Cape Pillar, Headland and cliffed coast on the Tasman Peninsula, Australia
Cape Pillar is a headland at the southern tip of the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, known for its vertical cliffs that rise around 300 meters above the Tasman Sea. The cape ends in a narrow, exposed ridge called The Blade, from which you can see Tasman Island and the coastline stretching in both directions.
European explorers charted Cape Pillar in the early 1800s, using its cliffs as a navigation reference in the rough waters of the region. The dangerous seas kept ships at a distance, so the cape remained largely untouched and was visited only much later when walking trails were established.
Cape Pillar lies within Tasman National Park and is reached on foot from Fortescue Bay, with the walk taking several hours each way and requiring solid outdoor gear. Wind on the cliffs can be very strong, so staying on marked paths and bringing waterproof layers is strongly advisable.
A rare tree called Allocasuarina crassa grows near the cliffs, found in only a handful of spots along this stretch of coast. From the clifftops, whales are sometimes spotted in the waters below, passing through to feed.
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