Bay of Fires Conservation Area

Today we're off to Mt William National Park, and the white sands of Cape Naturaliste – the most northern point of our four-day wander. These first few hours are spent entirely on the beach, pleasantly easing one into their own natural walking pace and rhythm. Your guides will also be able to decipher any bizarre looking ocean life that has been washed ashore with the changing tides. We may discover cuttlebones, urchins, and even shark eggs. Following afternoon tea we head inland to tackle a one-hour return walk to the summit of wukalina/Mt William. At an elevation of 216 meters, this is the highest point in the surrounding area – providing walkers with a far-reaching panoramic view of the area encompassed on our first two days of walking and beyond. We then return to the bus, before heading back to our accommodation to unpack and settle in. This evening we enjoy pre-dinner nibbles, followed by a delicious two-course meal prepared by your guides.

Bay of Fires

After breakfast and lunch making, we head out for our longest day of walking. We return to Boulder Point at the far end of Stumpy’s Bay, and continue south along a lovely stretch of coastline featuring successive small coves protected by rocky headlands. This section is particularly notable for its abundance of large granite boulders covered in bright orange lichen. This famously contrasting palette is a photographer’s paradise, and it’s easy to lose track of time exploring the rock pools and intricacies of such a spectacular landscape. We soon reach the long sandy stretch of Cod Bay, one of the more remote sections of our walk, before picking up a series of inland tracks which cut across coastal heathland vegetation. You may enjoy an afternoon opportunity for a swim. On arriving at Deep Creek, depending on water levels, it may be necessary to make a shallow wade across a small outlet to reach our designated afternoon tea stop and the completion of our day’s walking.

Bay of Fires

Today’s walk is packed full of highlights. We start our day at larapuna/Eddystone Point – adorned with its beautifully grand lighthouse, built in 1889 from locally quarried granite. This natural promontory is a fascinating site of historic importance to both European and Aboriginal Tasmanians, and we will spend plenty of time exploring some of the wonderful natural and man-made attractions in the area. Leaving the lighthouse, we break out onto an expansive dune swept beach, often teeming with birdlife. Here we may observe gulls, terns, albatross and gannets – or occasionally migratory species such as short-tailed shearwaters and ruddy turnstones. The remainder of the day is spent enjoying seemingly endless coves – each being worthy of their own picture-perfect postcard. This area also boasts some of the more interesting rock formations of the trip, awaiting decipherment from a creative types’ imagination. This area also boasts some of the more interesting rock formations.

Bay of Fires Conservation Area

Today’s hike is an interesting mix of changing landscapes within the Bay of Fires Conservation Area – consisting of secluded beaches, dark tannin stained lagoons, and contrasting stretches of pebbly shoreline. Beginning at Policeman’s Point, we often get the chance to spot many species of bird which congregate around the outlet of Ansons Bay. These may include pelicans, cormorants and oystercatchers. After a stretch of sand walking, we reach the first segment of the aptly named Pebbly Beaches – featuring numerous 1km long stretches of coastal cobble stones. Regular granite headlands are crossed once again – each guarding their own hidden pocket of paradise. Somewhere along here we will select a suitable lunch spot, and maybe take the opportunity for one last refreshing swim. Passing over a forested hill, it’s not much farther until we reach The Gardens – the final destination of our trip. Return to Launceston via St Helens.