2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Fri, 3rd Apr, 2015 Mick & Anne’s beach house, Ansons Bay (Eddystone Point & Ansons Bay & River sightseeing)

6 degrees this morning at 8am – clear blue sky with a light breeze.

Jumped in the car with Mick and Anne to check out the lighthouse at Eddystone Point. Their friend was the lighthouse keeper there for many years. The aborigines have now been given back the land! There is a boat ramp there too so a few people had put their boats in though the sea was still rolling in a high swell.

Established in 1889 and built by convicts using local granite. Amazing feat. They used hand drills to make the holes then some timber was inserted in the hole and the water would do the rest and swell up the timber making the rocks split. How they got it all up in the air, and so neatly is unbelievable.

Anne took our photo as this is the most easterly point of Tasmania.

Walked out to the weather station hut (been vandalised) for some photos of the ocean.

Looking down over the Bay of Fires which extends from here down to Bingalong Bay. It was named that because when Captain Furneaux in 1773 saw it from the sea there were heaps of fires along the beach made by the aborigines. Some people say it is the fact that the granite rocks look like they are on fire because of the orange lichen growing on them.

Looking across to Cape Barren Island. You can just make out the peak in the middle behind the island which is part of Flinders Island. There is also a smaller island in the front, Clarke Island. It looks like it is a few islands but Mick says it is all one island.

The lighthouse keepers’ houses.

We drove around the back of the house and wandered out onto the top of the sand dune – freezing cold wind but fabulous view over the Bay of Fires.

Zoomed in to the south to Bingalong Bay that is the other end of the Bay of Fires.

Squeaky white sand and brilliant blue sea, though Anne said it looks so much better when the sea is calm.

Looking over the neck of the point to Purdon Bay. There is a camping area there called Deep Creek.

Back in the car and we drove over to the other side of the neck and onto the beach. This is where the postcard photos are taken to advertise the Bay of Fires rocks. We have the sun in the wrong position.

The orange on these rocks isn’t very bright.

Climbed out onto the rocks and looking back towards the lighthouse.

This is a good shot though.

Headed around to the Deep Creek campground area. There is a bore water pump at the entrance but it needed priming.

Wandered along the beach, lovely.

Great shacks here with fabulous views.

A lot more orange on the rocks here.

Looking across to Deep Creek Campground which is National Parks operated. The creek isn’t flowing out to the sea at the moment and apparently isn’t very deep!!

Purdon Bay.

An aboriginal midden. There are lots of these along the Bay of Fires sand dunes.

Climbed up the dune to get a better look over Deep Creek and Purdon Bay.

Further along there was a seat lookout so I climbed up for some more pictures. Looking back towards the lighthouse.

Steve climbed up for a look.

Good advice at the entrance to the camp area.

Back at Ansons Bay – nicer view over the Bay and the ocean.

Drove down to their son-in-law, Sam, family’s beach house which is right on the water’s edge. Lovely.

Some kiteboarders were enjoying themselves.

Went back to the van for some lunch. Went up the road for a chat with some other friends of Mick & Anne’s, who were lighthouse keepers at Eddystone at one time.

Sam and Rebecca have a lovely big boat and came to take us all for a tour around the bay and up the Anson River. We jumped in the boat and headed back to the boat ramp. Some of the original shacks are right on the water but the road is right behind them too – not much room for the kids.

A few people trying out new kayaks at the boat ramp. Certainly looks a lot nicer than when Steve & I took a photo yesterday.

Steve is in heaven. 7 metre aluminium half cabin hardtop with two 115 ETec outboards.

Plenty of room for their kids too.

Being out on the water gives a different perspective view of the bay. Lots of scrubland around the bay area.

Mr Percival arrives to say hello when we went back to the jetty to pick up some more of their friends.

On the other side of the river is all farm land.

Some crazy person is skiing. He fell off just after I took the photo – need heated wetsuits down here.

Further around the bay to Shark Bay and all the big sand dunes that protect them from the ocean.

Lots of boats out fishing for bream in the bay entrance.

Certainly is lovely to be out on the water.

Heaps of black swans too.

Very narrow channel through here to get out to the mouth and the bar crossing.

Campers at Policeman’s Point. The couple that Mick & Anne travel with are camped out here and we are going out for a campfire tea tomorrow night. Will check it out to see if we want to camp there next. A few people trying to get a feed off the bank.

Nearly to the mouth and the bar crossing which we won’t be doing today as the sea is still very choppy. You definitely need to know what you are doing here. They have lost a lot of boats here.