Freycinet National Park - 27/03/2024

While we were camped up in Bicheno, we took a day trip to Coles Bay to have a look around.  Checked out the Cape Tourville Lighthouse which is a short easy and scenic walk from the carpark.  

Panoramic view from the walk to the Cape Tourville Lighthouse.  The fine white line (right of centre) is the southern end of Wineglass Bay.

 

Cape Tourville Lighthouse - erected in 1971.  It replaced the inaccessible Cape Forestier Lighthouse on Lemon Rock.

Not a drone shot - looking straight down the cliff face

Cape Tourville Lighthouse.  Walking track to the lighthouse

Before leaving town that day, we booked a day cruise to Wineglass Bay.  It was a 5 hour cruise around the Freycinet Peninsula and north to Wineglass Bay.  Had lunch on the boat and returned.  What a great day - we had the perfect weather.  The entire coast line is a spectacle of vibrant coloured granite cliff faces, caves and coves - just breathtaking scenery.   

Lemon Rock, Cape Forestier

 

We got to see some wildlife, Sea Eagle and its massive nest, seals, pelicans, dolphins and shearwaters.

Sea Eagle's nest reported to be up to 35 years old and mum watching over...

Wineglass bay, with its white sandy beach and calm turquoise waters is a sight similar to Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.

 All in all, a wonderful day and worth the cost ($175 each).  We loved it.

Northern Midlands - 26/03/2024

We arrived at our next basecamp (The Pondering Frog), early at 9:00am. As we rocked up, another van was rolling out, so we grabbed their spot. That's how it works in these campgrounds - first in, best dressed. We set up and headed off inland to the small townships of Ross and Campbell Town. An historical town, Ross is home to just over 400 locals. A beautiful little place with a relaxing feel to it.
We enjoyed lunch at the local bakery - definitely recommend the pies at Bakery 31 at Ross if you’re ever in the area. Best I've tasted in a while!

Check out this old relic.  No not the chick!

We enjoyed lunch at the local bakery - definitely recommend the pies at Bakery 31 at Ross if you’re ever in the area.  Best I've tasted in a while!

 

Historical Macquarie River bridge

One of the early road signs.  The inscription on the other side of the bridge shows the distance to Launceston.

A must see in Ross is the historic bridge over the Macquarie River, opened in 1836, was constructed by convict labour led by two convict stone masons. They were each emancipated on completion of the bridge.

Checked out the ‘Ross Female Factory’ - yes, that’s what I said!  It's not what you think and they don't do trades - In its time, basically a women’s prison.

 

There's one trying to sneak out the back...

 

Then we moved on to Campbell Town (2 words) - another little place steeped in history.  They too have a historical bridge of note - known as the red bridge.

Red Bridge

 

Skullduggery runs in the family

There’s the convict brick trail - a footpath in town commemorating some of the 200,000+ convicts who were transported to Australia over almost 100 years.  I looked but didn’t recognise any ancestors.

 

St Michaels Catholic Church (early 19th century)

 

I have a bit a fetish for old sheds/barns/buildings with character so I'm always on the lookout for them to photograph everywhere I go.  Sometimes it's not that easy to pull over with a van in tow, so when we are unleashed, I'll grab every opportunity.

 

 

An opportunity to grab a family portrait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bicheno - 24 - 25/03/2024

When we drove out of St Helens, we stopped only 36km down the road for an overnighter at a free camp on the grounds of White Sands Estate - the site of a resort, brewery, distillery and winery.  

 

 

Next day, we headed off early as our intended next base was a place called "The Pondering Frog".  It's a cafe along the Tasman highway which has an area designated as a self contained  RV park - first in best dressed - $10/night.

Along the way, we drove through the seaside town of Bicheno.  We took a detour to check out the Bicheno Blow Hole - after spending an hour or so there, we decided to book a site at the local caravan park for a couple of nights.  With plenty of camera fodder around its coastline, I made the best of our time there.  All these images are from the coastline around Bicheno.

Bicheno

Seals make this island their home

Bicheno Blow Hole

Someone just had to get up close to see how it worked!

Catching up with family...

 

Judy also checked out the bakery for their vanilla slice - it got the thumbs up!

Tomorrow, we leave Bicheno and plug on a whole 12km down the road to the Pondering Frog.  Our intention is to stay there a week to secure a site across Easter as everywhere will be super busy!