2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Mon, 2nd Feb, 2015 Premaydena Recreation Ground to Dunalley Pub

Woke to lovely sunshine. Rebecca’s crystal was making lovely rainbow in the van.

Packed up and headed off for Dunalley. I had my window down a bit and then got a fright as a huntsman spider walked across the windscreen in front of me, on the outside thank goodness. My window went up quick smart. He climbed onto the snorkel and hung on. Wendy you can have nightmares about spiders as well as snakes now!!!

Mr Owl guards the driveway on one side and there was another on the other entrance.

Looking to the end of Eaglehawk Bay at the Neck.

As we crossed the Neck looking back up the Bay to Norfolk Bay.

Murdunna is another weekend shack/retirement area, all lining the bay.

Mr Spider has climbed onto the back of the snorkel!!

Then he decided to climb into the front of it – all while we are driving along.

Amazing how he got in there but I hope he gets sucked into the air cleaner and I don’t see him again.

Down the range overlooking Dunalley Bay.

Lovely flat area overlooking the bay.

Into the paddock beside the Dunalley Hotel. How’s this for an impressive rig and they are from Queensland.

Our site for the night – lovely view of bay but the wind was horrendous. Blew us in the van and slammed the door behind us.

The back of the pub.

After we set up we headed off for a drive. The front view of the Hotel.

Across the bridge into Dunalley then along the coast of the bay. The tide is out!!

An oyster farm.

Lots of spare oyster bed things.

More oyster farms, sheep and cows pastures as we wander along the edge of the bay.

A huge area under cover and it looked low. This end you could see in and it looked like dug out dams.

Lovely view across Frederick Henry Bay. I try to work out what is across the bay from the maps, Lime Bay State Reserve and across to South Arm, I think.

Along the edge of Carlton River – wide but probably not deep. Passed a Mexican style villa then next door was the original Carlton River Post Office (1841 to 1949). Looks odd.

Into Primrose Sands where there was a mixture of homes and weekenders. Down to the boat ramp with the little boat sheds in Gypsy Bay. Rocky beach though.

Drove up and down the streets. Loved this little cottage “Shore Thing” with its boat on the entrance. On the back fence the oars were crossed over the gate.

Empty lot on the point – top spot for a house, fabulous view over Frederick Henry Bay to Sloping Island.

Mt Wellington in the distance.

Another cute house name – T’is Owz. Great view over Primrose Sands beach.

Passed Erica Road – one for Steve’s mum.

Walked down the hill side onto the beach which was lovely but the wind was freezing.

Looking back the other way to the point.

Lots of blue bottles have been washed onto the shore.

Back out the road beside Carlton River again then down the other side of the river to Carlton. Lots of houses here. Down to the Bay again and the mouth of the Carlton River.

So close to Hobart and with lovely beaches.

Further round the bay to Dodges Ferry. Steve wondered where the Ferry went to!! Found the entrance into the Pitt Water area where all the forestry trees are at the end of Seven Mile Beach.

Saw sign for Historical plaque so did a u turn to check it out. Found out where the Ferry went.

The point is behind the trees across the bay.

A better shot of the ferry crossing area.

Great map of the area.

Back out onto the main road to head back. At a timber place the bins are guarded by a fierce looking dog.

Turned off before Copping to find Marion Bay Lookout (330m elevation). Passed lots of lovely green pastures around Kellevie.

Up Wielangta Forest Drive (dirt road) to the Lookout. Used to be a camping spot. Fabulous view over Marion Bay and the Tasman Sea.

Zoomed in on Visscher Island off the top of Forestier Peninsula.

Further round over Cape Paul Lamanon and the small opening at the end of Long Spit.

Headed back down passed lots of forestry plantations as well as pastures.

Passed a farm at Bream Creek with a sign Free farm stay for RV Campers. Would be lovely but the road is very narrow so will give it a miss!! As we drive back down the hill we get a great view over the bottom half of Maria Island and Cape Peron (northwards).

Looking south over Long Spit.

Beautiful green pastures and rolling hills and narrow roads – reminds us of the tablelands.

Looks so lovely.

Then we pass the dump house!!

Shearing barn.

Just loving the views so can’t resist more photos.

Passed the dairy but missed getting the shot of all the cows in being milk. These have been done.

Looking north to Hellfire Bluff at the end of Marion Bay.

Finally down to the coast but first we have to cross a rickety bridge and over marsh lands to get to Marion Bay township, well a few beach houses and homes. A local chatted with us about the area. Thousands of acres up and down the coast from here are owned by one family, they have had it from the beginning. The millionaire from MONA bought 100 acres off them to establish a home base for the local Falls Festival. They have also worked with the NPWS to protect the Long Spit area to protect birds etc.

Made a cuppa then wandered up the dune to go onto the beach. A few more dunes to go so sat on top of one and enjoyed the view.

Looking back over the dunes to the marsh land near the area of the Long Spit. You can see a castle in the middle in the distance (we think this is the home of the family that owns all this land).

Watched the paddleboard guy get over the waves, then ride them in.

After our cuppa decided to go down the beach but when we got there we had to cross a creek first so gave up.

Goes a long way north.

and even to the south.

Zoomed in on some shacks across the other side of the Spit.

Back through the sand dunes area.

They have thing down here about Dog Exercise Areas but they are good for maps.

Back over the marsh land area looking out into Blackman Bay.

At Boomer’s Bay the tide goes out a long way and it is very shallow so they did out a channel to get their boats out into the bay.

Heading back along the bay was pass the fence leading to the castle. It looks like it is on an island but there is a narrow neck going out to it and another house at the entrance to the island. No signs or anything to say who and what.

Back in Dunalley to check out the Denison Canal which allows boats to shortcut to Hobart rather than go around Tasman Peninsula. Looking eastwards to Blackman Bay.

Then towards the bridge and out to Dunalley Bay and on to Frederick Henry Bay.

The middle of the bridge swivels sideways to allow the boat to pass, like the one we saw at the docks in Hobart.

Some local timber fish to decorate the picnic area.

They also created a huge chess/checkers board out of mosaics and you can borrow the pieces to have a game from the General Store.

A lovely wedgetail eagle sculpture was made to commemorate the upgrading of the Arthur Highway.

Lots of information in the shelter. Denison Canal is the only purpose built sea canal in Australia. It was started in 1902 and completed in 1905.

Great map showing the area we are crawling all over.

The Canal Superintendent’s hut across the road.

The monument to Tasman was to celebrate the 300^th anniversary of Tasman’s “discovery” of the island.

Cute little cottage.

Back to the van and we headed into the Pub for a drink and look around.

In the restaurant area was an amazing photo of the bushfires that tore through here on 4^th Jan, 2013. The chap in the big bus was telling us he was here and he was the only one with water (carries 1000 litres), gas and food so he was helping them out.

It was surrounded with other photos of the fire.

Zoomed in on the bridge and pub area. He was lucky to have a big cleared area around the pub.

Looking down over the canal to the township of Dunalley.

Some sheep in the paddock next door and the lambs still have their tails.

Some interesting characters in the pond next door to the Pub.

In the beer garden is a giant roller bearing that was used to on the bridge. The structure is made of cast iron and rivets and was the original mechanism for opening the swing bridge manually taking 6 minutes. After a new hydraulic system and concrete bridge was installed in 1965 this mechanism was placed here at the Pub.