Friday 30 October

When we set off we took a short detour to The Friendly Beaches. The views from the lookout were of the large scale dunes. The beach was wonderful with white sand and rocks to clamber over.

We drove through Bicheno and stopped at the East Coast Nature World. There were parrot type birds of every colour. We spent a lot of time watching the Tasmanian Devils including some joeys (pictured). We also saw wombats, echidnas, koalas, bandicoots, wallabys, a kangaroo, owls, eagles and others we didn't recognise or can't remember.

We turned off the main road and took the road to St Mary's travelling through Elephant Pass.

This was very twisty and narrow and had deep drops at the side. We returned to the coast via St Mary's Pass which was very similar but not quite so twisty.

We stopped for lunch overlooking the Tasman Sea near Beaumaris.

As we approached St Helens we turned off and went out to St Helens Point.

At the Point we walked round the coast to Beerbarrel Beach and back.

We passed a lot of She Oak trees with their cones. They look nothing like oak trees.

We stopped at Peron Dunes which are 60 ft high. We had superb views of the peninsular from the top.

We then drove to the campsite at St Helens.

Mainly sunny, with a fairly strong wind, but pleasantly warm. There were a few spots of rain up in the hills at St Marys.

Thursday 29 October

We drove out to the start of the walks on the Freycinet Peninsular. It took us 40 mins to climb up to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. It was uphill with steps in places but the view over Wineglass Bay was superb.

We then went steeply down mainly uneven stone steps to Wineglass Bay. This bay had white sand and a cold wind blowing off the sea. There were quite a few people there.

We didn't stay there very long but continued across the isthmus on a level path to Hazards Beach. The footpath was along the beach and we enjoyed ambling along looking at the shells and starfish that had been washed up. By the time we reached the end of the beach everyone else had gone.

The footpath then skirted the coast initially giving us glimpses of various bays before going through the forest. It was an undulating path and had stone steps again and a lot of tree roots. It was very hot when sheltered from the wind but we had to leave our jumpers on as there were mosquitos about.

We felt really tired when we got back to the van 4 1/4 hours later. The information said the walk was 11 km (7 miles) and would take 5 hours. We walked the beach slowly so must have walked the rest quickly.

When we got back to the van we had lunch and saw a wallaby with a baby in her pouch.

After lunch we dorve to Cape Tourville Lighthouse.

It is a 20 mins walk skirting the lighthouse but we took much longer as there were whales out at sea which were very active and we watched them for about 20 mins. The views from up there were wonderful.

We then returned to the camp site exhausted.

Hot and sunny all day but a cool wind which became stronger as the day wore on.

Wednesday 28 October

We picked up the camper van and headed north-east.

We crossed Pitt Water on a long low bridge. and into Sorell where we shopped for food.

We drove beside the Prosser River and stopped to look at the dam.

We crossed over the Prosser River in Orford and then went through Triabunna.

We passed a lot of scarecrows beside the road on the whole journey but in Triabunna there was a long line of them by a school sports field.

We eventually reached the coast and stopped at a rocky bay.

We went through Swansea, past Milton Vineyard and through Cranbrook before turning off the main A3 to Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsular.

Overcast all day and chilly in the wind.

Tuesday 27 October

Chris took us to the airport at 11 am for our flight to Tasmania.

We looked round the Qantas Anniversary Exhibition at Sydney Airport which was very intertesting. The serivce started in 1921 with a 2 passenger plane.

We took off at 2.30 and arrived in Hobart at 4.15.

There was a hotel shuttle bus which we took to our hotel.

Overcast in Sydney but sunny in Hobart.

Monday 26 October

It absolutely poured with rain during the night. It had been a very dry spring and everyone was worried about bush fires so welcomed the rain. We didn't! We stayed at home and spent the morning blogging and e-mailing.

We set off at 1 pm for the east coast.

We drove down the Galston Gorge over Berowra Creek and then up the other side. There were a lot of hairpin bends.

We stopped at Newport Beach where the sand was a deep orange. The wind was blowing very strongly off the sea and the waves were crashing over rocks out to sea and on the beach.

It was too cold and wet to walk so we drove round Palm Beach Peninsular.

After turning at the top we were on Pitt Water which was sheltered from the wind and was very peaceful. We picked up some shells.

We then drove back the way we had come.

We had a superb family dinner, with all but Sarah there.

Wet most of the day and cold.

Sunday 25 October

We went to Chris and Martin's church. This is a Christian Brethren church and is very informal.

Afterwards we drove to Berowra Waters where we took another free chain ferry across the Berowra Creek and onto Brooklyn on the Hawksbury River which is close to where it opens out into the Tasman Sea.

We bought pies from 'Pie in the Sky' cafe which is high above the river but unfortunately is was raining so there was no view There were no tables left inside so we drove to the waterfront and eat our pies in the car.

We saw Australian Pelicans, Noisy Miners and Laughing Kookaburras.