After so many forests and ferns, mountains and mosses, I was ready for a change pf landscape and vegetation. Narawntapu National Park provided just that… a coastal kingdom for the many creatures that live there
Like most National Parks, its roads are restricted to 40kmh, for the sake of wildlife. I think speed limits on all Tassie roads should be reduced, given the amount of roadkill.
Due to the windy conditions I was advised to camp at Koybaa, which was protected; it was quiet, with only one other invisible camper, and I felt at last as if I was in the bush — without people.
Next morning I walked first to the bird hide at the wetlands, but too late, as there were only a few ducks about.
And then on — and up — to Archer’s Knob.
The walk went along a sandy track through such diverse vegetation that I was constantly taking photos.
Like these paperbarks, clearly designed by Dr Seuss, as I have noted elsewhere, with their little topknots of leaves.
There were many swamps, both water-filled and dry. The paperbarks did their best to infill in massed numbers.
There were wind-battered older trees, like this one with its feet crossed.
Plenty of pademelons were still out and about, relatively unfazed by my trespassing in their kingdom.
I saw only one snake, black and very shiny. I waited until it had long left the narrrow track. Whatever it was, I knew Tassie’s three snake varieties — Tiger, Lowland Copperhead and White-lipped — were all venomous.
On top of Archers Knob was a colony of grass trees, waving gently in the breeze as if signalling.
Looking back over the Park, it was easy to see why it had such vibrant wildlife, from water birds to macropods, as it had such varied habitat.
In the other direction, at the end of the pristine and empty Bakers Beach, was Little Badger Head and Badger Head itself.
I loved the denseness of the bumpy bushes and curving trees; such perfect places for critters to live and hide in.
Narawntapu is a coastal blessing.