Tasmania 2023 – Week 3 Beauty Point/surrounds
Days 20 and 21
So, we will have had 3 lovely nights’ stay at Beauty Point by the time we move on tomorrow. We have a lovely comfy bed with electric blanket, heater, ensuite in our super-sized swag with hard flooring also known as glamping. We have a kitchen sink but not a microwave, fabulous hot water and rain shower head on our shower and basic cooking and eating implements with the wine glasses being stored in the fridge.
Day 20 was a quiet/slow day moseying from Beauty Point to Low Head Lighthouse and surrounds, then to George Town then back. We started the day with a run down to Exeter as Burt Monroe’s Café remained closed for renovations. Instead, we stopped at Cabin Coffee and this really was serendipitous. It was the best breakfast of the trip so far. Beautiful fresh food, good coffee, service with a smile.
Suitably fuelled, we backtracked to Batmans Bridge then turned left and headed north to Low Head Lighthouse. Having surveyed the scenery, we stopped at the Pilot’s Museum – convict built and in tribute to the pilots who have served the navigation of the Tamar River, a river than has a 2m tidal variation and moves rapidly.
George Town is also historic and after a visit to the RSL sub-branch and their small museum, we had a look at the Bass and Flinders Museum – well worth the visit. The explorers were really quite amazing and the size of the boats is gob smackingly small when you think about what they achieved, when you know a little more of the history. Lunching at the Pier Hotel we then ambled around, losing track of time when we returned to our super-sized swag, watching the change to evening whilst sipping on a Derwent Estate Rose. Because we were zipped up tight by 7pm, it felt so much later, an oversized cocoon.
Our second full day was a not quite so leisurely start as we were required to be in Launceston for 9.30am take off – we were helicoptering. We were blessed with the weather. This is our only flight activity this trip and the weather closed in after we landed (last year we tried 3 times to get airborne, succeeding on the third attempt). Helicopters are amazing feats of engineering and not for everyone. Funny, I feel quite safe in this small chopper which seats 4 people including the pilot but I couldn’t walk out on Iron Blow Lookout last year – go figure.
Anyways, having ogled the country from above, and again marked the efforts of the early explorers, we headed to the Silo Hotel for brunch. Crossing back over to the building next to the field we had taken off from, we explored the National Motor Museum – a wonderful collection of vehicles old and newer. Leaving my fungi spotter to catch up with a Navy mate, I wondered in town to explore. It was okay. The weather came in and was quite unpleasant so we decided to go to Franklin House (over the Queen Victoria Museum) – a National Trust property which has been in their hands for about 50 years. They have items dating from the time of Charles II – given to one of the families who emigrated. The most intriguing item was a meat locker with seating on one other side, found in the kitchen. I also loved the copper tea pot – big rectangular item. It was a lovely step back in time for a convict made good, with lots of savvy and foresight.
Some groceries were purchased on our 45km trip back to our swag and after sitting quietly for about an hour, we went to the Beauty Point Hotel for dinner. They had a steak special this evening – better value that the 3 seafood dish – and grass-fed. I can tell you the Swinging Gate Sauvignon Blanc is a nice drop. We had intended to do some wineries through this stage but changed our minds so this was a nice sample of their product.
So, as we wrap up the Beauty Point part of our escapades, it has been a wonderfully quiet and slower paced stop. We have no television, some internet, few neighbours and the occasional hopping creature that looks like a potteroo or similar. The weather might be turning, not sure – we are in for some cold nights. Let’s hope there’s electric blankets and/or fires/heaters at our next stops. Tonight, as I write this, a Frogmore Creek Sangiovese is tickling the palate and being savoured. Cheers
