Temperatures did not drop as much as we feared they might but we started into the morning with nine degrees so we had to layer up with puffer jackets and rain gear in order to keep warm.
We circled Tasmania counterclockwise and started with the Tasman Region. The area is famous for Port Arthur, one of the UNESCO Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. The area was a 19th-century penal settlement.
Our plan was to go to Port Arthur but then not go there. Makes sense? Well, we enjoy Australia for its fantastic nature and it’s countryside and the wonderful people we meet on our way. But even though we understand that convicts helped build the young colony and that this is an important part of Australian history it is difficult to swoon over 19th century history if you have spent years living in buildings that are at least twice that old. So we decided to pass on the experience and enjoy the magnificent coast instead.
Our first stop was at the Tessellated Pavement at Pirates Bay Beach. The rocks near the beach are cracked in a chess board fashion.
A sign near the steps that lead down to the beach explains the reasons for this happening as follows: „The tide comes in: saltwater penetrates the cracks and surfaces of the rock,
the tide goes out: salt crystals form on and between the grains of the rock as water evaporates over time, the salt crystals grow and push the grains in the rock apart.“
Next stop on our tour was another blow hole. This time we could see quite well how the waves push in the water through a narrow opening and break on the rocks sputtering sea foam in the air.
The wind was still chilling as we made our way to Tasmans Arch.
But soon after the sun started to come out. Only it not last very long and we got surprised by another shower just as we and Patterson’s Arch. So we had to rush back to the car.
As a surprise hubby who had done the trip planning for the day stopped at Port Arthur Lavender where we had a delicious sandwich lunch before heading off again.
Remarkable Cave was a tipp from a Tasmanian guy we met at Mount Wellington. He gave us a few ideas of where to go- Remarkable Cave was one of them.
Remember the Australian Rock that had the shape of Australia but was missing Tasmania? Well, here is the missing piece: Remarkable Cave displays the shape of Tasmania.
Driving to our destination for the night, Dunalley, we came along these incredible salt marshes in Norfolk Bay.
Strong wind gusts with spouts of rain in between had marked this first day of our round trip but the wild coast of Tasmania is amazingly beautiful nonetheless.
By the time we watched the sunset in Dunalley the clouds had cleared but we still were almost swept into the ocean by the gale.
