9 - 13 March Peninsula Circuit, Freycinet Peninsula (Part 1)

March 9
Drive from Hobart to Freycinet Peninsula,
East Coast Tasmania Arrive Freycinet National Park
Parson Cove Car Park (Walker Registration)
Wineglass Bay Track Past Wineglass Bay Lookout down to Wineglass Bay Camp at Wineglass Bay Beach

As always, the Molano’s arrived at Freycinet in a rush and with dusk already approaching. I suggested to Paulo that we just camp at Coles Beach, But, Paulo in a rush to finally get a glimpse of Wineglass Bay for the first time nominated to get cracking & make a start. Signing at the walker registration with a spring in our step, despite our heavy bags (still fresh and still with the novelty of our new bushwalking packs finally being used for bushwalking, not backpacking ;).

Bypassing all the huffing, puffing Wineglass Bay Lookout day walkers on their ways back looking in amazement at the size of our packs and suddenly getting depressed at the fact that their feat of the day had turned into an ant-hill! By the time we got to the Freycinet Lookout turnoff the Dark was setting in so we left the Lookout for another day and ran down the saddle to Wineglass Bay Beach in our attempt to be ahead for Day 2 into our walk and set up camp for the night.

With the sands of Wineglass Bay in our boots Paulo suggested we camp on the beach as it was already dark, were I lectured him on illegal camping and the fact there were actual camps for a reason. Less than half way along the beach, though, I collapsed and announced we would camp on the beach and I headed straight for my Trangia! Setting up a tent and cooking in the dark sucks! We have well and truly resolved to avoid a repeat situation at all costs. Fell asleep paranoid at being found out by National Park Rangers & all the early birds to the Wineglass Bay Lookout would be able to see us.

March 10

Isthmus Track From Wineglass Bay Beach to Hazards Beach

Along Hazards Beach to the Peninsula Track

Along the Peninsula Track to Cooks Beach

Cooks Beach Camping Ground, Cooks Corner

Camp at Cooks Beach

With early birds not only at the Lookout, but actually having made it to Wineglass Bay Beach at sunrise, well, before we got up, we sprinted out of the tent and packed it up asap to create a rouse that we were just having a casual Trangia-cooked breakfast on the beach. The impact of a still not broken in bushwalking backpack and having the wrong things packed in the wrong places took its toll and I had a permanent tender spot in my lower back with 90% of our walk still to go!

The positive of having illegally camped on the beach was that we shaved an hour’s trek along the back to continue along the Isthmus track to Hazards Beach. I love this part of the peninsula and always make a point to walk along the track between the 2 beaches as it is as beautiful as the beaches themselves. Sweet memories of seeing dolphins at Hazards Beach after waiting the track the first time probably biases my opinion :)

After some happy snaps in front of the Hazards with our Guaraná XV bottle we headed along Hazards Beach continuing to Cooks Beach. Paulo joined in my ove of Hazards Beach and decided that while the view of Wineglass Bay is postcard perfect, the actual beach of Hazards Beach is better. Wanting to complain about by grazed back all the way we finally arrived at the northern edge of Cooks Beach and dumped our gear on the rocks to enjoy some fresh air where our packs had been, a swim and bite to eat before making our way right along the beach to the camp on the southern tip for the night.

Finally set up camp in a million dollar view, got the Trangia boiling and fought the Wallabies for our dinner.

March 11

Stinking hot day!!!

Left Camp Set up at Cooks Beach and decided to leave Mt Graham till another day!

Day walk packs to Bryans Beach Along Bryans Beach Track.

Occupied Bryans Corner for the Day.

Return to Cooks Beach Camp Camp at Cooks Beach

There was NO WAY we were going up Mount Graham today. We woke up to the whole other 7 camps being packed up and 3/4having already made a start on the monster and the remaining bracing themselves for it and taking a last glimpse at good old Cooks. Paulo and I lazily and aimlessly walking around making a start to our day of lets just stay here for today and check out the track to Bryan's Beach.

My grazed back was so glad at the notion of having a flimsy day pack only and the fact Paulo took it for the majority of the day anyway. I was glad I was nt dehydrating to slow death up Mt Graham too, it was sweltering hot and dry.

Bryans Beach was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful. It can only be reached by a good day or a casual 2 days walking or by boat. The walk there was refreshing and we spent the good part of the day just lazing in Bryans corner and swimming and making seaweed jewellery (my exclusive designer seaweed ankle body art will market for millions).

Back at camp we created a “we arrived hours ago” façade ad an illusion of being at the top of the multi day bushwalkers chain. Fought the Wallabies for our dinner and asleep by dark with the prospects of Mt Graham having not disappeared.