TASMAN PENINSULA – Part 2

On a much more cheerful note, our stay at White Beach gave us the perfect opportunity to explore some of the Tasman Peninsula's other spectacular natural landmarks.

On a clear day, Maingon Bay Lookout offers views across the coastline to the towering dolerite columns of Cape Raoul. Unfortunately, when we first stopped by after our day at Port Arthur, the weather had other ideas. Dark rain clouds rolled in, and it looked like we were about to be absolutely drenched!

Fortunately, we decided to return the following morning on our way back towards Port Arthur. This time we were rewarded with much clearer skies and beautiful views of Cape Raoul in the distance, as you'll see in the photos.

Cape Raoul is one of Tasmania's most spectacular headlands, renowned for its dramatic 300-metre-high dolerite sea cliffs and breathtaking ocean views. Located within Tasman National Park, it can be reached via a two hour return walking track. We would have loved to complete the hike, but there simply wasn't enough time on this trip and the constant changing weather wasn't always in our favour. Even so, it was wonderful to admire this rugged coastline from afar.

Just a few minutes further along the track from Maingon Bay Lookout is the aptly named Remarkable Cave. Reaching it involves descending around 115 steep steps, but the effort is well worth it.

Surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs, a purpose-built viewing platform provides the perfect vantage point to appreciate this incredible sea cave. Over thousands of years, relentless pounding from the Southern Ocean carved the tunnel-shaped cave before eventually causing part of the sandstone wall to collapse, creating the remarkable opening seen today. Some of the fallen rock still rests at the base of the cliffs below.

At certain times of the year, large swells surge dramatically through the tunnel, creating an impressive spectacle for visitors lucky enough to witness it. Just be prepared, you may get a little wet!

Our final morning at our cosy beach shack-style accommodation at White Beach greeted us with a beautiful sunrise from the front deck. As we hadn't yet taken the opportunity to wander along the shoreline, we headed down to the beach before setting off for our next destination.

Looking across the calm waters, I noticed snow dusting a mountain far off in the distance. Curious, I asked a local passer-by which mountain it was and was genuinely surprised to discover it was Mount Wellington, the same iconic peak that had dominated the skyline during our stay in Hobart. Seeing it from such a different perspective was quite special.

As we left the Tasman Peninsula, we came across a lavender farm and couldn't resist stopping for morning tea. Enjoying coffee and cake while overlooking rows of fragrant lavender was a lovely way to begin the day's drive.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention one of my favourite little discoveries! On the drive back to our beach shack, we spotted the most delightful little house that immediately caught my eye. Its steep roof gave it the appearance of a giant birdhouse, and if you zoom in on the photo, you'll notice a couple of actual birdhouses attached to the front of the house. It was such a whimsical and creative sight that couldn't help but make me smile.

One of the things I absolutely loved about Tasmania was stumbling across charming homes like this. Around almost every corner there seemed to be another beautiful cottage, heritage home or quirky little building that begged to be photographed. Perhaps it's the photographer in me, but these unexpected gems became just as memorable as many of the famous attractions.

One place I had really hoped to visit was the Tasman Arch and Devil's Kitchen. Unfortunately, both were closed while a new car park and visitor facilities were being constructed. We found this happened at several locations throughout Tasmania. Winter is understandably a popular time for maintenance and upgrades, with fewer visitors to inconvenience. While it meant missing a few attractions, one of the great advantages of travelling in winter was enjoying so many places without the crowds.

Not far away we discovered another impressive coastal attraction, Fossil Bay Lookout and the Blowhole.

The Blowhole turned out to be a bit of a fizzer, with the low tide leaving very little action. However, the lookout itself was worth the stop, offering spectacular views across the rugged coastline.

As we returned to the car park, I spotted what looked like an old boatshed tucked away nearby. Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me, so off I went for another little explore. Before long, I discovered several weathered timber boatsheds painted in a variety of colours. It was an unexpected find and, of course, presented plenty more wonderful photographic opportunities.