Stanley and the Tarkine Way (Arthur River) (Wk 12)

Lovely road from Launceston to the North West for a one night (01/02) free camp at the Yolla Tavern to explore Stanley. The weather was not so great when driving (high winds and driving rain) but again Paul drove brilliantly to the conditions.

Amazingly the weather has not stopped us exploring as we are rugged up and seem to dodge the heavy showers. The scenery in the north west is breathtaking and very green (I guess that’s the rain!).

We parked up at Yolla Tavern just before opening time but decided to get off to Stanley rather than check-in. Stanley is the other side of an isthmus this is our third Tasmanian isthmus we have visited (I have used the term more times in the last 2 weeks than in my entire life!). Stanley is famous for the Nut (a sheer sided bluff, the remainder of an ancient volcanic plug) which you can walk up but I bravely agreed to the chairlift (anything to get out of walking up hill!). At the top there is a circular track allowing amazing views from all directions with surprising fauna and a very steep track down.

We got back to the Yolla Tavern, which wikicamps had promised has a fabulous welcome and dinner 7 days a week. We found to the doors firmly locked. Paul knocked loudly on the door which eventually elicited a response from a kid saying they were closed. It was a bit worrying, we were wondering if anything was wrong. For the next few hours other vans arrived (some stayed, some left) along with locals. The next day there was a post on wiki camps saying the landlord was ill. Very odd not to put a note on the door. I was very disappointed as it meant I had to cook (and wash-up…. I’ve decided a dishwasher is the thing I miss most in the van!).

We then travelled onto Manuka Campground at Arthur River for two nights (03/02 & 04/02) to drive the Tarkine Way.

On arrival at Arthur River we went for a drive along the coast visiting the Edge of the World (a lookout with Tarkine Coast views), Sundown Point (ancient aboriginal rock carvings), Nelson Bay (beautiful beach) and Sarah Anne Rocks (another beautiful beach).

Today (03/02) we drove the Tarkine Way, a circular drive with lots of stops of which we picked: Sumac Lookout (view over the Arthur River), Lake Chisholm (flooded limestone sinkhole) and Trowutta Arch (geological feature).

Next stop is a one night stay at Corrina on the Arthur River banks and then onto Waratah for access to Cradle Mountain.