Wed, 6th May, 2015 Friendly Beaches Campground (Wineglass Bay and The Hazards)

Woke up at 6.45 and saw the colour in the sky so threw on a jumper and went out to the point to take a photo of the sunrise. It was 13.4 degrees inside but a lot colder out!! Such a beautiful morning – clear sky, no wind, just perfect. So hard to imagine after all the wind and rain last night. A car had pulled up last night and now the girls came out to join me. They are from Germany and just arrived last night in Hobart – quick trip around Tassie.

The moon was still up in the west.

The sun was just starting to come up.

A couple of dolphins swam by.

I was chatting to the girls and nearly missed the sun rising!!

Back in the van to warm up – little rainbows on the ceiling from my crystal.

Got Steve out of bed – he saw the dolphins too as they went further along the beach. Packed up and headed into Coles Bay to do the walk to Wineglass Bay and then along Hazard Beach – 5 hour hike. Packed our lunch and a glass of wine to have a Wineglass Bay!!

Stopped first at the pier to get a better, blue sky photo of The Hazards. Found out they were named after an American whaler, Albert “Black” Hazard who was captain of a whaling ship working in the area in the 1820s.

Coles Bay is nice and calm.

Made a cuppa while we in the carpark and checked out the information.

Then off we set for our hike. It is a glorious day.

The rocks are amazing.

Up we climbed – stopped to take some photos – and a breather. Looking over Great Oyster Bay towards Swansea. A band of cloud hanging there that might come our way.

Good walking surface.

Then we hit the steps!!

Hope that rock stays there.

At Coles Bay Lookout. A lovely young lady offered to take our photo.

Then I took another one.

Steve got gobbled up by a rock.

More steps – we think there about 300!!

We are walking up between Mt Amos and Mt Mayson. Great rock formations on Mt Amos.

At the top of the saddle between the mountains so I had a rest on this great chair. ‘Saddle Seat’ was designed and constructed by two School of Architecture students in 2000.

Looking above at Mt Amos and ‘Turtle Rock’ (well that’s what we are calling it).

The saddle area.

Another 5 min walk up to the Lookout before the walk down the mountain into Wineglass Bay. Love taking photos of the rocks.

Some old wheel or something is imbedded in the pathway but no info about it.

Climbing up to the lookout – another shot of the rocks on one edge of Mt Mayson.

Then we see the most spectacular view of Wineglass Bay. I climbed up on a big boulder to get a higher view. There is another walk to the summit of Mt Amos, that we are under, but it is not a safe one, big boulders to climb over etc and with this view why would you bother. Took a photo on my phone and posted it on Facebook (I hope)!! Haven’t done that before so hope it works.

We are so lucky with the weather since the forecast was for more rain. The wind is quite strong though and it is picking up so hope it doesn’t bring any rain for a while yet. Looking over the Isthmus and the Hazards Lagoon to Great Oyster Bay on far right. Mt Graham (579m) on left and Mt Freycinet (620m) on right.

Then around to the back of Mt Mayson.

Zoomed in on the waves crashing in Great Oyster Bay as the wind is coming from the west.

Zoomed in on a yacht in the bay – looks like paradise. Bet the water isn’t warm though!!

The beach is so white and all rippled. Will walk down and have lunch there.

There were a heap of people at the lookout and we all took photos for each other.

She climbed up higher for another photo of us.

After chatting with four kiwis from Nelson and a few other people we headed down towards the bay. Steve was looking back up to the lookout.

Down we go.

Another shot of the rocks.

Going down, chatted with two girls as they passed us. One from India the other from Germany.

Nearly to the beach where the turn off is to the Isthmus track that we will take around to Hazards Beach later. There is a longer overnight hike to Cook’s Beach and around the Peninsula.

Down onto the beach. It feels like a tropical paradise, could just strip off and dive in, ha ha. The water is freezing.

Great photo of Steve and then us.

Looking up at Mt Graham.

Back up to Mt Dove (the next one over). There is another bay around the rocks called Hawkesnest Cove and the wind is howling through there whipping up the water. We are protected here but you can hear the wind in the trees above us.

Sat down by the water for our lunch.

Even brought the wineglass for the wine!! I read in one article that it was thought the name came from the colour of the water when the whaling was done here – blood red like red wine.

Lots of lichen on the rocks here too – better colours than the ones we saw at the Bay of Fires.

Climbed up on the rocks for another few photos of the beach and the bay.

Walked along the beach for a while – only found one nice shell, hardly any on the beach. Mt Amos on left and Mt Dove on right.

Out Wineglass Bay to Thouin Bay.

Then to the other end of the beach where the Peninsula track heads off from.

Looking up at Mt Mayson again.

Around to the other cove.

Back on the track again – the Isthmus Track will take us across to the other side of the peninsula. The vegetation changes a lot.

Past the Hazards Lagoon.

Boardwalks and bush.

The end of the lagoon.

Looking back to the southern side of Mt Mayson.

Up the sand dune.

Another lagoon.

Over the top then down onto Hazards Beach.

Refuge Island and Promise Rock are in Promise Bay. The wind is so strong, it is whipping the sand up as we head off. Looks like some rain is coming our way.

Another 2.5hours (7km) back to the carpark from here or the same in the southern direction if you are doing the overnight hike.

We chose the one back to the carpark!! Looking towards Fleurieu Point.

There are oyster shells everywhere, not sure if they are midden piles or just washed up onto the shore as it is called Great Oyster Bay!!

A rainbow appears over Promise Rock.

Made it to the end of Hazards Beach.

Back up through the trees.

Higher up on the cliffs for a view over Refuge Island and Promise Rock and my rainbow.

Lots of lovely secluded bays along the way.

Up and down and through the changing vegetation till we look over Great Oyster Bay to Swanwick and Hazards View (north of Coles Bay).

Looking back over the bay towards Swansea.

Into big boulder area. Passed a couple with their huge packs heading off for the overnight camp spots.

The rocks on Mt Mayson came back into view.

Kept trudging along, sometimes away from the water and others on the cliffs above the water.

Further around Picnic Island come into view.

Some more rocks to negotiate.

Slowly getting closer.

Looking back into the bay where the boats are moored. A lot choppier now.

Great view across the bay with the sun on it.

Steve thought we were nearly there but it was a different pile of rocks!! Another valley to cross yet.

More rocks.

Well worn path.

At last we see the front of The Hazards again.

But still a way to go yet.

The big black cloud is following us.

The grass trees are all dying from a root rot disease.

Thought I should get a flower photo!

We kept going.

Nearly at the turnoff back to the carpark and the phone rang – it was Jon. Having a laugh about us coming home – did we need money and Dad wanted his job back!! Not likely though Steve said he might consider it after the walk he has done today!! The black cloud has caught us so we said good bye and walked quickly back to the truck as the rain started to fall.

Sat in the truck till the downpour passed then headed off to Cape Tourville where the lighthouse is. I made a cuppa then another scud of rain came through so we sat in the truck – The wind is freezing too. After it passed we put on our raincoats and headed off – only a short 20 minute walk around the point. A rainbow came out over the lighthouse.

How the day and clothing changes in Tasmania!!

Info sign along the boardwalk about the view.

Zoomed in on Wineglass Bay – the yacht is still there.

There used to be a lighthouse on the small rock – Lemon Rock. The other bit is called Cape Forestier.

Steve noticed some caves in the granite on the waterline.

What’s on the horizon – a big black cloud that just dumped its rain on us!! On the boardwalk they marked the length of difference sea creatures, dolphins, whales etc.

Further around the point another great shot of Thouin Bay and the Wineglass Bay surrounds.

Climbed up the steps to the lighthouse – constructed in 1971.

A shadow has fallen over the bay making it dark and mysterious.

A rainbow appears in the rain out at sea.

Further out onto the point was another lookout and information.

Looking north towards Friendly Beaches and our van.

On other side of lookout was another info board.

The rocky islands are called ‘The Nuggets’ and 1000 birds nest there each year.

Looking across the Tasman Sea, if we sailed due east for about 1000 kilometres you would make landfall on the central west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Follow the rainbow!!

Another board about the history.

In my pocket I found the shell from Wineglass Bay and a piece of oyster shell I picked up from Hazards Beach, to add to our collection.

Headed back then stopped off at Sleepy Bay. Even though the legs were tired we headed down the steps. What a beautiful little bay. Someone is enjoying it.

Orange lichen is bright here - more vivid here then at the Bay of Fires.

Info about the change water temperature. There was a note down the bottom about another beach which we said we won’t bother with. Decided to follow the track to go down to Sleepy Bay though.

Great view across to Lemon Rock.

Turned out the lookout was all there was of Sleepy Bay and we had just down the walk to Little Gravelley Beach.

Just before we made the beach the rain came down so we hid under a tree canopy as we didn’t bring the raincoats – we were only doing a 10 min walk – or so we thought!

The name fits because all the granite rocks made gravelley sand. Some people were fishing off the rocks and have just caught one but to the kids’ delight.

Looking back to Sleepy Bay.

The boulders have been eroded into unusual shapes.

Another lovely rainbow.

Looking back up towards Mt Parsons, the other end of The Hazards.

Back up the track to the lookout, then back up more stairs.

Exhausted but glad to have had such a magnificent day for our walks. Headed back via the jetty in case the penguin was back. He wasn’t and the bay was very choppy now I wouldn’t have seen him. Also David Geck had rung but no answer when we rang back.

Back to the van, it hadn’t been blown away, though the solar panels had skidded along in the dirt.

At 6pm I hoped in the truck to try David again. He and Amanda were out so I chatted with Ella. Then I rang Dan for a chat – looking forward to seeing him again. As I looked out the window there was a big black cloud on one side of the windscreen and clear sky and stars on the other, then the rain came down!!

Back in the van where it was 17 degrees but feeling a lot colder as the outside temp had dropped to 10 degrees with the wind. Warmed up with beautiful pumpkin soup and our fish then a hot shower with the heater in the doorway of the ensuite to keep me warm while I dress!!

At 8pm the sky is clear and it will be a cold night. Looking forward to getting the diesel heater now.