Since leaving Bicheno on the East coast of Tasmania five weeks ago we have become tourists again. In the four days at Lagoons beach we were not able to catch any fish which was surprising as in the past salmon have been jumping onto the hook. From there it was a three day stop over at Mayfield camp site with beautiful ocean views.
Taking a slow drive south we ended up at Steve and Sandy’s block at Levendale, which is about a one hour drive from Hobart. The first week there for me was spent mostly in the caravan trying to get over a bad dose of gastro which was finally sorted out with an injection to my rear. With that behind me (excuse the pun) i was then able to be more sociable.
A light dusting of snow one day reminded us that we were around the 600 meter mark and a log fire really makes all the difference.
After a great two weeks catching up and sampling different types of red and white wine in the evenings, it was time to make our way to Port Arthur.
Staying at the Dunalley hotel camp ground for three days we toured the Port Arthur convict site which was a real eye opener to the harsh times all those years ago when stealing just a loaf of bread at age seven meant being sent to the other side of the world. We also had a look at the ‘Dog line’ which was positioned along the very narrow strip of land a hundred meters long at the widest point, that separated the Port Arthur area from the rest of the mainland and was manned by viscous breeds of dogs that were able to run the length of chain to engage any would be escapees.
From Port Arthur it was off to Bruny Island. While there we went on the 'Yellow Boat cruise’. The cruise is on a purpose built boat which is powered through the sea with three 300 HP Mercury outboards. During the three hour tour we were shown the 295 meter cliff faces that abound in the area and the many sea caves caused by erosion from the pounding seas. A tight fit between two towering pinnacles at high speed was also done, twice for good measure. At the southern most part of the trip we pulled alongside 'The Friars' rock outcrop to have a look at a seal haulout where New Zealand and Australian fur seals spent the day in the sun. Upon leaving Bruny it was a three hour drive to Cockle Creek at the southern most tip of Tasmania. At this point we were closer to Antarctica than we were to Cairns in Queensland. The bush camping there was very well organised with many campsites scattered around, we also continually had wallabies hopping around the caravan during the evenings which Muffie tried to chase. The day before we left we did the four hour return (15.4km) walk/hike to South East Cape. A very rugged part of coast line miles from anywhere.
On the way back to civilisation we spent three days in the town of Franklin on the Huon river along with a couple of black swans and their four signets.
We are now at the New Norfolk caravan park just west of Hobart and intend to take a drive to Strathgordon to see the hydro electric dam setup on the Gordon River and then a day in Hobart to stock up on supplies before heading west towards Strahan.
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| At last,no more work,Lagoons beach. |
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| The oldest bridge in Australia |
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| Port Arthur |
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| A jail bird |
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| Another jail bird |
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| Port Arthur from Mason cove |
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| The Dog Line at Eagle Hawk Neck |
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| Tasmans Arch |
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| The Yellow boat cruise |
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| The Monument |
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| Seal haulout |
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| This is as far south as you can go in Aussie |
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| Part of the South Cape walk |
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| One of the locals |
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| South Cape |
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| Franklin campsite |
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| Strathgordon Dam |
