When we planned this trip we had three priorities – visit Ian, Helen and Oscar, of course; explore MONA; and walk in Freycinet National Park. Having now achieved these things we could go home, but we won’t as our appetites have been whetted for more. We must say that, so far, despite its being Spring, we have had wonderful weather, or, at least, wonderful where it counts – for our Maria Island, MONA and Freycinet days.
It did, we admit, rain most of our drive into Freycinet, but that didn’t worry us unduly. We had a pleasant trip, breaking at the friendly Gateway Cafe at Orford for a cuppa, stopping in the drizzle to look at the intriguing but picturesque spiky bridge, seeing some feathered critters along the road, and visiting two pretty wineries for a taste or two – Milton winery in a pretty cottage by a pretty lake, and Spring Vale with its 1842 convict-built stables-now-cellar door. We could have stopped at more but we are older and more sensible now about pacing ourselves! Pinot Gris wines were the pick at these two places for Sue, with Len spreading his love a bit wider!
Beautiful, even without the sun
Having checked into our cabin, we decided to explore Honeymoon Bay which was just a few minutes from our door. As we walked down the path, a woman returning said it was beautiful even without the sun. She was right. We spent half an hour walking around the rocks of the bay, looking at the view and peering into crevices and rock pools. Absolutely gorgeous. Then it was dinner at the lodge where we were served by lovely young men from the USA and Singapore. One of the delights of visiting Australia’s great national parks, we’ve discovered over the years, is meeting young people on working holiday visas from other parts of the world.
Here comes the sun
Our big walking day dawned rather cloudy but we set off around 9.30am expecting the best. We got to the Wineglass Bay lookout around 10:10am and it was still cloudy. Very pretty but not quite the view we hoped for. However, as Len said, we weren’t in a hurry – that is, we had nowhere we had to be – so we hung around and were rewarded about 20 minutes later by the sun lifting, giving us the view we wanted. Loverly, to put it mildly.
Then it was time to get on with our walk, which we knew was going to take us another 4 hours and then some. It was a steep walk down to Wineglass Bay itself, where we stopped for lunch, despite the cold wind a’blowing. From there we walked around, via the Isthmus, to the equally beautiful Hazards Beach, along which the next kilometre of our walk took us. What a great walk …. There was sand, of course, which many of you know I do not like, but there was plenty of firm sand so that was (unstressfully) doable! The beach was full of shells and other detritus from the sea brought in by the tide. We meandered rather than hurried along this part of the walk. What is it about shells that is so appealing to kids and adults alike?
From here the walk took us through coastal vegetation including little inlets into and frequent sights of the sea for about 6 kilometres until we reached the car park some 6 hours after we’d left it. A fairly strenuous 11 kilometres, according the National Parks Guide, and our feet certainly felt it, but we are happy to report that we made it without collapsing and were able to make it to dinner after a little rest in our cabin.
Critter report (particularly for Trudy)
These two days were a little more interesting on the critter front. There were the (hopefully not Christmas) turkeys crossing the Tasman Highway just south of the wineries. We wondered whether they were escaping the emu, though it seemed to be happily minding itself in the field whence they’d come. As emus are apparently extinct in Tasmania, this emu is presumably a farmed one. Oh dear.
And then in the carpark for the Wineglass Bay walk we met several Bennett’s (Red-necked) Wallabies. We saw none elsewhere on the walk so we guess they were opportunists looking for a feed. During our walk we saw and heard plenty of birds, but the other excitement was Len’s seeing what we are confident was a Tiger Snake. I only saw the last bit of its tail. However, research later suggests that it was this highly venomous snake. We are glad it saw us first and decided to leave the path to us!
The pictures tell the best story though …
Two Bennett’s Wallabies discussing (if you listen closely) their next move…
What bird is that?
Those wallabies! What do you reckon – an old married couple or a courting couple. (Couldn’t see enough to know if they are a couple in that sense.)
But Oh Tasmania and Oh Freycinet! – you will always remember lovely Wineglass Bay, I think. That view from the Lookout is something I have never forgotten but then there are so many places in Tasmania that are unforgettable.
Thanks for the wonderful photos and especially The Conversation. (Did you feel you were eavesdropping?)
Yes, Mum, that view is wonderful isn’t it. We had to wait 20 mins or so for the clouds to move on, but it was worth it. As for the Wallabies, cheeky you! we were so intrigued by their behaviour we didn’t inspect their anatomy closely!
OMG!! You know I LOVE the critters!!!
You have been taking pictures just for me. I LOVE the Hazard Beach pics – every one. OF COURSE I loved the gobbling turkeys, the adorable emu, and the wallabies. I loved the sea shells and the coral and that wonderful artfully shaped log standing so poetically in the sand. The beach is lovely. The sick little grass tree is so sad. I loved the marbled looking rocks. The picture of you and Len is GREAT!! Ya’ll look wonderful and the setting is serene and romantic. Love those delicately flowering trees. Do you know what they are? Len with his wine and his big smile is perfect. =) They go together so well. AND I love the fungus – one of my favorite things!! Julie Andrews may love raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and I have to say those things are not bad BUT I adore the wonderful diverse world of the Fungi. The shapes, the colors, the way it does – fell in love with all fungus while camping in the Smokey Mountains as a young whipper snapper. =) A ranger gave a talk with a grand slide show and I was hooked on fungus for life, LOL Sue, I think your pic on that wonderful wavy seat designed by the architect students is a great one…. your wonderful smile and that twinkle in your eye. A show stopper for sure.
The wallabies video is precious. Although does one slap the other one somewhere in the middle. Or is it just me. Anyway, it looks like by the end they had made up and were back to intimate chit chat and nuzzling. And that my friends is the way all good stories should end. =)
As always thank you SO much for sharing and I love that you think of me on your trips . Makes me smile from the inside out. I have to get caught up on the other adventures you have shared – sorry to be so behind. But what a treat I found waiting for me once I had a chance to scope out the emails!!
Trudy for Carter and Trudy
Love your fungus story Trudy. I love them too but don’t see enough in our climes. Knew you’d love today’s post … And of course I think of you when taking photos. You are so attentive!
And yes, there was a little wallaby biff or two, but it all seemed happy enough!