Shot Notes
This is Trial Harbour on Tasmania’s wild South West coast. It is as close as it gets to the end of the world, next stop Antarctica. Last time I was camped this close to the ocean was at Stanage in Queensland. But unlike the calm waters of the Bay, here the untamed full force of the roaring forties lash a rugged windswept coastline. Waves on an epic scale move in slow motion as they relentlessly crash into the rocky headlands between the beaches. Even the waters within the harbour have claimed many lives. These days a safer harbour further down the coast is preferred adding to the remote feel of the place.
Tasmania experienced exceptional fires across the state at the start of 2019. It was leading news during the ferry journey so every screen was repeating the worst of the fire footage for the 10hrs crossing. It appeared as if everyone had accidentally booked the boat to Hades. There has been some rain since then but a few persistent fires remain. One such fire was on my route after detouring to Hobart to get a replacement Canon 5D mark ii. I spent a few days parked next to the fire station in Ellendale waiting for the forecast rain to put out a fire near Maydena on my way to Lake Pedder.
When the road reopened I drove through a fire-scorched landscape only to find all accessible campsites had been closed. I searched WikiCamps for sites with wildlife and scenery and found Trial Harbour far from any remaining fires. The west of the country consists of cold rain soaked mountains dotted with sheep. I am surprised the colonists did not call it New North Wales. I am currently in the old silver city of Zeehan. I am going to investigate some of the mining heritage before restocking and exploring the east of the island.
Impressive picture – and to think that the clippers used to deliberately sail that way!
Thanks – I used my longest lens (400mm) and heavy cropping to minimize the waves shrinking in the distance.