Tasmania 5 

The east coast is so incredibly beautiful  and accessible that we had no choice but to visit many of the turn-offs that lead to one WOW photo or moment after another.  Seeing two right whales was one such moment that we couldn’t record on camera.

Our stop at the fruit farm with (good) WiFi made us both very happy as the only charge for the internet was whatever we would buy anyway. That meant, in our case, 2 "long black" coffees, "a slice" (a new expression we’ve learned here that seems to mean something to eat with your coffee) and 2 containers of just-picked raspberries and strawberries. Good deal, even at Aussie prices.

This post will have mostly photos from previous stops on the Tassie journey because I simply don’t have enough time to get to all of them unless we have a very good connection, which is quite rare.

As I write this on Saturday, in preparation for our next blog opportunity, we’re beside the crashing turquoise waves of Stumpy’s Bay in Mt William NP. We have lovely neighbours, Forster’s Kangaroos as they’re known in Tassie (Eastern Greys elsewhere) and the sweetest wallabies. Apparently the rest of this state is having a 35-37 degree today but it is more like a perfect summer day where we are.

I absolutely LOVE wallabies! If I could have one as a pet, I'm sure I would! This one seems to be singing to herself, "I'm so pretty, oh so pretty..." and she definitely is!

This one is chowing down on these beautiful trigger plant flowers.

And this one must have a full tummy and be ready for a nap.

Note this echidna's sandy nose, feet going in all directions and ... 

spiny tail to go with the rest of him!

This pied oyster catcher chick, almost as big as the parent, was trying to act convincingly "starving".

 

wattled lapwing, a very common but surprising skittish bird

 

Australian swans, handsome with their bright red bills and white wings in flight.

 

Cape Barren geese

 

one of our favourite sights, pelicans soaring overhead

 

On our way to Mt William NP in the northeast corner of Tassie, we explored the coast wherever possible. The white sand spit (all the sand seems to be pure white) is about 6 KM long and projects parallel to the coast creating a sheltered lagoon that all sorts of birds appreciate. These crested terns were having a good rest until a sea eagle startled all but one of them into flight.

 

This sleepy lizard was basking on the road side and simply wouldn't move.They often lose their tails so are also called stumpy lizards.

 

 

On our way to our camping site in Deep Creek, we encountered this sign. It made me glad I wasn't in a tent!

 

This was the view from our campervan: a lagoon with orange rocks and crashing turquoise sea behind. And not another living being was there with us, except the roos and wallabies.

At sunset, the orange lichen on the rocks comes aglow. It's truly breathtaking. 

 

And it's not too bad in the morning light either.

 

 

 

The Eddystone Light House (in the background), built in 1899, is surrounded by masses of these golden composite flowers, probably not indigenous to here but still very beautiful.