electricspells

peregrination :: camper van trip around Tasmania – September 2022

Monday, 5 September

Tasman Peninsula

Left earlyish and drove around the Tasman Peninsula through Nubeena, Premaydena, Taranna, and back to Eaglehawk Neck. Patchy rain showers, but amazing coastal views.

Bucolic rural coastal view (near Taranna)
Bucolic rural coastal view (near Taranna)
Another coastal view near Taranna
Another coastal view near Taranna

Stopped at the Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.

Coastal cliffs at Eaglehawk Neck
Coastal cliffs at Eaglehawk Neck
The Tasman Arch
The Tasman Arch
Coastal scrubland on the walk to Devil's kitchen
Coastal scrubland on the walk to Devil’s kitchen
The Devil's kitchen
The Devil’s kitchen
The Devil's kitchen opening to the ocean
The Devil’s kitchen opening to the ocean

Up the East Coast

After the sightseeing, I drove back up to Dunalley and onto minor (C-) roads to head straight up to Orford.

The road deteriorated into freshly graded roadworks and then into “some parts 4WD only”!

I re-routed to the next shortest short-cut to Orford, but still largely roadworks. All the while, it was raining/drizzling, so the going was slippery and not fun.

Warnings from the Camper Van Guy not to take more than 12kms of dirt road (no stretch of roadworks was longer than 10kms, in my estimate!) and “there’s roadworks on the East Coast” came back to haunt me (much too late).

Orford

Managed to get to Orford safely but the van is filthy! I’m going to need to find a car wash before returning to the van people or they will sting me for a significant cleaning fee (rightly!).

Mornos at Ella’s Cafe and Sweetshop. Then I pressed on to Swansea. The drive up the East Coast shows that it’s a windswept wilderness, some of it achingly beautiful.

Windswept Klevedon Beach
Windswept Klevedon Beach (looking North)
Windswept Klevedon Beach
Windswept Klevedon Beach (looking South)

Swansea

Lunch at the Saltshaker Restaurant at Swansea – scallop pie! This had been recommended to me by ICNL colleagues.

Their recommendation was for this ‘delicacy’ down on the Huon Peninsula, however, I hadn’t seen it on a menu down there. I did see it in Swansea, so I had it. And it was very nice.

View North from Saltshaker Restaurant
View North from Saltshaker Restaurant
View South from Saltshaker Restaurant
View South from Saltshaker Restaurant
Scallop Pie at the Saltshaker Restaurant
Scallop Pie at the Saltshaker Restaurant

Freycinet Peninsula

Pressed on to Coles Bay (Freycinet Peninsula) in case I could get to do the walks I had in mind this afternoon.

Turned out, by the time I got there (after stopping for some photo ops), I wouldn’t have had enough time for the long walk that looks most interesting.

Also, tomorrow’s weather is predicted to be better than today’s (not warmer, but fewers showers and less strong winds).

Panorama view from Devil's Corner winery South
Panorama view ofrom Devil’s Corner winery South over Moulting Lagoon
View of Moulting Lagoon from Devil's Corner winery
View of Moulting Lagoon from Devil’s Corner winery
First look at the Freycinet from the highway above Coles Bay
First look at the Freycinet from the highway above Coles Bay
Panorama of the Freycinet from North of Coles Bay
Panorama of the Freycinet from North of Coles Bay
Panorama of Pelican Bay
Panorama of Pelican Bay
Reverse of Freycinet view

Had a (free) shower and then chillaxed in the van and then the local tavern. Headed to bed early to be well-rested for the morning’s walking.

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