TASMANIA - NARAWNTAPU NP TO DEVONPORT - 13 TO 15 APRIL 2022

 13 APRIL

NARAWNTAPU NATIONAL PARK

We left Ranson Beach and stopped at Bridport for water for the van and coffee.

Drove to Narawntapu National Park. We settled into a powered site near the ranger station.

We were going for an afternoon beach cycle when we noticed that Jacinta’s bike had a wheel nut missing. Jacinta had a walk and I cycled along Baker Beach.

14 APRIL

NARAWNTAPU NATIONAL PARK

We drove to Latrobe to get a wheel net for Jacinta’s bike. We also  got food supplies and had a great coffee in a café/art shop. Very cool.

Back at camp we had an afternoon hike to Archers Knob. It was a bit further than we thought but it had great views over the park and along the coast.

15 APRIL

Narawntapu NP to Devonport

Our last day in Tasmania.

We woke to light rain.

After breakfast, we drove to Latrobe and walked around Pig Island. A nice pretty walk though a little damp at times.

After a break at a café in Latrobe, we drove to the waterfront on west side of Devonport. The rain was off and on. When it was off, we had a wandered around.

Late in the afternoon, we visited Annie, who we met at Ranson Beach. We had a nice afternoon and dinner.

Time to bid our farewells and board ‘The Spirit of Tasmania’ for the mainland.

TASMANIA - BRIDPORT TO RANSON BEACH - 10 TO 13 APRIL 2022

 10 APRIL

BRIDPORT

We camped at Bridport next to a small and pretty beach. I had a cycle along the foreshore which led past a number of small beaches and one long beach. The tracks detoured into the hinterland making this another fun bike ride.

We made a fire for the night.

11 APRIL

BRIDPORT TO RANSON BEACH

Last night the hatchet broke when I was chopping firewood. We left Bridport and made a detour to Scottsdale to purchase a new axe.

The drive to Ranson Beach was along a long straight road past grazing farms. Probably the longest straight road we drove along in Tasmania.

The turn off for the beaches was along a long-corrugated gravel road. It was a bit tricky in parts but we eventually made it to Ranson Beach free camp.

We settled into a nice camp site under a wide pine tree. A short walk and we were on the beach. The beach was long with a boulder point at the eastern end.

We walked along the beach once we were settled.

Later, I had a cycle along beach and the next long beach.

A fire that night where were joined by Annie, who was camped next to us.

12 APRIL

RANSON BEACH

In the morning, I had a cycle along the hinterland and beaches to the west. There was one good view spot and lots of beaches and other camp areas.

In the afternoon, I had a kayak along shore towards west. The ocean was calm and there were a number of rocky outcrops to paddle around. The water was crystal clear.

Another night fire with Annie.

13 APRIL

RANSON BEACH

The morning sunrise was beautiful with a fog over the ocean.

We packed and said our goodbyes to Annie.

Going westwards.

TASMANIA - ST HELENS TO SCOTTSDALE - 'BIKING, HIKING AND WATERFALLS' - 8 TO 10 APRIL 2022

 8 APRIL

ST HELENS TO PYENGANA

After a mountain bike ride at St Helens, we stopped for lunch and drove inland.

We weren’t sure where we would stay but we took a turnoff for Pyengana. The area was mainly dairy farms and the pastures were very green and lush. There was a free camp at the recreation grounds and we settled there for the night.

A great camp area surrounded by farmlands.

We lit a fire that night.

9 APRIL

PYENGANA TO BRANXHOLM

We woke to a mist shrouded morning which gradually lifted throughout the morning.

We drove to the end of the road to St Columba Falls. It was a relatively short walk through temperate rainforest lined with large ferns to the falls. The walk had some very steep drops in sections. The falls were impressive and very high. The water dropped and cascaded on its journey downwards. It was very close so it was difficult to see the falls in its entirety.

We stopped at the Cheese factory for brunch then journeyed onwards to Derby.

At Derby, we checked the mountain biking and the camp areas and decided to go a little further to Branxholm. We decided to stay there and had a good free camp site and a fire.

10 APRIL

BRANXHOLM TO BRIDPORT

We left Branxholm and doubled back to Derby where I had a fun and exciting mountain bike ride on the green tracks and one blue. The blue was a ‘wow-I-did-it’ track. It tested my biking limit. The tracks ended in a long tunnel with various coloured lighting and darkness in parts.

We drove to Scottsdale where Jacinta and I had a long bike ride on the rail trail track. It was an easy ride with changing scenery from farms, forests and a huge logging yard.

Next stop, Bridport.

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.