The road from Devonport to Marrawah is three hours long but quiet compared to the mainland roads, especially early in the morning. After an hour it's basically dairy country - cleared hills and farmhouses. A rainbow leads me in, failing to warn me of the board atop the van loosening it's moorings and flying into a ditch somewhere. It's gone forever, now.
I feel tremendous flutters seeing the ocean on the west side of Tasmania coming into view - this wild west is the stuff of legends and there's a whisper of freedom to be so far from big towns and to know I am untethered for a while. It's a good hour and a half to the closest big town, and Marrawah only has a pub and a general store so there's not a lot around - just the way I like it. It's the gateway the rest of the west coast and things get even more remote but that's a few days away and I'm still making a decision about where to go. Kinda spoilt for choice around here!
Yes, always was, always will be, Aboriginal land. There's much to explore beyond faded signs that are yet to talk about indigenous place over colonialism, but it's there. A whole other history beyond logging and fishing.
We stay at a free camp, getting rarer these days. I meet my girlfriend and her husband who have come up from Hobart. It's windy but we are sheltered here. The days are warm but the wind chill bites and in the mornings I already have my Tassie woolies on.
The first morning there's a huge swell. On the charts it says six to eight foot but as we learn from the locals, Green Point, the southern end of Mawsons Bay, doesn't pick up what the buoys read where they are stationed at the next headland. Still it's four foot plus and too big for me. There's a beautiful left hander people are on. It's a crowd of eight, laughable next to the crowds of dozens at home. I stand and watch the old boys chug down the heavy lines. My girlfriend, who does paddle out (she's always been more hardcore in the water than me), meets the guy who's family home is enviably on the side of the cliff that looks out over the break.
The locals are nice and they talk to us, despite gruff localism. Apparently they tried to put a surf cam here once but, in the spirit of mainland surfers of thirty years ago, they threatened to simply tear it down, so they didn't. One day they will have no choice. The young ones will come through and money will talk and this wild and beautiful place will be as developed and known as the best coastal spots on the mainland. Fuck.
The mornings are freezing. On the second day the swell drops considerably and so does the wind, so I'm able to go out for a paddle. I find it frustrating that I don't have the confidence to surf the big left hander but it's harder with a paddleboard, even if it's a small one! But I get a few waves on a tiny right. It's nice to get wet - the water temperature is still 18degrees even if the wind is cold! And apparently there's no sharks around here - no seal colonies - so that makes me happy!
Days are spent reading, chatting, sitting by the fire and eating. Sadly, the 12v fridge lead stuffed up so all that work we put into the solar system was for nought - Jamie'll bring one over when he comes. We made a few little side trips here and there, but they'll be for another post.
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What a treat! I am so glad you are on another fantastic adventure, it is thrilling to see your lovely smile in the middle of it all!
Aw, thanks so much. I don't do selfies much so they are a little suprise for Hive friends x
Howdy to my mate @riverflows! In a wild coincidence, I'll be following in your footsteps. Flying out to Launceston on the 12th April, would you believe?
The place is stunning, but you've got me concerned about how warm I should be packing!
The problem I have, is Port Macquarie (or just south of it in my case) is right on the coast, and we don't really have a winter - moved here from inland, Bathurst, nearly 8 years ago and over the time, we got rid of our wardrobes of heavy winter gear - and now I'm going, 'Righto, this may be quite the chilly week away'.
Hope your holiday is amazing. Tim
Days can be lovely but pack a Tassie tux (puffer jacket) and a beanie!! It's a getting cooler! Yep here til 24th. Where are you travelling?
a beautiful place indeed to explore. thank you for sharing @riverflows 😊
you are welcome x
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Will do, thanks!
The place you share is so perfect to travel to, right? It is so romantic.
It's really gorgeous1
I love Marrawah. One of the first big waves I surfed. Lighthouse Beach is a real challenge on those big days. Great post.
Oh yeah it's amzing!!! I wouldn't go out at Lighthouse Beach - too scary for me. My mate went out this morning at Nettley beach and it was gorgeous. 3 - 4 foot, perfect offshore. I just don't have confidence to paddle my SUP out there as it's quite the heavy wave and if i'm going to do that I need a secure shoulder to sit on as I dont want to get caught by sets! I surfed 2 foot Green Point this morning instead. Love it here. Proper old school surf spot - no one around ,it's madness!
That is beautiful place friend. The sunrise is stunning. I always enjoy sunrise from a tent i my camping trips. And what could be better surfing on those beautiful waves even though it’s quite cold in early morning.
Oh yes when you are camping, it's easier to catch both sunrise and sunset! Truly magical. I have two wetsuits - the thicker one for hte cold morning and thinner for during the day!
I love the selfie (^_^) I love this travel of yours, I love your style of storytelling too. Keep safe and enjoy your travel.
Thanks so much! Sorry if I haven't caught up on your posts, it's hard whilst travelling.
You're welcome (^_^)
It is okay, I am glad to see you enjoying your travel :)
That looks awesome. Good memories from that place. Would love to go there again one day. Eating blueberries directly from the bushes! :)
That swell looks massive (to me it looks bigger than 4 foot). Haven´t been in the water here in south africa but waves looked good on my road trip.
Enjoy :)
Have you been to Marrawah!! That's cool! Yeah it's huge. I'd be worried about sharks in South Africa! It's lovely in the water - the temperature is amazing. Surfed this morning when the swell dropped, perfect offshore and 2 ft is more my style! Tam went out at Nettley beach round the corner and it was big but really great.
I don´t think so. I well remember the Boat Harbour Beach in the north. One of the most beautiful beaches I´ve ever seen.
Awesome, 2 ft is great to have lots of fun. I´m a bit scared of the sharks as well but even more scared of the 13 degree water temperatures. Not sure if I go surfing here, lots of other stuff to do here. :)
And I´m running out of luck...2 days ago a cape cobra dropped right in front of my feet. If she would have bit me....game over :)
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time, I wish I could fly over and join you. Its so beautiful there, it is sad to think that one day it may become developed. Enjoy the rest of your magically time xxxx
It's so amazing - and it's good to just chill at the beach and do fuck all as well!
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Hi River, amazing view of the waves and the surfers coming in. And the sunset gives a really strong feeling of peace and relaxation
Geez, your first day didn't go so well, lost board!!! and the fridge died. :(( But you did get to surf and it sounds like the rest of it was ok.