Freycinet

It was wonderful to end our adventures in Tasmania with some rest and relaxation at the coast. Freycinet is a world renowned coastal mecca and with good reason.  The scenery is absolutely spectacular.

Here are the highlights of our time in Freycinet ...

• Delicious blue cheese, quince and crackers from a roadside cafe on the way to Freycinet followed by orgasmically good cherry ice-cream and succulent black cherries from another cafe further down the road. 
• Seeing the ocean after all our time in the mountains and an invigorating swim. 
• Our awesome accommodation in Coles Bay with its water view. Well found, Liz!
• Doing the Wine Glass Bay - Hazards Beach circuit (a 5 hour hike) including the iconic view of Wine Glass Bay from the mountain side and some nice group shots.
• A nice swim and a lovely sleep on the rocks of Wineglass Bay, listening to the waves. So relaxing. 
• A bracing and fun group swim on Hazards Beach where we had fun with Srini's GoPro and delayed getting out of the ocean to give Elizabeth time to chat up a sexy Polish diplomat. 
• Delicious Pagan Cider (a big thanks to JC for the recommendation) and fish and chips from the most disorganised takeaway joint in Tasmania. Still, we were so hungry by the time we got it, it tasted great.
• Running the 60+ minute climb to the Wineglass Bay Lookout in under 25 minutes to get my fleece which I'd left up there.  Unfortunately it was gone. 
• Taking lots of close up photos at Sleepy Bay and photos of its mesmerising sculptured orange rocks after being inspired by the photos of Wolfgang Glowacki at the visitor centre.
• A scrumptious final meal at a good restaurant "The Edge of the Bay."  My meal consisted of seafood chowder, Scollop Linguine and Chocolate Mousse. 

Wineglass Bay / Hazard's Beach Circuit

This lovely 5 hour walk took us up to the spectacular Wineglass Bay lookout.  Then we continued down to the sandy beach of the Wineglass Bay itself. From there, we hiked to Hazard's Beach and then further along the coast around the base of Mt Mayson back to our car.

A view on the way up to The Wineglass Lookout

The famous view of The Wineglass Bay from a boulder above the Look Out Point.

A great opportunity for a group photo.

Doing the famous Howard ponder!

From the Wineglass Look Out, we hiked down to the sandy beach of The Wineglass Bay itself.

This beach is bordered by gorgeous orange rocks that we made a bee line for.

I loved the bright orange against the green of the sea and blue of the sky.

The sun came out and it was time for a swim.

Of course, Srini had the same idea.  Not sure who loves the water more.

Then we sat on the rocks and chilled...

... which led to a group sleep.  So relaxing, with the sound of the waves sighing up the beach.

Srini out for the count!

Revived by our sleep, it was time for a leap!

Liz wasn't to be outdone.

From Wineglass Bay, we hiked onto Hazard's Beach....

... where we had a gorgeous group swim while Liz chatted up a sexy Polish diplomat.

Srini took his GoPro into the water and captured these stunning shots of Zante ....

... and Lauren

Here's the awesome video footage of the underwater swimming.

From Hazard's Beach, we hiked on along the coast ....

.... around the base of Mount Mayson

We saw some lovely wildlife on the way ...

... and some gorgeous flowers too.

I absolutely loved the "Grass Tree" (left)

Cape Tourville

After our hike, we drove onto Cape Tourville to enjoy its fantastic views up and down the coast.  I don't ever remember seeing ocean so blue.

Cape Tourville is home to a lighthouse.  The coastline around here is very treacherous.

Sleepy Bay

On our last full day, it was overcast and threatened to rain so we decided to chill out at Sleepy Bay instead of going for a long drive somewhere.  I'm so delighted we did.  I had no expectations, but it blew me away with it's amazing sculptured, colourful rocks.  Oh how I do love sculptured rocks!!

How beautiful is that!

Absolutely no-one can show off rocks like Srini. He really is my photographic muse.

This huge orange rock especially caught our imagination.

Before we went to Sleepy Bay, we spent some time in the visitor centre where we were entranced by the macro photography of Wolfgang Glowacki.  So when we arrived at the bay, we were inspired to try out lots of close ups.  Here is a selection of those photos.  It blows me away how much beauty there is in the little things.

Here are some people shots taken at Sleepy Bay...

Me in action ...

... then having a rest. Photography is hard work!

Srini taking in the wonder of it all ....

... then having a bit of a contemplation.

Home life

We stayed at an amazing house in Freycinet with a patio and a lovely view.  All our accommodation was organised by Liz.  She's a genius at finding amazing places that don't cost a lot.

Here I am making a local friend at the supermarket.

Places in Tasmania we visited

• Cradle Mountain National Park
• Lake St Clair National Park
• Mount Field National Park (The Tarn Shelf)
• Mount Field National Park (Tall Trees walk)
• Cathedral Peak (Mount Wellington)
• Freycinet
• Leaping in Tasmania
• Daily life on our trip
• Previous Tasmania visit (2008)

Photos by others in the group

• Lauren
• Liz
• Srini
• Zante