The Phoenix Tour

 I hate wind. I don’t mind a gentle summer breeze, softly ruffling my hair but gusty, pushy bossy wind? I hate it…

Today I was supposed to be heading out on a kayak around Freycinet. Really looking forward to it.

Got up, dressed and ready. Just about to get on the bike for the half hour ride into Coles Bay when my phone rang.

Tour couldn’t go ahead today because of very strong winds forecast for the area.

Did I say I hate wind???

Luckily, they had one spot left for tomorrow’s paddle so I rebooked and will have to keep everything crossed that the wind buggers off over night.

This does mean that my kinda cruisey day tomorrow will a bit more crammed and I will miss walking to the Wineglass Bay lookout but better than missing out altogether. 

So, I needed to find things to do, off the bike (its no secret, I HATE riding in strong winds). Went for a walk up to the Whalers lookout. As the name suggests, this is a lookout that Whalers used in the 1830s.

It is at the top of a rocky hill that overlooks Bicheno and far out to sea. A steep but short walk, well worth it. Spent some time watching the ocean. I’m not a beach person but, I love the ocean. There’s something meditative about the perpetual, rhythmic movement of the water, the booming as it hits the rocks and the sheer vastness of it all. I feel like I could watch it forever…

While I was up there, I spied a building below which advertised glass bottomed boat tours. I’ve read that around Bicheno (Governers Island and The Gulch areas specifically) has some of the most amazing scuba diving sites, classified as one of the best temperate diving sites in the world. Which means, lots to see in a glass bottomed boat!

Feeling very clever, I jumped on their website to make a booking.

No tours today due to the weather conditions. 

I hate wind.

Feeling less clever, I walked on, exploring the beautiful edge of Tasmania.

Gloriously coloured rocks, birdlife and a lil dinosaur.

Watched some glossy black Oyster catchers hanging on the rocks as sooty terns tumbled and argued above. More time sitting and watching.

Walking around the point I was nearly blown backwards from the sheer strength of the winds.

This is such a beautiful place. 

I came across a crowd of people, music and the smell of sausage sizzles and coffee. It was the grand opening of the brand new Bicheno Skate Park. Kids zooming around on their scooters and skateboards, adults lounging around watching. This was obviously a big deal for the residents of this little town, something they had been waiting for. I was surprised how many young families seemed to live here. There is a cute primary school and pre-school.

There are walking trails the entire way along the coastline, green leafy tunnels that lead out to the rocks.

Disturbingly, I came across a feral mumma cat with her four very cute little kittens which disappeared very quickly into the bush. Except for this one, who tried the hunker down and stay still approach. Look closely and you’ll see the teeny, ginger fluff. Hard to believe something so cute could be so devastatingly dangerous;

One of the biggest threats to the Little Blue penguin colonies (and, no doubt, other nesting sea birds) is feral cat predation. As cute as these little kittens were, they are future penguin killers. I was sad to see them out there.

Went out to grab an early dinner, around 5 ish. On my way back I heard what sounded like a live band.

Of course, I needed to investigate. This band were belting out some really good music from The Corrs, Foster The People and some other classic bangers. It was really good.

Followed my ears and came across a park with a bustling market in full swing.

Found the live band. A group of young teens on a stage. They sounded awesome! People were sitting on the grass, eating delicious looking food and just enjoying the sunshine and music.

Bicheno is up there in my top two places that I have visited so far. I could live here when I win the lottery….

A nice day. Fingers crossed for my paddle tomorrow….