Author Archives: Jonathan

Going Home

And just like that our adventure is over. We left Wagga Wagga just after 9am, which allowed time for a gentle stroll around Wagga Wagga and for the girls to have a swim in the hotel pool.

Our drive home was pretty straightforward and we enjoyed a coffee break at Yass and lunch back at the cycle shop / cafe in Goulburn.

Across Victoria

Our day began early as we had to be ready to disembark Spirit of Tasmania II shortly after 7.30. Again we were on level 6, so one of the last cars to leave. We were a little hungry by the time we’d driven the short distance to Newtown to find breakfast at the recommended 9 Grams cafe. Refreshed but puzzled (Chorizo with a big breakfast? panna cotta and yoghurt with granola?) we got into the car for a mammoth drive.

Sat Nav said 5 hours 17 minutes so we set off promptly. Christina drove the first stint, avoiding Melbourne on a lovely route north. After a couple of hours we stopped in Seymour. Not particularly hungry, we bought lunch and went back to the car. We drove as far as Benalla, where we parked the car in the shade (a sunny 35c today!) and enjoyed lunch on a shady park bench.

Back in the car we eventually crossed the border into NSW and stopped at Culcairn for an ice cream. No delicious Tasmanian Fare but just a Cadburys Caramilk 4 pack.

Shortly after 5 we arrived at our spacious apartment in Wagga Wagga. Unpacked and refreshed by a shower we got ready for dinner. The girls researched the options and Catherine made a reservation for us at Giuseppe’s Italian restaurant.

After an enjoyable meal we walked back to the apartment to prepare for the final leg of our journey tomorrow. Just 5 hours 5 minutes apparently!

To Devonport

Our final day in Tasmania. Our first destination only 6 minutes away was Cataract Gorge. A Victorian Pleasure garden created by the draining of a swamp. We took the chair lift across the gorge and as we got off Emma spotted a wallaby in the bushes. We took a gently meandering path downhill to the Gorge Viewpoint. There were a lot of peacocks around.

We then crossed the suspension bridge and back to the car park Our next stop was the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm at Elizabeth Town. After a short walk around their little lake we enjoyed a long, leisurely lunch at their cafe. It was pretty much raspberries with everything!

We then revisited the Anvers Chocolate Factory for a few holiday momentos and then on to Devonport. With time to kill we visited the lighthouse at Formby and then had a picnic tea with the seagulls in Pioneer Park.

We then set of to the ferry terminal where we queued, boarded and found our cabin for a good nights sleep as we travelled back across the Bass Straight. 

The slow road to Launceston

Packed up, checked out and on the road early we set off to the Eddystone lighthouse. This was a slow journey along lots of gravel roads. The destination was worth it and we enjoyed a walk up to the lighthouse and then down to the orange lichen covered rocks. Some returning fishermen were showing off their crayfish catch in the car park.

We then tried to find a way to Ansons Bay for a play on the beach. This was inaccessible so we continued on in search of St Columbus Falls. This was rather busy, but an interesting sight nonetheless.

Our next stop was an interesting dairy and cheesery where we enjoyed ice creams, entertained by the cows using the automatic milking parlour in the field next door. 

Eventually the winding A3 took us to Launceston and we found comfortable accomodation at the Colonial Hotel. We went to a Mexican restaurant, The Prickly Cactus, for supper.

St Helens and the Bay of Fires

Waking up in St Helens we enjoyed breakfast on our deck, eating cereals out of sandwich boxes. We then set off to the boat ramp at Binnalong Bay to check in for our Ecotour boat adventure. The girls were allocated the front row of the 20 seater boat. Christina and I sat directly behind them, all of us at the bouncy end of the boat. 

We set off from the boat ramp and gently a little out to sea for the first stop and a discussion about the Bay of Fires and the plans for the rest of our 2 hour tour. We then moved to the north end of Binnalong Bay at a much faster pace. Unfortunately this was too much for some of the younger passengers and we returned to base to drop them off.

Already the tour had been shortened to an hour because of the choppy nature of the sea and with some rain appearing over the hills. We continued at great pace to Skeleton Bay and Elephant Island. The girls grinning broadly as we leapt over and crashed through waves at great speed. Sadly, at Elephant Island the decision was made to cancel the trip, as sea conditions were worsening. We ended up beneficiaries of a ‘free joyride’ but determined to go back another time to finish the trip.

Over a cup of coffee we replanned our day. Planning was interrupted by the appearance of a large ray in the harbour. It was about 1m2.

We drove north on narrow gravel roads to The Garden, where we enjoyed lunch on the rocks, and even saw a seal swim by. The girls were eventually prised away from their rock hopping and we retraced our route back to St Helens. After a brief relax and change into shorts Christina and the girls went out on a jaunt.

We enjoyed a delicious supper at The Wharf Restaurant before heading back to base. Through the drizzle.

St Helens

We had a busy start to the day as we had to make sure that the AirBnB was left in a tidy state and all our bits loaded aboard the car. We all worked hard and managed to leave Coles Bay at 9am.

After retracing Coles Bay Road for the final time we headed north, back to the Douglas Apsley National Park and the warm waterhole we had enjoyed earlier in the week. I was not impressed, the water was only a little warmer than the cold Tasman Sea so I didn’t last long. Emma fared better and enjoyed a long swim and snorkel.

Nearing lunchtime when we left we motored on past Bicheno looking for a suitable spot and we were well served at Four Mile Creek. After eating our sandwiches and a little explore around the creek and bridge we got back on the road.

We arrived at St Helens and checked in to the grand looking hotel. Our room was great with a verandah overlooking the bay, giving us a great vantage point to watch the many black swans swimming serenely. We dined in at the hotel’s rather disappointing bistro passing time booking a boat adventure for the morning.

After dinner the girls went back to the room and Christina and I had a stroll around the bay.

Maria Island

An early start from Coles Bay to make sure that we caught the 10am ferry from Triabunna. Traffic much lighter in the early morning meant we were passing through Swansea before Morris’ stores were open. We arrived in Triabunna and even had time to find coffees, milkshakes, pasties and rocky roads.

Sea conditions were calm as we crossed to Maria Island and were warmly greeted by warden Rosie. We then set off on a hot walk (did I mention it was hot?) to the reservoir, which we’d heard was a good spot for lunch. The history of Maria Island is an interesting and varied one which includes two short spells as a penal colony, attempts to build a commercial industry based around the cement works in the 1880’s and latter day conservation.

After lunch we continued ou a circular path around the north coast of the island. We saw a wombat nibbling at the flowers and grasses under a bush and two wallabies popped their heads above the long grass as we walked past the airstrip. We soon returned to the jetty, hotter and tired, and decided the next stop should be a beach for a swim. Emma continued to explore with her excellent snorkelling.

We returned to the mainland and got in the car to head home. Hungry, we stopped at Swansea and enjoyed scallops served in a pie, a curry and deep fried. Emma chose a very large pizza instead. As we were shown to our table we were surprised to see on the wall a signed Beatles guitar.

Refreshed, we continued back to Coles Bay for our final night there.

Swansea

Having explored the local Freycinet National Park and Coles Bay Area we were ready to look further afield. We first had to drive the 26km of Coles Bay Road before we hit the Tasman Highway and chose to go south, to Swansea.

Swansea is situated on Great Oyster Bay, directly across from Coles Bay. However, the road takes a circuitous route that took us 45 minutes to drive. When we got there the beach was quiet so we set up our new CoolCabana and the girls had a swim. I set off to find a coffee while Christina also had a swim.

The location was so nice that we remained on the beach for our picnic lunch and some time beyond.

Ready for something else we tidied away beach gear and swimming attire and went to the museum. On the way there we found an interesting juxtaposition of the old and the new – Morris IGA, the largest shop in town and an electric car being charged-up. The Morris family have owned the shop continuously since 1860.

The museum was really interesting covering such staples as Indigenous history and land ownership alongside 20th Century military conflicts. The museum also covered the history of the area, including its role within the penal colony through the eyes of the Amos family.

We then made the journey home in time for fish and chips at home. A step up from the usual fare we enjoyed scallops and calamari.

Around Mount Mayson

We set off to tackle a walk rated as difficult by the National Park. In truth it was only 12km on well marked paths, although the start was very steep with many steps taking us past the Coles Bay and Saddle lookouts to the high point of the Wineglass Bay lookout.

Having reached the peak elevation of the walk we then descended the 1000 steps to Wineglass Bay. The bay looked idyllic and we were all in awe of the chap in genuine Budgie Smugglers ™ wh gracefully dived over a breaking wave for a swim. His swim was very short so we think the water was quite cold.

From Wineglass Bay we crossed the isthmus to Hazards Beach, diligently obeying instructions to stick to the path, even in the muddiest bits. leaving the isthmus via duckboards and steps over the sand dune to start a walk along the beach. We stopped for lunch before heading back onto the coastal path back to the car.

Exhausted by the walk we returned home for a rest. We were soon ready to visit the IceCreamery again before coming home to get ready for a meal at Richardsons Bistro, part of the lavish Freycinet Lodge hotel.

The meal was delicious. We shared octopus and a salmon rillette as starters before heading to more familiar beef dishes. It was a suitable end to a fabulous day.

Around Coles Bay (para 1 by Catherine)

Today we went on a short walk around Coles Bay along the edge of the coast, which was very nice. We were greeted by a small row of shops when we came to the end of the road so Daddy bought Emma and I a snack whilst he had an almond croissant. Whilst we were enjoying our treat and the gorgeous view, Mum went to the general store next door to pick up some groceries.

Our next activity was a swim at Richardsons Beach. Emma had fabulous time snorkelling while the rest of us managed only a few minutes in the clear, but very cold, waters. After a shower and refresh at home we went to enjoy a late lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm where we dined well on excellent local oysters, mussels and scallops.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing at home, save for a visit to The IceCreamery for a delicious single scoop. Early night after a light supper at home.