Tasman Peninsular - Fortescue Bay

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Off to the Tasman Peninsular.
We drove down the west coast calling in to see Nine Mile Beach that the author of the book, In Tasmania, that Sally had just completed reading, lived. The history of the area had been described in the book and we were keen to check out this stretch of beach first hand. There was, however, only one public access to the beach proper about 4.5 miles along the beach. We missed it on the way in but caught it on the way out of Nine Mile Beach about 4.5 miles in.

Nine Mile Beach

We drove on straight to Fortescue Bay on the Tasman Peninsular and found one of the best camp grounds on this trip. It was right on the bay and besides sharing it with some local boaties, due to a boat ramp being located there, we had it to ourselves.

Fortescue Bay Campground

I manage to get a sunset shot before retiring for dinner and 500 but visitations by local wildlife through the evening were common.

Fortescue Bay Sunset

Fortescue Bay Visitor

Coles Bay, Freycinet NP

Sunday, Feb. 15

We left Launceston late in the afternoon and headed straight to Coles Bay to meet up again with Mike and Jan. The had just completed 2 nights in the Mt William NP on the North East tip of Tasmania and were desperate for hot showers and flushing toilets. We drove the windy road through Lake Leak and hit Coles Bay late in the afternoon. We had time for a quick walk around Coles Bay and then to the pub for drinks and dinner.

Sunset over Coles Bay

After dinner I had time to shoot down to the beach and grab a photo of the sunset before returning to camp to tune into the Aust. N.Z. 20twenty cricket match on TV.

Watching 20Twenty

Sally, Colin, Mike and Jan Watching Cricket

Monday, Feb. 16

A gentle walk, not too far, not too short, to the Wine Glass Bay lookout. Lots of step and the weather wasn’t the best but even in dark overcast conditions the walk was worth it.

Coles Bay from Coles Bay Lookout (Wine Glass Bay Lookout Track)

Colin at Wine Glass Bay Lookout

Launceston Festivale

Saturday, Feb.14

Saturday night and after recovering, it was back to the festavale to see one of my old bands that I use to crew for come out of retirement (after 18 years) and perform in front of a handsome crowd.

The Talk on Stage (Festivale)

The Talk on Stage (Festivale)

After this I joined my sister Barb and her friend Mick and explored the Launceston night life. We found an exception band playing at the old Royal and stayed until stumps.

Mick at the Royal (nice handbag Mick)

Launceston - Festavale

Friday, Feb. 13

Today we parted company with Mike and Jan http://themikejancolandsalbigtrip.blogspot.com/. Sally, Lee, Johno and I were returning to Launceston in order to catch the Festivale before Lee and Johno headed to Hobart for Valentines day and then on the plane back to Cairns. We stopped outside Evandale, near Launceston, to call into the Gourmet Sauce Factory to try their wares and weren’t disappointed leaving with a supply of yummy stuff.

Lee and Johno outside the Gourmet Sauce Factory

From there we drove straight to the Cataract Gorge in Launceston for lunch. John and Lee chair lifted across and Sally and I walked over the swinging bridge to meet them.

The First Basin, Cataract Gorge

First Basin Attraction. (This is what its famous for)

And in the evening, it was off to the first night of the Launceston Festivale.

Colin, Wellsie, Viv and Barb

Lee and Johno at Festivale

We all returned to Barbs place that night for some well earned sleep.

Johno and Lee at Batbs

St Helens - Bay of Fires

Thursday, Feb. 12

The Bay of Fires. Jan was a bit under the weather today so Mike and her stayed in the park whilst Sally and I loaded John and Lee into the Prado and headed north to the Bay of Fires. Our first stop was at The Gardens were the scenery was good but Mother Nature turned on a very fresh nor-easter.

Colin, Sally and John at The Gardens

The Gardens

We then continued north towards Ansons Bay but time only permitted us to go as far as Policeman’s Point at the entrance.

Lee, Sally and Colin at Policeman’s Point

We turned south across some gravel roads back to St. Helens for lunch and then onto St. Helen’s Point on the southern side.

Lunch in St. Helens

St. Helens Harbour Entrance

Before returning to camp, we crossed back over the harbour and shot out to Binalong Bay for a quick looksee.

Binalong Bay

Then back to St. Helens to pick up some supplies for dinner and then back to the park to enjoy the very well appointed camp kitchen for dinner and some cards. We were aware of the bush fire crisis occurring in Victoria and tonight we watched the Bush Fire Appeal on the tele.

Ringarooma Valley - St Helens

Wednesday, Feb. 11

With only a few days left for Lee and John in Tassie, we decided to head to St Helens, on the east coast, so they could see the real Bay of Fires. This trip passed many point of interest. The first being the Lavender Farm, just out of Scottsdale.

John at the Lavender Farm

Then to Ledgerwood to see wood carving on a grand scale.

Some of the Ledgerwood Wood Carvings

Here we split up, because Mike and I wanted to go inland and see Ralph Falls and St. Columbia falls which included some unsealed roads. We had arranged to meet John and Lee at Pyengana or else, St. Helens.

Ralph Falls

St. Columbia Falls

On our way back from St. Columbia Falls, Sally just about stubbed her toe on this friendly little critter.

Echidna

We arrived at Pyengana but there was no sign of Lee and John at either the Pub in the Paddock, or the Pyengana Cheese factory. We four were fairly peckish, so we headed straight to the cheese factory for free tastings and coffee and grilled cheese slices. MMMMM. Oddly enough, whilst enjoying our afternoon tea, Pyengana was hit by a hail storm. Not as big as the one we had in Warrick but enough to get the locals excited.

Hail Storm at Pyengana Cheese Factory

From here we headed straight to St. Helen’s were we caught up with John and Lee and settled into our possies at St. Helen’s Big4.

St. Helen’s Big4

Lee's Birthday - Bridport

Tuesday, Feb. 10

LEE’S BIRTHDAY **** HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE ****

We had booked in for dinner at the Barnboogle Golf Resort in Bridport but after some inside information from one of yesterday’s wineries, we headed back to Pipers Brook to sample some more award winning bubbles, this time at Delamere Winery

Sally, Colin, John, Birthday Girl, Jan and Mike @ Delamere Winery

We returned to Bridport and caught a mini bus to Barnboogle for lunch and oddly enough the girls found a bottle of north eastern bubbly they hadn’t tried yet and continued the bubbles tour of Tasmania in earnest.

Sally, Colin, Jan, Mike, Fay, John, Lee and Bruce the Cat

We returned to Bridport for a couple of relaxing drinks before heading to the Tavern for a final feed for the day.

Eastmans Beach, Bridport