We needn't have worried about booking in to a caravan park. There was plenty of room, and a nice large park just across from the port where we found a lady camped out - in a tent. Free camping is definitely not a problem here. However we had to be in a caravan park as Faye needed the heater at night, so had to have a powered site. There would be plenty of time for free camping later.

We decide to book a second night, and spend the day romping around the area in John's car - and that is the great advantage of pulling a caravan. You can unhitch it and leave, and travel light.

But first we stopped for breakfast at a lovely café called The Rectory, set in a beautiful old house which had once been a rectory. (The church had since burnt down.) The owner was a Kiwi, and the menu included sammies (short for samwiches - everyone knows that.)

Our first stop was a spot called Hawley Beach where Faye's cousin (I think) had lived for a few years. It was not far from Devonport, and quite close to Port Sorrel, where George and I were booked in for a week at a time share resort in a few weeks time. The beach was lovely and calm, and a few people were swimming, but not warm enough for our northern sensibilities.

We then decided to take the Bass Highway and head out the other direction, west. Several small coastal towns come off this highway every few kilometers, and we decided to start with one called Penguin - just because it's a cool name. It was a tiny little town with a few cafes, antique shops, and art galleries. It had one large fiberglass penguin on the foreshore, and several small penguins adorning all the shops and streets.

As we wondered around we started chatting with a local. When we asked what there is to do in Penguin, she responded with an emphatic, "Nothing!" And she worked in the Tourist Info centre. After talking to a few more people, the recommendation was to head on to a place called Boat Harbour Beach, and Sister's Beach close by, then continue on to Stanley.

Boat Harbour Beach was very pretty and protected. Could almost have had a dip, but we hadn't brought our bathers. That's the disadvantage of not having your camper with you.

We continued on through small and windy roads to Sister's Beach, but it was not as nice, and not worth the drive.

Back to the highway we headed on to Stanley. This was a beautiful town full of old historic buildings, most of which were being used as B&Bs, and a wharf. Above the town towered an enormous rock formation called The Nott. We rested there and had a late lunch of fish and chips on the beach.

As we headed back, we discovered there were several more streets in the town full of shops and cafes. However it was now nearly 4 pm and we had a long drive ahead of us. Besides, at 4 pm all the shops had already begun to shut. Will definitely need to re-visit Stanley.