September 12, 2019
Lagoons Beach Conservation Area is around 40km South of St Helens so our first “return to the road” journey was only 65km after waking to a white frost again, possibly the last we will see now we have hit the coast for a while.
The campground here stretches over about 500m of coastline in a bush setting with just a strip of scrub and light vegetation between the campground and the beach. Where we parked for our stay gives us a view to the surf between the trees and there are two walkways to the beach within about 50 metres.
The camp area has a hybrid toilet at each end and that is all, you have to take your rubbish away with you and bring in everything you need; aiming to stay for a few days we filed our water bladder as well so we have almost 300 litres to keep us going.
The walkways take you over the dunes to the beach below and the lagoon flows in and out to the sea as the tide rises and falls leaving grassy dunes in between. At the side of one of the walkways, Parks and Wildlife have chained a couple of chairs in a spot where you can sit and watch the sunrise over the ocean – no stealing those chairs!
As you descend to the beach you get the views to North and South and to the lagoon channel; further along the lagoon opens out and the occasional water bird appears like this Pelican below.
We have certainly hit the Spring weather here and spent all day yesterday (Wednesday) sitting outside, just not quite warm enough at breakfast time but for the first time since April we didn’t need any heating in the evening. A few birds are appearing as well and as well as the inevitable kookaburra who sat and watched us through the window we came across this gorgeous yellow Throated Honeyeater, a species unique to Tasmania.
