TASMANIA - FREYCINET PENINSULA TO BAY OF FIRES - 2 TO 8 APRIL 2022

 2 APRIL

BICHENO

We stopped at the Friendly Beaches to check the surf. The size had increased but there wasn’t much quality.

It didn’t take long to reach Bicheno. We had a bit of a drive around town and I checked a few surf spots but despite some size there wasn’t much happening.

It was cold, strong winds and raining so we stocked up on food and settled into a camp area where we lazed away the afternoon.

3 APRIL

BICHENO

An early walk around the foreshore – a wild sea, off and on wind, an out-of-control blowhole, granite boulders, a granite island, a small fishing port, a calm bay, beaches, people swimming and people looking freezing. A great hike.

Light showers which eventually eased in the early afternoon. Jacinta and I walked to the top of WHALERS LOOKOUT then followed the foreshore walk.

Rained most of the rest of the day.

4 APRIL

BICHENO TO SCAMANDER

It rained most of the night but stopped in the morning. We left a soggy camp to explore the surf coast.

The first part of the trip was annoying as we passed a number of possible surf breaks but there was no access due to private property. On the positive the weather was warming up fast and the sun was shining.

We stopped at a number of places checking the surf.

Eventually, we reached White Sands, where I had a fun surf with a few other surfers. It was about 1 m with the waves running fast down the beach from a rocky reef.

We stopped at a few more places and eventually camped at Scamander.

5 APRIL

SCAMANDER TO BAY OF FIRES

We caught up with Tank in morning. A friend I’d met in Bali years ago and on a number of occasions. He had a great house in front of good beach break.

We checked the surf at a number of locations north of Scamander. Nice coast but no luck.

On the way to St Helen’s Point, we walked a sandy track that led to Blanche Beach. This beach was a ‘WOW’. So pretty!

We continued north and found a great camp site at the Bay of Fires in front of Swimcart Beach.

6 APRIL

BAY OF FIRES

I went for an early morning walk south along the beach and explored the rocky headland and the next beach.

In the afternoon, we cycled to Taylors Beach. It was mainly along the road but we found a few fun tracks. There was a lot of up and down to the journey.

That night, we had a lovely fire under the southern skies.

7 APRIL

BAY OF FIRES TO SCAMANDER

We left Swimcart Beach and drove to The Gardens. It was a pretty walk around the point past gardens of boulders and light blue, clear and calm waters.

We journeyed south and checked the surf at Beerbarrel Beach. Not surfable.

I needed an ocean cleansing and went for a surf at beautiful Blanches Beach. The surf was very ordinary but the scenery was soooo good.

A stop at St Helens for groceries, alcohol, lunch and finally, a haircut.

Heading back to Scamander, we checked St Helens MTB and the surf along the coast.

At our camp in Scamander, we aired the van and did washing.

8 APRIL

SCAMANDER TO ST HELEN’S

In the morning, I had a surf at Shelly Beach with Tank. It was fun surfing we friends. We popped over to Tank’s house and said our farewells.

Next stop was the Mountain Bike Park at St Helens. I had a great time riding the green tracks. Jacinta had a walk along the tracks.

Time to move inland and north.