Port Arthur to Cape Raoul to Orford, Tasmanis

Wednesday 15th May 2019
We started out the day reasonably early with a new friend we picked up in the camp kitchen. His name is Steve and he will be joining us on our hike today. He has just finished doing the Three Capes Track (4 day hike with huts) yesterday and was keen to do the Cape Raoul hike but has no transport. So whilst we were talking last night I said we were heading there today and he asked to join us. This was fine with us so we are a group of 3 today.

The bush was quite similar to Bouddi National Park at home but after about 30 minutes of uphill walking we came to the first lookout of Cape Raoul. Quite a good lookout. Not as spectacular as others we have seen but still very nice all the same. We kept walking all the way to the Cape lookout where the rock formations of the dolerite columns are amazing. Up close and personal they are much more spectacular than the initial impression from the lookout. We then headed around to Seal Lookout which was also very spectacular and with the use of another hikers binoculars you could see about 30 seals on the rocks near the water. You could also hear them.

We had a lovely break for lunch back at Cape Lookout and enjoyed the view. We worked out that on the walk today we could see Cape Pillar, Bruny Island, South Arm and Mt Wellington at Hobart. It was a most enjoyable day. Steve has completed many extended walks in many countries and was very informative to talk to . He has been to many places on our list and gave us lots of information along the way.

After lunch we headed back along the track and went to Shipstern Bluff lookout, the location of the Red Bull Cape Fear (Big Wave) surfing competition which was on Sunday and Monday this week. The surf was not very big today but we would have loved to see someone surfing there.

We then headed back to the car. Our walk today was 18km over 5 hours and 50 minutes. A long day.

After dropping Steve back at Port Arthur we then headed on our way north and we are now at Orford. Along the way google sent us a short cut but this ended up being about 40 minutes along a winding dirt road with many corrugations and potholes. But it was a different way so DB was almost happy about it. We saw many kangaroos along the way as it was about 4.30-5pm which as we all know is “kangaroo o’clock”

: The green rosellas watching me prepare breakfast at the car. I had to shut the doors when I went to get the milk as I am sure they would have helped themselves whilst I was away.

: Fancy chair at the beginning of the walk. A little early for a rest but a quick photo was OK.

: The first lookout, our first viewpoint of Cape Raoul..

: ..the cliffs here were quite steep. We were about 350m above sea level here.

: Looking north you can see Shipstern Bluff just sticking out.

: The trees were eucalypts I think and very colourful

: David and Steve on the boardwalk just before we reached the Cape

: The vertical dolerite columns..

: ..were very steep to the ocean..

: ..a great view..

: Just looking down it was quite steep.

: Right on the rocks at Cape Raoul lookout

: It didn’t feel as sheer a drop as at Bishop and Clerk the other day..

: ..it was only about 80m above sea level..

: Looking across to Cape Raoul from Seal lookout. STeve and I are at the edge where the rocks meet the horizon but you really can’t even see us. That is the enormity of these cliffs.