8 replies to this topic

[cathypault]

Day 12 Tasmanian Trip

We left Cradle Mountain at 8.30am km reading 20261. Our stay was magnificent, Cradle Mountain was just amazing and we are so glad that we put the effort in to do the walk even though the weather was against us. We decided to do the walk and the rain stopped and once again we were blessed.

It is 9.20am the km reading is 20329 and we are going through Hellyer Gorge the photos are showing cloud and fog sitting in the valley and we know that this is very much Tasmania. We came across a walk it is only a fifteen minute walk and it shows us how pretty the valley is.

We are going through Yolla it is a lush pastoral land it is 10.25am and the km reading is 20356. It appears to be a land of cattle both dairy and beef. South of Hellyer Gorge there is plenty of plantations.

It is 11.00am km 20376 and we are at Wynyard. We had fresh fish & a chips at the wharf at Wynyard and it was very good. So fresh and yummy. We are now heading west towards Marrawah and turned off to see Table Cape Lighthouse and the tulip farm but alas there weren?t any tulips. We did a short walk from the lighthouse to the lookout. Great short walk and nice views of the coast. We went on to Fossil Bluff and walked up to the top of the hill and took in the view and then down to the beach to view the fossils. It was very interesting geologically. We left at 1.45pm km reading 20405 and once again we have been blessed with the weather. We stopped at Rocky Point for fuel

We went on to Marrawah on the west coast. It was very wild and windy which was quite an experience. Good views in the distance of the wind farm at Woolnorth We left Marrawah at 3.30pm km reading 20530 and we are heading for Arthur River the weather is overcast, windy and wet. Arthur River is a small but very pretty place with a beautiful coastline and river. Would have loved to get a walk in here and stretch the legs. We are leaving the Arthur River and it is 4pm. Heading back to Smithton we passed Dismal Swamp which was closed for the day. If it?s fine we will come back tomorrow. We stayed at Tall Timbers at Smithton arriving at 5pm.. Very clean and comfortable rooms and good meals. The accommodation is very comfortable and the surrounding grounds are extremely beautiful and peaceful. The weather is bad tonight very gusty winds with heavy rain and we are hoping that the wind is blowing away the rain.

[Shane V]

One very busy day by the sounds of it. Thanks for sharing your trip.

[Mystic]

Sounds fun. Which walk did you do at Cradle Mt (there are many).

At Arthur River, do you mean to tell me that you did not take the short turn off to The End of The World???? EVERYONE goes there, just to get a pic of the sign (one thing we did not photograph when we last went there). Won't be going back to that area until the Western explorer reopens. Not really fond of the drive across the top.

[cathypault]

We didn't see a turn off to End Of The World, where was that?
We went up to Marions Chair at Cradle Mt. I think I put the details in Day 11

[Mystic]

The turn off to the End of The World is about half a mile south of the bridge across the Arthur River. It is the westerly most point of the state, at the mouth of the river.

Sorry, remember reading about the walk now. Getting older and m ore forgetful LOL

[cathypault]

We may have been there without knowing it. Is it on the south side of the river with a bit of a viewing platform and I think a small toilet block or some sort of small structure. You drive up a small street with houses each side? There is a jagged rock out in the mouth of the river?
I also have S.T.M.R. Short Term Memory Loss

[Mystic]

That sounds like the place. There is a plaque mounted there describing it as the end of the world, but it sounds like you did go there and not realise it.

[cathypault]

It probably was. It was very windy and raining so I took in as much of the view as I could looking through the windscreen with the wipers on. Cathy said this is too good a spot not to get a photo of and braved it up on the lookout and got a couple of quick snaps. It was good to see it like that because that is how we picture the very west coast to be. If you could put the houses behind you out of your mind you could go back to the early voyages and imagine how it would have been out there in one of those tall ships. It doesn't take much imagination to realise how beautiful it would be on a fine summers day. With the rain I guess we missed the plaque. Does anyone have a photo of the plaque

[Mystic]

After doing a bit of searching back through our old stuff I did finf an image of the plaque. Must correct myselkf as the location is known as the "Edge of the world", not the "end" as I have said above.