Freycinet 2013

Australia and Kuala Lumpur October / November 2013

2013 found us on our way back to Australia, this time via Kuala Lumpur. I arranged the trip with AusTravel. I had visited KL on an earlier stopover but this was Jonathon's first time. From there we went to Brisbane, Tasmania, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. Please click below to go to the relevant pages.

The Tasmania page got too big so I've split it into 3 to reflect the 3 stops we had.

This is page 2 - Freycinet National Park.

Time to head for Freycinet National Park.

As this was a driving day, it's time to introduce you to Demon, our hire car. He's a Ford Falcon XR6 so a bit nippy. Strangely designed boot but all OK other than that.

We decided to call in at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on the way and were very pleased we did. All the animals are rescue and whilst some will have to stay there for the rest of their lives, as many as possible are released back into the wild.

Bonorong is involved in a breeding programme for the Tasmanian Devil. Those in the wild are afflicted by an awful cancer type disease so the wildlife guys are hoping to rebuild the population to help them recover from that.

tas devil

They had quite a few Tasmanian Devils when we were there including those in the retirement home.

There were a couple of Wombats there as well. Both rescued and both should be able to go back into the wild. The younger one, a female was too young at not quite one year old but the 2 year old male was about ready to be released when we were there.

The Koalas were awake (only just) which was amazing in itself. Perhaps it was because the keepers had just been round with some fresh eucaplytus for them.

koala

The talk was really interesting and covered the Wombat, the Tasmanian Devils and the Koalas.

The talk didn't cover the Kangaroos but our entry fee included a small pack of food for them. They are clearly used to humans feeding them as evidenced by the greeting they gave Jonathon.

This baby one was my favourite. It was quite shy but held my hands as I fed it - presumably to make sure it got all the food that was available rather than sharing it. Its front paws were very gentle.

They were all Forester Kangaroos, not to be confused with the Bennetts Wallabies that were much smaller and in a different area.

There were a few Blotched Blue Tongue Lizards and a couple of Snakes.

There were also quite a few wild birds flying around and about - clearly they thought this was a good place to be. There were some rescued Tawny Frogmouths in an enclosure but a wild one was sitting on top of the enclosure - perhaps he was looking for company.

magpie

We also called in to Richmond on the way, mainly for a bite to eat but also to see the oldest bridge in Australia, built by convicts in the 1820s using sandstone.

Two further, very brief, stops at Orford (to admire the beautiful colour of the sea) and Moulting Lagoon. We arrived at Freycinet Lodge to find we'd been upgraded to a Premier Lodge - a very welcome surprise.

view

Dinner with a view in the Bistro while we watched a couple of Eagle Rays and then off to bed.

Our cabin was really nice with plenty of space to spread ourselves and our stuff.

We had a lovely spa bath with a great view outside and a great view from the balcony to Richardsons beach.

We were booked to go on a boat trip the next day so off we went, wrapped up warm in case the Tasman Sea was as rough as our earlier trip (it wasn't but it got a bit exciting on the home stretch).

On the way to Wineglass Bay we saw some lovely rock formations.

rocks

As you can see, we were very lucky with the weather again - lovely blue skies and sunshine (but not too hot).

rocks

We had a closer look at some of the caves on the way.

Despite first mate, Rastus, keeping an eye out we only saw one Humpback Whale (no photos) and no dolphins. We did see a few Australian Fur Seals though.

We also saw a Sea Eagle's nest (the Sea Eagle was soaring about in the distance for a little while) and a variety of other sea birds. At one time (while we were clinging on through the rougher part of the journey) a flock of Short Tailed Shearwaters flew alongside us but I daren't take my hands off the rail to try and take a photo or two!

wineglassbay

Wineglass Bay was beautiful - white sandy beach, turquoise sea, green trees with mountains behind and the pinky-red local granite rock. We were fed and watered here as well while we enjoyed the views. Definitely a trip worth doing.

water

Jonathon was so taken by the water that he took a few photos of the lovely patterns. It was an amazing colour and very clear.

In the afternoon we decided to go on a short walk that was recommended by Duncan, our skip for the morning, so we set off for Cape Tourville in Freycinet National Park to enjoy the views and see the lighthouse.

lighthouse

As you can see, we did manage to get to the lighthouse and the views were spectacular but the highlight of the afternoon was being able to see Humpback Whales from the shore so a few photos.

humpback

There were quite a few whales around, often quite a way off but a mum and calf graced us with their presence really close to the shore. It was strange for us to see them from above and it gave us a whole new perspective on them and their behaviour. Wonderful.

We also saw a White Bellied Sea Eagle flying past - perhaps going to the nest we saw in the morning.

Dinner in the Bistro again, we watched the sun go down and then packed ready to move on the following day to Launceston.

Australia and Kuala Lumpur October / November 2013
2013 found us on our way back to Australia, this time via Kuala Lumpur. I arranged the trip with AusTravel. I had visited KL on an earlier stopover but this was Jonathon's first time. From there we went to Brisbane, Tasmania, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. Please click below to go to the relevant pages.
Kuala Lumpur Brisbane	Hobart Freycinet Launceston	Melbourne Great Ocean Road - page 1 Great Ocean Road - page 2
The Tasmania page got too big so I've split it into 3 to reflect the 3 stops we had. This is page 2 - Freycinet National Park.
Hobart	Freycinet National Park	Launceston
Time to head for Freycinet National Park. As this was a driving day, it's time to introduce you to Demon, our hire car. He's a Ford Falcon XR6 so a bit nippy. Strangely designed boot but all OK other than that.		We decided to call in at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on the way and were very pleased we did. All the animals are rescue and whilst some will have to stay there for the rest of their lives, as many as possible are released back into the wild. Bonorong is involved in a breeding programme for the Tasmanian Devil. Those in the wild are afflicted by an awful cancer type disease so the wildlife guys are hoping to rebuild the population to help them recover from that.
		They had quite a few Tasmanian Devils when we were there including those in the retirement home.

There were a couple of Wombats there as well. Both rescued and both should be able to go back into the wild. The younger one, a female was too young at not quite one year old but the 2 year old male was about ready to be released when we were there.





The Koalas were awake (only just) which was amazing in itself. Perhaps it was because the keepers had just been round with some fresh eucaplytus for them.

		The talk was really interesting and covered the Wombat, the Tasmanian Devils and the Koalas.
	The talk didn't cover the Kangaroos but our entry fee included a small pack of food for them. They are clearly used to humans feeding them as evidenced by the greeting they gave Jonathon.
This baby one was my favourite. It was quite shy but held my hands as I fed it - presumably to make sure it got all the food that was available rather than sharing it. Its front paws were very gentle.


They were all Forester Kangaroos, not to be confused with the Bennetts Wallabies that were much smaller and in a different area.
		There were a few Blotched Blue Tongue Lizards and a couple of Snakes.

		There were also quite a few wild birds flying around and about - clearly they thought this was a good place to be. There were some rescued Tawny Frogmouths in an enclosure but a wild one was sitting on top of the enclosure - perhaps he was looking for company.

We also called in to Richmond on the way, mainly for a bite to eat but also to see the oldest bridge in Australia, built by convicts in the 1820s using sandstone.

		Two further, very brief, stops at Orford (to admire the beautiful colour of the sea) and Moulting Lagoon. We arrived at Freycinet Lodge to find we'd been upgraded to a Premier Lodge - a very welcome surprise. Dinner with a view in the Bistro while we watched a couple of Eagle Rays and then off to bed.
Our cabin was really nice with plenty of space to spread ourselves and our stuff.
	We had a lovely spa bath with a great view outside and a great view from the balcony to Richardsons beach.
We were booked to go on a boat trip the next day so off we went, wrapped up warm in case the Tasman Sea was as rough as our earlier trip (it wasn't but it got a bit exciting on the home stretch).		On the way to Wineglass Bay we saw some lovely rock formations.
		As you can see, we were very lucky with the weather again - lovely blue skies and sunshine (but not too hot).
We had a closer look at some of the caves on the way.


	Despite first mate, Rastus, keeping an eye out we only saw one Humpback Whale (no photos) and no dolphins. We did see a few Australian Fur Seals though.


	We also saw a Sea Eagle's nest (the Sea Eagle was soaring about in the distance for a little while) and a variety of other sea birds. At one time (while we were clinging on through the rougher part of the journey) a flock of Short Tailed Shearwaters flew alongside us but I daren't take my hands off the rail to try and take a photo or two!




Wineglass Bay was beautiful - white sandy beach, turquoise sea, green trees with mountains behind and the pinky-red local granite rock. We were fed and watered here as well while we enjoyed the views. Definitely a trip worth doing.
		Jonathon was so taken by the water that he took a few photos of the lovely patterns. It was an amazing colour and very clear.
In the afternoon we decided to go on a short walk that was recommended by Duncan, our skip for the morning, so we set off for Cape Tourville in Freycinet National Park to enjoy the views and see the lighthouse.
As you can see, we did manage to get to the lighthouse and the views were spectacular but the highlight of the afternoon was being able to see Humpback Whales from the shore so a few photos.

		There were quite a few whales around, often quite a way off but a mum and calf graced us with their presence really close to the shore. It was strange for us to see them from above and it gave us a whole new perspective on them and their behaviour. Wonderful.



We also saw a White Bellied Sea Eagle flying past - perhaps going to the nest we saw in the morning.
		Dinner in the Bistro again, we watched the sun go down and then packed ready to move on the following day to Launceston.
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