Category Archives: Tasmania March 2015

3 month trip

Day 93

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Tuesday 2nd June

Got all packed up and was on the road by 10.30 am. Our flight was for noon. Got there early and watched the people go before us, then it was our turn, I could see that there was wind but Jason ( the Pilot ) assured me it was not a problem, and he was right, the trip was good, few bumps and lighting was not the best but he did what he could to help us get good views. From our flight we headed down towards Port Arthur, on the way we found a spot to stay at Mayfield Bay so nice, camped in for the night. Only a few people here, nice big sites.

IMG_1122  View from the Seaside van park looking out to the bay at BichenoIMG_1123  Here is the seaside van park, this used to be a Christian camping place, its very big.IMG_1131  Freycinet Air, this is their strip.IMG_1138  The people before us taking off.IMG_1148  Up we go.IMG_1161  The Hazards in the mid ground.IMG_1172  Wineglass BayIMG_1173  The Hazards from around the other side. Incredible rocks.IMG_1184 IMG_1185 IMG_1197 IMG_1217  Saffire, built like a Stingray, awesome, Its a resort.IMG_1219 IMG_1226  Coming into land.IMG_1140

The people before us taking off.

Day 92

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Monday 1st June

We had a day out at the Natureworld in Bicheno, they are doing a wonderful job of saving the Tasmanian Devil, as they run a breeding program and release them to where they will be safe from the Cancer Facial Tumors. By going to the park you are actually helping them with your fee’s to keep this program going. Here are some of the animals that I got photos of.

1_IMG_0971  Sign on road side, cant miss it.IMG_0710  White Peacock, I assume it’s Albino, but not sure.IMG_0726  PeacockIMG_0731  Emu’s playing around.IMG_0752 IMG_0754  GooseIMG_0760  Ducks, not good lighting but I took it as they are so colourfulIMG_0774  Deer running, got spooked.IMG_0783  Big Yarn, they do this when they are stressed, Tasmanian DevilIMG_0799  Native Hen, this one was really going off.IMG_0803  Kangaroo looking for tidbits.IMG_0828  Tasmanian Devil, she was chasing the male away.IMG_0843  Kangaroo and big bub.IMG_0852  Wedgetail eagle.IMG_0937  Tasmanian DevilIMG_0962  WombatIMG_0969 Finally got to look down the throat of a Tasmanian Devil.

Day 91

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Sunday 31st May

Last day of the month, leaves us with 27 days to go. Went to Coles Bay and Freycinet and saw lovely scenery, not a lot there, Loved the Hazards the mountains in the background at Coles Bay, drove to the light house, got our cameras ready and it poured with rain, so waited awhile, we knew it wasn’t going to let up. Very dark skies.

IMG_0495 IMG_0502  The Hazards.IMG_0510 IMG_0521  Was so windy this seagull was not happy.IMG_0528  Another view of the Hazards, they are so big and long hard to fit them all in. Lighting was not good.IMG_0541  Information Centre at Coles Bay, worth going into, lady there very helpful and has lots of knowledge of the area.IMG_0570  On our way back to Bicheno.IMG_0588  Had to go and have another look.IMG_0679 These guys were holidaying and were having great fun.

Day 90

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Saturday 30th May

What a night, dam winds, had to get up in the middle of the Don fixed things up and we hoped it would still be there in the morning, didn’t get much sleep though. At least all was well in the morning. We had a free day today so didn’t want to go far with the winds as bad as they were, went into town and did all the things to see and down to the blow hole, oh I must say great dump point in town with a hose. Here are a few shots, the wind got worse down at the blow hole and was nearly blowing me over, freaky feeling. Loved it when I went to the butcher I could get my onions, etc for my meal to cook, great shop.

 

IMG_0243  Big slabs of rock down here at the blow hole.IMG_0244 IMG_0252  Big cracks, on such big slabs.IMG_0261  Seam of Quartz, wonder if there’s gold in there??IMG_0279  And there she blows.IMG_0284  Loved the name of this shop.IMG_0287  Harbour where we’re staying at Bicheno.IMG_0359  Eating out of Dons hand.IMG_0381 IMG_0391 IMG_0407 IMG_0419  Had to go back when tide was higher and shes a beauty.IMG_0442

Day 88 & 89

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Thursday 28th May

Rained all day, went into town for a few things. No photos today.

Friday  29th May

Well the canvas is dry so we are really packing up and hitting the road to Bicheno. Came for 2 nights and Stayed for 5, thanks very much to the Hillcrest van park. Giving them a plug as they were very good to us, Thanks to Chris very much. Had a good run down stopped at a few places and got to Seaview  Caravan Park, Decided to set up as the weather was not sounding good, gale force winds, snow down low and cold. We will tiki tour tomorrow.

IMG_0063  If you want a van park to stay in St Helens here it is.IMG_0066 IMG_0070 IMG_0072 IMG_0080  Camp Kitchen, TV, games for kids, etc.IMG_0098  Falmouth where the river runs into the sea.IMG_0096 IMG_0103 IMG_0110 IMG_0111 IMG_0113 IMG_0126 IMG_0139 IMG_0140  Had to take this, it is grass on top of this house’s roof, still being built so couldn’t get to the front to see the architecture.IMG_0214FishermansJetty  Fishermans Jetty at Bicheno, fresh fish and chips and scollops. Beautiful, sat on the rocks and ate them, but first had to wrap our tea in a blanket to keep it warm as wanted to get the colours in the sunset.IMG_0233BichenoSunset Another shot from where we did eat our tea.

Day 87

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Wednesday 27th May

left nice and early and headed off to Mathinna and Mangana. Chris at the park has told us of lots to do off the beaten track so thanks for that Chris it was awesome. Stopped at St Marys at the Old Museum called Cranks and Tinkers, a must to pop in and see Ian, you will not believe what he has.We loved the old buildings in Mathinna and that they are still being lived in. Went and saw the falls, Ill post them later. After leaving that area we carried onto Mangana another quaint wee settlement, loved the old house here as well, reminded me of the days I lived in a mill. Weather was turning cold and wet, but we still did ok.

IMG_9974  Mathinna was named after an Aboriginal girl who was befriended by Lady Franklin whom this town is named after, I felt this is worth a mention.IMG_9940 IMG_9994  Light on the hillsIMG_9980  Esk RiverIMG_9953  MathinnaIMG_9952  We sheltered in here for smoko MathinnaIMG_9948  Old mining days.IMG_9747  Fires burn offs.IMG_9749  Beautiful coloured rockIMG_9939 IMG_9941  MathinnaIMG_9944 IMG_9745  FingalIMG_9744  Driving down the Fingal Valley, the lighting was awesome on the trees with the dark sky.IMG_9738  A bit of light shines through.IMG_9731 IMG_9712  The MuseumIMG_9718  Old relics.IMG_9723  Where railway lines once stood.IMG_9713 IMG_9710  This homestead was owned by someone who owned most of the area once.IMG_0058  Bad weather.IMG_0056  FingalIMG_0051  Fingal ValleyIMG_0055 IMG_0002 IMG_0003 IMG_0010 IMG_0008 IMG_0004 IMG_0037 IMG_0044 IMG_0014

Tree patterns and colours after being chopped down.

Day 86

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Tuesday 26th May

We took a drive out to Binalong and did all the dirt tracks and checked out the bush camps and beaches, rocks, rocks, and more rocks all shapes, sizes and colours. Here’s a few photos of the day.

IMG_9343 IMG_9336 IMG_9345 IMG_9363 IMG_9369 IMG_9370 IMG_9422 IMG_9566 IMG_9409 IMG_9524 IMG_9569  This is the mouth of the George Bay St Helens and ocean IMG_9576 IMG_9668  Fishing boat on its way in to the bayIMG_9679  Here it is at the jetty area to berthIMG_9677 This is a floating restaurant but fixed to wharf.

Day 85

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Monday 25th May

Went for a drive to Evercreech Forest,from St Helens you go along the way down the coast and over the St Marys Pass, very windy and narrow in places but just take your time, its very high and lovely. St Marys town is a quaint wee country town.The Museum at the old Railway Station is worth the stop, Ian will tell you about so many things, may even give you a tune on his Banjo if you ask nicely.  Further on we called into Cornwall, full of history as a coal mining town, they have a wall of remembrance there, very nice to see. Had smoko there. Got to Fingal, which is a lovely drive down through the valley and we turned off and headed to Mathinna, our turn off was just this side to the Evercreech forest, good dirt roads. Beautiful driving down through the forest. We ran out of day so will have to make another trip to Mathinna.

IMG_8893  quick snap while driving past, loved the fog in behind the house. Heading to St Marys.IMG_8889 IMG_8895  Fingal drive.IMG_8921  Esk River, heading out of Fingal to the forest.IMG_8922 IMG_8939  Well here we are at the picnic area of the Evercreech Forest, no camping allowed, but day use only, this is a great shelter, nice toilets and a gas BBQ, table and chairs placed at different place with also fire pits.IMG_8946  Stream, so clear.IMG_8942  picnic area.IMG_9034  walking through the forest, the bush is so quiet.IMG_9046  Well here is some of the White Gums, known as the “White Knights”, about 90 metres tall, they are Australia’s tallest white gums.IMG_9056  Another angle, so hard to photograph as they are to big, and the lighting isn’t always good looking up towards the sky.IMG_9084 IMG_9109  Part of the walk back down.IMG_9115 IMG_9118  Looked like a graveyard of trees all covered in thick bright green mosses.IMG_9119 IMG_9130  Natures smile.IMG_9136  This is the base of an old tree, its rotted away in the middle.IMG_9165  Reflection of the bridge in clear stream.IMG_9170 IMG_9195  Opps the skies are looking dark, this house just looked nice in the foreground of a dirty sky.IMG_9252 IMG_9253  Cornwall has so much history but don’t go wondering up in the hills still lots of  mine shafts  up in the hills we have been told.IMG_9308  Scamander, bridge on left not in use now, only a walk way, new bridge on right, ocean on right. Nice wee seaside town.IMG_8987  I dont like doing portrait shaped photo’s, but this was to try and show the size of some of the trees, this is only quarter of the tree.IMG_9038  This bridge is made from old punga’s and other dead trees and then just a frame to hold it together, we have been told that the towns people and some of the bikie people help maintain this forest, how good is that.IMG_9094 Just a small one. 🙂

Day 84

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Sunday 24th May

Headed off to check out some places a chap called Chris from the park suggested and we were very pleased, got to see and do heaps, Thanks for that Chris. Went to Binalong bay, and all its roads, then onto St Helens point and all its roads etc.

IMG_8444 IMG_8451 IMG_8457Georges bay The bay coming from Hillcrest caravan park where we are staying, this is the George Bay, St Helens in the back ground.IMG_8485 IMG_8475PeronDunes Akaroa IMG_8473  Part of the Peron DunesIMG_8478  Sand patterns from wind and critters.IMG_8483  Think these are She-oak pines cones, Black cockatoo’s loves these cones as there is a nut inside.IMG_8503  Such clear waters.IMG_8493 IMG_8509 IMG_8510  Mouth of the bay and oceanIMG_8512  Looking out over the Peron Sand dunesIMG_8514 IMG_8516 IMG_8564 IMG_8785 IMG_8810Dora Point IMG_8817  Dora Point, men cleaning their catch for the day.IMG_8850  Stingrays, IMG_8861  Waiting for tit bits from the fisher menIMG_8884 IMG_8881

Day 83

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Saturday 23rd May

We are packing up and heading into St Helen’s to stay at the Hillcrest Van park, need some power and nice hot showers. Was a 5 minus frost this morning. I went down to get a sunrise and the mist on the ocean from the air temperature was real eerie, beautiful, but the sunrise was nothing to get excited about..Had a nice day and got set up in the park.

IMG_8379 IMG_8387 IMG_8420 IMG_8424  Rock abstractIMG_8434 one last look before we head off