Freycinet National Park

Above:  Wineglass Bay from the lookout. Imagine that being red from whales’ blood as they’re slaugtered. 

Today I do a day-trip to the Freycinet National Park on a tour.  The tour is available ex-Hobart and finishing in Launceston, but it wasn’t available till today and I had fixed my accommodation at both cities at great prices already.  Because the Hobart to Launceston tour was more expensive, it also meant there was no saving on not having to buy the bus ride I did yesterday.

I got picked up at 0730 from the Grand Chancellor Hotel next door.  Our first stop was Campbell Town where we bought some lunch to take along for the day.

Around 1000, we called into the Devil’s Corner winery to use their facilities and also climb up to their purpose-built lookout.  The scenery was beautiful and we were told the sea was abundant with seafood.  Australian aboriginals lived a good life and ate well here.  They discard consumed seafood shells in a stack that over the years grow very high.  The stack is part of their heritage, so one day our rubbish dump could be our heritage too?

Shortly after, we stopped at Friendly Beaches where the Europeans found the natives to be friendly.  I’m sure it didn’t last long when they realised that these visitors were here to stay and grab.  Here, the sand was white and very soft.  Even in summer, a wetsuit is probably required.

About an hour later, we stopped at the lighthouse area where there was a lookout from which one can see sometimes whales breaching.  No such luck from us but it was still a beautiful spot.

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Around midday, we parked and commenced our walk to the lookout that would offer us a view of Wineglass Bay.  Even with very “everyday” guests in our group, we made it to the viewpoint in 35 mins along the inclined track with some steps.

Wineglass Bay was so named because during the whaling days (and season) it would be stained red from the slaughter of the whales!

Coming down was even quicker and we were back down at the carpark about an hour after we had started.  We had some rest time to eat our lunch and a walk on the beach.

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As no one took up the option of a walk to Wineglass Bay proper, a 2.5h return walk, we were ready to return to Launceston around 1430.  We handed over two passengers to the southbound van and gained a family of four.  As it turned out, all the customers on both vans today were Asian, possibly all Singaporean/Malaysian.

Our driver/guide took a longer route home, a more scenic one along the coast.  I was back at my hotel around 1730.

It had been a surprisingly good day weather-wise, despite the forecast.  I thought the tour at AUD130 was tremendous value for the transport, guide and commentary.  Rental cars had been around AUD200+ but came down to around AUD73 last-minute.  Add fuel and the national park entry fee of AUD40, I couldn’t have done it any cheaper myself!

I finished my day back at my cheap Indian eat, having a light meal of samosa chat and masala chai.