Last night I absolutely froze at Delorane, it was cold this morning too, but the day was perfect. Deloriane is a pretty little town, population about 2,200, with great views to the Great Western Tiers, a range of mountains running roughly parallel to the coast. Before leaving I got a few shots from around Deloriane, below is a shot of the Meander River taken from a footbridge in a lovely park. Just imagine living in that house on the left hand side of the photo!

The Meander River at Deloraine 

With Smithton as my objective, I hit the Bass Highway and headed west along the north coast of Tasmania. It's a picturesque drive, the highway hugs the coast for much of the time, and some of the views are amazng. Unfortunately it's a busy highway and there are not many places to stop and enjoy the view.

Between the beach and the highway is an abandoned railway line. What a criminal waste of a resource; tourists would surely pay good money to take a train ride along this coast, with stops at some of the more beautiful places, a good meal, and possibly an overnight stay at the end of the line. Better still, a tour into the Tarkine Wilderness. Check the photos below for examples of the view and now close the railway is to the highway, and the coast.

I took this shot from the side of the road  at Wynyard.

Road and rail, side by side.

It wasn't all driving, I stopped in Bernie and visited the Table Cape Lighthouse near Wynyard. Below is a shot of me at a viewing deck at Table Cape. No matter how well intentioned the offer to take a shot of you at some landmark, always beware, the intention seldom translates into a credible photo.

Keith at Table Cape, photo courtesy of a fellow traveller

The Cape Flat Lighthouse is still a working lighthouse, although these days it's automated. At the lighthouse I was greeted by a man calling from the top of the tower. He asked if I wanted to see inside, and when I said I did, he came down and took me inside to hear about its history, and to see how it works now. Below are a few shots from my visit to the lighthouse.

An invitation too good to refuse.

An inside view looking down from the top level of the lighthouse

Looking out through a window in the lighthouse

From Table Cape I drove on to Smithton while listening to the radio. Tomorrow's forecast is for another fine day, but it's likely to rain the day after. With that in mind, I drove the extra hour to Arthur River where I want to take a half day cruise up the Arthur River and into the Tarkine Wilderness. A particlar cruise had been recommended by people I met last week at Swansea.

Arriving at Arthur River I found the cruise wharf, with directions to the reservation office. Even though it was well past 5, I followed the directions and found a lady working at the office. I booked a place on a cruise departing tomorrow morning at 10:15. As luck would have it, they also operate a small store and camping ground. So I hired a site for two nights.

 

Tonight I'm the only camper in a lovely grassed site close to the Arthur River.  Around dusk I heard Sea Eagles calling and tonight there's a chorus of frogs not far from my van.  A notice in the amenities block warns that the gates will be shut at dark to keep the wildlife out of the camping ground.... 

I've managed to land in another little piece of Paradise!