Bay of Fires

[Robbo]

Did anyone else see the recent report on ABC's 7.30 Report on the Bay of Fires?

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2429515.htm

"International guide book Lonely Planet has named Tasmania's Bay of Fires as the hottest travel destination for 2009. The Bay of Fires covers almost 30 kilometres of Tasmania’s north-east coast and there are calls for the area to be declared a National Park to ensure it remains untouched by development."

I guess this will entice more people to the place which may not be a good thing

Has anyone visited there recently? I am thinking of spending a few days exploring there in late January.

Tony Robinson

[MickW]

Hi Robbo,

I started going ther eabout ten years ago, it had no signs on how to get there and always had the place to ourselves. In the last 2 years it has started going down hill since it's become known. Now when we get there, there are always empty beer cans and other rubbish lying around the camp sites. I wish it Lonely planet didnt give it more exposure. Now it's a haven for caravans and getting a camp spot is difficult. last time there my brother had a $600 wet suit stolen.
It still is a beautiul place and worth seeing, try not to be there on a weekend so less people will be there.
I have some shots on my site if you want to check them out.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/MickW

[Son of a Beach]

Raising revenue seems to be what makes the government tick sometimes. Even from this point of view, they'd do well to make it a NP, as they'd collect a lot of park entry fees from all the Lonely Planet readers coming to check it out. They'll need to get in quick though, to take advantage of the rush.

But what to do about the private properties along that part of the coast? Leave them out of the park, or compulsory buy back?

[johnw]

I know little about this part of Tasmania but remember reading about it several years ago. I had somehow gained the impression that it was already NP. On researching it appears that part of it is contained with Mt William NP and other parts within Bay of Fires Conservation Area (how much of the whole area?). What level of protection does that offer compared with NP status? See:
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3999

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3622

If acquiring property I believe it's best to try and get the whole thing as a contiguous area. We have a lot of small, fragmented NPs etc in NSW and, although it's great that those areas are now protected, I think it's difficult for park authorities to manage them effectively. It can also create access problems for those of us who wish to visit. Sometimes they end up landlocked by surrounding private property.

Raising revenue seems to be what makes the government tick sometimes

<rant>IMHO it's the only thing that makes any government tick, all of the time </rant>

[Son of a Beach]

It is a great area, in any case. I've done a lot of camping (car camping) at the Northern end (both Policeman's Point, and Mt William areas), and at the southern end (Gardens Road). The coastline is magnificent, with a variety of beaches and granite rock. Lots of good camp sites, but unfortunately, they are all getting degraded and abused by crowds of people leaving broken bottles and other rubbish about.

Last time I was there the ranger was going around noting all the registration plates of every car and which camp sites they were at. Then if any rubbish was left behind at a particular camp site, he had the option of sending out fines to the owners of the cars.

[dee_legg]

The Bay of Fires is certainly an interesting area in terms of future management possibilities. I currently work for a well known guiding company that operates in the area, with a huge focus on customer satisifaction and minimal impact. As the the majority of the operation takes place in the Mt William NP and on private land I can already see what good management can achieve for an area like this and to achieve customer satisifaction it is vital for us to offer a clean green image so the issue of over use is a concern to us too.
In terms of the Bay of Fires proper (from Eddystone Point to Binalong) i've never noticed huge human impact, outside of Binalong obviously. The campsites i've stayed in have always seemed clean and well managed, but this was years before the lonely planet boom. I think the impact for turning the area into a NP would be minimal on regular users as paying a few dollars a night for a car load of people to camp will always be cheap accommodation, even if it feels a bit rich when you're used to being there for free. But these same people will be the ones who regularly gain from the money they put in to the area from better roads, tracks and facilities. Mt William is still Tassies least visited NP and this is because of the need for visitors to be entirely self sufficient, same goes for Bay of Fires. This lack of shops and the fact that the area isn't 'on the way to anything' is enough to keep most people away.
Will certainly be interesting to see what happens.

[billshep]

Hello Robbo, The best part of the Bay of Fires is just north of Gardens Lagoon beach, about a 45 min walk from the car park at Gardens. You would have to carry in water for an overnight camp. The headlands between the little coves have nice spots for a camp. Hopefully people who walk in will leave no litter or mess. But there are always boat parties.
As others have said the official camp sites between Binalong and the Gardens are getting abused. On the long weekend at the beginnning of November there were hundreds of young people having a party at Sloop Rock site, incredible mess of bottles and litter, with one lonely young lad trying to pick it up - good on him! Good to hear the Ranger is trying to keep things in check.
The walk up Mt Pearson is worth doing, especially in October when rock orchids festoon the granite boulders. There is a track opposite Cosy Corner South which leads to the Pearson ridge, and another off Reid's Road near a dam. The area was burned out a couple of years ago.
cheers BIll

[Chris]

I think the impact for turning the area into a NP would be minimal on regular users

Sorry Dee, but we still regret losing access to Friendly Beaches, which was a great place to camp or visit with dogs before being included in Freycinet NP. Would be very sad if our favourite Cosy Corner was out of bounds too.

Have wonderful memories of camping at the Northern CC and walking/rock-hopping and swimming further north. It's a magical area. Always coveted the spot near water's edge looking straight onto the wonderful view, but never managed to get there first!

Yes, I know all the problems of dogs interfering with wildlife and leaving deposits in public areas, but we're not all irresponsible owners. I think public education could slowly be having some impact, but there's still a long way to go. When we were going there quite often the main problem was trail bike riders turning the ground to dust. Do remember a friend having his sleeping bag stolen from his tent too.

[Taurë-rana]

Cosy Corner was always a favourite of ours when the children were little, but we've pretty much abandoned it in favour of the West Coast and places we can get to only by 4WD so they are not as crowded.

[holleysguide]

Years ago I used to camp at Deep Creek near Edystone Lighthouse until the arrival of generators, amplified guitars and drink encouraged me to find quieter areas. Once it became a National Park some of these problems disappeared. I wonder if the government is prepared to commit the necessary funds and personal to cope with the increased numbers that will head for the Bay of Fires if and when it becomes a National Park.

There is a bit of information on the area here.

http://www.northeastbioregionalnetwork. ... _lores.pdf (2.1 MB)

At the moment, rubbish, uncontrolled fires, noise, motor vehicles and jet skis don't make for a quiet walk.

john

[tasadam]

A "bit" of information??
That's a pretty detailed report, well found!
I like those vegetation and threatened species maps at the bottom.

[holleysguide]

by damm, that's a quick reply Adam.

Sometimes too much information, I have trouble naming some of the more common plants let alone finding the rare and endangered. Must confess to a loose affiliation with one of the groups involved.

Michael Mansell, on the latest ABC 7-30 report , seeks to claim the area for the aboriginals and i think there was a push in the 1800's to give them the north east. George Robinson, who did the first documented Bay of Fires walk (several times) writes that you could tell where the whaling boats came ashore by the number of skeltons scattered about.

Robinson's aboriginal companions liked to climb Mt William and light fires so their women on the islands could see there was life in their home country still. There used to be a small plaque to Trugganini on the sand spit joining north and south Bruny. It seems to have gone now. Are there any memorials at all for those who lived here uninterruped for 10,000 years. (oops sorry, and continue to live here)

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ About 6 minutes on Thursday night

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2009/2592798.htm Plomley's book of Robinon's journals

[tastrax]

Truganini Monument is still at the top of the stairs at the neck lookout on Bruny Island. Also another monument at Truganini Reserve at the top of Mt Nelson.