Thurs, 15th Feb, 2024 Free camp paddock, Westbury to Midway Point, Sulphur Creek, Tas (Westmorland Falls, Kimberley Warm Springs)

6 degrees at 6am so another heater morning.

8am nicely up to 20 degrees. Clear sky. Slowly got going then we chatted for a while in the sunshine. Said our farewells and hope to see them again somewhere. They have another month here.

We headed to Deloraine. Stopped for a cuppa by the Meander River. Two ducks came wandering over then a few more until we were surrounded. Steve was very good and didn’t feed them.

They gave up and headed over to another couple with Subway and scored some bread.

Walked over the bridge. Nice view up the river then downstream.

Through Deloraine - it is a wonderful town to explore. Headed towards Chudleigh - Town of Roses and I photographed nearly every type there too in 2014.

You can see why they call these mountains the Western Tiers - they look like big steps.

Turned off to Caveside. Great view of the mountains.

Pretty flowers along the narrow road to Honeymoon Cave - as it is called on Google Maps. We knew it as Wet Caves Reserve which was also the name of the road.

Pulled into the camping area beside the hill where the caves are. It is a self-explore area which we did in great detail. Now you have to pay the NP fee so we didn’t stop here for lunch otherwise we had to pay $40 for a 24 hour pass!

Continued up the narrow gravel road to Westmorland Falls in the Mole Creek Karst Conservation Area so we don’t need a NP pass to visit it. We came here in Jan 2015 - much wetter then. There is only a small area to park and on a slope so we got out the ramps so we could make lunch and sit inside. Only another car and the Ranger’s ute here. The Ranger came out and put a saw in the back of the ute and took off.

We got out our trusty Tassie walking sticks and headed off following the little markers and the narrow track.

Spotted some Grey Fan-tails flittering about but they are too quick to get a photo of.

Found where the Ranger had been working. He could have cut another bit and cleared the track properly.

Up and down the hills. Around another fallen tree - obviously the Ranger wasn't worried about this one! We remembered that the track was very boggy last time - much drier this time. We can hear water but can’t get to it yet.

Found the water. Looking upstream then downstream to where the main stream meets it.

Around the corner to the other stream with little waterfalls.

Great fungus on the tree.

Continued along the edge of the creek till we saw the falls.

Went further along to a lookout platform.

Walked down onto the rocks for a better view.

Selfie time.

Headed back. Nice view over the neighbouring farm as we got nearer the car park.

Back to the truck. These are the photos we took in 2015.

Nice view the other way as we head down.

Continued on the loop road around to Mole Creek township then back through Chudleigh. Turned off to check out The Truffle Farm - Home of Australia’s First Black Truffle. There is another company Truffles of Tasmania just along the road a bit too. They had a small showroom and the lady showed us a black truffle - smelt woody but sweet. They have them in oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and mustard - I tried the first three. Different - not quite my cup of tea. Great wall display.

Outside little trees that has been inoculated with the Truffle fungi. Looking across to the bigger trees where they take tours to ‘hunt’ for truffles.

Headed back to Deloraine for a cuppa then decided to continue on to Burnie to find some penguins. Onto the Bass Highway but I went to write something in my diary so wasn’t watching what Steve was doing and he missed the turn off so we ended up all the way back to Westbury before we could exit off the highway. Take 2 - back onto the highway and off we went.

Before Elizabeth Town we turned onto Railton Road - a new one to mark off on our map book. Passed Stephens St - should have stopped for a photo!

Narrow, windy, two lane road took us meandering through farms around the base of hills. Into the little village of Kimberley and followed the signs to the Warm Springs State Reserve. Nice little picnic area with the pool bubbling away. Looks weird watching it bubble and wobble like some alien thing.

Spotted an eel.

It wasn’t very warm but certainly warmer than the freezing creek water.

Across the Mersey River.

Passed more tree plantations then into Railton - Home of the Topiary Trees which have been shaped into many animals etc. These are along the main road.

Continued on the Railton Road heading north then we turned west to Burnie.

Around the edge of Devonport and back onto the Bass Highway. Down the hill to views of the Bass Strait. The cattle have great views.

Across the wide Forth River.

Turned into the township of Penguin then along Preservation Road.

We missed the turn into Midway Point Rest Area so had to continue down to the township of Sulphur Creek to turn around. We had stayed at two other spots last time but they have been changed to day use now but they created this nice bigger area for travellers.

Picked a spot and set up. Very windy.

The train still toots as it comes by.

Anne rang - there was a vacancy for 3 sites at Gove Fishing Club in East Arnhem that we can take in August so we all agreed and booked in. Cost a lot more than our usual camping spots but it will be something different.

Steve was chatting with the chap beside us and mentioned the trip and he had just been there in Sept and said it was amazing that they extended a few more weeks. He suggested a few things which I shared with the others on our FB chat page - handy tool.

Checked in with our Fran and Annalise and both are doing ok - looking forward to meeting their little babies.

David sent a photo that a neighbour took of the slab being prepared at Woodgate.

Chatted with our neighbours till 7.30 then I realised I needed to get some dinner on. The wind has settled down so it is very pleasant outside so we sat outside to eat dinner.

9pm - we walked down to the beach. We sat quietly waiting for the penguins and enjoyed the sunset views.

We didn’t hear any calling so maybe there aren’t any burrows around here.

Back to the camper for a cuppa as the wind has picked up and it is quite cool again.