It’s the last walk of my Tasmanian holiday… or in this case, more of a stroll. I’ve headed to Cape Tourville with the kids in the hope of finding a great sunset vantage spot. The boardwalk around the headland makes it fairly effortless walking – but it’s hard to imagine we were swimming at Wineglass Bay earlier in the day. It feels like it’s freezing, partly because of the strong winds at this exposed location on the coast.
The boardwalk winds along the rocky coastline and around the unmanned and automatic lighthouse that was built in 1971. Replacing the inaccessible Cape Forestier Lighthouse, the Cape Tourville Lighthouse was built at the same time as a new lighthouse at Point Home. It provides guidance for bulk carriers carrying wood chips from the Triabunna wood chip mill.
The attraction of the Cape Tourville walk and its inclusion on Tasmania’s “60 Great Short Walks” is due to the fabulous coastal scenery. Near the start of the walk (if you’re doing it in a counter-clockwise direction) are views to the south-west of Freycinet Peninsula.
Near the end of the walk is a view of The Nuggets, a close group of four granite islets which are home to thousands of migratory birds.
There’s some interpretative signage along the boardwalk – although it’s too bloody cold to stand still and read the information boards! We don’t linger long as we’re keen to get out of the cold. We’re a bit too early for the sunset and it’s too cold to hang arouns, so we head back to our accommodation. We stop at Richardsons Beach, close to Freycinet Lodge (we’re not staying here, though!) to catch the sun as it sets over the bay.
The sky is even more spectacular after the sun has set, once we’re back at our rented house just north of Coles Bay. A very fitting end to my two weeks in Tassie!
Accommodation near Cape Tourville
The nearest town to Freycinet National Park is Coles Bay, which has a few restaurants and a holiday park – but not many other accommodation options. Lodges, resorts and houses for rent are be scattered along the coast, incuding the upmarket Freycinet Lodge (one of the closest resorts to the national park) and the even more up-market Saffire Lodge.
Booking.comMore information on Cape Tourville
- Tas Parks “60 Great Short Walks” – Cape Tourville
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