Day 51 - Around St Helens Point

Even though today was a lay day for us, we managed some time to drive out to St Helens Point on the southern side of Georges Bay.  The sun was shining and the wind had turned to the south west which meant the sea mist was not enveloping the coastline.  Its an ill wind that blows nobody some good.

190415 Commentary on and picture of where we were today

There were several views up and down Georges Bay as we progressed along the road to St Helens Point.

190415 Looking at the entrance to Georges Bay from the road
to St Helens Point

190415 Looking back up Georges Bay towards St Helens

We were introduced to the St Helens Training Wall, a rock wall in Georges Bay which has directed the water flow in and out of the bay to preserve a deep water channel for fishing boats etc. The end of the Training Wall is evident in the first photograph in this blog at the capital "G" and Blanche Beach mentioned subsequently is at the capital "P".

190415 Explanation of the Training Wall

We walked to the end of the wall and the channel was obvious as were the white sands of Blanche Beach.

190415 The Training Wall looking across to Dora Point

190415 Blanche Beach looking south from the end of the Training Wall

190415 Looking across to Dora Point from the end of the Training Wall

190415 The end of the Training Wall from further along St Helens Point,
with Blanche Beach in the foreground and Dora point in the background

The road turned at Burns Bay before the end of the Point.

190415 Burns Bay near the end of St Helens Point

Next we were off to Beerbarrel Beach. It is not immediately obvious why the name, other than if the edging rocks are shaped like beer barrels.

190415 Beerbarrel Beach

190415 Rocks at the edge of Beerbarrel Beach

Next was a spectacular view of Maurouard Beach which was showing evidence of the SW wind, a busy surf and the absence of sea spray over the land.

190415 Maurouard Beach looking south

190415 Peron Dunes behind Maurouard Beach

We travelled a short 57km today and it was a pleasant interlude with nature.  That was best demonstrated by the several minutes we watched a bird hovering on the wing, with barely a movement of its wings, as it took advantage of the strong SW wind.

190415 Majestic, even in the absence of movement, over Peron Dunes

We are at the end of the school holidays in Tasmania and a change in the level of tourist activity is noticeable. There were very few people at any of the places we visited today.