Bicheno & beyond

09/01/2015 - 09/01/2015 18 °C

Together with Coles Bay, Bicheno is the holiday centre of Tasmania’s East Coast. In summer the bay is very popular due to its sheltered location meaning that temperatures are always a few degrees warmer than elsewhere in the state.

We stayed for a couple of nights in a very clean and comfortable Back Packers - a bit like a youth hostel in the UK.

One of the main attraction along this part of the coast line is the Blowhole

It's amazing to watch the waves come in and be forced up the hole, making quite a noise as they explode out the top.

The Gulch

This little harbour has bustled with activity since sealing and whaling boats first dropped anchor 200 years ago. Later, steamships called to serve the surrounding farms and the short-lived coal mining industry. Its use as a fishing resort continues along with aquamarine and tourism.

Governor Island Marine Reserve has sheer granite walls and deep caves which reveal a brilliant mosaic of jewel anemones and other life in the reserve, which is behind Governor Island.
These little red Sea anenomies were particularly eye catching at the surface.

The reserve helps to protect extraordinary marine life. Tasmania is one of the most biologically diverse and unique marine environments in the world, with 80 per cent of the plants and animals in Southern Australia waters found nowhere else.

Redbill Beach

The original inhabitants for this area were the LInetamairrenaa people. They lit small fires near their campsites to cook small fish collected from the nearby shores. Local surfers meet at Redbill each morning to check the surf.

The bright orange is lichen, which is two ‘plants’ in one – a close partnership between an algae and a fungus.

Diamond Island Nature Reserve

At low tide, it is possible to walk out to Diamond Island.

Hundreds of Little (Fairy) Penguins make quite a noise at night during the spring-summer breeding season. Many stay at sea for the rest of the year.
The island is covered in Penguin burrows.

At various points along the coast line around Bicheno, you can spot these burrows in the undergrowth.

If you sit still enough, for long enough as it gets dark, you may be lucky enough to see the Little Penguins making their way up the beach to their burrows for the evening.

or even, see the baby penguins (with funky hair-do's) become impatient, leave the burrow and head down to the beach looking for their parents and their first meal of the day.

Spiky Bridge

is part of the old convict coach road which connected Swansea with Little Sawnport and the east coast road to Hobart. By 1820 the reaches of white settlement were being pushed further up Tasmania's east coast. Settlers, such as George Meredith and Francis Cotton, were drawn to the area by the prospects of farming and whaling. Spiky Bridge and part s of the old coach road which are still visible today, remain as enduring legacies of the convict workers from the nearby station.

The reason why spikes were incorporated in the design remains elusive.

Spiky Beach

is opposite Spiky Bridge. It is a great example of one of the many small, secluded bays along this coast line. It means beaches are not over crowded and there is always somewhere to find a little space and an environment for exploration.