beyond

Hiker traversing plain on duckboard towards looming rocky hillside — Approaching Wild Dog Creek campsite (nb green tent, centre) . We top up our water bottles, but we’re continuing on through the Walls and out the other side to Dixon’s Kingdom. Other slow hikers might prefer to stop here, then walk into the walls on the second day, taking in Solomon’s Throne and the Temple enroute to Dixon’s Kingdom for the second night, then Mt Jerusalem and Pool of Bethesda (back way) on the third day.

Expansive view across dense gum trees towards distant mountains — We keep looking behind us, westward to the Overland that we hiked a while back. This different perspective of a familiar place brings a sense of cohesion to the new landscape

Hiker passing Lake Salome with rocky Zion Hill in the background — Inside the Walls, with Zion Hill to the left and The Temple ahead. The weather is unbelievably glorious and the walking is much easier now – level, with duckboard to protect the fragile vegetation

Hillside with many spiky bushes with white flowers small lake in valley floor.

Scoparia – pretty, but almost as prickly as gorse. We are to become more familiar with it than we’d like in the days ahead!

Hiker with blue backpack walking along duck boards

Hiker at base of small scree slope below rugged rocky peaks

Embraced within a Circle of Stone

Hiker with backpack at base of scree slope and rocky buttresses of KIng David's Peak

King Billy Pines reflected in glassy surface of Bethesda Pool — Pool of Bethesda with the Temple behind. No swimming is permitted here, nor camping in the Walls area, but sadly a small group was doing just that. The northern end of the Pool was very muddy – it would be disastrous if every visitor did the same.

View across pine studded plain to towering rocky buttresses of Solomon's Throne — A final push up Damascus Gate, with the mighty Solomon’s Throne and Hell’s Buttress standing guard.

View across pines of Lake Salome and adjacent rocky King David's Peak — View back into the Walls from near Damascus Gate. We have skirted between King David’s Peak and Lake Salome to here – you can see the track lower right

Hiker climbing grassy slope studded with low flowering pink and white Scoparia bushes — A veritable garden of Scoparia at Damascus Gate. The climbing is nearly over for the day!

Hiker let foreground on stone path entering stand of King Billy Pines with Jaffa Vale in background — Descending at last into Dixon’s Kingdom

Camper seated on log beside Stratospire Li tent bear Billy pine at Dixons Kingdom Walls of Jerusalem National Park — Since we hiked, new platforms, boardwalks and loos have been established to the northwest of the original area and we urge you to use them. But the platforms have not yet been built when we hike, so we go past Dixon’s Kingdom Hut, with its crowd of tents and pesky possums, and head towards Jaffa Gate below Mt Jerusalem. Camping directly underneath the pencil pines near the hut compacts soil and damages them, but we find a spot in the open up near the gate, on the grass behind some trees. There are few flat areas left. I sort out the bedding while Geoff prepares dinner. The Walls is fuel stove only.

Hiker sitting on log cooking — Geoff gets particularly focussed around this time: dinner is nearly ready!

Pot with rehydrated food - couscous and lamb stew — Moroccan lamb with pinenuts, pumpkin, eggplant and couscous - yum!

Hiking sitting on log with pot of food in his hands - he looks very hungry — Geoff’s Hangry Face: Hurry up, I want to EAT!

Evening view in soft light across bushy plain edged with mountains — Lovely evening light

Helen McKerral

Planning and Tips: 11 Day Circuit Hike, Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Day 2: Mt Jerusalem, Solomon’s Throne