Freycinet National Park, Wineglass Bay & Surrounds


Thursday the 22nd February, after a good look around Swansea we left but did not have to go far. Firstly we pulled into the Pondering Frog which is well known for their ice cream. It is at the intersection of the highway and the road to the Freycinet area, north of Swansea. We had lunch there. Unfortunately we did not enjoy their seafood chowder.

After lunch we headed toward Freycinet and pulled into the Swanwick Golf Course where they have camping for fully self contained vehicles for $10 a night. They do have a toilet available 24 hours at the club house and there are two toilets in the park which is also walking distance.

It was such a beautiful warm day that after getting set up we drove to the nearby beach and had a swim. A bit cold but the water was so clear.












On Friday we took a drive to Coles Bay which is just before the National Park. Unfortunately the weather was still a bit overcast and rainy.







By Saturday morning Kay and Derek caught up to us and we headed into the National Park. Because of the weather we decided to leave Wineglass Bay till the next day. We did the next best thing and drove to Cape Tourville where the lighthouse is. We had a spectacular view of the coast from there.




Then a walk into Sleepy Bay and Gravel Bay.





We dropped in to Freycinet Lodge at lunchtime to check out the luxury of the place and had a couple of drinks. Next was a visit into the town and watched the runners in a triathlon that was going on that day at Coles Bay. There was a very good singer/guitarist playing who had been an ex-factor participant. It was good having that in the background. Then it was back to Freycinet Lodge for an early dinner at the bistro there, which was pretty good. We were treated to another singer/guitarist at the Lodge who was performing bluegrass music on slide steel guitars. It was so good.

Back to camp and we went to the river for a fish but it started blowing a gale which brought that to an abrupt end. We went back to camp and turned their camper sideways to block the wind and made the most of the happy hour.

On Sunday the weather was improving a fair bit and so we walked to Winegalss Bay. It was nice but I would rate Whitehaven Beach in the Witsundays as better. That was taking into account the slightly overcast weather that we were still having. I might get another chance to go to the lookout with Linda when we return to the east coast after Kay & Derek have gone.






We walked down to the beach and Derek had a swim but I wasn’t interested. If the sun was belting down I reckon I would have gone in.




Then we continued our walk to Promise Bay.





Another good walk done and after a brief visit to the Lodge it was back to camp. I showed Kay and Derek our beach there at Swanwick and it was a much nicer evening than the one before.





Once we returned to camp I saw that there was another Northstar caravan there, a ‘Mudgee’, and knew straight away who it was. I knew that Ron from Hornsby was in Tazzie on a trip as well and had told our mutual mate John O’Malley, and my go to man for all things mechanical and electrical in caravanning, the we were bound to cross paths at some point. This turned out to be the point where we met up. I just knew it would happen having had many amazing coincidences meeting up with people on the road time and again. So I went over and said g’day to Ron and his wife and travelling companions and caught up on their trip. We swapped tips as you do and had a good chat.


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