Tasmania

Our week in 
            Tasmania


Well a week in Tasmania watch out for the short runway landing on a windy bumpy day, pick up a compact Hyundai car, alot smaller than the Audi A4 we just handed back in Melbourne, off now to Hobart, capital of Tasmania, as with the Hotel Henry Jones ref to our previous blogg.

Aim of the trip is west coast drive from Hobart to Launceston via Strahan and Cradle Mountain.
Hobart population approx 200k felt like a country town, water water everywhere not a drop to drink, no wonder we sent prisoners here from the other side of the world, another story to be told later. A short walk from the hotel across the harbour, full of fishing boats, large yachts racing in the bay such a windy day. abundance of resturants, cafes, bars and art boutiques and shops, so much to take in you'll enjoy the place and we haven't even walked into the town centre.

A trip to Port Arthur, 90k from Hobart by car relaxing scenic drive, you wouldn't believe it's only 26 nautical miles if you went in a straight line, as I said water water everywhere how else would you keep prisoners in  there lair. On the way we found plenty of photo opportunities around Eaglehawk Neck, Waterfall bay and O'Hara Bluff, Tasmania has it's very own version of Ireland Giants Causeway, called Tessellated Pavement State Reserve.








Tasmans Arch















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<<<<<< Devils Kitchen ?
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                              Port Arthur


 What a mistake we made thinking this is just a fishing village with a little convict history, how wrong we were !!!! shows how much history England has, that isn't really touched on, in School.
 Included in the entry price was a harbour cruise around the 2 islands, 1 island of the dead, the other was were the boys were held and taught a trade.

 We were given a playing card that is matched up with a prisoner, so you can follow his life around. There is a 45 minute tour guide, he didn't talk about each building time date and what went on but gave a very individual account of history of the site, lives of the prisoners, how they survived, escaped were recaptured and the punishment plus how the system made craftsman out of the inmates,while walking us across the grounds. I (Mark) wish this guy had been my history teacher he is  a very good story teller.

 After the talk he left us to do our own thing and wander around, there not many intact buildings, what buildings you can go in show in detail the life the people, ie, prisoners, army garrison, wives, children and the church.

For us the building most spooky is the isolation block, were the prisoners held in a small cell in the dark they were not allowed to speak or even look at the guards or each other, this was the most feared of the punishments even the lash / cat of 9 tails did not hold the same fear.

 It was a very informative and interesting day.

Strahan


Our next adventure was to drive to Strahan, which would take us about 3 hours driving through National Park along the Lyell Highway once outside the Hobart area there are not many towns to pass through, we headed for Queenstown which took us up high into the rain forest along twisty roads. We stopped at a lookout point high above Queenstown and the first thing that hits you is how bare the landscape is, this is to do with the mining and the oxidisation of the rock, which has turn it pink, but the other thing is there are no trees, as we drop down into Queens town you can see how isolated this town is!!!
We had a walk around Queenstown and a coffee to refresh us before the drive to Strahan.
Strahan village is set on a quiet bay of Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast gateway to the magnificent Gordon river. We were here for 1 night, we settled into our small chalet and walked into the  village, population of less than 2,000 for something to eat.
 Look the English weather is not all that bad here is an overview of Strahan's weather : Summer temp peaks at 20 degrees celsius, with about 200mm of rainfall...Winter temp 5.5 degrees max 12, with 650mm of rain..you have to be ready for all these changes in the weather..Even we had the rain while walking back to our chalet....


 Next day we collected our tickets and boarded the Lady Franklin 11 for our 6 hours cruise down the Gordon River..it was a lovely WET day!!! but we were told it will clear...We went along banks of dense rainforest unchanged for thousands of years, cruised through the harbours narrow entrance 'Hells Gate' a once treacherous stretch of water, passing fish farms that produce salmon and trout. The river is stained amber by the buttongrass tannins but is still pure to drink.
We had two stops along the way..Heritage landing where you can walk into the rainforest and see the 2000 year old Huon pines, the lady who was telling us about the rainforest was insistent that this place was different than other rainforest's.."look up what can you see?"she said we all said the sky.."no its simpler than that" ......the leaves are smaller!!!!
Our next stop was Sarah Island site of a feared penal colony..we were taken around this place by a fantastic guide who not only retold the story of this place, but actually included us in the story.. she was excellent, and it also tied in with Port Arthur on the penal history. 




Buttongrass Tannins.






                                          Cradle Mountain 















Cradle Mountain is one of Australia's Wilderness experiences, in Lake St Claire National Park, a place to just relax unwind and forget about the hustle and bustle of normal life. With a lounge full of deep leather chairs and a crackling log fire, were you can sit and read a book or even have nap.( Like an old Gentleman's club)
We had a pencil pine cabin, with a bushland view and our own fire...cosy....
There are over 20 different walks that you can take around the National park, ranging from 20mins to 2 days in length. A night walk to spot local animals, the lake walk for spectacular views of Cradle Mountain.
We spent a relaxing 2 nights here and we walked for 3 hours on the walking tracks...

                                       

Cradle Mountain wild life just outside
our cabin door.
How Cute...............................................






Sheffield
A very scenic run to this small town of approx 1800 people, one good reason for visiting here is it's vibrant artistic community with its streetscape art gallery of spectacular murals.
We explored the town through the art / mural walk this took about 45 minutes.
Here are a sample of the murals that are around the town.

And there's more..........

Now on to Launceston / Tamar Valley 

This place is called the 'Garden city' being a place of parks and gardens, with beautiful Victorian streetscapes and architecture. The best thing that we found on our walk was Cataract Gorge, a hidden valley only minutes from the city. You walk along the face of the gorge or take a more adventurous zig zag track that is more appealing to hikers, as it climbs up high above the Gorge which opens out into a reserve that unless you get out and walk you would not find although you can access by car. We were surprised to find it at the end of our walk. There were people crossing the gorge on chairlifts or you can just walk around it. A swimming pool, you can swim in the river as we witnessed a group of teens doing exactly that.  
Peacocks greeted us with their loud calls, and beautiful displays of their tails. It was like a hidden world with lots of people enjoying it.












Now on to Sydney to top up our suntans