Famous for the stunning orange granite rocks that line the shore, The Bay of Fires is not, as we discovered named for this amazing feature. Instead, in 1773 when Captain Tobias Furneaux in Adventure, sailed past, he saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches and gave it its name.
The Gardens
The shore of the Bay of Fires is lined with lovely beaches separated by granite outcrops. We drove from St Helens to The Gardens in 20 minutes, passing camping sites, before reaching the carpark at the end of the road. Many of the beaches in the area have the orange rocks, but this one has easy access with lots of orange lichen.
A short walk from the carpark takes you to the rocky outcrop. Being careful not to slip because the rocks were covered in water, we spend 30 minutes or so exploring. The orange colour was amazing, especially in the morning light.
The track from the carpark also branches off to a beautiful little beach.
Camping
Although we didn’t camp here, many areas are set up for it so that people can enjoy the beaches and water. This would be a great place to stay and relax for a few days to fully experience the area.
The Gardens on the Bay of Fires
Lichen Colouring the Granite Rocks to Become Orange
Orange Coloured Rocks Bay of Fires
Orange Coloured Rocks
What Did We Think?
What an amazing place, full of colour and stunning views. Easily accessible on Tasmania’s east coast and certainly worth the trip to see.
Originally a tin mining district, Derby is now a haven for mountain bike riders, with an established series of bike trails in the district. A remnant of the mining history has been incorporated into the bike and walking trails, making an excellent addition to the usual Australian bush you usually go through. The old Derby tin mining tunnel is easy to walk through, but bring a torch, so that you can see.
Getting There
Located in north-east Tasmania, Derby is 90 minutes from Launceston and three and a half hours from Hobart. We travelled here from the Bay of Fires, only an hour away, stopping on the way at Paris Dam Wall.
Bike Tracks
The town is surrounded by bike tracks, which attract people from all over Australia. Generally, the tracks are dual use, biking/riding, but check before setting out and be polite to other users. We only walked to the tunnel and found the bike riders to be polite and friendly, but we always moved off the track to let them through.
The tracks wind through Tasmanian temperate rainforest making them magical to walk through.
Track Through the Trees
Walking / Bike Track
Walking / Bike Track
The Tunnel
The tunnel was one of several used to move waste from mines to the river, but is the only one now accessible. During our visit, the lights were not working, but we had a torch, so walking was not a problem. Without light, the tunnel would be pitch dark and dangerous.
While walking, keep an ear out for bikes, so that you can keep out of their way. You will hear them a long way off and they will see your light. Several groups passed us as we walked, with no problems.
Good footwear is essential as the floor is uneven in places and can be wet.
At 600m long, it does not take long to walk through before entering daylight again.
Entrance to the Tunnel
Tin Tunnel
Light to the Outside of the Tin Tunnel
Exit From the Tunnel
What Did We Think
This was a really fun walk and something different to the usual bush walks we do. The tunnel was easy to walk through using a light and wearing good walking shoes.
Established in 1848 and conveniently located opposite Constitution Dock, in the centre of Hobart, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to discover Tasmania’s unique history. Covering natural history, aboriginal and European settlement to Antarctic exploration, there is something here to interest everyone. There is even a dinosaur at the entrance.
Muttaburrasaurus Dinosaur Skeleton
Indigenous Culture
Several galleries explore Indigenous Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, from artefacts to artworks. Their treatment and subsequent genocide is treated in detail. Everyone visiting Tasmania should see it, so that they understand this part of history.
Aboriginal Bark Canoe
Woureddy (left) and Trucannini (right)
Manalagerna (left) and Tanleboueyer (right)
Tasmanian Wildlife
Most people won’t be able to see the unique Australian wildlife, so the display here is a great place to see what they look like. From echidna and platypus, the egg laying monotremes, to quolls and devils, you can see them all.
Importantly, a display of the Thylacine, the Tasmanian Tiger shows what this now extinct marsupial looked like. The last one died in 1933 in Hobart Zoo, so now all that remains are the skeletons, stuffed displays and photos.
Containing bank notes and coins from colonial times to decimal currency, this small gallery is a good place to learn about Australian currency. One of the largest collections of Roman coins in the country can also be found here. So, if you are interested in how the currency has changed, it’s worth a visit.
Coin Display
Coin Display
Scales
Art Gallery
The art gallery section of the museum contains an interesting collection of paintings and sculptures covering Tasmanian themes. We found the paintings and sculptures of Tasmanian aborigines the best part, as we had not seen them before.
Art Gallery Paintings
Art Gallery Displays
Antarctic Exploration
Tasmania’s link to Antarctic exploration is on display with an amazing array of wildlife and explorer exhibits. A model of Mawson’s Hut shows how the explorers lived in the early 1900s. A photo gallery nearby puts a human face to the scientists and explorers, which is great because many museums only show physical displays.
The wildlife displays give an idea of the abundant wildlife that exists there. We found this interesting, because we probably won’t travel there. The size of the seals and albatross was surprizing, because you don’t get an idea of how big they are from photos.
Antarctic Wildlife Display
Albatross
Huskies
Mawson’s Hut
Antarctic Exploration Photos
What Did We Think?
For a great insight into Tasmanian history this is a great place to visit, because it covers everything from pre colonial times, to Antarctic exploration and wildlife. Even though we have lived in Tassie, we found it interesting because of the wonderful exhibits and displays. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Hobart.
