Exploring the lower Tamar and Northern Tasmania Coast

11th February 2018

It looks like a nice morning after a very comfortable nights sleep. The triathlon seems to be under way as there are cars parked everywhere. There were only 2 or 3 last night. We checked out and drove around to the other side of the cove when the main township is located. It gave us a good view looking back towards our hotel and we could see some competitors in the water swimming.

After a drive through the short main street, we continued out to Low Head, which marks the Eastern entrance to the Tamar River. It is a treacherous piece of coast and there are many guiding lights to ensure a safe entry in the dark, or fog. The main one being the Low Head Lighthouse.

Looking West out over the entrance to the Tamar River from the Lighthouse

Low Head Lighthouse

From here on we did not have much of a plan, other than to drive down the Eastern Side of the Tamar River and cross it over the Batman Bridge, and then explore the North Western side of the Tamar. This resulted in us stopping in Beaconsfield for morning tea, and had an opportunity to see the memorial and the minesite where disaster struck in 2006.

Beaconsfield Mine Site

Next stop along the way was Beauty Point, which was a very nice area with lots of cafes and restaurants and stunning views. It is also the location of the Australian Maritime College, Centre for Seafaring Training. (below)

There is also a decent sized marina, and the large vessel moored there is an AMC Training Vessel.

And of course, there is a Yacht Club

After Beauty Point, we headed back down the same road South, until we could turn off to the West in the direction of Deloraine. We did not stop in Deloraine, but continued on to Mole Creek, where we thought we may have lunch at the well known pub there. 

There was already a sizeable crowd when we arrived there at around 12.20pm, and there was quite a queue up in the dining room. Neither the menu or the ambiance there appealed, so we moved on.

Mole Creek Hotel

Burnie was next on our plan, so we drove on some very windy roads,  through some incredibly fertile farmland, to eventually emerge at Burnie an hour later. The waterfront was very busy, as a surf carnival was under way, but it is Sunday and the rest of the town was pretty dead. The most popular lunch spot appeared to be the Beach Hotel, with views directly across the road from the beach.

Beachfront at Burnie

We had what was easily the worst meal we have had since being in Tasmania and took the photo of the Hotel (below) to remind me to never go back there.

We reunited with Kathy and David in Devonport where we are both spending the night before heading back across the straight. They are flying to Sydney in the morning and we are back on the Spirit of Tasmania for a day trip back across the water to Melbourne. We had dinner at a small local Asian restaurant where to food wasn't too bad.