Roger Barnes

View of Ile Du Golfe from Deadman’s Bay, South Coast Track, Tasmania

Deadman’s Bay, South Coast Track, Tasmania

We were welcomed by a great private campsite, by pressing on past Little Deadman’s Bay, and just barely had enough time and energy to enjoy it before passing out for the night.

View from Red Point Hills, Tasmania

View from Red Point Hills, Tasmania

Looking ahead, the Ironbound Range loomed large. There’s no way around it, but we were lucky to be delayed by a day and not taking it on in gloomy weather.

View from Red Point Hills, Tasmania

Day 2 of the South Coast Track. We made our way through scrubby plains after departing the Buoy Creek campsite. At the top of the first significant ascent, Red Point Hills, we could see all the way back to the beach we had left.

Buoy Creek, South Coast Track, Tasmania

Fishing boat debris and other materials are used as markers, makeshift furniture and clotheslines.

Buoy Creek, South Coast Track, Tasmania

The tannin coloured water is a feature of every creek on the track. Despite the colour, it tastes fine.

Buoy Creek, South Coast Track, Tasmania

After cruising past Point Eric, a relatively busy camp site, we negotiated our way around the Black Cliffs and continued on to Buoy Creek, our first campsite for the trip. The site was also well inhabited, so we had to make ourselves at home in a small clearing adjacent to the main camping area.

Cox Bight, South Coast Track, Tasmania

Our first sand walk saw us leave the familiar ‘Tassie style’ track behind for a while.

Cox Bight, South Coast Track, Tasmania

Setting off soon after a surprising number of other hikers, we made our way across the plain, past Freney Lagoon to Cox Bight.