FriendlyBrooks

One of the best day walks you could possibly ever do, spectacular!

Lance Brooks, loving nature, February 2026

After our week in Sydney we were  looking forward to getting back on the road. We both arrived well in time for our flight only to have it delayed by more than an hour. It meant that we didn’t arrive in Hobart until 11pm and so we kept Jack and Cassie up late again. It’s starting to become a habit. 

We were able to have a slow start the next morning as Jack had a day off and Cassie was working from home. We managed to distract her a bit until we were pushed out the door to do the shopping for the weekend. We then all took their dog Tugboat for a walk at Kingston Beach and ate enormous frozen yoghurts.

We finally set off for Fortescue Bay mid afternoon. Although it’s only a 2 hour drive from Hobart there was traffic so we took the scenic route through Dodge’s Ferry, stopping for iced coffees and hot chips with heaps of chicken salt, so it was well worth the diversion.

Fortescue Bay is extremely popular and the campground was booked out. Luckily I had booked a spot months ago and we got the best spot with uninterrupted water views. Until the 6am boaties came that is,😄.

Nonetheless we were very happy with our spot. The beach is superb and we had our customary swim and walk that night.

On Saturday we hiked the magnificent Cape Huay Track. This is a 4 hour walk that includes over 900 stairs. But every one of them is worth it as the views are as spectacular as I have ever seen. My Fitbit agrees.

Back at camp we had a delicious lunch of wallaby salami and salad before a relaxing snooze. We then got the kayak out and Jack and I paddled across the bay into what I thought were scary high waves. It was fun though. Lance and Cassie had a turn and then Lance and I paddled closer to the shore.

Jack cooked dinner again that night! He baked wallaby shanks over a bed of potato served with corn 🌽 and a salad 🥗. Delicious 😋 (how’s the overuse of emojis here?!)

Jack had to get back to Hobart early on Sunday as he is rehearsing for the Tasmanian Uni review. Lance, Cassie and I went for a swim and walk on the beach before a leisurely pack up.

I had wanted to visit Port Arthur as I had not been there since before the massacre over 30 years ago. They have done a great job in making it a premium tourist attraction. We enjoyed the short harbour cruise offered as part of the (pricey) entrance fee and also wandered around most of the buildings, learning what it was like for convicts and their jailors. Port Arthur was designed for strict discipline, hard labour and reformation. It famously employed a “separate system” where prisoners were kept in solitary confinement most of the day. I don’t think the reformation aspect was entirely successful.

We got back to Hobart in time for Lance and I to go to 6pm mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and afterwards ate nachos in front of the winter Olympics and went to bed early.