6 days Tasmania, Australia- 5/11- 5/16/2024

5 day tour of Tasmania

Day 4 of 5 - Dinner & Sunrise, Bicheno-5/15/2024

We are now making our way to Bicheno for the evening and on the way we stopped by St Helens waterfront, a charming coastal town on Tasmania’s northeast coast, known as the gateway to the Bay of Fires and the largest town in the region.

The town has a long history as a fishing port, especially famous for its rock lobster and deep-sea fishing. Today, it’s a popular stop for visitors exploring the east coast, offering seafood restaurants, scenic walks along the foreshore, and a relaxed small-town atmosphere.

Fishing boats docking on St Helens waterfront. St Helens has long been known as Tasmania’s fishing capital, thanks to its deep, sheltered bay and rich offshore waters. The boats here are used for both commercial and recreational fishing.

Dinner at the Lobster Shack, Bicheno

We arrived in Bicheno in the evening, the soft golden light of sunset welcoming us as we checked into a large four-bedroom apartment that we’ll be sharing with a few others from our group. The place feels spacious and comfortable, with big windows that let in the cool coastal breeze. After taking some time to unpack and rest from the day activities, we’re now getting ready to head out for dinner at the Lobster Shack, where we are looking forward to  spend the evening with the group.

Hoa, Me, Ida, Anne, Judith, and Eifie at the apartment. 

As the sun sets over Waubs Bay, the whole scene turns breathtaking. The sky glows in deep shades of orange, gold, and soft yellow, with streaks of light filtering through drifting clouds. The calm water of the bay mirrors the colors above, shimmering with ripples of gold and amber. The silhouette of the mountains in the distance adds depth to the horizon, their outlines fading into the warm evening light.

Our apartment is on a hillside so we see the roofs of house spread out below.

From up here, Bicheno looks peaceful, a quiet coastal town bathed in the golden colors of an autumn evening.

As we make our way toward the Lobster Shack, the view of the bay is absolutely stunning. The water glows under the fading light, shifting from deep blue to soft gold as the sun sinks lower.

Tom recommended the Lobster Shack which is one of the town’s most popular spots. Known for its fresh Tasmanian seafood and for its stunning waterfront location. It sits right on Waubs Bay, offering panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding coastline but we arrived too late to be sitting outside.  It was even a winner of the 2019 Best Seafood Restaurant Experience at the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council Awards.

Our group staying in line to order the food.  Tom highly recommended the Lobster Roll, and we are definitely getting it. 

Basically,  our group pretty much took over the dinner room on the second floor.

After ordering our food, our group gathered upstairs and pretty much took over the entire second floor. The atmosphere was lively and filled with laughter, everyone chatting and sharing stories as the evening went on. The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Between the amazing seafood, the great company, and the relaxed seaside setting, it turned into one of those evenings that felt joyful and memorable.

Picture with the whole group.

David, Eifie, Judith, and Dudu. enjoying the fresh seafood.

Then in the middle of all the laughter and conversation, Judith told us it was Eifie’s birthday today. The whole group erupted in cheerful excitement, everyone turning toward her with smiles and well wishes.

The moment added an extra spark to the evening, a spontaneous celebration on top of an already joyful dinner. We all joined in to sing “Happy Birthday” to Eifie, our voices echoing through the second floor and drawing smiles from all of us.

Eifie looked a bit embarrassed as all the attention turned toward her, blushing and laughing as we finished singing and raised our glasses. But even with her shy smile, you could tell she appreciated the gesture. The whole moment felt lighthearted and full of warmth, the kind of spontaneous celebration that makes a trip feel extra special. Between the laughter, the delicious food, and the glow of the evening sky over Waubs Bay, it turned into a truly memorable night, one we’ll all look back on fondly.

Watching the sunrise

The next morning, we woke up early to catch the sunrise. Miri had found a perfect spot up in the hills, just a short walk from our apartment.

We followed a narrow path until we reached a cluster of large boulders, where we settled down to watch the day begin.

It was a cloudy morning, so we couldn’t see the sun itself rise above the horizon, but the sky slowly began to glow with soft, muted light. The clouds caught the early rays, turning shades of orange and pale gold, casting a warm tint over the bay below.

In front of me stood a row of tall, leafless trees, their dark branches reaching upward like silhouettes against the morning sky. Beyond them stretched a beautiful blue-gray sky, heavy with clouds, yet softened by the early light. Along the horizon, patches of golden orange broke through, glowing gently as the sun tried to peek out from beneath the cloud cover. The mix of cool and warm tones created a quiet, moody beauty,  the kind of sunrise that feels serene and introspective rather than bright and bold. The stillness of the scene, with the bare trees and soft light over the bay, made the moment feel peaceful and serene.

NEXT... Day 5- Freycinet National Park