Posts Tagged ‘Bay of Fires’

Photo Series – Tasmania: Mountain

Tasmania:  mountain climbing, bird-watching, fishing, trekking… I won’t go on and on.  You might know there’s lots of outdoor things to do in Tasmania.

You’ll enjoy fine Tasmanian food and wine even more when you’ve worked up an appetite in the fresh mountain air.  And a good dose of exercise will bring on a case of sleeping beauty…

Sleeping Beauty - Tasmania mountain photo series by Dan Fellow

So Think Tasmania wants to offer some inspiration in the form of these fantastic photos by Dan Fellow.  We’ve sung his praises before – and we’ll continue to do so!  We’ve also promised to give you quality Tasmanian photos, so this is the first in a series of pictures from Tassie.  We’ll put together a theme and showcase some great photography.  All you have to do is look and admire…

Tasmania Mountain One – Mt Roland in Spring

What better place to start than with this great spring showing?  In the municipality of Kentish in northern Tasmania, Mount Roland can be accessed from the nearby township of Sheffield.  Weighing in at 1233m above sea level, this mountain is a stunner in any season.

Mt Roland in the North West of Tasmania: Mountain in spring

Tasmania Mountain Two – Mt Lyell In Queenstown

Heading anti-clockwise around the Apple Isle from Sheffield, next up on our Tasmanian mountain photographic tour is in Queenstown on the West Coast.  Just to prove beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Mt Lyell is known not for spring flowers, but for copper mining.  Yet I think this photo is beautiful and interesting.

Tasmania Mountain: Mt Lyell, copper mining - Queenstown

Tasmania Mountain Three – Mt Nelson Signal Station

On we progress around Tassie until we come to the capital of Hobart.  Here it becomes obvious that the wilderness areas of the island don’t command all the mountains – some border the city too!  I’ve chosen a photo from Dan Fellow’s collection, not of Mount Wellington, but one taken atop the smaller cousin, Mt Nelson.

Easy to access from Sandy Bay and a great lookout over the Derwent River – you can buy delicious hot chocolate at The Station Cafe.  Or maybe now that daylight savings has kicked in and we are heading towards summer, you might like a cold glass of wine at the outdoor seating perhaps?

Mt Nelson in Hobart Tasmania: Mountain for summer drinks?

Tasmania Mountain Four – Ben Lomond, North East

Located in the Ben Lomond National Park and stretching to 1573m above sea level, you can find this beauty 50kms south east of Launceston.  Known as the place to go for snow-skiing in Tasmania, Ben Lomond is also a very attractive backdrop to the Fingal Valley Region at any time of the year.  We skirted the area on a trip to the Bay of Fires and found the autumn weather to be calm and sunny – and altogether pleasant.

Ben Lomond in the North East of Tasmania: Mountain in autumn

Tasmania Mountain Five – Cradle Mountain

To complete the lap of the island and return to where we started in the north west, here’s a photo that also completes the seasonal rotation.  It’s winter, there’s snow, and there’s a Tasmanian mountain.  Where else could we be but Cradle Mountain – one of the tourism icons of Australia, let alone Tasmania?  Hard to choose just one photo from Desktop Tasmania (mountain or otherwise) to portray the beauty of Cradle Mountain National Park, but this is the one.

Cradle Mountain, back in the North West of Tasmania for winter

So you would have to agree: a quick tour of Tasmania!  Mountain photos by Dan Fellow for every season – and one extra thrown in for good luck!  And don’t worry – I’m well aware that there’s lots missing from the list.  We’ll address that issue some other time.

Map: Tasmania Mountain…

It’s a Miracle!  Tasmanian History is Fascinating.

Tasmanian History: making teaching (and learning) easier!  Anyone with school-aged kids will know this:  you have to offer them something exceptional to spark an interest in history.

Tasmanian History is Monumental…

Here’s the thing with Tasmanian history – the whole state is a monument!  Every way you turn, there’s bridges and buildings built by convict hand.  There’s a whole attraction at Port Arthur dedicated to transportation, focused on the colonisation of Australia.  And what about the naming of the towns and features?

Tasmanian History: Campbell Town bridge, Heritage Highway

Exploring Tasmanian History…

When crossing from Melbourne to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania, the stretch of water dividing the two (Bass Strait) refers to George Bass.  Explorer Bass has been granted multiple naming rights, if George Town in the north of Tasmania can also be credited to him.  And with good reason – with Matthew Flinders (as in Flinders Island), history records them circumnavigating the state, proving that Tasmania was actually an island.  Probably saved the next batch of explorers a great deal of travel time!!

George who? Naming features in Tasmanian history.

Local Indigenous Tasmanian History…

Aboriginal heritage also plays a part in naming.   It is believed the Bay of Fires was named by explorer Furneaux seeing the  flames of the natives’ fires along the coastline as he sailed by in 1773.  That sounds reasonable!

Get Your Hands on History in Tasmania…

It’s also reasonable to assume that history as a subject is enhanced by practical excursions.  My children enjoyed exploring the remains of the Coal Mines on the Tasman Peninsula, and have retained that information more than anything else they have read about convicts.  Amazing, considering this site is free to visit and easily accessed in a day-trip from Hobart.

Coal Mine site, the budget-friendly historic cousin of Port Arthur

Tasmanian history is naturally woven into the visitor itinerary:  the expeditions of Bass and Flinders, the heritage of convicts and the study of the indigenous inhabitants.  Great when you want your kids to just absorb some extra learning without even knowing it.

Tasmanian History: Oatlands, Heritage Highway

A good excuse for a holiday in Tasmania – as if anyone needed an excuse!!  Tasmanian history offers extra curricular activities for the kids, it’s got nothing to do with that wine tour, or the chocolate factory, or the market day, or…

Travel to the Bay of Fires for research?  Gee, tough gig!!

Bay of Fires Beach (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Bay of Fires Tasmania: arriving at St Helens, you are offered terrific service facilities for a town of 5,000 locals, with a fishing fleet and a pleasant location.  My local source (the check-out operator at the supermarket), informed me the population more than doubles in the summer, when tourists flock to the area for the love of a good beach.  Must say at this point, however, that the only flock on this particular day was of the feathered variety.

The marina in St Helens, base for the Bay of Fires Park

Bay of Fires: Hot Topic

St Helens, in northeast Tasmania, has a big range of activities within comfortable driving distance of both Hobart and Launceston.  But that’s a whole other story. This current report is chiefly regarding the winner of the “hottest travel destination 2009″ title:  the Bay of Fires (as judged by The Lonely Planet).

Sceptical of tourism brochures showing idyllic, tropical-island images;  a first-hand visit actually confirms this one.  The sands are pure white, the water is turquoise and the vast expanse was deserted.  Enticing enough to strip down to one’s underwear and dive in for a swim.  Well, almost!

Binalong: Bay of Fires HQ

Anyway, Binalong Bay is at the southern end of the Bay of Fires in north east Tasmania.  Apparently it was named due to the sightings of aboriginal fires by Captain Furneaux as he sailed by in 1773.  The significance of the area has now been acknowledged with proposed national park status.

The Gardens, Bay of Fires National Park

Driving about 13kms along the scenic road with views of the picturesque bay to The Gardens, I checked out the rugged camping sites along the way.  Here, you either seriously rough it or take your own luxuries with you in some form of motor-home.  The northern end of the section, via unsealed roads, includes Mt William National Park and the Eddystone Point Lighthouse on the most eastern tip of the state.

Sand Dunes at St Helens Point

Judging by the map, the only point that might be a squeak more east than Eddystone is St Helens Point.  Running parallel to Binalong Bay Road, separated only by Georges Bay, is a road leading to Peron Dunes.  Great fun for energetic kids and a delightful prospect for the amateur photographer!  You get the impression that you are the first to stumble across this treasure, all wind-swept and natural bushland.

St Helens Point, East Coast Tasmania

The Lonely Planet didn’t mention this jewel,
but its close proximity to the Bay of Fires
could have them as a dual attraction.
Not that you need more incentive to travel here.

Peron Dunes & St Helens Point accompany the Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires Rocks!!

A final highlight from the experience to finish with?  The rocks!!  How could rocks be a highlight, you may well ask?

• Besides being a pushover in the photography stakes,
  they have a magnetism all their own
• Rounded and ranging in colour from granite pink to fiery orange,
  they dominate the seaside landscape
• They can be perched on for maritime viewing; clambered over
  for fun and exercise; or just examined for lichen

Orange lichen on the Bay of Fires rocks (Photo by Dan Fellow)

What more do you need from a highlight?  Well okay – not everyone is into rocks.  But the lure of the Bay of Fires:  it has something for every beach lover.

Click here to check out my favourite Bay of Fires photo, taken by Dan Fellow.

Map: Bay of Fires Tasmania…

Isn’t this site about Tasmania? Beach – you’re kidding, right?

Tasmania?  Beach? In the same sentence?  Yep, this site is all about Tassie.  But nope, we’re not kidding.  And this is one of the tip top secrets safeguarded by the locals:  there’s great beaches!

Friendly Beaches Freycinet Tasmania (Beach Photo by Dan Fellow)

They don’t want you to know, so you must promise not to tell… but there is an astonishing assortment of seaside villages – all with bucket loads of charm, pure sand and the most crystal-like water you could possibly imagine.  We were surprised (shocked, even!) when we managed to discover Tasmania had these little gems.

So, considering the most frequent inquiries to the Think Tasmania website, being:

• top coastal spot in Tasmania
• beach accessible from accommodation
• a unique quality that sets it apart

here’s our top three “bays”…

Tasmania: Beach # 1: Opossum Bay

This quaint village sits at the tip of South Arm Peninsula in southern Tasmania and faces back towards Hobart across the River Derwent.  A favourite with locals, especially families with young children, the waters are shallow, calm and comparatively warmer than open ocean.

Tasmania: Beach for safe swimming... O'Possum Bay

An eclectic mix of houses ranging from weekender shacks to upmarket mansions rest along the foreshore, offering the owners the ultimate view across the water to the city lights.  During the cruise season (October to April), ships glide into the estuary headed for their stopover in Hobart, Tasmania.

Tasmania: beach of many houses: O'Possum Bay

Beach visitors to O’Possum Bay can boast dolphin, seal and penguin sightings, while from the jetty fishermen catch a feast of seafood:  octopus, squid and Flathead amongst the Tasmanian menu.  Perfect with a glass of wine?

Tasmania: Beach # 2: Wineglass Bay

While on a family touring holiday from Hobart towards the north east of Tasmania, we had a stop-over at the township of Coles Bay, and did the hike up to the viewing platform over Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park.

Wineglass Bay (Tasmania Beach - Photo by Dan Fellow)

We were a little unlucky with the weather on the day, with intermittent showers affecting the spectacular views, but it was still worthwhile.  The kids found the uphill climb a “walk in the park” while I came to resent the many, many steps.  However, on the way down, we met a high-school group who were hiking up to the viewing platform and then continuing on down to the beach.  They had huge camping packs and enthusiasm to match, and I recognized the experience was worth the damp trudge.

Since our trip, I have spoken to others who rate this an easy hike, so maybe I just need more practice.  And I would return anyway just for the friendly local wildlife – a wallaby sat alongside our group as if joining us for lunch!

Freycinet Wallaby, Wineglass Bay

There’s no denying the dramatic scenery on the east coast stretch of the island – out towards the Tasman Sea from nearby Swansea and Bicheno.  Simply breathtaking, and by the time we reached St Helens on our tour we did wonder if there was anything that could beat it, really.

And then we took a casual little drive from our motel room overlooking the marina, to…

Tasmania: Beach # 3: Binalong Bay

The much revered Lonely Planet Guide named this Bay of Fires coastline as “the hottest travel destination for 2009”.  That’s in the whole world!  Apart from the tourism department, the locals are not happy with this blatant promotion showing complete disregard for their hush-hush, in-house seaside beauty.

Bay of Fires Beach (Photo by Tasmanian Photo Guy, Dan Fellow)

We read the review not long after we had been there, but the four of us had already taken a vote and unanimously agreed that Binalong Bay, with its sparkling water and whiter than white sand was the best of any beaches we had ever seen.

The boys found the whole panorama too tempting to resist, and despite having no bathers (!) or towels, went for a quick dip.  Quite unusual for early May, but on this day, the Tasmanian weather proved unbelievably perfect for just such spontaneity.

With not another soul in sight, it could have been a deserted tropical island, instead of a national park and Tourism Tasmania icon.

Taking a dip at the beach in Tasmania!

Tasmania:  beach shacks, fishing, surfing, sailing:
the list of coastal highlights is endless.
But one thing is certain…  the phrase “Life is a Beach”
must have been coined by a Tasmanian!!

Map: Tasmania Beach…