Wineglass to Wine Glass

OK, I’ll put it on the record. The Wineglass to Wine Glass tour is one of the best guide-led tourism experiences in Australia.

Big call? Well this adventure delivers in spades.

The first ‘Wineglass’ is the world famous bay on the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s East Coast. It’s a remarkable piece of landscape, often described as the most perfect beach in the world. Elegantly curved, and drifting into the distance, your best view of Wineglass Bay is from the mountainous saddle as you trek in from Coles Bay. This lookout is high on my list of must-do experiences for all visitors to Australia, not just Tassie.

But it’s name belies the beauty of the place. Home to whaling stations in bygone eras, the bay would fill with the blood of slain cetaceans until it resembled a flattish glass of claret. So, not exactly the romantic notion you may have had I mind, but a true reflection of its heritage nonetheless.

For the botanically minded the walk down from the saddle to the beach itself is equally remarkable. There are clear points in the bush where the topography and plant distribution change. Trees at one step, shrubs and grasses the next. No warning, no gentle morphing. An abrupt geographical schism.

Really, it doesn’t matter what time of the year you visit, do yourself and favour and pack your cossies. Even if it’s a little chilly you must take a dip. This is some of the cleanest water in the world, and it’s flourishing with sealife. Bring a reel and cast a line. Trust me: pippies as bait, and you’ll be eating whiting for lunch!

If you do dive in, goggles are a must. You’ll no doubt wonder about the odd-looking rock formations scattered along the shoreline. Well, here’s the thing. They’re not rocks. They’re whale bones. Cast-offs from the region’s history, these giant ossaries make for remarkable snorkelling.

Crossing the peninsula we make our way down Hazards Beach, more oyster shell than sand.

It is at the southern end of this second beach that we find our second ‘Wineglass’. And this time, it’s a wineglass!!

Tucked into a bushy grotto set above a exquisite bay our guides have established a bush camp complete with full kitchen and dining platform. So to finish the day off, we tuck into lobster, oysters, prawns and mussels, local wines and home baked breads. Really, what more could you want.

I can’t recommend this tour highly enough, it’s one of the best I’ve been on anywhere in the world. So don’t just make time for it when you’re next in Tassie, make this the reason for the holiday. You won’t regret it.

Ed