I spent the Anzac Day long weekend across the Bass Strait, in one of my favourite holiday destinations.
It’s been four years since I last visited Tasmania, thanks to the pandemic. I’ve already been interstate since the borders opened up, however it was great to finally travel with virtually no restrictions or anxieties about the borders suddenly slamming shut. We flew into Launceston on Saturday morning, but didn’t stick around the city much and spent most of the day driving to the small town of Bicheno on Tasmania’s east coast.
We stayed at the Diamond Island Resort, located along the beach. It boasts two natural attractions: an evening penguin watch from a platform, and a walk to the nearby Diamond Island, which is accessible from the mainland during the low tide in the morning. The penguin show basically amounted to a couple of half-lit little penguins crossing the grass from a distance, but the beach and island walk was a very nice way to kick off Sunday, early in the morning:
After enjoying a scrumptious pie at the local bakery (Tasmanian curry scallop pie is not my usual breakfast, but hey it’s a holiday), we were off to Freycinet National Park. The sunny but cool weather was perfect for the Wineglass Bay walk; I didn’t mind getting out of breath when you know that you’re going to be rewarded with one of Tasmania’s most celebrated views.
The beach walk in Coles Bay, watching the Hazards mountain range slide in and out of view, was much more relaxing. Before heading back, we also stopped at a place I’ve never been to before – a scenic lookout with a view of pristine Friendly Beaches.
We finished the busy day with a coastal walk back in Bicheno, including Bicheno Blowhole which turned out to be a lot of fun. Though the sea was very calm on the day, it still reliably provided powerful jets of water that would drench you head to toe if you happened to stand too close.
The next day, we stopped in Ross on the way back to Launceston. I’ve only been to Ross once many years ago, and I completely forgot how pretty and quaint it is, with all the beautiful old sandstone buildings and the autumnal European trees. Its best feature is the historic convict-built bridge, decorated with unique intricate carvings along both sides.
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