Tamar Valley

The Tamar Valley is in the center of Tasmania's north coast and extends northward to Bass Strait from Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city.  The valley is known for its cool climate wines, the large channel that forms Bell Bay and Port Dalrymple and spills out into Bass Strait and for its scenery including Narawntapu National Park on the west side of the valley.  We had our first visit to the valley in mid-January and as we have elsewhere in Tasmania, we found it delightful.  To be completely fair, I have to add the proviso that I could have used fewer flies and mosquitoes (mossies)!   We stayed at Beauty Point Cottages on the west bank of the Tamar.  They have a three meter tide here according to the owners! We couldn't resist buying some strawberries and ice cream at Hillwood Strawberry Farm near the Batman Bridge.  The owners couldn't have been nicer and took our photo in front of a small part of their rose gardens.  Some of the roses were seven feet tall!  Here's Mary on Bakers Beach.  We walked for about an hour on the beach without seeing anyone.  This was on a Saturday in the peak of the tourist season on a nice day. The shore at the low head looking out into Bass Strait.... We took the track to the West Head Overlook and got this view of Badger Beach early on Sunday morning.  We then hiked to the West Head and caught this glimpse of Bass Strait on the way.               Here's Joe at Low Head with East Beach in the background. A farm at the lighthouse at Low Head.  What a view! We visited Bridestowe Lavender Farm, the largest and oldest lavender farm in the southern hemisphere.  Acres and acres (or hectares and hectares) of lavender in bloom and  the rolling hills covered with rows and rows of flowers, all ready to harvest (the honey bees were hard at work making honey, too - lavender honey, of course) was quite a show.

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This site was last updated 09/04/06