Rambling Around NW Tasmania.

[VPS]

Ahem: Corymbia ficifolia, (previously Eucalyptus ficiffolia) or red-flowering gum/Albany red-flowering gum, native to the SW of WA .

when did that name change - I still call it E ficifolia

 

[JohnM]

when did that name change - I still call it E ficifolia

It's a while ago now that they peeled off a new genus Corymbia. It takes a long time in the systematics world for large changes to settle in.

See here: Corymbia - Wikipedia

 

[drron]

Ahem: Corymbia ficifolia, (previously Eucalyptus ficiffolia) or red-flowering gum/Albany red-flowering gum, native to the SW of WA .

Well I did tell you they do it better in Tassie.

So now off to the Western entrance to the Rocky Cape NP.First to the lighthouse.

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Then to the South Cave.With a view between the hills to Sisters beach.

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[JohnK]

Some very nice photos @drron.

Golf course looks nice and could be worth a visit.

 

[drron]

Always look behind you when walking.Good views back to the lighthouse.

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And finally from the viewing platform for South Cave.Entry to the cave is discouraged.

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In an attempt to really discourage access to the cave they are letting the track become overgrown.

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Unfortunately it is also the track to the beach which I really wanted to get to.Last time I made it there was at the end of the muttonbird migration to Tasmania.Unfortunately they had run into a Pacific cyclone and the beach was littered with carcasses.So different today.

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[drron]

So I sat on that large log and took in all the scenery.Birds were flying in and out of those openings in the rock face.

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I decided to walk to the water's edge.

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Soon noticed I was being watched so took a few steps backward.That satisfied this fellow and he went about his work.

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Was pretty successful picking up 3 fish whilst I watched.
Back to the top of the track with views back to Table Cape and Sisters beach.

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Then back to Burnie.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron came down mid week arriving on Valentine's Day.She had booked a Valentine's dinner for us.

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The dinner started with a shared salmon and oyster plate.It was excellent.

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For mains I had the bone in eye fillet.Cooked perfectly as ordered medium rare.Mrsdrron had the chicken dish which she thoroughly enjoyed.

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Then a shared dessert plate.Great.

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Naturally washed down with a bottle of Sancerre.All up $215.
Restaurant is Camille.In an ordinary motel in Devonport.The chef is French as are a few of the staff.We had a few doubts as to what to expect but this was a nice French Restaurant.Definitely recommended.

 

[drron]

During the week we enjoyed several lunches out.
First up Hellyers Distillery one of our favourite lunch spots around Burnie.The standard has been maintained.Mrsdrron had the chicken salad and I the trio of wallaby-the shank definitely the best part-

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Then we shared an Eton mess.It was nice but not really an Eton mess.

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The next day it was the Thai Smile in the CBD.Another favourite with good Thai food.We shared a pad thai with pork,chicken with satay source and beef massaman-sorry the curry disappeared before I remembered to take a pic.

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Both places recommended.

 

[drron]

Now to the weekends lunches.On Saturday we went to the Wharf hotel Wynyard.It has been one of our favourites.We started with oysters Kilpatrick.They were beautiful with big plump oysters.

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Mrsdrron had the salt and pepper squid.Sadly it was on the chewy side.I had the Angus porterhouse steak.Ordered medium rare butcame still mooing.Also very chewy.

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At least the Tassie SB was fine.

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It looks like a new owner with a more upmarket menu with significantly increased prices.I doubt the locals like it.Saturday lunches used to be packed out.This day less than half full.There are better options.

Sunday it was off to Penguin.New to us was a Spanish tapas restaurant where Wild used to be.We decided to give it a try.We had the seafood platter-

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The beetroot marinated salmon was part of the platter but served separately.It was very nice.Also the garlic prawns and scallops were excellent.Fish was standard fare but not overcooked so we will definitely try it again.Washed down with a bottle of Spanish SB.

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This is the place-
el perro tapas and pizza Penguin Tasmania

 

[drron]

The weather on the weekend wasn't great.Cold,windy with showers.In fact the good weather ended on the day mrsdrron arrived and returned on the day she left.So no sightseeing.Just a few pics from Sunday.First that nasty WA invader then a demonstration of why mass plantings can be beautiful.

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Now my name is Ron but to my grandchildren I am "Poppy".In Penguin I came across a business I didn't know I had and I was having a sale!

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Then the view from the restaurant in Penguin-

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Drove back to Burnie along the coast.Stopped at a place known to a few AFFers,Sulphur Creek.There is a geological reserve across the road from the General Store and is the boat ramp.The first picture was trying to picture the Burnie navy-4 vessels standing off the port.I just couldn't get the 4 in one shot.They are all in the first pic.

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These ships are Greenie nightmares.Loading up with Tasmanian woodchips.
But the rocks are interesting.

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[Steady]

This is the place-
el perro tapas and pizza Penguin Tasmania

I have only eaten there once but had a good meal and will go back

 

[drron]

The weekend ended with nature putting on a show.Not ony a nice Sunday but a rainbow as well.

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[drron]

Now to Monday lunch.I was on call so stayed close to the hospital going to the Makers-reccomended for a visit anyway as it is the tourist information centre and a shop with fanTAStic Tassie craft and foods.That is for JohnM.
However they also have a small cafe.A limited menu but well done and a nice view.

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So mrsdrron's Thai beef salad,my pork salad and our beverages with the view.

Tuesday was mrsdrron's last day.Lunch was out because of teaching and outpatient duties so it was dinner.We went to Fish on the Edge as it does have reasonable seafood.We shared a dozen oysters kilpatrick-beautiful TASsie oysters.Then we shared coconut prawns and crumbed scallops.And a TASsie sav blanc.

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Both cooked perfectly.
So both are recommended.

 

[drron]

A little lull as I was on call on the last weekend in February and it was busy so I had nearly 40 admissions for the week but very manageable by Friday.Mrsdrron wanted me to buy something in Devonport.As Friday is late night shopping I drove over to Devonport.The Port.Just a small river really.

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But they do have this-

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Now the first performance I saw was by these fellows-

Always several birds on the shore including some seen a lot further south-

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But they were about to be disturbed when the Searoad Tamar did a tight U turn-

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[RooFlyer]

Now the first performance I saw was by these fellows-

Very good.

 

[drron]

The ship got up to speed quickly.

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The wake soon washed over the bank.All the birds apart from the shag took off.The shag tried unsuccessfully to outrun the water.

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As it left the river QF was heading into DPO.

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[drron]

Saturday and the plan was to set off reasonably early for Launceston and get a hair cut then to the eastern end of the Nawarntupu National Park.But a nice sleep in and a long soak in a warm bath meant I only finished the hair cut after midday.The plan then was to have lunch and then head to the National park.I decided to have lunch at the Riviera hotel at Beauty Point.Run by 3 women and their TV ads I like.Said to feature seafood so I had the seafood platter for 1 at $40.

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The garlic prawns,squid and scallops were excellent.The flathead not over cooked with chips salad and smoked salmon as well.Spreyton was the only Tassie cider they had.So the hotel and neighbourhood.

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Then set off to the Park stopping at historic Yorktown on the way.Northern Tasmania's first town but after being founded in 1804 most left in 1806 as ships couldn't get close enough to unload supplies.Launceston was then chosen.

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As it was-

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And now-

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And a reproduction of a soldiers house.

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[drron]

Then to West Head,the eastern end of Nawarntupu National park.You go through Green Beach to get there.Seemed to be a good place for a quiet family holiday-

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Then a walk up to the lookout.You look over the National Park beach towards Badger Point,My next stop.

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a kite flies overhead.

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Then off on a spur track.A distant view of Low Head and the cliffs.

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At this point there was a long brown slithely thing on the track so a few steps backwards and then back to the car park.

 

[drron]

I then drove around to Badger Point-quite a distance by road.The West head lookout from the road.

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Then from the track as I entered the eastern end of the main part of the park.

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The steepest part of the track was quite rough and a bit hard given my balance problems.An interesting tree at the top of that section.

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Spectacular views.

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Soon found what I was hoping to see.

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An autumn flowering orchid-eriochilus cucullatus.

 

[Major]

Well spotted drron. Not easy to find