NSW – Tasmania trip 2021: 25-28 February

Thursday–Friday: Ross/Campbell Town
Off we went towards Ross, an attractive historic town with plenty to see for a day.

We saw the very old sandstone bridge which opened in 1836 and Arno went late at night to take pictures of it lit up. There were old buildings, cottages, churches, a wool museum (a big history of sheep and wool) and remnants of the old female convict prison. The caravan park was small, but nicely laid out, and on the river within a stone’s throw from the bridge, and walking distance of the entire town. Great to explore on foot.
There are plum and other fruit trees growing on the sides of the avenue like streets.

We drove up to Campbell Town, only about 10 minutes north. Both Ross (although via a short bypass) and Campbell Town are on the thoroughfare between Launceston and Hobart, through the middle of the island. It’s a bigger town, with plenty of history as well, and we walked around, and Arno took plenty of pictures. We had visited this town during our 2012 trip as well with some pictures of Arno’s website so have some similar ones!

Saturday: St Marys
From Ross, we set off to go to the east coast. We passed through Campbell Town again, where we then headed east, through Avoca and Fingal, both tiny towns, but looked completely shut, not sure if this was permanent or just for the Saturday! We arrived at St Marys, where the train station museum was also shut for the weekend, as were some of the other shops. Tourist information had given up, but some of the shops still had the maps etc to help us along (if Google didn’t). We set our van down at a perfectly level free campsite (next to the golf course) with free water and toilets, and nice $2 hot showers. We walked through town, picked up a few things, had some food, and set off to explore St Patricks Head. This is a hike a few km out of town, that promised sensational views. We decided it would be good to get a bit of exercise. Well, we got that. It was not so much a hike as a 2-hour rock climbing & descending excursion. Pretty amazing views, but Jen’s still not sure if this type of track is her kind. Anyway, she had bought Epsom salts at the shop in town, and so soaked her tired feet afterwards….

Sunday: Bay of Fires (Binalong Bay)
Heading towards the coast now, stopping at Scamandar at a drive through ‘coffee shed’ with picnic tables and view on the water for our morning tea and snack on the way to a most idyllic campsite in the most perfect weather called Swimcart Beach…. lucky we arrived around lunchtime when people tend to pack up and leave. We therefore found a beachside spot when others left. Beach access beside our neighbour.. view from the van window to the west over the mountains, out the door and the front view of the turquoise sea.

Jen laid down the law – in this sunshine, at this spot we are not going anywhere – this is too good to leave, and so she had a swim in relatively good temperature water, and Arno a walk.
A real touch of heaven….. FB post & post.

We will be basing ourselves here for a few days, as the weather forecast is good and it’s a beautiful place, and St Helens has a few bigger shops.

This post’s trip link to map, also below.