Mt Field to Strahan

Saturday, Feb. 28

Another long drive today to Strahan on Tasmania’s West Coast. Before this, I went to see the Majestic Russell Falls and as Sally had had enough walking yesterday, I headed off alone.

Colin on the Russell Falls Walk

The Falls are excellent. I tried to capture their essence on camera.

Russell Falls

On the trail back, I passed this fallen giant so stopped for a Kodak moment.

Colin inside a Fallen Giant Swamp Gum

The road on the way passed Tarraleah and Tungatinah power stations both been fed from opposite sides of a valley into the one river.

Tarraleah Power Station

We stopped at Lake St. Clair for lunch, but as there where no day facilities there to park the trailer and boil up a billy of tea, we turned around and found a little river bank on the boundary of the NP and made a sandwich and cuppa in a far more suitable scenario.

We drove through Queenstown (a most breathtaking drive down the side of Mt Roland, much to Sally’s dismay and to find out later, Jan’s as well) and onto Strahan.

Queenstown

Strahan was an interesting destination. Luckily for us, Mike had called ahead and booked the two last powered van sites in all of Strahan. This was evident by the number of RV’s parked in any and every available car park in Strahan. As we were setting up in our site located outside the gates (in the front yard of and employee) we saw several RV’s and vans turned away, onto the streets due to insufficient holiday parking in Strahan.

Mt Field NP

Friday, Feb. 27

Mike and Jan headed for the Tarn Shelf Walk and Sally and I drove to Lake Dobson and then to walk to the Mt Mawson Mt ski resorts.

Mt. Field NP

Tarn Shelf from Mt Mawson

Sally and Colin on the Tarn Shelf Lookout Walk, Mt Mawson

Colin on the Tarn Shelf Lookout Walk, Mt Mawson

Lake Dobson from Mt Mawson Ski Resort

Mt Mawson Ski Fields

On the drive back to Mt Field, we stopped and wandered around the Tall Timber nature walk taking in some of these 80m forest giants.

Sally in front of an 80 Swamp Gum

Then back to camp for well earned drinks and a Sally Roast.

Mt Field Campground

South Port to Mt Field

Thursday, Feb. 26

We broke camp early with a long drive ahead. Sally and I drive through Fern Tree on the slopes of Mt Wellington then through Hobart, New Town and New Norfolk.

Derwent Valley from Fern Tree

Mike on the Road to Mt Field

Colin and Friend at Mt Field Campground

Cockle Creek

Wednesday, Feb. 25

As planned, we headed south to Cockle Creek. The camping down here looked excellent and we were all saddened that we couldn’t spend some days here. However, we saw the Whaling Monument and took luncheon at the Parks and Wildlife station on the Southern NP.

Whaling Monument

Cockle Creek

Sally and Colin in front of Cockle Bay

On the way back to South Port, we stopped to at the South Port Railway and although not taking a ride, found the station and stuff there very interesting.

Mike at the South Port Railway Station

We then returned to the Southport Pub (Refuted to be the southern most pub in Australia) for dinner and drinks.

South Port

Tuesday, Feb. 24

We headed back to the mainland and then south to South Port. We had abandoned our plans to camp at Cockle Creek due to time, but planned to visit this southern most vehicle accessible part of Australia in the morning.

South Port Van Park

Bruny Island

Monday, Feb. 23

This was an easy day. Mike and Jan set out to walk around the NP where Sally and I fished on the Old Jetty beach rocks. Sally landed a slimy cod that we cooked up for entrée. When mike and Jan returned, we loaded up the truck and when to checkout the Bruny Is. light house.

South Bruny Is. Lighthouse

South Bruny Is. Lighthouse

View from South Bruny Is. Lighthouse


Old Jetty Beach Camp Ground

The fish didn’t really work but Jan knocked up her Hells Gate special Chilli Carne. Then some 500 because Jan and I have been on fire given Mike and Sally a run for their money.

Bruny Island

Sunday, Feb. 22

A quick tour around the southern end of Bruny Is.

Alonnah Jetty

D'entreCastreaux Channel from Alonnah Jetty

Adventure Bay has a history of visits from many famous sea farers including Cook, D'entreCastreaux, Tasman, Bligh just to name a few. We visited the local museum and learnt lots about the bay and visited Cooks landing sight and the place where a tree was plaque’d with the names of Cook’s crew. Since lost through fire and theft. The trees at Two Tree Point were standing when Cook landed.

Two Tree Point, Adventure Bay

Adventure Bay

We then stopped at the Hot House Restarunt for lunch with fantastic views up the D'entreCastreaux all the way to Mount Wellington/Hobart.

Mike and Colin at Hot House Restaurant

Mt Wellington from Hot House Restaurant

We then headed to the neck to see the Penguin Rockery.

Jan and Mike on Big Hummock Penguin Rookery

Jan and Mike on Big Hummock Penguin Rookery

And finally back to camp for a light dinner and some 500.

Jan, Mike and Colin at Old Jetty Campground

Salamanca Markets to Bruny Is

Saturday, Feb. 21

I rose early today to see the sun rise over the Derwent River and was rewarded for my efforts.

Sunrise over the Derwent River

It was then off to the famous Salamanca Markets for some food and we picked up some t-shirts, a new cap and a Sassafras cheese board.

Salamanca Markets

Then to Kettering to board the ferry to Bruny Is.

Bruny Is. Ferry

Our destination being the Old Jetty Beach on the North Western side of the Island. We rocked up and secured a nice spot back from the beach and other campers who’d also found out about this place.

South Bruny NP

Hobart

Friday, Feb. 20

The plan was to bus into Hobart and have a look around meeting up with Mike and Jan later at Salamanca Place.
Our trip coincided with a touring De Vinci exhibit and all three of us (Sally saying that she had no time for copies of art work), so that was Sally and my first port of call. Sally was surprised at the body of work De Vinci had achieved during his life.

De Vinci Exhibition

Later on I stopped at an internet café to add posts to the blog and managed to catch up with Mark Hayes (Bar Case) whom worked with my first band Playhouse over 25 years ago.

Colin and Mark

And then we fond Mike and Jan before returning to camp.

Jan, Mike Colin and Sally at Salamanca Place

Tasman Peninsular to Hobart

Thursday, Feb. 19

Leaving the Tasman Peninsular on rout to Hobart, we stopped to checkout the renown landmarks of The Blow Hole, Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen, all located on the eastern side of the peninsular.

The Blow Hole

Tasman Arch

Devils Kitchen Lookout

The Devils Kitchen

We also diverted via Richmond to see the famous bridge.

Richmond Bridge

We finally touched down in Hobart and settled in for the night.

Hobart Van Park

Tasman NP, Fortescue Bay - Lime Bay

Wednesday, Feb. 18

I rose early to checkout sunrise, (yes.. I do occasionally rise early) hoping for a good photo but the effect I’d hoped for wasn’t quite there. And then went promptly back to bed.

Fortescue Bay Sunrise

Colin, back in Bed (Fortescue Bay in background)

We then broke camp and headed west of The Tasman Peninsular to a spot called Lime Bay. Both Fortescue Bay and Lime Bay are in The Southern National Park so I am still bewildered by the lack of information provided to us by the Tourist Information Centre in Launceston who advised us that you could not drive into the Tasmanian National Parks but had to walk in to all camps sites. Their lack of quality information has baffled all of us on this trip.

Lime Bay Campground

Lime Bay Sunset

After camp dinner we were sitting around the campfire

Mike, Jan and Colin around Campfire

When we were disturbed by rustling noises emanating from our camper trailer. Close inspection revealed the culprit.

Caught Red Handed