To the most easterly point

Today we are planning to go to the most easterly point on Tasmania at the Eddystone Point Lighthouse. We started well and first stop was the coastal town of St Helen’s. This is mainly a tourist town now but the murals on the Memorial Hall and Town hall remind people of the history of the area.

From here we pass through beautiful coastal areas , grazing and open forest . Roads pass through villages with only a few houses and you wonder how they survive. There are no shops and little mobile coverage! Teenage girls would not cope. Sealed roads become gravel and you have to slow as cars pass because of the dust and risk of stones flying up.

Now the GPS took us down a road with dips in it big enough to swallow  the car, 4WD material. We came to a tiny beach and when Mike climbed to the top of the stones ,yes he could see the lighthouse …in the distance

Definitely not the right road or place. Back we go and using a different map arrived! The lighthouse is beautiful. Built in 1889, its  importance is reflected in there being 3 houses so there must have been 3 keepers. In such a remote spot, you would have needed more people to ensure the lighthouse could be manned.

I was not aware that there was tin mining in Tasmania. Chinese miners came and settled in the area around Derby . There is a memorial to the Dragon Tin Trail.Many miners did not return home. If they could ,other miners would collect the remains after a year or two , cremate them and send them back for a  traditional second burial.     

Through Derby and then on to Scottsdale, we are nearly at our next hotel.

Derby and many areas close to it have mountain bike trails. Are you sad you forgot yours? You could do the 26 km Rail trail,or not.Bikes  can  be  hired.  
   

Scottsdale has some beautiful 1800’s timber buildings.

Tomorrow we explore further north Do you like lavender? Hopefully we will get to the lavender farm tomorrow.