Tassie‘s North West

CONTENT: Tasmania / Turners Beach Berry Patch / Penguin / Lake Kara / Fossil Bluff / Lobster Ponds / Rocky Cape National Park / Boat Harbour Beach / Stanley / The Nut
TRAVEL JOURNAL:
19.01.2022 - 23.01.2022
Once again having no time pressure to return to work, we had decided to continue the exploration of Tasmania counter-clockwise and drove West from the vineyards.
Berry season is on and since working for vineyards at Tamar Valley, Agni had been eyeballing “pick your own berries” farms. So, we decide to start the “real” Tasmanian holiday with berries.
We are lucky to get a spot at Turners Beach caravan park and in the morning of 19th January pay the entrance fee for Turners Beach Berry Patch. It seems a bit early for blueberries, but there are plenty of raspberries, strawberries and different varieties of blackberries. Though the take-away container limits the carry-along amount, no-one weighs the berries vanishing down the throat.
Our next stop at the coast is a lovely settlement called Penguin. The North Coast of Tasmania is offering suitable habitats for the little penguin (Eudyptula minor) colonies and this seaside town is broadly exhibiting it's connection to the protected species - there is a 3 metre penguin statue, penguin murals, penguin shaped street posts. We end the day 35km inland, Upper Natone by the man-made lake Kara. There is free camping and The Inland Fisheries Service regularly stocks Lake Kara with trout and salmon, but despite some rehabilitation it is not considered a very good trout fishing spot. Though Wolf practises his fly-fishing casting, instead of trouts we sight a platypus.
After heading back to the coast, we find ourselves at township of Wynyard. Pretty esplanade by the mouth of the Inglis River reveals oyster bar and offers view to the iconic coastal plateau known as Table Cape. During the spring tourists visit the town for it's nearby tulip fields.
Having a bit troubles to find accommodation for our budget, we end up driving back direction Devonport, where we get a spot at Somerset Beachside Cabin and Caravan Park. It's just next to Bass Highway surrounded by rather industrial landscape, but the park itself is secluded and offers indoors kitchen, TV-room and other side of the highway stretches endless beach.
The following morning we pass Wynyard once again, but this time with the target to explore the geological treasures at Fossil Bluff.
The walk along the beach showcases 24-metre-tall sandstone wall where is possible to admire different groups of sediments (most probably formed by series of sort-lived ice-ages from the times when Australia was part of Gondwana super-continent): layers with fine mud-stone, tillite with different sized pebbles and lots of fossilised sea-creatures.
When browsing Wikicamps app, we notice another local attraction - Lobster Ponds near Flowerdale. Lobster Haven houses Giant Freshwater Crayfish which are the largest crustacean in the world. It is endangered species found only northern Tasmania and we are informed that getting caught with touching one in the wild results high fine.
We cross Bass Highway and follow c233 till the national park. As Rocky Cape National Park is only day use area and the day is nearing to end we take a coastal walk to a Aboriginal rock shelter and on the drive back settle to Boat harbour Beach Holiday Park. The caravan park sits on a terrace dug into a coastal slope and offers direct view over the beach and the village.
The following morning we return to Bass Highway and drive off c227 which takes us to the other side of Rocky Cape National Park. There are well-formed parking areas and different hikes to sea-caves connected to Dreamtime stories.
We have reached to touristic settlement of Stanley. Stanley is popular due to it's huge volcanic flat-topped rock headland known as Munatrik/The Nut. The extinct volcano rises to 143 metres and a chairlift is taking up to the landmark. The settlement boasts with renovated historical buildings, now housing shops which highlight local handicraft, artisan produce or holiday accommodation - all of it has a bit Nordic fisherman village vibe.
In 1825 a group of London merchants who planned to supply wool for British textile industry was granted land in Tasmania and founded Van Diemen's Land Company. The company established headquarters to Circular Head (now Stanley). Highfield Historic Site is a manager's homestead with surrounding outbuildings (stables, barns, chapel, barracks and garden) built with convict labour. The museum and wedding venue with the beautiful views to the Nut gives a good example of 1830ties colonial style gentleman's home.
Not up to pay for the touristic rates at Stanley, we leave the peninsula behind and retire to Black River Campsite at Peggs Beach Conservation Area.
NEXT
Being at the gateway to notorious Tasmania's north-west wilderness area we visit the highlights along Tarkine Drive.

[@Channu_08]

Outstanding camera work & beautiful views😊

[@sweephorizon]

Thank you very much!

[@johnprice2606]

Always so enjoyable to watch.

[@sweephorizon]

Thanks, John!

[@Yoyette-go4fr]

I like your journey

[@sweephorizon]

Thank you, our pleasure!