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Destinations: PLACES WITH A VIEW

Featured This Month:
Cape Hauy, Tas.

Cape Hauy is one of a number of rugged headlands on the Tasman Peninsula on Tasmania's south-east corner. Claimed to have some of Australia's best surf spots at Cape Roaul, Roaring Beach & Shipstern Bluff, the peninsula is also home to some of Australia's most breathtaking coastal features, many of which are either on or visible from Cape Hauy. The stunningly spectacular dolerite columns and cliffs at the tip of the cape are among Australia's most popular and challenging abseiling sites.
Access to Cape Hauy is on foot via the the Cape Hauy Walking Track (4 hour return walk) which leads from Fortescue Bay, just near the boat ramp. The walk passes through a variety of heath and woodland before coming to the magnificent views of steep cliffs and rock formations. Of moderate grade; the walk includes some uphill sections that are relatively short and not overly steep.
As you descend onto the peninsula of Cape Hauy, the views to north and south open up quite dramatically. To the south, Cape Pillar makes a fine sight, with The Blade and Tasman Island visible. To the north, the coastline of the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas, Cape Bernier, Maria Island and Freycinet Peninsula are visible.
Near the cape's tip is a small rock platform with a sheer 100 metre drop into the sea. The Candlestick and Totem Pole, two very tall and thin sea stacks, stand near each other at the end of the Cape and behind them are The Lanterns from which they are separated by the sea. The Lanterns comprise three small and very steep islands shaped like lanterns, hence their name.


The Lanterns

The Totem Pole (right) is one of the most spectacular pieces of rock on the planet. It is a free-standing dolerite pillar spearing straight out of the water in a gloomy chasm infested with sharks and subject to volatile swell patterns. It is over sixty metres tall, but only about four metres wide at the base. In spite of its height, The Totem Pole is dwarfed by the surrounding rock towers and consequently gets sunlight for only a couple of hours a day. It sways in the wind and shudders with the crash of every wave. The prospect this piece of rock presents the climber is uncompromising and chilling and is one of the world's most challenging climbs. The Candelstick is a thicker, shorter chunk of dolerite which stands at the far entrance of the same chasm in which The Totem Pole stands.


The cruise boat behind the Totem Pole give an accurate perspective of the size of the Totem Pole (right) and The Candlestick (left) rock formations and surrounding cliffs

A detour on the return to the Monument Lookout is well worthwhile. This stands on top of a vertical 150 m drop to the sea, and requires great care, as the rocks are rounded and sloping, with good sized cracks between them. Views from here are to the rock stacks off Cape Hauy and Cape Pillar, and in fact very dramatically straight downwards to the surface of the sea.
You can get a great view of Cape Hauy in the spectacular Tasman National Park as you travel to the Tasman Peninsula. To get this view, make a short detour, from the Arthur Highway (A9), to the Pirates Bay lookout just before Eaglehawk Neck. The walk to Cape Hauy leaves from Fortescue Bay 15km further south.

How to get there: Arthur Highway (A9) to junction with Fortescue Bay road (C344) which is 4km south of Taranna and 4km north of Port Arthur. Turn into C344 and drive 12km to Fortescue Bay. (This road is unsealed but is suitable for 2WD vehicles and mountain bikes.). Park entry fees apply.

Coastal Lookouts

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Noosa Lookout
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12 Apostles Lookout
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George Rex lookout
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Teddy's Lookout
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Point Labatt
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Cape Raoul
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Fortescue Bay
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The Neck Lookout
Bruny Island, Tas
Head of the Bight
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Cape York
Far North Qld
Eagle Bluff
Shark Bay, WA

Red Bluff
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Natural Bridge
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Inland Lookouts

The Three Sisters
Blue Mtns, NSW
Sillers Lookout
Arkaroola, SA

Mundi Mundi lookout
Silverton, NSW
Oxers lookout
Karijini NP, WA

Nature's Window
Kalbarri, WA
Gloucester Tree
Pemberton, WA

King's Tableland
Blue Mountains, NSW
Marion's Lookout
Cradle Mtn., Tas

Powers Lookout
Whitfield, Vic
Hanging Rock
Blue Mountains, NSW

Mountain Tops

White Gum Lookout
Warrumbungles, NSW
Bluff Knoll summit
Stirling Ranges, WA

Mt. Warning summit
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Wilkinson's Lookout
Mt. Buffalo, Vic

Boroka Lookout
Grampians, Vic
Lookout Point
New England NP, NSW

Mt. Wellington
Hobart, Tas
Wineglass Bay lookout
Coles Bay, Tas

Mt. Tibrogargan
Sunshine Coast, Qld
Mt. Kosciuszko
Australian Alps,
NSW