Australia > The Bay of Fires in Tasmania

At most hotels on this trip, breakfast is not included. But at this hotel in Bicheno, Tasmania, it is. At quarter to seven, I walk into the breakfast room. Most of the fellow travelers are already there. After breakfast, the luggage is loaded onto the bus. On the outskirts of Bicheno lies a blowhole—a hole in the rocks where seawater is pushed upwards. With every large wave, seawater sprays up through the opening. About an hour further north, near Binalong Bay, is the Bay of Fires. A bay with orange-colored rocks, white beaches, blue water, and orange granite. The orange color comes from lichen and fungi. This combination makes the bay spectacular. I walk along the bays and regularly step from rock to rock. Before boarding the bus again, I order a salmon sandwich and coffee.

Australia - Seawater sprays through the hole in the rocks at every wave

On the terrace, it’s clear that Tasmania is cooler. I estimate the temperature at around 17 degrees Celsius. In the afternoon, we drive back to the capital, Hobart. The driver chooses the coastal route. This is the same route as yesterday. He explains that the inland route has many roadworks and is less beautiful. We pass Bicheno and the Freycinet Peninsula again. Around four o’clock, we arrive in Hobart. The hotel is right in the center. It’s easy to explore the city—it’s not that big.

Australia - The rocks are particularly orange due to lichens

At Battery Point, the city was founded in 1818, and cannons were set up to defend it. The nearby Salamanca Place is the central square. The terraces along this square are packed. Luckily, we find a free table for a beer. The terrace is mostly filled with locals. We continue our walk through the city along the harbor. Several historic houses recall the history of Australia’s second oldest city. Only Sydney is older. Closer to the center are more modern shops and restaurants. The food options are disappointing—mostly Asian restaurants and many takeaways. We can’t be too picky since many places are full on Friday night. We decide to go to an Indian and Nepalese restaurant, which turns out to be a great choice. We end the evening with a beer at the bar of the Ibis hotel. The local Tasmanian beer choice is less enjoyable.