Friday - George Town / Low Head

Rained during the night and another overcast day of about 22 although the sun broke through for the afternoon.  Packed up then chatted to the neighbours before setting off.  We are only going about 10 km as the crow flies but about 50km by road.  First stop was after we had crossed Batman Bridge for a photo opportunity.  The bridge is one of the world’s first cable-stayed truss bridges, the overall length of the bridge is 432 metres and was built between 1966 and 1968.

Batman Bridge

Next stop was George Town where we wandered the main street before heading into the Watch House.   Only 3 original buildings remain in the town, the watch house, the pub and a double storey house.  An elderly lady lives here and she opens the house a couple of times a year.  Apparently it is filled with period furniture.    The watch house is now a museum with a model village of the town in the early 19th century.   The women's holding cell displayed 49 small square quilts by members of the quilters' guild of NSW.  Another cell was set up how it would originally have looked and another held a display of 80 dolls in national dress.

Next stop Low Head our home for the next 3 nights.  Set the van up and had lunch.  Looking through the brochures we had picked up I noticed that there were quilts displayed at the community centre so we headed back to George Town for a look.  There are 3 quilts, one depicting George Town, one Low Head and one Bell Bay.  They were sewn by the George Town quilting group and well worth the trip back into town.  We drove down to the shoreline and found a park with chainsaw statues carved in some trees.  Very intricate work.

 

We headed up to the lookout next and climbed the tower for a view over the surrounding area.  The area all the way up the hill to the lookout had been burnt, you could still smell the burnt wood.  Nature is amazing as on a closer inspection you could see the new growth.  We later found out that some kids had set the fire in December.   Driving back to the van we past a signpost for a water tower mural so took a detour for a look.  Probably needs a bit of a touch up as it is looking a bit old.

George Town

Thursday - Beauty Point

Once again overcast and about 20, perfect for exploring.  Had a few showers of rain in the afternoon but not until we were back at the van.  First stop this morning was Yorktown.  This was the first settlement in Tasmania and would have been the capital but was on a tidal river which made bringing supplies in difficult so they moved to Launceston.  There is a 15 minute walk around the area with signposts up stating what had been there.  There is only one building there which is a replica of the first houses built so you can get an idea of the size.  Archeologists had dug in the area and found pots and household items which have been placed in the Beaconsfield Museum.  They hope to raise money so there can be some more work done to find the actual building ruins.  It is quite strange walking around reading signs with nothing to see.   Next stop Badger Head which adjoins the National Park.   There are only a few houses there.   There is a car park (which is in the National Park so $24) with walks leaving from there.  Both were more than 2 hours one way so we did not do them.  There is also a beach there. 

Badger Head

When we were driving in we had seen a wombat.  Neither of us where sure if it was alive as it wasn't moving but it did appear to be standing on its legs.  Driving out we looked for it again as I was going to take a photo but when we came back upon it noticed all the flies so elected not to put a deceased wombat in the blog.  Lunched back at the van before heading down to the township of Beauty Point.  There is a coffee/takeaway shop, restaurant/pub, Platypus House and Seahorse World.  As we have seen seahorses in a couple of different aquariums and have also seen platypus at Wilpena Pound (South Australia) and hope to see more here in the wild we didn't go to these attractions.  We walked along the foreshore where The Australian National Underwater Training Centre is one end and Australian Maritime College is the other.  The Yacht Club and mooring pontoons are also there.

 

Beauty Point

 

Wednesday - Beaconsfield - Beauty Point

Up this morning, packed up and set off for Beauty Point.  This was the destination we put in the GPS.  We followed its directions and ended up in Narawntapu National Park.  Luckily we had purchased the 12 month Parks Pass as this would have been $24.  We felt we were going in the wrong direction so turned around and found a turn off for Beaconsfield.   We stopped and walked around the town looking at the old school building and miners cottage.  We walked up to the Mine Museum but elected not to go in as we have seen a poppet head and other mining equipment.

Beaconsfield

We had seen the mining accident unfold on the television at the time it happened and didn't think there would be much more to learn.  Grabbed a few supplies from the supermarket and headed to Beauty Point.  Settled into the Caravan Park which is an extra large site although a bit of a hike to the amenities.  Had some lunch before driving to Greens Beach where we had a paddle in the sea (a little bit cool).  Next stop was Clarence Point where we walked out on the floating jetty.  The water was extremely clear and you could see the fish swimming around. 

Clarence Point

 Headed back towards the van when we noticed a signpost to the Narawntapu National Park, so perhaps the GPS was correct and we would have made reached Beauty Point following its directions.  We also saw a sign for a lookout which was in the National Park and followed the sign but this lead us to a dead end at a surfing beach.  Not sure where the lookout was, although there is a walking track here so perhaps it was somewhere on the walking track.  Overcast and a pleasant 24.

Tues - Devonport

Today we have spent getting the next few nights organised.  Because of the long weekend we couldn't get in where we wanted so had to find somewhere else that had a free site.  We had booked a site for Easter before we left (and got the last one) and now have to work out our itinerary so we end up there at Easter.  We have done the mundane jobs of washing and grocery shopping and getting this blog up to date.  Will go for a walk along the beach later if the forecast rain has not started.  We noticed that the forecast for home is 40 and we are thinking of you as we enjoy the 24 degrees here.

Mon - Ulverstone / Leven Canyon

Slept well until the Melbourne night ferry woke us sounding its horn as it arrived here this morning.  Went into the town centre and wandered the two shopping areas.   We visited the information centre and purchased a yearly pass for the national parks.  You can either pay singularly at $24 each park or $60 for a 2 month pass or the yearly one of $96.   We elected on the yearly one as this was our cheapest option.  We have found everyone extremely friendly and helpful.   Back to the van for lunch before setting off to Ulverstone for a look.  Driving into town the first thing you see is the clock tower.

 Ian did say he thought it quite ugly.  We parked and walked around the town centre where there was a building called the lighthouse which had a dome on top of the roof that looks like the top of a lighthouse (no idea why) hence the name. It is currently the TAB.   We walked to the wharf area where there was a lookout area to view the old wharf on the Leven River which connects to the sea.  It also has a sign talking about the building of the clock tower and saying that it was the war memorial.  We walked back to the clock tower and Ian took a picture when a guy in his late 70's early 80's called out to us and proceeded to tell us all about the building of it.  He was also with a guy in his 40's.  It was built by 3 people, none had building experience, one was a barber and I don't remember what he said the other 2 were.   They relied on the architect who designed it to advise them.  The foundations were all dug by hand and the cement was mixed by hand.  He asked us what we thought of it and (thank god) Ian said it was certainly unusual and didn't say he thought it ugly because the younger guy then informs us the older guy was one of the builders.  Next we drove to Leven Canyon about 45 minutes away.  You can do a 45 minute circuit walk or a 20 minute return walk to Cruickshanks Lookout, which is the one we did as we didn't have appropriate footwear or water for the longer walk.  The lookout is 275m above the Leven River.  It is a very pretty area and everything is so green.  There is a well defined path through trees and ferns and there are 4 seats to sit on along the way.  One had carved on it "rest awhile", another "halfway there" and the last one  "nearly there".  We saw a Tasmanian pademelon aka rufous wallaby.   After our exercise for the day we returned to Ulverstone to go along the tourist beach drive, a complete waste of time before returning to the van to go for a stroll along the beach which is about 100 metres from our van.

Leven canyon

6 March - Ferry

Alarm went off at 3.30 but we were already awake.  Set off at 4.15 with an easy trip down to the wharf.  Hardly any traffic until we reached the wharf where there was gridlock of cars, vans, motor homes, boats.  They have to keep the road clear for normal traffic.  There is a parking area for the wharf which has 5 lanes.  As you pull off the road you are directed to a lane.  At the end of these lanes you are either directed to the ferry or an overflow car park.  We unfortunately got pushed into the overflow section and kept getting boxed in by the lady directing the traffic.  We parked in this overflow section at 6.20 and left it at 8.10.  You then drive back around to the first set of lanes but do get directed into the lane that progresses to quarantine.   We had been told that the quarantine staff were very thorough but ours only looked in the tub of the car and in the car fridge and caravan fridge, total time 2 minutes. We did have another person come over and inspect the kayak but was happy that we had washed it since its last use.  Next collected our boarding passes and drove onto the ferry, locked the car and van and set off in search of our seats.  Word of warning if you have any loose gas bottles or fuel this is taken off you and you have to line up to get them back at the other end.   We had booked recliner chairs for the trip and they are in a room with carded entry so only a certain number of people could get in.  Our seats were in the second row and are like airplane's seats except a bit wider and you get twice as much leg room.  The ferry left a 8.50.  We checked the time at 9 and decided we would get coffee and something to eat at 10. We then fell asleep and didn't wake up til 10.30.   Went and had brunch and walked up on the deck to find we were still in the bay.  Stood outside and watched as the ferry leave the bay and hit bass strait.  Back to our chairs where we proceeded to read, look out the window or wander the decks between our numerous nanny naps.  A long trip on calm seas with the novelty truly warn off by the end.  Arrived in  Devonport at 6.30.  We were probably the 20th vehicle off passing those queuing to get their gas bottles or fuel back and drove to the Mersey Bluff Caravan Park.   Set up and then watched the ferry leaving on its return trip to Melbourne.  It passes our caravan park.  The park is $30 a night and the showers are on 4 minute timers and when the time is up they won't restart for 3 - 5 minutes.  The sites are average size but the view of the ocean is good and we are here for 3 nights.

View from our site

First Post

First post to see if it works.  Off to Tasmania for 12 weeks.  Have just finished packing the van, cleaning out the house pantry, emptying and cleaning the fridge.   Think we have everything ready but whatever we have forgotten will stay forgotten.  Now waiting for 4.30 am tomorrow to roll around.