EAGLEHAWK NECK (TAS)
Tessellated Pavement

Return distance : 2.5 km ; Time : 1 hour

This is a very gentle walk. The signpost indicates that it takes ten miniutes to view the tessellated pavements, but this longer walk takes in some of the interesting history of this region as well.

                                                                 

The walk is clearly signposted, and begins at the carpark adjacent to the Lufra Hotel. The hotel is named after an old sailing ship from the area.

The well-made track indicates the popularity of this rock formation.

Keep a lookout for the little fairy wrens, especially at blackberry time. This little female was quite tame.

From the path we can see out over Pirate’s Bay and a portion of the pavement.

There is also a view out to Clyde’s Island at the end of Osprey Head. It is only just an island – at high tide!

For those with the time, it is an interesting excursion around the shoreline to reach the island.

The final descent to the beach is by a well-made set of stairs.

It is amazing how nature makes the most of every opportunity ...

Perhaps this little wren is looking for his mate!

The tessellated pavement is an interesting rock formation. The original stress fractures have been further eroded by the action of the waves.

A heron makes the most of the last rays of the setting sun.

This sourthern view shows how extensive the tessellations are.

Some of the pavement blocks show signs of fretting away.

It is worth visiting the tesellated pavement at different times.

They look quite different when the tide is just receding.

Some of the pavement formation further up the beach has a quite different appearance. The official designation for these is a ‘loaf formation’. We might think of the loaves and fissures!

A large Pacific gull keeps watch ...

We leave the pavement and make our way towards the sandy beach of Pirate’s Bay. I wouldn’t bet on a long life span for the far eucalypt.

So to the long stretch of sandy beach. The drifting clouds are quite common for this part of Tasmania.

Some kayakers enjoy the small challenge of a calm day.

‘Leave nothing but footprints’ the brochures say.

We can continue walking further along the beach, but we turn right near the car parking area to look at the old Officers’ Quarters dating from 1832. This building has played an important part in the Neck’s history. Now a museum, it has also served as a general store.

The building doesn’t really show its age until we look at the rear chimneys.

Further south we come to this signboard, telling of the more unpleasant past of Eaglehawk Neck. This narrow isthmus was all that separated the convicts at Port Arthur from the freedom of the (Tasmanian) mainland, so a line of 18 fierce dogs was set up across the narrow neck to prevent their escape.

Enough to scare off any self-respecting convict!

These were hard old times. We retrace our steps to the road, and make our way back to the carpark by the Hotel. There are no footpaths, but there is little traffic.