Before we set out, we stopped for breakfast at a bakery in Bicheno as we'd heard a rumour they had wifi! The rumour was unfounded, but I can report they serve delicious hot toasted raisin bread and coffee! Once we'd had our fill, we drove back to a car park outside an Italian Cafe/Restaurant where the free town wifi works! Here, I managed to upload my blog and put a few pictures on FB.
We then headed to the NP. It didn't take long and we were soon at the visitors centre. We stopped as we needed the park map, we'd already paid for access with our Parks Pass. There were notices telling us that the car park for the walk to Wineglass Bay would be very busy between 1000-1400, so we headed instead for Cape Tourville. Here, the car park was fairly empty and we were able to take the 20 minute circular walk up to the lighthouse with few other people around. The path, mostly a boardwalk, skirted around the top of the cliffs and magnificent views were to be had down the coastline.
There are a huge number of flowering teatree bushes. We wonder if this is the source of teatree oil much used in aromatherapy.
We left the car park and headed back to the car park for Sleepy Bay. This was a smaller car park, but we found a spot and then ambled down the path to the viewpoint. The coast is very beautiful here, there are lots of huge red granite boulders everywhere and the views dominated by the 'Hazards' a series of red granite peaks that rise above Oyster Bay and the small town of Coles Bay. We were feeling enthusiastic, so we continued on down the trail to the sea at Sleepy Cove. Some of the trail was steps and quite a bit was rather uneven. This might have been hard work, but the pesky biting insects were far more unpleasant.
The Bay at the bottom had a gravelly beach enclose by two rocky promontories. There was also some very strange massive boulders that had been hollowed out by some force of nature. It was pretty, but the insects rather spoilt it!
We sat in the car in the car park and ate sandwiches which Lynn had prepared before we left.
After lunch, we decided to brave Wineglass Bay car park. To be honest, although there were a lot of people there we found a spot to park straight away. Hopping, or perhaps shuffling would be a better description, around the car park was a Bennetts Wallaby. We decided he was semi tame as tourists were just wandering around it and taking close-up pictures.
There were an awful lot of Asian tourist here and whilst I have nothing against them, I do wish they didn't make so much noise and rush around trying to take photos, primarily of themselves, or members of their group. There seems to be little interest in the nature or the surroundings just so long as they get a good backdrop to the selfies they are trying to take.
Lynn decided the trail up to the lookout over Wineglass Bay wouldn't be good for her knees. It was a good decision. I made the one and a half kilometre walk and a lot of it was up steep, uneven, steps. I must admit, the view over the Bay was spectacular and well worth the slog up there. It's possible to continue on down to the Bay itself, but I chose not to bother, the best part is the view of it!
I managed to scramble up onto a bolder above most people's heads and take a few panoramic pictures. Sadly, the 'selfie' bug turned out to be catching as I even took one myself. Looking at it, it almost looks like a studio picture of me superimposed by photoshop on a postcard background! Maybe it was!
We left the park after that and made a short diversion to Coles Bay. After a brief wander around, we headed black toward Bicheno. En route, we stopped at Moulting Lake game reserve. There were hundreds, if not thousand, of Black swans on the lake, we also caught a fleeting glimpse of some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.
By now, we clearly needed some more sustenance and made a short diversion to the 'Pondering Frog' creamery. We rather fancied an ice cream, but having read reviews on Trip Advisor' were curious to meet the owner too. He was variously described as 'grumpy', or like 'Basil Fawlty' and like marmite, people either loved or hated his approach to customer service. We found him to be a genial gentleman who was happy to share his views on the local area and tourists! The ice cream was served by a person unseen who was operating on the other side of a serving hatch. Lynn had a cup of Cherry ice cream whilst I pigged-out and had a Cherry Sundae with chocolate. Both were excellent and presumably made on the premises. Highly recommended, but take your sense of humour with you!
Back in Bicheno, we made a snap decision to have a pizza this evening, so booked a table at an Italian-themed restaurant. We are hoping to take a night expedition this evening to see Fairy Penguins coming ashore right by the hotel. Last night, we gave up at 2045 as it was getting dark. Apparently, we should have waited about another 15-30 minutes as they come ashore when when it's just about dark.
We went for a pizza at Passinis in Bicheno and can report the small pizza was indeed small, but very tasty. The deserts on the other hand were pretty terrible. We both had cheesecake which had an odd consistency, a cross between blancmange and jelly and the coffee beans on mine were inedible.
We went penguin hunting and stayed out way after it got dark. At just after nine-thirty, we decided our luck was out, but as we walked up the path something caught my eye! We've seen a Fairy Penguin! I know, we don't get out much!
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