Devonport, Latrobe and Sheffield

Saturday, Mar. 7

With a spare day, we decided to head to Latrobe to visit the Sherwood Hall. This historic building was something my parents were involved with over the last five years. Sherwood Hall was the home of my great great great gre…….. grandmother Dolly “Dalrymple” Briggs who along with her husband were pioneers of the Latrobe Mersey Valley region. The restoration work is excellent and this building is a fine example of 19th century architecture. It is now located adjacent Settlement Warf in Latrobe, along side the Axeman’s Hall of Fame.

Sherwood Hall

We continued further south, much to Sally’s disgust, to Sheffield where, I had discovered, the annual tractor festival was been hosted. I left Sally in the car and ventured into a bygone era. The machinery was awesome with tractors and machinery all steam, oil or petrol driven being restored with the detail only true enthusiast could muster. The grand parade was a steam lovers delight.

Sheffield Tractor Festival

We returned to Devonport that evening again catching up with Mike and Jan and after a good feed, snuggled up against the Tasmanian summer and awaited our departure of Tasmania in the morning.

Warm Tasmanian Summer Evening

Woolnorth

Friday, Mar. 6

The plan today was to head to Devonport, spend an extra night there so we could spend tomorrow doing a day trip around the Mersey Valley. We took the road from Arthur River up the coast to Woolnorth on the north-eastern tip of Tasmania.

Old Woolnorth Gates

We headed 20k down the road to Woolnorth hoping to checkout the old farm houses and see Cape Grim that we’d read about in a book Sally and I had been reading only to get within spitting distance to come across this.

Great… Thanks for nothing WOOLNORTH


We turned around and drove back
Once we were camped up and relaxed, one on the ferries arrived in Devonport and put on a show.

Spirit of Tasmania

Stanley, Arthur River

Wednesday, Mar. 4

We abandoned our plans to drive through Corinna instead heading north to Stanley. This was a good drive taking us through the Hellyer Gorge up to Wynyard and west to Stanley. The weather still being miserable, we stayed in another cabin this time in Stanley Caravan Park. Close to the beach and the famous Stanley Nut. Being too windy, the chairlift to the top of the nut appeared to be closed. Fat chance of getting Sally up there anyway.

Stanley Van Park with The Nut in Background

Thursday, Mar. 5

We left Strahan late as this was the first chance I had of buying a reasonably priced crayfish. My search through Tassies east coast had proven fruitless with 2 venders in St Helens asking over $75 a kilo for the little buggers. In Stanley I found a place asking less then $40 so I found one just under a Kilo but had to wait until 10:30am for it to be cooked. We filled in the time at the tourist information bureau where I updated our blog and caught up with some emails.
After collecting our treats, we drove though Smithton for supplies and then onto Arthur River. A spot known as the Edge of the World. Easy to see why.

Arthur River Mouth

We checked out a couple of camp grounds. The two on the coast were given great raps by our camping book and we chose Prickly Wattle which was deserted. Set up camp, lit a fire and settle in. We were hoping for some fishing but the weather was still fierce.

Colin and Sally at Prickly Wattle Campground

Colin at the Arthur River Mouth

Zeehan

Tuesday, Mar. 3

We left Strahan with full intensions of driving to Arthur River via Corinna. We stopped just outside Strahan to check out Ocean Beach and the weather was starting to turn.

Ocean Beach

On the drive to Zeehan, the weather forecast was bleak. Gale force winds and rain was predicted for the north west of Tasmania so we decided to hire a cabin in Zeehan to see of things improved. This also gave me the time to peruse the Zeehan Pioneer Museum which has always been a favourite. We booked an old miners cottage adjacent to the pub after finding that the accommodation at Corinna was ridiculously expensive and Sally settle into a newspaper and I legged it up the road to the Museum. Since my last visit to this museum it has been expanded dramatically now taking in the Gaiety Theatre and the old Court House and Police Station. I still love the old steam exhibits.

Macquarie Harbour, Gordon River

Monday, Mar. 2

An early start and a walk into Strahan to catch the 9am ferry to The Gordon River. Leaving Strahan, we headed east across Macquarie Harbour towards the harbour entrances known as Hell’s Gates.

Strahan Harbour

Hell’s Gates

As the weather was remarkably good, the skipper decided to extend our cruise further south to see Cape Sorrell and the Cape Sorrell Lighthouse.

Cape Sorrell Lighthouse

On the way towards The Gordon River, we passed the Tassal Salmon and Ocean Trout farms.

Tassal Fish Farms

We reached Sarah and spent an hour on a guided tour around the ruins. After last nights theatre show, all was fresh in our minds.

Sarah Island

We then stopped off at Heritage Landing to checkout the 2000+ year old huon pine tree. Last time I was here with Basil Chin 10 years ago, it was still standing. It was very sad to see it on the ground but from old things, new things grow.

2000+ Year Old Huon Pine

A few metres down the path we came across a 70 year old Huon Pine growing from the remnants of another old tree fallen several years ago.

70 Year Old Huon Pine

On the way back to Strahan we took in the fantasitic reflections on the river along with beers, smoked salmon and soft cheeses left over from lunch.

The Gordon River

That evening we dine at the local seafood restaurant and then popped across the road for some to saver the atmosphere of the local Strahan Pub.

Mike, Colin, Sally and Jan at the Strahan Pub

The Ship That Never Was, Strahan

Sunday, Mar. 1

That evening, we went to see the local production of “The Ship that Never Was”. We had heard about the play but weren’t to sure what to expect. As it was it turned out to be a pantomime about 10 convicts that stole a boat from Sara Is and sailed to Argentina. We had no idea that Mike had auditioned for one of the lead roles and was more then at home on the boards.

Mike in “The Ship that Never Was”

Not to be outdone, Sally and I went out the back and locked two cast members in the toilet and took their places on centre stage (actually, somewhere near the rear).

Sally and Colin in “The Ship that Never Was”

An absolutely excellent day had all round.

The APT Railway, Strahan

Sunday, Mar. 1

We have booked seats on the APT railway between Strahan and Queenstown. A journey that none of us had experienced and there was a level of excitement from all of us. I was a little disappointed to discover that the train was being pulled by a diesel loco and not one of the original steam locos that had been restored for the service. I did find out that the locomotive was an original APT appliance. More pleasant surprises were to come.

APT Railway Train

Sally and Jan on board APT Train

The train followed Macquarie Harbour to the mouth of the King River were it followed the river almost to the King river gorge.

King River

Before we reached the gorge the train stopped for lunch during which we swapped trains. We were told that when the diesel engines were introduce, they were unable to drag the ore trains over the hill where the APT system was employed so they were used for the flat section to Strahan and the old steam local kept dragging the heavy loads over the hill to Queenstown. This would explain why they were still in service when the railway shutdown in 1963.

Steam Driven APT Train

On this leg of the trip, we traversed the King River Gorge

King River Gorge

Before turning north following the Queen River towards Queenstown.

The Queen River

Upon reaching Queenstown, we spent an hour wandering around and then hopped on the coaches taking us back to Strahan.

Queenstown Railway Station