Wineglass Bay

Coles Bay 22- 23 January 2008
We got up very early to get into the National Park as this is a very popular tourist spot with the European campers and sure enough, we only just managed to get a spot at 9am. Packed a light lunch and headed off for a 12km hike up to the lookout, down to Wine Glass Bay, across the isthmus to Hazards Beach and around the coastal base of the Hazards.

It was healthily challenging and well worth it. The weather was perfect and not too hot and Hazards Beach was a surprise as it was so pretty and sheltered. There were lots of Aboriginal middens along the exposed sand banks with thousands of oyster and abalone shells imbedded in clusters and slowly falling onto the beach. It seemed an idyllic place to sit and eat oysters any place in time! Aboriginals apparently only came in summer. The wallabies were very tame and came out to try to get food from tourists. One must assume some people, (mistakenly) like to feed them.
When we got back to camp our neighbours turn out to be my work mate (Judy’s) sister and brother in law. We were both aware, via Judy, to look out for each other. Jenny had only just spoken to Judy, who asked jokingly had they met us yet! We enjoyed a few evening drinks and a nice chat with them and their visitors. We shared the delight of seeing little blue Superb Wrens flit around us symbolically representing Judy’s presence in the coincidence!

Next morning, we left the camp and ventured onto the far end of Richardson Beach where we found a perfect spot to park overlooking the water for the whole day. We really relaxed with chairs and a table set up on the beach under a tree. We enjoyed many things that day but a highlight was being allowed to watch John, an animal carer, take large bundle out of a basket that turned into a big friendly 10 month wombat weighing nearly 4kgs for her feed. It was an orphaned as a result of mum being hit by a timber truck. She will be released at 2 years weighing 20kgs. Not sure how she will ever grow that big as her correct formula is only 160mls a day given in 4x40ml doses! John assured us she will adapt well as they reject humans as they grow older! What a commitment - Judy would be impressed!
Left this idyllic spot late and drove onto a quiet spot to camp overlooking fields and mountains.
Looked forward to the next day when Katie and Carl were coming. All of a sudden sliding doors changed our plans! Katie rang upset. When she rang Jetstar to confirm the next day’s flight details she discovered the change of flight had not occurred. She had changed it online when Ruth died and the user unfriendly system failed her. There was nought to do but accept this, as last minute tickets on Australia Day long weekend were too expensive.