HI EVERYBODY! WELCOME!

First, a little bit of catch-up:

Boarded the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne to Devonport Tasmania February 21, arriving super early (around 5:30am - still dark).

I intend to visit and maybe \240stay at a number of National Parks.

Travelled a fair bit so far, plus a river cruise on the Tamar River, Launceston

My first day was travelling down to Launceston, at this campground for a few days.

Travelled from the north coast of Tasmania (Shearwater) to the NE coast - Scamander, which is just south of the very popular resort town of St Helens.

Went on a 220km day trip today with the intention of getting to Cape Portland, but wind farm people don’t allow visitors on their land :-(

But I did get as far as \240Musselroe Point - a beautiful spot

There you go Warren! Google Patriot Campers, QLD Australia

She was a windy day yesterday!

Some catch-up from earlier in the trip

I visited the church in West Devonport at which my grandparents were married in 1907 - the first couple to be married in that new church! The section on the left is newer, from the 50s

Went to Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River. Launceston sits 70km down (or more correctly up) the Tamar

Visited a magnificent old power station at Waddamana, which now a museum. It’s in the middle of nowhere, in central north Tassie, finished in 1922

Speaking of power stations I did a 10km very tough hike around Cataract Gorge in Launceston, then out to the long disused Duck Reach power station. BTW Tassie is a green state, powered only by wind, solar and mostly by hydro.

Spent a nice half day at Launceston’s City Park. Some magnificent old trees but no indication of what they were ☹️

Did some nice walks today

Saw my first snake, only a little guy sunning himself in the earl hours!

Met Priscilla, the famous beer drinking pig, but she was a little comotose so I had to drink her beer

Did some driving north on the east coast of Tassie.

First to The Gardens which is the end of the coast road. It’s part of The Bay of Fires and is a beautiful spot. Unfortunately it was a dreary day - good for driving but not for photography!

I checked out a number of free camp sites along the beach road. There were some little gems

Drove an inland dirt road north to Mt William National Park. There is an impressive lighthouse at Eddystone Point

Then drove a fair way south to St Patrick’s Head Lookout. I expected to drive up in the car, take a fer pics and leave.

BUT NO! It involved a 2 hour return hike, and as I was to discover it was a torturous route - a 400 metre ascent that involved lots of near vertical sections of track, loose rocks, uneven footing and slippery parts as well! I did it in 1.5 hours and was dead at the end!. But the view was majestic. Despite having enough water I had to pick up a Gatorade in nearby St Mary’s to help me recover!

Pics next post

Beautiful but dreary scene at The Gardens

Drove down to the magnificent Freycinet Peninsula to do some serious walking. Tough changes of altitude, some scrambling and some magnificent beaches and views.

Drove to Cape Tourville Lighthouse also on the Freycinet Peninsula. The lighthouse was ok, but there is a long walkway with magnificent views.

Then drove a short distance to Sleepy Bay where the walk eventually takes you down to the beach.

Pics in next post

Stunning view from the Cape Tourville Lighthouse walkway - Wineglass Bay in the distant background

Hazards Beach on the way to Wineglass Bay

Had fish & chips at this unassuming little place. The whiting was up with the best ever!

The next couple days I will be exploring the Port Arthur area, site of a major \240convict settlement. I have reservations for entry and a graveyard tour (I love historical cemeteries!)

I’m \240booked for 3 days in a nearby campground in White Beach - about 15 minutes to Port Arthur

First day on the Tasman Peninsula

Port Arthur Historic Site - What a wonderful day!

I hadn’t expected such beautiful grounds in a site with such a dark background.

The second set of Port Arthur pics.

For those not from Australia you may or may not have heard of the 1996 shooting at Port Arthur, where 35 visitors were killed, along with 29 wounded.

This event led to the Australian Government sharply reducing the availability of firearms, resulting over the following years in a significant reduction in gun crimes.

I spent a very enjoyable and relaxing two days with my good friends John and Dianne Hargreaves

Would you believe timber is a major Tasmanian export??

I spent a full day in Hobart, starting with its magnificent botanical gardens

Drove from Hobart - sea level - up to the top of Mt Wellington (1271m).

It was a long winding drive, although a lot of people stop off at varying distances up the mountain and hike the rest of the way.

The next place I stayed, on the south west coast, is Strahan, pronounced Strawn.

I made a late booking on the 4 hour West Coast Wilderness Railway tour. I was the last person to be booked, and the last seat was in the ritzy carriage. Oh well, if I have to dress up, so be it!

The next day I’m booked on a 6 hour world heritage cruise - “The Red Boat” which is an Australian built catamaran with 4x960bhp diesel motors. The tour included an excellent lunch and food and bar service.

We left at 9:00am and arrived at 3:30pm.

It was a perfect day for cruising: first we travelled out of the huge Macquarie harbour through The harbour’s very narrow and often treacherous Hell’s Gates

Our cruise ship’s 4x960bhp diesels in action!

I travelled up to Zeehan where my grandfather was a tailor (and artist).

This used to be Avery large mining town in the first half of the 1900’s - actually the 4th largest town in Tasmania. Nowhere near that now!

Zeehan build

Zeehan buildings

Not far from Zeehan is Waratah where my grandmother lived. I wonder how they met?

Now I’m closer to the north west corner of Tasmania.

On a drizzly I did the Tarkine Drive through mostly rainforest with lots of stops for views and short interesting walks

I’m now up in the north west, and did the very well known Tarkine Drive, mostly through rainforest, with lots of stops for views and shortish walks

The same day that I did the Tarkine Drive I also got to the coast on a pretty ordinary day.

I visited Stanley yesterday on a cold, windy, rainy day.

I’m spending my last night in Tasmania in Stanley near the NW tip of the State.

Leave Stanley at 10am - I have 12 hours until the Spirit of Tasmania departs, and it only takes a couple of hours to drive to Devonport, so this will be an easy stop start drive today along the north coast.

First stop Wynyard, where I visited the Ramsey Veteran Car Collection which is associated with the Visitor Centre. There were some really impressive old cars, beautifully restored by one man.

The next town is Burnie, a bustling port city; I didn’t stop here.

Then the beautiful little town of Penguin. Everything seems to have Penguin in its name, or pictures of penguins; even the city garbage bins are shaped like penguins. I walked up and down the main drag on the coast, although a lot of construction work is being done on new pathways along the shore.

Ulverstone is the next town, and about an hours drive in from the coast is Leven Gorge. I had lots of time so did the tourist thing! There are walks ranging from 40 minutes to several hours. I did the basic one and was surprised to get a very impressive view. Morning would have been better as the afternoon sun was in our eyes.

Finally, into Devonport. With hours to spare I drove out to beautiful parkland at the mouth of the Mersey River. It was then that we received a text that the Spirit was going to be about an hour late. Damn!

I found a nice fish and chip place and ordered flathead. It was so fresh and tasty.

I drove down to a spot across the river from where the Spirit docks, hoping to get a good photo. I think I got one out of about 10!

Then drove around to the car departure area where it seems like I was the last one there!

We had to wait for the cars arriving to exit the ferry, and for all all public areas to be COVID cleaned, so I was waiting for about 1 ½ hours. Boring!

We finally got to board at about 11pm, so I was ready for a sleep as soon as I found my cabin!

Pics next entry.

Pics from my last day in Tasmania - March 27, 2021

Financial summary of the trip, including Spirit of Tasmania - $938

Diesel \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240$1408

Accommodation. \240$1830

Food. \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 $780

Alcohol. \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 $257

Tours, Travel, etc. $1823

TOTAL. \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 \240 $6100