Much of the Western half of the north coast of Tasmania has deep red volcanic soil. As you pass through the area you see bright green paddocks with sheep and dairy cattle that are making the best of that soil, and ploughed paddocks that reveal the chocolatey red colour of the soil. This marvellous soil in Tasmania’s temperate climate is perfect for growing flowers.
Some of the topographic features that result from the ancient volcanic activity take the form of circular, flat-top plateaus along the coastline. One of these plateaus is Table Cape, near Wynyard. The plateau of Table Cape comprises that deep, rich, red volcanic soil and is used for growing tulips. Now, in the spring, the tulips are flowering.
The Table Cape Tulip Farm opens for visitors for a couple of weeks during the flowering, so that you can go in and walk amongst the rows of tulips and admire them. We've been watching for the perfect weather conditions to go and see the tulips, and today was the perfect day. Here are the glorious rows of tulips:
Not too many rows of tulips, yet? Here’s a slide show with even more:
The tulip flowers
Here are close ups of some of the beautiful tulip flowers:
Table Cape walking track
There’s a short walking track near the tulip farm, around the seaward edge of Table Cape from Table Cape Lookout to the Table Cape lighthouse, which gives great views out across Bass Strait and along the north Tasmanian coast.
The track is about 1.8 kilometres return, and starts here on Google Maps.
Penguin Uniting Church
A few months ago, before we started our current house-sit in Launceston, and after crossing Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, we visited Wynyard to do an orientation for a future house-sit. On the way to Wynyard we stopped in at the coastal town of Penguin to see if we could get a cup of coffee, and I noticed a beautiful wooden church in the town. Being midwinter it was too early in the day for good enough light to get a photograph of the church (or coffee), so I took the opportunity this time, on the way to see the tulips at Table Cape, to get some photographs of it.
The church has some simple, but lovely, geometric-design leadlight windows.
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