Along the way we stopped at the Mount George lookout where there is an historic semaphore site. Through a system of signals they could pass messages from George Town right up the Tamar River to Launceston. This operated from 1835 to 1858.
George Town was settled in 1804 claiming it is the third oldest settlement in Australia, after Sydney and Hobart [but what about Norfolk Island which was settled only weeks after settlement in Sydney in 1788?]
Our first stop was the Bass and Flinders Centre, a maritime museum which houses a full size working replica of the sloop 'Norfolk'. In 1798 Bass and Flinders sailed the 'Norfolk' in their quest to discover if Tasmania was an island.
There is also a full size replica of the 'Tom Thumb' which Bass and Flinders also used in their exploration of the seas around Tasmania.
The Low Head Pilot Station and Maritime Museum has a collection of all things to do with the sea but we were a bit 'maritime museum-ed out' at that stage so we just wandered in the grounds looking at the external collection.
After lunch we visited Low Head lighthouse where earlier one of our group was almost deafened when he tried to photograph the fog horn at midday!
Hiding in the tufted grass was a molting penguin. It won't leave its hidey hole until its new adult feathers have appeared.
Back in town we were directed to see the wood carvings of George Bass and Matthew Flinders at Windmill Point, created using a chain saw by Eddie Freeman.
Seafood was never far from the minds of most of the group so after drinks another fish and chip night happened ... or should I say scallops and oysters.
The weather had been perfect for us up until this point however over night we had strong wind and rain and the morning came cold and wet. The planned 11 km walk was cancelled and we chose to stay in until after lunch.
Aldo looked like he was winning the lamington competition at this stage so we took him to Scottsdale for afternoon tea.
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