St Helen's to Swansea

As we pulled away from our overnight stay in St Helens we travelled with the inlet on our left hand side, there were white caps on the bay as the wind whistled around our 4 x 4 and caravan. As we travelled south the angry surf pounded the beach with the wind behind it encouraging the waves. Black swans were everywhere as we entered Scamander. Scamander is a small town at the mouth of the Scamander River between St Helens & Swansea, on the north-east coast of Tasmania. The town is a popular holiday destination because of its wide, sandy beaches and views of the ocean. Recreational activities include surfing, swimming and fishing for bream in the river. As we travelled south we past Ironhorse point, where there is a brewery and winery. We entered into Bicheno - where we stopped to have something to eat, still raining. Bicheno is a town on the east coast of Tasmania 185 km north-east of Hobart on the Tasman Highway, with a population of 853. The town is primarily a fishing port and a beach resort. The town was named after James Ebenezer Bicheno, the British Colonial Secretary for Van Diemen's Land from 1843 to 1851. The first historical reference to the place that was to become Bicheno was made by James Kelly during his circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land. He landed here (when it was known as Waubs Harbour) to dry his provisions. From 1803 Waubs Harbour was used as a whaling port. Bicheno was proclaimed a township in 1866. The hinterland was established for farming in the mid-1840s and continues today. Coal was discovered in 1848. In 1854 the harbour was expanded to provide port facilities for the coal mines at Denison River. The coal was transported to the port via a 5‑km horse-drawn tramway. The use of Bicheno as a coal port was short-lived. The discovery of gold in Victoria saw most of the residents depart in 1855 and for nearly a century Bicheno became a sleepy little fishing village. Fishing has continued to be the lifeblood of the town with substantial quantities of crayfish, abalone, scallops and trevally. In recent times it has become a popular tourist destination, with a range of accommodation, craft shops, and a visitor centre. Visitors are also attracted to the Little Penguin colony on adjacent Diamond Island. A famous resident is the world champion swimmer Shane Gould
View Larger Map We have arrived at the place of our dream job. Please look at the website - do not forget to book if you want to visit. http://www.swanseacottages.com.au/