MOT Tour Day 60 - Hastings Caves

Today we explored the southern end of the Huon Valley, with main destination being the Hastings

Newdegate Cave

Caves and Thermal Pool.

Located about an hour roughly south of us, it gave me the experience of driving the Huon Highway, eventually to its southernmost point in Southport. There were a few turn offs but it just felt like the same long and winding road we’ve been driving in Tasmania for months now. The Huon Highway devolves down to nothing more than a secondary road for most of the way south below Geeveston and by Southport, there is just enough room for two vehicles to pass.

The caves border yet another tall mountainous area, this time called the Hartz Mountains. Newdegate Cave, the only cave open to the public, is a large space and the largest dolerite cave in Tasmania but I’ll let Sue tell you all about it.

The Caves are huge with many sections displaying all the features you would expect. There were lots and lots of stairs! My guide balanced science and fun stuff to keep everyone engaged. She is a professional singer and she sang a short version of, I think, a Scottish song in order to show off the acoustics.

Meanwhile, I hung about the visitors centre and listened to Paul Kelly.

Thermal pool shelter

After the cave experience, Sue enjoyed a dip in the luke warm spring water from the thermal springs below the visitors centre. The water is delivered to regular swimming pool and hot showers and change rooms are supplied. Nearby, one of the best group shelters I’ve ever seen has been built using the stump of a huge stringy bark as it’s centre support. Rock walls make sections around its irregular floor plan and two wood fireplaces have been installed which burn while visitors are in attendance. Gas BBQ’s are built into the walls and picnic tables spread around that centre stump. It’s a brilliant facility.

Coming off the pool area, a short circular walk follows the path of one of the springs. It’s a delightful walk, even if it’s only ten minutes in duration.

Leaving the caves behind, which is a state reserve and staffed by Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service, we intended to go to a lookout at the South West Cape but I had underestimated the rugged nature of the road, especially with the time left in the afternoon, so instead we headed for Southport and the so called “end of the road”. Yeah, we’ll, accurate description. There’s not much at the end of the road. A pretty little beach - well several beaches - some houses and a pub. To be fair, there seemed a little more along a road that swept to the south west but the afternoon was getting on.

Click here for today's photos

The pub car park and the last bitumen, was entertaining big game fishing boats on big trailers, towed by big trucks and populated by big blokes talking footie and big fish. The weekend had been devoted to a fishing event and it was tall story time. We found a sunny spot on the verandah and had a quiet drink.

Crossed out another hour driving back to our digs where Sue went to the feeding of the “retired” Devils.

Franklin tomorrow for boating activities and wood stuff.