River Deep Mountain High

Wow, what an amazing place Tasmania is. We have spent a wonderful week travelling around the West side of Tasmania, Hobart, Port Arthur & the Huon Valley. From Wynyard on Monday morning we drove on to Cradle Mountain & Dove Lake. Such spectacular scenery and a great day weatherwise as well. We spent a few hours wandering around walk trails, taking photo's & just taking in the views. From there we drove on towards Strahan via Rosebery & Zeehan, where we stayed the night.

Tuesday we had an early start in order to drive to Strahan and catch the boat for a day trip up the Gordon River. That day was grey with a light drizzle on and off but as we were heading into rainforest it didn't seem to matter. The river crusie and the places we stopped were just as spectactular as the day before, though different. The water in the Gordon River is black (like tea) and the ferns and Houn Pines in the forest were just magnificent. And lunch - smoked salmon to die for, just one of the yummy choices available. After the cruise and a look around Strahan we headed out to Lake St Claire via Queenstown, the only way across the National Park. The views from the road out of Queenstown were just awesome. The town and the mine site, with mountains all around them sure make for some amazing photo's. We stopped a couple of times checking out Nelson Falls and the Franklin River Nature trail. We arrived at Lake St Claire and were suitably impressed, another beautiful natural wonder. We had dinner there and as all the accomodation was booked we kept going to New Norfolk where we spent the night in a great little (well big) B & B called All Saints & Sinners.

A reasonably early start on Wednesday saw us on our way to Mt Field National Park to see Russell Falls. We wandered around there for a couple of hours on different walk trails through the forests filled with giant ferns and lots of little wallably like creatures. We spent the afternoon driving on to Hobart and once there just wandering around checking out the highlights. We had a yummy dinner at the Oldest Pub in Hobart that night, then went on to Wrest Point Casino, just to say we had been there. Not quiet the same as Crown but good to have a look anyway. I still remeber when it opened and it was the first Casino in Australia. Not that I'm old or anything.

Thursday morning saw us off to Port Arthur for the day. I can't think of any other words to say, amazing, spectacular, awesome all seem to be overused here but what else can we say. We had a great day wandering around Port Arthur, managed to see most of it and the ferry trip as well. We headed back late afternoon to go back through Hobart to Huonville. We stayed in another beautiful B & B, Walton House.

Friday morning saw us on the road again heading to the Tahune Airwalk. Similar to the one at Walpole, but different. The cantilever at the end of this one is a bit (very) scary, but of course you have to go right to the end seeing you have come that far. Yes, even Bill, and I have the photo to show you all. We wandered again through a couple of bush trails and then after a stop at the big tree, yes, it was big, we headed off on our way back up to Devonport where we were going to spend the night as we had to catch the ferry back the next morning. We made two detours on the way back, one to the top of Mt Wellington, what can I say. What a view. Especially as it was great weather again that day. The other was a quick look at Ross. Quaint. We will look properly next time.

The trip home was pleasant. A nice chance to sit back and relax after a fairly full on week. We loved all that we saw and now plan to return next year to travel the East Coast and the Tamar region which we were unable to get to this time.

On that note I must say farewell to you all for this week. I will be back again next week with the next exciting sculpture (when I find it). I know you can't wait.

Until next time........