YES WE ARE STILL IN TASMANIA, and still enjoying IT!

Set off from Cockle Creek in the southernmost part of the state to replenish supplies in Huonville, gas and fuel, and head on a short cut to New Norfolk. Well what a short cut we ended up on the top of MOUNT WELLINGTON! I confess that I was not the most settled of drivers as I drove the Winnebago to the summit and Brenda did suggest a number of times that I move over a little as I was on the wrong side of the road avoiding the edge!

Tuppence and Brenda keep a watchful eye out!

 Any way when we got to the top we saw the short cut. It was a forestry track and closed so off we went on our descent. However we found a great camp site half way down the mountain and stayed there the night. Cold for us, about 8c, but worth it.

The search for the short cut via Mount Wellington was worth it as the view was clear and sunny. 

The dog never left the van of course!

Down the windy track we went the next day into the city of Hobart again to go to the famous Salamanca Markets. Impossible for me to park the van in the city so left Brenda to shop whilst Tuppence and went to our secret parking spot at the Hobart Botanical Gardens to await the purchasing outcomes! (Brenda bought me some Jam and Chutney and ordered a number for the outside of the house in Townsville) Then in the afternoon we eventually reached New Norfolk but decided to move onto Hamilton ending up near there at BETHUNE PARK on Meadowbank Lake to enjoy the biggest full moon in 20 years.

Bethune Park

Drove, after that stop through the spectacular FRANKLIN GORDON WORLD HERITAGE area. I am so pleased that the fight to save the area from logging and the hydroelectric scheme was won in the 1980’s. Went to QUEENSTOWN and drove down what the travel guides call, an “hair raising descent” into the town. The books are right the trip raised hairs on my head I didn't have any more as I was heard to say “SHIT” more than once as we rounded the hairpins.

Queenstown is an odd isolated place that is surrounded by mountains denuded of trees in the last century. Nothing grows there now after they were decimated to fire the copper smelter at the mine. 

Moved on from there, happily, to a man-made lake that is part of the Hydroelectric scheme called LAKE ROSEBERRY. Brenda made a fire next to the van and I cooked some King Island steak over the hot plate, yum.

Lake Roseberry

Next morning we played skim the stones across the water and headed off to the top left of the state, North West Tasmania.

So far we have travelled over five and half thousand kilometres on the trip from Townsville with a lot more to go under the tyres before we finish.

In the next blog we nearly get blown away in a storm that took the roof off the grandstand at the local footy oval, Brenda again yells stop there a Vinnie’s. (Yes we did go to the one in Queenstown but it wasn’t the best) and we shop at the local market in Wynyard.

PORT ARTHUR AND BEYOND

Safety Cove near Port Arthur

When in Tasmania you just have to go to PORT ARTHUR, it’s unavoidable as a tourist and it’s well worth the trip.

 The site is well managed and preservation continues, but you are still reminded of its horrific past as a prison, the reason Port Arthur began. The area was much larger than I thought so plenty of walking which was needed after a cheese and Camembert pie at lunch. (How I love Tassie tucker!) Thanks Brenda.

The Pie Lady!

Then off on a boat cruise to look at the bay and the Island of the Dead, where convicts were interred, then back to shore for more ruins. 

I mean the buildings not Brenda!

From Port Arthur we went a short distance to The Remarkable Caves where Tuppence The Wonder Dog watched for the big waves. 

Botanical gardens at Hobart, just like Pommie land

Then we wandered slowly towards HOBART but other than a look around the splendid Royal Botanical Gardens we left the city alone. Brenda did go to Haris Scarfe for the sales and bought me a wok for the van but that was about the extent of the city visit. Been so used to being away from the big places even though Hobart is smaller than Townsville we were pleased to move on.  Ended up on the shore line at MARGATE  at North West Bay that night, odd for me as I was born in Margate, England, they are not alike I can assure you.

Then on the next day to what is a big centre in Tasmania, HUONVILLE , on the Derwent River for a few supplies. I have noticed that away from centres like Hobart, Devonport, Burnie and Launceston it becomes difficult to shop for essentials at realistic prices. IGA stores are around if you are lucky to find one and they are quite expensive compered to Townsville which surprised me. No competition I suggest. Any way less of that from the grumpy old man as we move towards the southernmost part of Tasmania where we camped at an old whaling/ sealers settlement called COCKLE CREEK.

Brenda at Cockle Creek

Some of the best views so far and a pristine white beach. It was most brisk but dry and worth the drive down the bumpy track to get there. No power no phone no internet and I had a great difficulty in getting any radio reception only short wave and that was from Kiwi Land! I didn’t realise how isolated it was.

Johnno meets a new friend at Cockle Creek

Next we take the windy road to the top of Mount Wellington, sleep the night halfway down, then head to the Franklin Gordon World Heritage area and Brenda says “There’s another Vinnie’s store” when we hit the strange settlement of Queenstown. But that’s for the next blog

TASSIE, YES WE ARE STILL HERE AND WILL BE FOR A LONG TIME IT SEEMS!

Any thoughts of a quick run through the “Holiday Isle” have been forgotten as we continue to travel very slowly through the delightful country side. After spending some time at SORRELL (interesting for me as I followed the career of Neil Davis who came from here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAXSSq6sxxg

We drove the longest we have for a while with a 40k run to DUNALLEY to camp behind the pub. Nice spot. 

Then the next day onto EAGLEHAWK NECK to check out the beautiful area called PIRATES BAY.  

Overlooking Pirates Bay

Walked the beach and saw some LITTLE PENGUINS, sadly dead ones washed ashore. There were about 6 of them. Brenda being a wildlife carer was most concerned (quite rightly) and informed the bloke at the Tasmanian Devil Park who said he would let Parks and Wildlife know (bet he didn’t!)

Enjoyed the “Devil Park”, well run and doing the best they can to overcome the cancers that are killing so many Tassie Devils. They are cranky little shits, the Devils, and I wouldn’t one chomping on a finger!

Oh Those Little Devils !

Brenda spotted a boutique chocolate factory a few hundred metres from the Devils so, off we all went. After much tasting we left with enough chocs to last a week, of course, two days and they were all gone. Very yummy in this cool climate.

Back to a great camp spot at Pirates Bay overnight and then more beach walking. Just near our site Brenda picked Blackberries more yummy tucker, went well with the jelly I made the night before.

Then after coffee at the local hotel overlooking the unique sounding and looking TESSALLTED PAVEMENT we moved on to more historic sites,

The Coal Mines. It was here the convicts in the 1830’s dug for coal. Must have been horrendous, looks pretty now and must have then but I am sure the convicts didn’t care. We spent time looking at the remains of the Gaol, (we are doing a lot of Gaol visits on this trip with more to come) and camped in the car park surrounded by the bush and the ghosts of convicts past.

Tuppence looks for 'relics"

Next day we wandered slowly through some of the back roads of The Tasman Peninsula and found a small place called Gwandalan where Brenda gathered Mussels from the rocks for tea. Local Mussels and Blackberries for free and chocolate for tea! Looked at some cheap (prime) real estate and ended up at the Nubeena RSL for the night. Used their showers for a few dollars and camped in the back yard (near the big gun) for free.

Mussel hunting. (Tuppence helps Brenda)

Then off to PORT ARTHUR, but that’s for the next blog.