Springtime at Pelican Bay B&B

Pelican Bay Sunsets

Let's go walking in Freycinet National Park

• CAPE TOURVILLE
  Drive through Coles Bay into the Freycinet National Park and take the sign posted road (Cape Tourville) to the left soon after Freycinet Lodge. Park your car and follow the track round the cliffs and back to where you started. A boardwalk actually clings below the cliff top. Halfway along, stone steps go up to the lighthouse. The Cape Tourville circuit is one of Tasmania's great short walks. There are wonderful views north along Friendly Beaches to Butler's Point and south across Carp Bay to Sleepy and Wineglass Bays. Straight out at sea are The Nuggets, home to many sea birds.

• SLEEPY BAY
  You pass the turnoff to Sleepy Bay as you drive to Cape Tourville. Park and walk down the steps. Even if you go no further, this bit of the walk is worth doing as the water below the first lookout is always an amazing turquoise colour and very clear. The cliffs are spectacularly covered with bands of bright orange lichen. Watching the waves crash against the rocks and break into foam is mesmerising, as is the effect of watching them wash back and forth over the giant kelp. If you keep going you will reach Little Gravelly Beach where there are lots of pink granite rocks, many also lichen covered. Both the track down and the beach are great spots to take photographs.
  
  

• HONEYMOON BAY
  This tiny bay is immediately after Freycinet Lodge. At either end are pink granite rocks, a perfect place for a winter picnic. Just off shore is the tiniest island. Above the bay is a picnic and barbecue area sheltered by sheoaks. You will notice several sections where shells are embedded in the side of the path. This is the site of an Aboriginal midden. You will usually be joined there by green rosellas, yellow wattlebirds and in winter/spring by a family of grey butcherbirds. Out at sea you may be lucky enough to see a pair of sea eagles glide by. In the Spring and Summer this is a wonderful spot to snorkel and swim.
  
  

• FRIENDLY BEACHES
  Heading towards Bicheno about halfway along the Coles Bay Road the turn off to Friendly Beaches is on your right. It soon becomes a gravel road so drive carefully. After a couple of kilometres the road forks. Either fork leads to a car park from which a path gives access to a very long beach with white sand. In wild weather the waves pound in and the beach looks anything but friendly, though wonderfully dramatic. If you enjoy the solitude of a deserted beach you'll find it here. From the south end of the beach a path leads to Saltwater Lagoon where you will certainly see black swans, probably other water birds as well.

• WINEGLASS BAY LOOKOUT
  This walk will give you one of Tasmania's most celebrated views over the beautiful white sands of Wineglass Bay. The track is a short, fairly steep climb to the saddle between Mt Amos and Mt Mason. From the saddle, a side track leads to a lookout, with spectacular views over Wineglass Bay. Continue on downhill to this superb bay with its long white sandy beach and crystal clear seas. Dolphins and whales are often sighted in the bay.
  
  

Acknowledgements:
Paul Lucre for some of the photos
Gentle Strolls in the Vicinity by Margaret Morgan