After spending 2 days in Bicheno in the comfort of a motel room, catching up on the winter Olympics and watching the rain fall outside, it was a short drive to Douglas Apsley National Park, thinking we would camp the night here to escape the gusty winds- but getting out in the car park we could hear the air escaping from our back tyre. So the kids walked in to see the camp ground while we had to use all our MacGyver skills to jack up the heavy truck on the slippery granite ground. After a few anxious moments we were back on board to return to Bicheno to try our luck in getting a replacement tyre. The roads are to dodgy to not have one, and the size of our tyres are not std issue.
No luck in Bicheno – but the local knowledge pointed us north to Scamander where we found two 2nd hand tyres fitted for $80. SWEEET!!!
Camped that night by Trout Creek just west of Scamander – couldn’t avoid the wind gusts though. I think all the East Coast is copping them.
A new day dawns and we hit St Helens for food, diesel and water the head for Mt Williams – Stumpys Bay camp site.
The water was so inviting and it was worth going that bit further north to avoid the busy tourist mecca of Bay of Fires. We had this bay mostly to ourselves for the weekend.
The locals were friendly and hopped into camp often.
The flora & fauna is unique here. We were lucky enough to spot a massive ray close in around the rocks, almost reaching 2m across its wings, and it just swept on through the shallow waters in front of us.
Leni with her Ab’s, unfortunately we didn’t get to eat any.
A long walk south along the beach, tucked in just behind the sand dunes, we found a large dried up lagoon, with huge areas of middens. It was surreal – a luna landscape like nothing we have ever seen.
The vista from the lichen covered granite boulders was a stark contrast. So colourful and a perfect spot for lunch.
After travelling for months we have finally experienced what feels like summer (with exception to Wallaroo!) A fantastic spot to spend our last weekend here.