Day 18: Wineglass Bay is everything its cracked up to be.

This is one of those iconic Tasmanian walks that is on everybody's “must do” list. A fact that is reflected in the highly developed state of the signage and track. The track is edged with beautiful pink Freycinet granite, the same as the rocks of “The Hazards” above us. There were hordes of people walking it the same day that we did, but most bailed out at the famous lookout, whereas we continued down into Wineglass Bay itself, supposed to be one of the world's 10 best beaches. Indeed it was a pretty good place for a (very bracing) swim, and lunch. Lunch was shared with a little Bennett's wallaby who appeared from the bushes behind us, accepted our apple cores, ate them, threw up, had a little water from my cupped hand, and then ate her apple cores again. Never waste food when you are a bush creature.

Then we walked around the headland to get back to where we had parked. Varied terrain, including bog with sundews, Hazard's beach with huge middens, lots of birds: robins, a Tasmanian wild hen, and even a tiger snake. The views over Hazard's beach and Refuge Island were uplifting and the weather perfect. All these stories about Tasmania being always cold and wet? I simply don't believe it.