Wed, 25th Feb, 2015 Tall Timbers Hotel camp area, Smithton to Green Point (Arthur River and west coast exploring)

What a shame, Channel 7 Sunrise Cash Cow didn’t ring me with the $50,000 but we watched it and the Queenslanders they did ring, didn’t answer so it will be $60,000 tomorrow!!! It was a cold then hot night with a shower of rain – didn’t sleep well with this flu which is now making my throat sore. It is overcast and cold as we packed up and headed to the West Coast. Past lots of cattle and dairy cows. Lots of the furrowed pastures to keep the cow’s feet dry.

Up and over the Bond Tier hills near the Tarkine Forest Adventures – will do the slide on the way back. Natural forest which is used harvested by the forestry. Turned off the main road and to find Marrawah, a sleepy little town. Down a reasonably steep Green Point Road. Great view of the Southern Ocean.

Great mural on the side of the barn as we turned onto Beach Road to camp at Green Point.

Looking over Ann Bay. There is a surfing competition here at the end of March.

First thought was we weren’t going to fit but on closer inspection there was plenty of room.

Walked down to the beach and picnic area for a look.

Tide is out so all the rocks are exposed. Looks like someone has a shack close to the water.

Looking north to the Woolnorth Wind Farms in the distance.

The playground is pretty good too, complete with artificial turf. Steve liked it.

So I joined him for a see saw.

Wandered down to the water’s edge. Lots of little blue star fish.

Top view north from the top of the hill near the van.

We had heaps of little Superb Blue Fairy Wrens hopping around our feet as we had a cuppa. They must have been babies as some only had a little bit of blue so they would be the males.

Had an early lunch and then headed off to check out Arthur River area. As we drove back up to Marrawah we noticed lots of cars arriving thinking there was a party. Not quite, it was a funeral. First stop was Bluff Hill Point where the lighthouse is. I reckon either here of West Point just up the road are the most westerly points of Tasmania.

Great view north. Strong NW wind today.

The rocks were pushed up on an angle.

As we drove out we noticed a bunch of houses a bit further north from the lighthouse.

Passed the first of the National Parks camping areas. Into Arthur River township and over the Arthur River bridge.

Leanne & Rick are going to do a boat cruise up the river tomorrow. We are going to explore other roads.

Looking out the mouth.

Drove up a road for the lookout. The sunset caught our attention. The house that is here is nothing like the drawn one on the poster.

View of the mouth.

Further round we found the “Edge of the World” lookout. Great view back to the mouth of the Arthur River.  Don’t think we would like to try and take a boat out the mouth with those waves rolling in. 

On a rock out on the point is this great poem.

Rick took a photo of us on the Edge of the World.

Looking back down the mouth of the river to the bridge.

The waves smashing on the rock just out from the mouth.

Headed down the coast to Nelson Bay. Passed a kelp drying shed. Steve was impressed with the extended draw bar on the crayfish boat.

Climbed up on a little hill for a great view south over the beach shacks at Nelson Bay.

Looking north - They have a great little spot here.

Then east.

Further down the coast we stopped at Rebecca’s Stockman Hut and Lagoon.

Stopped at Temma to make a cuppa. A lovely protected bay but not a very pretty area.

Just fishing shacks for the crayfisherman. Long railtrack dry docks for their boats.

Leanne & Rick headed back to the vans. We decided we would explore some more spots. Pulled into Stinking Beach and yes it definitely was STINKING. Lots of rotting kelp. Don’t know how the people in the houses cope with the smell.

Obviously this is where they chop the kelp leaves off the stem and then just leave them on the beach to rot.

Not many shells but found this one – can’t remember what it was called.

And more further down the beach.

Turned off to another fishing shack community – Couta Rocks. Certainly lots of rocks.

 But they must provide enough protection for the boats.

Another fishing community called Sarah Anne Rocks.

There were supposed to be some aboriginal rock carvings around Sandown Point (read in an old 4WD magazine) but we didn’t see any signs.

Back over the Arthur River again and nearly back to Marrawah we turned west to West Point and Mawson Bay. A few surfers were enjoying the waves.

Zoomed in on the lighthouse we saw at Bluff Hill Point and the beach houses below it.

We walked out further to get a most westerly photo.

 Definitely westerly as the sun was right behind our heads.

As the wind was whipping up the top of the waves it was making rainbows.

Back in the truck and Steve found another road so off we went around the other side of the point. Found this 1916 concrete foundation. There were four steel plates that obviously held some tower. Maybe this was the original site for the lighthouse.

Great view back to where the surfers were on Mawson Bay.

The sun is dropping in the west.

Looking north.

Prominent hill in the east as it is very flat around here.

Very rocky area. Steve followed the track as he could see a shack further down along the coast.

Found some more concrete foundations of old shacks.

Looking back to where the 1916 concrete foundation is on the hill.

Did another selfie in the West.

Another shack buried in the shrubbery.

 Very interesting, made of rocks. Peered in the window and there were heaps of surfing posters on the wall.

Remains of another shack nearby. Wonder if these are from the early days or just the surfies in the 70s.

Another one further along was just corrugated iron.

Headed back as it was getting late but it was lovely out.  A few more vans and motorhomes have moved in. Enjoyed dinner outside before the cold chased us back into the van. No TV reception but great music on the radio. Steve has fixed it at long last and it Aust shaped wire is doing well. Charles rang for a chat which was nice. My throat is getting worse though – feels like knives poking in at the sides. Makes swallowing hard.