Life's just a bowl of Cherries in Tasmania
We left Bridport on Sunday morning on the 10th Dec. bound for St. Helens via Scotsdale.
A quicker route, but very hilly with a lot of climbing & hairpin bends, with a severe
drop off on the passenger side. it took us 2hrs 10mins to do 120kms.
We had lunch at St. Helens, a scenic town overlooking Georges Bay.
Just North of St. Helens, there are a number of free camps right next to the beach.
They all get a good wrap in Wikicamps from travellers who have stayed,
or are staying there. The first one we picked was Swimcart Beach.
We were lucky, there was one spot left, they are all starting to fill up
for the summer season. We were happy with our spot, overlooking the beach.
Looking from our Van when we first arrived.
Late afternoon, same place, Jan fishing
Looking back at our Van from the beach
After we set up camp, we took a drive back to St. Helens point,
to look for potential surf breaks. One we saw was Beer Barrel beach.
Will have a look tomorrow morning.
On the way back home, we stopped off at a farm selling cherries & peaches,
& bought a kilo of each. Delicious!
We also called in to Binalong Bay to have a look. Another beautiful place,
with crystal clear ocean water, & white sand.
Plus, home to a few statues, & coloured rocks.
Some of the painted rocks in the Bay of Fires
so we decided to travel up to the Northern tip of the Bay of Fires.
Heading first to The Gardens.
Protected cove at the Gardens
Another protected bay on the other side of the Gardens.
The tip is called Eddystone Pt., & then you have Anson Bay South of it.
We called in to have a look at the other free camps in Bay of Fires,
Policemans Pt. Cosy Corner Nth, Cosy Corner Sth.
All great places to stay, near or on the beach, but we like Swimcart the best
Eddystone Lighthouse
Rock formations offshore from Eddystone.
Just a glimpse of Eddystone Beach
After leaving Swimcart Beach, we moved down the coast & camped at Lagoon Beach.
We stayed there for 2 days, exploring north & south of there, going to Binalong Bay,
St. Helens, Scamander, Falmouth, and Bicheno, all the while looking for a wave,
never finding any. The wind was onshore, & the swell was tiny.
I was told i'd just missed the swell, which was last week.
Never mind, the sightseeing was great.
After leaving Lagoon Beach, we again moved down the coast, & stayed at
Triabunna. We booked a boat circumnavigation round Maria Island.
It was a 7 hr day, with lunch onboard, & 2 hrs on the Island,
which was a penal colony in the 19th century.
The cruise around the island was spectacular.
Huge, vertical, fossil cliffs, large caves, waterfalls, orange lichen covering the rocks,
the isolated, clear water bays with white sand, dolphins surfing the boat wake,
flying fish, & wombats on the island, made for an enjoyable day.
The knowledgeable Skipper Mike, with his interesting & informative description of the history
of the Island, & Jaz , his offsider who prepared a delicious lunch, & was also
very informed on the history of the island, made it even better.
One of the many caves at water level
Another cave
Rocks covered with orange lichen
More lichen
Different rock formations
Some of the locals on Maria Island.
A couple of Jan pics.
Just a glimpse of Eddystone Beach
After leaving Swimcart Beach, we moved down the coast & camped at Lagoon Beach.
We stayed there for 2 days, exploring north & south of there, going to Binalong Bay,
St. Helens, Scamander, Falmouth, and Bicheno, all the while looking for a wave,
never finding any. The wind was onshore, & the swell was tiny.
I was told i'd just missed the swell, which was last week.
Never mind, the sightseeing was great.
After leaving Lagoon Beach, we again moved down the coast, & stayed at
Triabunna. We booked a boat circumnavigation round Maria Island.
It was a 7 hr day, with lunch onboard, & 2 hrs on the Island,
which was a penal colony in the 19th century.
The cruise around the island was spectacular.
Huge, vertical, fossil cliffs, large caves, waterfalls, orange lichen covering the rocks,
the isolated, clear water bays with white sand, dolphins surfing the boat wake,
flying fish, & wombats on the island, made for an enjoyable day.
The knowledgeable Skipper Mike, with his interesting & informative description of the history
of the Island, & Jaz , his offsider who prepared a delicious lunch, & was also
very informed on the history of the island, made it even better.
One of the many caves at water level
Another cave
Rocks covered with orange lichen
More lichen
Different rock formations
Some of the locals on Maria Island.
A couple of Jan pics.
Tassie is very beautiful. Hoping you get a good wave or two soon Brad.
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