We are home now but I must take you back to Tasmania for a look along the east coast.
The last few days in Tasmania we hired a car for a final tour along the east coast to a sleepy little town called Bicheno and then down a peninsular to the Freycinet National Park.
Rain had fallen all the previous week, but the day we left we woke to a misty morning but by mid-morning the skies cleared and the sun came out, perfect touring weather.
Being winter most of the tourist attractions closed. No wineries with cellar doors to visit, oyster and seafood farms shut for the season. But the magic views of nature never close. The ancient and rugged, pink granite rock formations of the Hazard Range still tower above the ocean. The waves crash and spray through the blow-hole at Bicheno. Heritage buildings still stand in silent tribute to the past and the convicts and pioneers that built them.
Best of all we had this world to ourselves.
The mist hung around the valleys
Suddenly a glorious burst of sunlight pierced the mist
What stories does this derelict building hold
Now a home to the sheep
We pass over the “Spikey Bridge” built by convicts.
The spikey stones are to stop sheep jumping over the side
Most of the way the road winds along the side of the ocean. The range of mountains are part of the Freycinet Peninsular.
Precious wetlands as the sunsets, lighting the pink granite of the Hazard mountain range.
Wintersun Gardens Motel
End of day one and we find this delightful motel to stay in. $90 included a full English breakfast. Good night, sweet dreams….. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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Day 2 dawns wet, rainy and cold but well fortified with bacon and eggs we head for Freycinet National Park. First stop is to check out the blow-hole. Amazingly as we pull into the parking area the rain stops. The sky is still grey but we stay dry as we wait for natures floor show. There she blows….
Jack catches the shot as I catch him catching the shot!
The pink granite is stunning , all the folds and formations are a delight to photograph
Tourville lighthouse
From the top we get a tantalising view of Wine Glass Bay in the distance
Wine Glass Bay is in the top 10 best beaches in the WORLD. You can only get there either by boat, or a 3 hour walk up and over 300+ steps. I had seen photos of the beach and was keen to see it. Unfortunately being winter the boat tours had finished for the season and the ranger informed us that, due to the rain, the track had been washed away in parts and was very slippery.
So the closest I could get was to zoom in as far as I could to get the glimpse in the photo above
I like to try and get a 3d effect and these rock formations are quite amazing
We spend the day absorbed with the beauty of nature and so pleased that governments in the past have seen the need to preserve these special places
Back down again and the mist is starting to settle in
Passing boats in the mist
This is an area I certainly would like to visit again. Next time in the summer when the boats are going to Wine Glass Bay.
gypsy life 