Our second week in Tasmania we spent making our way up the east coast from Port Arthur to the Bay of Fires. Leaving Hobart we stayed at a free camp just near where we were getting on the ferry the next morning to visit Bruny Island. Woken by strong winds and rain, we probably didn’t pick the best day to go to Bruny but we soon were on the ferry across which cost $33. Spending half a day there was enough for us and we were back on the ferry just after midday.

We drove towards Port Arthur arriving late in the afternoon we spent the at the caravan park to recharge and have a shower.

After a good night sleep, we were ready for morning hike to Ship Stern Bluff, a well known surf break at one of the most southern points of Tasmania. When we got to the track we were so disappointed to see that the track was shut for repairs due to the previous day bad weathers conditions. Unfortunately, we headed back to Port Arthur, deciding not to do the $40pp tour instead we had a look at the Tessellated Tiles and the Remarkable Cave.

 

Driving east we parked up for the night out the back of the Spring Bay Hotel in the town of Triabunna. A small town with not much but a fishing harbour, pub and IGA we stayed the one night for free and treated ourselves to a cold local beer at the pub and fish and chips from the food van and got an early night in.

It was blue skies and sunny the next morning, perfect conditions to visit the well know Wine Glass Bay located in the Freycinet National Park. A short 5km return walk to the lookout we had panoramic views over the bay. Unable to walk down to the sand of the bay due to track maintenance we spent the rest of the day exploring the National Park.

As the sun was setting we drove up the road to the chain of Lagoons and set up at a free camp right on the beach for the night, falling asleep to the waves crashing.

I was very excited for the day we had ahead driving to the town of Pyengana where there was The Holy Cow Café located on the Pyengana Dairy Company Farm. Basking in the sun watching the dairy cows leisurely come in for a feed, milk and scratch. Followed by enjoying a morning tea/ early lunch consisting of fresh scones with local made jam, and Pyengana Diary cream and a beef burger with a freshly baked bun filled with local ingredients. As if our stomachs had not had enough in them, we then participating in the cheese tasting and ended up buying a $9 piece of vintage cheddar and a tub of chocolate ice cream for later. Rolling out of that place we headed towards The Bay of fires where we would spend our final days in Tasmania before going back to the main land.

We set up camp at a free one just north of Binalong Bay called Cosy Corner. Cosy it was with the campfire lit we enjoyed our cheese platter and ice-cream for dessert. The next few days we spent relaxing and exploring by The Bay of Fires. We travelled the East Coast a lot faster than the West Coast, reason being on the West Coast the roads were a lot steeper windier and rough compared to the East Coast which made our travel time between places a lot longer and slower.

Our final night was something I was very much looking forward to after spending two weeks sleeping in a swag with minimal showers. I had booked in advance a night at the Bay of Fires Bush Retreat. A Glamping experience, our accommodation was a bell tent, with the comfiest bed, heaters and added extras. We indulged in the food experience ordering a platter of local ingredients which consisted of harissa lamb, crumbed eggplant, cauliflower pure, beetroot slaw and lots of other yummy things. It was such a treat for our last night as we sat around the campfire with fellow guests. After the best night sleep in 2 weeks we woke the next morning to our breakfast platter that had been freshly prepared consisting of poached eggs, smoked ham, muesli cup and freshly baked fruit toast. Feeling very satisfied with our money well spent on our glamping experience it was time to head back to Devonport passing through Launceston to board the ferry later this afternoon.

We both loved Tasmania and our experience there from the rain forests to the beaches. A couple more days may have made it a more relaxing trip but 2 weeks in winter was long enough in a swag for me and we saw everything we wanted to see and more. Thanks for reading and I hope this inspires just one person to visit Tasmania, Australias beautiful state. Read next week to see what we got up to for the rest of our time on Melbourne.

	WEEK 16	TOTAL
Kilometres	1428km	18,345km
Sunrises watched	6	38
Sunsets watched	6	50
Beaches visited	12	78
Fish caught	0	22
Snakes sighted	0	6