Day 7: Triabunna, Orford, Rheban, Shelley Beach, Convict Rd

Having a day to do alot of hiking and exploring with very limited car travel are always good. We left Triabunna for the short drive to Orford after being told of a not so well known cliff walk which required a bit of a mud map to help find our way up there. Just out of Orford you drive up a pvt street and you will find a gap between 2 houses and this is your track to the cliffs, get it wrong and you are trespassing.

A view from the cliff tops back to Shelley Beach near Orford:

Looking across to Maria Island

A view from the cliff tops

Looking out to Maria Island in it day a convict settlement island:

Viewing Maria Island, in it day a convict penal settlement. We will go out to Maria Island next trip to Tasmania.

Lots of old farms with fantastic views are along the road to Shelley Beach

Rheban Beach, you can walk for miles in this pristine area:

 Keep walking and you end up going through the Sandspit River Conservation Area:

 After our morning walk and a cup of coffee in Orford we decided to follow the Old Convict Rd along the Prosser River: No cars allowed.

 The road was build by hauling heavy rock down the side of the mountain to make a flat road along the banks of the Prosser River.

Tonnes of rock moved to make a creek crossing, this stull looked like it had been hammered to make the smaller rocks:

We must have covered 20k hiking at least in the day. Back to our cheap but clean Caravan a few beers and big nights sleep. We have a big day on the road the next morning and need to travel alot of k's. Triabunna Caravan Park 13 March 2011.

Day 6 Freycinet National Park to Triabunna Tasmania 12th March 2011

It was with some regret we packed up and left Freychinet, but we were well rested and time was against us as far as staying another day, it was also a long weekend so we needed to find some accommodation for a few days or not have any at all, so we headed for Triabunna. 

Just out of Swansea we discovered the convict built Spiky Bridge. Built in 1843, it has been claimed that the spikes were designed to prevent cattle falling over the sides.

 It would have taken alot of hard labour from the convicts to build this bridge. I walked all around and there are still piles of stone in places that were used for the construction.

Finding these heavy flat rocks would have been hard enough then to lay them would have been even harder, I love history, even better is seeing it with my own eyes.

After a short drive we arrived at Triabunna we had a quick drive around and discovered dead island circa 1840, the graves are still out there.

 The old Army Barracks and Stables Triabunna. There was a penal settlement on Maria island just offshore which we will visit on our next visit and these were the barracks of the soldiers who kept watch out there on the convicts.

Triabunna House circa 1838 which operated as an Inn and a Boarding house

Spring Bay Hotel Triabunna 1843

Lots of the old boot scrapers around the place, this one is in front of the old Triabunna House

Most of the day was spent washing clothes and getting cleaned up and relaxing with a few beers outside our rented caravan at the Triabunna Caravan Park. The pies in Triabunna at the bakery are very moreish and we got into a few of those as well. Early night as we have a big day tomorrow

Day 5 Freycinet National Park Tasmania 11th March 2011

Waking up to the sound of heavy rain on the tent is something i actually love, and after it stops and you stick your head out for the sunrise its even better: Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park Tasmania.

Had some wild critters in camp last night, kept me awake, then the rain put me back to sleep, then we woke to a nice sunrise and a sunny day.

 Started the day with some hiking around near Cape Tourville Freycinet N.P

Sleepy Bay Hiking near Cape Tourville Freycinet N.P a great hike to start the day

 Honeymoon Bay Freycinet N.P

Struttin mai stuff, A friendly Pacific Gull at Honeymoon Bay Freycinet N.P

 Starting the long trek up to Wine Glass Bay lookout looking back towards Coles Bay Freycinet N.P

Plenty of steps in this climb, make sure you take plenty of water it can be a heartbreaker: Freycinet N.P

As you get higher the views over Coles Bay get better

Its a good track out to Wineglass Bay but can be a tough one in places.

 Bit if shelter on a hot day Track out to Wineglass Bay.

 Wineglass Bay:Freycinet N.P Tasmania

Majestic cliff faces on the return journey.

 There is a different track down to the one going up,this one gets a bit more rugged as you descend.

 After dinner it was time to relax on the beach and wait for the sun to set: Freycinet N.P

Back to camp for a well earned beer and a good nights sleep as we need to be up early to pack up and hit the road. We will definately return to Freycinet.

 

A short video of the day at Freycinet