Day 7 - The stunning east coast - Bay of Fires down to Coles Bay  

Thankfully we hadn't been moved on in the night and woke up to not only hear a group of Tasmanian Devils, we think, making the most hilarious laughing noise (which made us laugh also!) round us but to find that we had parked overlooking on either side of the van the stunning St Georges Bay, it was just beautiful! Roughing it is definitely the way forward, even if our secluded area, or so we thought, was actually visible to everyone with a house across the way looking directly upon us! After feeling like gypsy's using the public conveniences, we headed up towards the Bay of Fires and experienced some of the most beautiful coastline we have seen to date! With hardly a soul in sight and a vast coastline all to ourselves, we watched the sunrise over unspoilt white sandy beaches, turquoise oceans, and bright yellow skies we felt like we had found paradise. We also found out that you could camp here on the ocean for free, bugger!!! 
 
We stopped at 3 points within the Bay of Fires, Swimcart Beach, Sloop Reef Beach and The Gardens.....a few houses were dotted towards the end of the road and what a view these guys must wake up to in the morning! After avoiding some cows (aaah!) we stopped again on Sloop Reef Beach, otherwise known now as 'the perfect porridge spot' beach! It was just fantastic and amazing to have not only the freedom of the campervan to stop anywhere but the beauty also to eat breakfast by the ocean and feel like no one else existed in this place .....a moment to remember on our world trip.....  

We then followed the ocean road for a short while back down to a slightly more residential part called Binalong Bay. An elderly couple were kayaking in the bay and stopped to wave and shout hello, what a life eh, to be retired and kayak first thing before breakfast! Then it was back on the road past St Georges Bay again, following the coastline, taking in more gorgeous bay views such as Wrinkles Beach at Scamander where the mountains were now starting to reappear in the background, making for the perfect setting! By now we had noticed 2 differences to this part of the world as opposed to the west area, 1, the sun was out and it wasn't raining and 2, you would only drive for at least 15 minutes before seeing at least one house, not 2 hours! Ads did feel very out of place though as to be a native local here it appeared that you needed long hair and a beard to match, the Tasmanian country lifestyle definitely reminded us of something out of the Dukes of Hazard! The people (when you actually saw some) were really friendly though and it truly is a 'mini New Zealand' in many ways. 
 
Early afternoon we arrived at Coles Bay within the Freycinet Peninsula and National Park. Further south now, the bay is dominated with rugged and jagged granite mountains called 'The Hazards' which overlook the national park and caravan site, just magnificent! Setting up camp on Richardson's Beach with the mountains to our left, we then drove up the steep road to Cape Tourville and looked along the panoramic coastline of east Tasmania. With the bays forming shadows in the distance and the lighthouse overlooking Mount Parsons and Amos, it really is a stunning part of the world! We then headed down and climbed to a rocky bay called 'Sleepy Bay,' the vast rock slab sections and coastline reminded us so much of walks with Barry and Pauline along the Cornwall coast. This just added to the fact that we were seeing them in JUST 2 days time now! We took in the sea air for a while, then drove back down to Coles Bay and our beach to watch the most magnificent orange sunset...... by now we have just one day left in our little campervan and so far the 'engagement test' (as Ads put it!) seems to be doing ok, just one night and one meal to go, Ads famous chilli! Cracking open two bottles of Tooheys, the veg is chopped, the rice is ready, the meat is on the side and the waves are crashing in the background, about first class grading for the test at this time until.........Ads looks at the meat he has prepared and it is off and out off date!! By now the test grade is moving more towards a pass on the husband stakes........Ha-Ha! Settling for a 'veggie chilli risotto type thing' we listen to the waves some more, drink more beer and enjoy our last night in our wee camper, STILL engaged!
 
Day 8 - Breath-taking Wineglass Bay and final campervan day, boo hoo! Final day blurb still to come.............................


 

 

 

 

 


Final day blurb still to come.............................

Day 9 - Hobart and back to Sydney for the arrival of The Hogarths!!