Saturday - Home

For some reason we both woke at 4:30 so we pulled up the blind to see the lights around the bay.  Ian was in the bathroom getting ready for the day when I heard a knock on the door.  As we didn't know anyone presumed it was for next door.  Another knock which again I ignored then a third knock louder and more insistent.  Opened the door and it was a staff member asking if we could be dressed with all our things at reception in 20 minutes.  They had put a note on the door the night before but it was after we had settled in so we didn't see it.  I asked why and she said I'm trying to get 4 groups down to their cars.  I immediately thought some damage had been done to the car, but when I again asked why, she replied that they had put us with the trucks and as the trucks are taken off at 6 we had to move our car and van.  Normally you don't start driving off until 6:30 but we pulled out on the road at 6:15 so got to beat the chaos of everyone leaving.   We are now safely home and I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip as much as we enjoyed being there. 

Friday - Last Day

Filled in time doing nothing until we started to fidget and got going only 10 minutes earlier than what we had planned.  Drove to Devonport, picked up our boarding passes and passed through security without a hitch.  They have a large area to park (unlike Melbourne) away from the streets.  We probably pulled up at about 5:10 pm and boarding started at 6.  We sat in our lane until everyone around us had started boarding.  6:45 was finale check-in and we saw the last ones check in from our parked position.  We were the third last on and we only managed to make it to our cabin before the captain announced we were leaving and we pulled away from the port at 7:15, 15 minutes early.  As I type this it is 10 pm and every now and then you notice the rise and fall of the boat but it is not too bad at the moment.  Will see what the night brings. 

12th (and final) Week - Thursday - Ulverstone

Decided to drive along the coast road to Penguin.  Set off and saw a sign for a scenic drive to a lookout just on the edge of Ulverstone.  Drove through the streets with large houses overlooking the ocean until we came upon a reserve next to a water tower.  There was a lookout that gave you a view over the ocean and the town of Ulverstone.   Returned to the coastal road and continued to Penguin.  Checked out their bins, which have penguins around them and of course the big penguin.    Drove around the township checking out the real estate before returning to Ulverstone again along the coast.  Lunch back at the van with a lazy afternoon and our last night in Tasmania.

12th (and final) Week - Wednesday - Ulverstone

Drove to Devonport today and made sure we knew where to go to get the ferry.  Wandered around the street looking at the shops before having coffee (just for something to do to amuse ourselves).  Headed back to the van.

12th (and final) Week - Tuesday - Ulverstone

Packed up and set off for Ulverstone.  We have done a day trip to here earlier in the stay but are now staying for the next 3 nights.  They have a deal for $20 a night if you stay 3 nights.  We also got a late checkout for our last day.  We won't be packing up until 5:30 and there is no charge for staying here all day.  Good deal.  Anyway we arrived and set up in time for lunch.  Just finished lunch and the phone rang.  It was Lyn our friend from Wangaratta who was 20 - 30 km away from us, so we organised to meet for coffee.  We caught up with Lyn (and her friend Beth) over coffee which was great before we went our separate ways.  We headed back to the van for the night and Lyn & Beth headed for Launceston.  

12th (and final) Week - Monday - Gowrie Park

Rained constantly through the night and today is alternating between sun and rain.  Ian went for a walk and other than doing the blog not much going on.  I think this will be the theme for the next few days.  Light winds are forecast (at this stage) for Friday and Saturday so we have our fingers crossed it will stay that way so we can have a smooth crossing home.

12th (and final) Week - Sunday - Gowrie Park

Packed up this morning.  We are now travelling over roads already driven on.  We stopped at Railton.  This is the town with the topiary display.  Last time we drove through, so today we stopped and walked around looking at the shaped trees.  They are quite well done with a few needing some more growing time to finish off the last bits.  Down one of the side streets is Cradle Mountain National Paddock which had about 25 different shaped trees.  Well worth stopping to wander around.  Back in the car and off to Gowrie Park.  Set up and had lunch.  We debated whether to go for a drive today or tomorrow.  Elected to go today as rain is forecast for tomorrow.  We headed off to drive a tourist lap.  First stop was Mount Roland Lookout but as it is cloudy the view was not at its best.  We set off again and saw a sign post for Lake Barrington Rowing Course, so we had to go for a look.  What a great course.  It is down in a valley with trees surrounding it and the water is just like glass.  The 1990 International Championships were held here and the Olympic rowers had been practicing here.  It is a dam that was built by the hydro scheme.  Back in the car to complete the loop when we see a sign post to Lake Barrington so we drove down there.  There is a free camp here and picnic areas and there are dam gates on the lake that connect to the dam and rowing course.  A beautiful area.  Back in the car and we drive through Sheffield (the town of murals that we had already been to at the start of the trip) before returning to Gowrie Park to settle in for the night.   

11th Week - Saturday - Longford

Another change of plans.  Still at Longford.  Had a migraine last night so we didn't move on this morning.  Ian went out in the kayak while I just lazed around.  

11th Week - Friday - Longford

Set off this morning not sure where we would be staying the night.  We had two places in mind and would decide depending on time and the look of the park.  We drove to Bothwell which has a golf museum Ian wanted to have a look at.  We arrived at 10:30 and walked around the council ran caravan park behind the museum before heading to the museum which was also the Information Centre.  The lady there was very helpful telling us that the road we were going to take tomorrow is gravel and there had been snow on it last night so would be

wet and slushy especially as in the last 2 1/2 weeks they had more rain than the previous 12 months.  She then pointed out an alternate road which she said had tight turns for 10 km making it a slow trip.  We went away and had coffee and decided to push on for Miena tonight thus making tomorrow's trip with the bends the shorter day.   Back for a look through the golf museum.   Luckily it was just a donation entry.   Make sure you have an interest in golf if going.  Back in the car and we head for Miena.  The caravan park is behind the pub.  On the way we came across a sign saying Steppes Sculptures so pulled up and went for a look.  These were stone sculptures on stone pillars, no idea why or what the idea is behind them.  We had been steadily climbing up and as we came around the bend saw what looked like a sprinkling of snow in patches.  We knew it had snowed last night but didn't expect it to still be there.  As we drove further on the snow became thicker and there was slushy snow on the road.  We were too busy ooing and ahhing over the snow that we missed what we thought was the hotel where the caravan sites were.   Of course now the snow was fairly thick and there was nowhere to turn around.  Found a driveway and with me out on the road in case a car came along Ian then backed off the highway up the driveway far enough to be able to drive out in the opposite direction.   Managed to head back where we had come from without causing an accident and turned into the hotel.  Only trouble was it wasn't the right hotel.  We had to go back past where we had turned around and keep going for a couple more kilometres.   Finally got to the hotel and the snow was about 4/5 inches deep and the caravan sites were wet and mushy and turning to mud.  We got out and had a look around but after walking in the slush the feet were getting cold and wet so we decided not to stay here.  Back in the car and down the hill and around the bends.  The next town we reached with a caravan park was Longford (where we had spent Easter), so here we are for the night.  Travelled much further than we expected to.  At Easter there wasn't an empty site (78 powered and 50 unpowered sites), some had 2 vans on each site and tonight there is only 15 vans in total.

Steppes Sculptures

Miena

A kid playing at the Miena playground

11th Week - Thursday - Richmond

Pouring rain as we wake.  We have decided to go for a drive to Triabunna today.  We were going to stay here to go to Maria Island (a National Park with convict heritage) but the ferry is currently only running on Friday and Saturday so decided to just do a day trip to see what is here.  Triabunna really only has the marina which is large with numerous boats.  The rain had stopped as we were driving here so we got out and strolled around the marina checking out the boats.   There were a couple there I wouldn't have minded having a look inside and trying out.  Back in the car and headed back to Sorell where the rain started again.  Filled up will diesel and back to Richmond and the van and more wet weather.

11th Week - Wednesday - Richmond

As I had washed the sheets and didn't want to risk leaving them to get wet we spent a quiet day in the van keeping an eye on the weather.   We were also watching 5 locals in the park helping the owner with the upgrades he is doing.  There was a lot of leaning on rakes between the actual raking but they seem to be having fun and I suppose they are filling in time.  As nothing much is happening a bit of useless information for you.  At least half of the showers have had timers on them and half of those were coin operated.  The time has ranged from 3 to 7 minutes and the price 40 cents, $1 or $2.   The ones here are $1 for 6 minutes.

11th Week - Tuesday - Richmond

Last night was the busiest night at the park with about 15 vans in but still had no neighbours.   Set off for Richmond.  We drove to Sorell where we stopped for a coffee and grabbed some groceries.  Back in the car and on to Richmond.  Set up the van and after lunch we headed into the township.  First stop was Old Hobart Town.  This is a historical model village.  The builders obtained maps of Hobart from 1820 and built 60 buildings and 400 period figurines and set up the model township.  It was well done but maybe a bit overpriced.  The best bit was they ask if you can find 4 particular figurines, boy falling from tree, woman killing snake, man skinning kangaroo and a Tasmania tiger.  These were well hidden and took us 4 or 5 trips around the village to find them.  We then walked the main street of Richmond looking at the old buildings and the Richmond Bridge - Australia's oldest bridge which was built by convicts in 1823.    Back to the van where it is blowing a gale.

11th Week - Monday - Port Arthur

Having decided not to do the cruise today we set off for Tasman Arch.   This is a cliff where the roof has caved in and left an arch.  A short walk and you come to Devil's Kitchen.  Same sort of thing where water has eroded the cliff face.  Not sure how the name came about.  Very pleasant scenery.  Driving back down to the main road we spot another lookout over a bay and turn in there.  It is actually a whale watching area as the whales come there to calf.  Of course there were no whales today but a very pretty spot.  After another discussion about the kayaks we head back to Remarkable Cave (our aborted walk of yesterday).  We first head to Maingnon Bay Lookout which is across the road from Remarkable Cave.   This lookout takes in the towering dolomite columns of Cape Raoul when you look out across the bay.  Crossed the road to Remarkable Cave which has two entrances, one from the water and the one we took down 130 stairs to a steel walkway to a viewing platform.  You then look out through the cave at the sea on the other side and the shape of the opening is meant to look Tasmania.  The roof of the cave has collapsed so the sky is above as you look up the sandstone cliffs.    After climbing back up the stairs we drive back to the van.  Our last night at what has been a truly beautiful place to visit. 

  

11th Week - Sunday - Port Arthur

Rained during the night.  Overcast day but not raining so we set off for Remarkable Cave.  We were discussing the cruise we were thinking of doing tomorrow so missed the turnoff.  Drove about 10 km before we realised and turned around.  Managed to get to the start of the walk to the cave, got out of the car and looked out over the water to see an extremely dark cloud coming towards us, so decided to head back to the van and return to the cave tomorrow.  Drizzled on the way back and just as got in the van down it came.  It poured. Glad we hadn't started the walk as we would have been drowned rats.  Lazed around for the afternoon watching the rain.  It was either pouring or the sun was out.  Come 5:30 it was dark and windy but at least the rain had stopped. Perfect night for rugging up in the van.  No not us we are off to Port Arthur Historic Site for a ghost tour.   There was about 20 of us in the 6 pm tour and there were about 12 waiting for the 8 pm tour when we finished.  There was little or no light apart from the guide's torch and 4 lanterns.  I think they needed more light between the buildings as the path is a bit rough in places.  The guide actually tells you at one place that a lady fell and broke her leg, not something I would boast about.  We go to the church, the reverend's house, junior doctor's house and the single prison.  In each place the guide tells stories about any murders that had happened there and then stories of sightings or strange things happening to people visiting.  i.e.  faces at windows, footsteps, voices in empty buildings, lights in houses without electricity.  It was a bit eerie in places especially with flickering lantern light and the wind rustling trees etc.  You will be pleased to know we both made it back to the van safely with no ghosts following us.

10th Week - Saturday - Port Arthur

Two weeks today and we will be driving the Calder!  Not much left in our "to do" list now.  Up and returned to Port Arthur Historic Site for another 3 hours of wandering around.  Today's major visit was the Asylum and Museum and then The Separate Prison which locked convicts in a single cell for 23 hours with 1 hour allowed for exercise a day in a high walled yard.  They did not see another person except the guard who let them out in the exercise yard and they were not allowed to speak.  They could attend a church service but once again were put in cubicles so that they could only see the minister and no-one else.  They also had to stand for the whole service.  We had lunch at the cafe and picked up a brochure for Coal Mines Historic Site which is also ran by Port Arthur.  As it was a beautiful day (even though the forecast was for rain) we decided to head to the Coal Mine.  The site housed 600 convicts and military personnel with the convicts working in a coal mine.  The brochure made it sound really good so we drove the 25 minutes to it.  You enter a National Park and come to a car park.  We couldn't see any signs for ruins so we continued driving into the NP.  We then found signs for the main shaft and further on the air shaft.  We followed the sign to the air shaft and then found a sign that indicated you had to walk.  We couldn't see how far it was and the signage was confusing.  We decided to go back to the main car park.  We had a bit of a look around and found a sign for the convict settlement, a 800 metre walk.  So off we go.  On the walk we saw ruins to the stone prisoner's barracks and punishment cells, commanding officer's quarters, surgeon and soldier's quarters, chapel and bakehouse.  You could then continue walking to the mine shaft and air shaft which took about 3 hours.  We only did the settlement walk and although it was an enjoyable walk if you are thinking of doing it I suggest you do it before going to Port Arthur Historic Site or skip it and just do Port Arthur.  Took an alternate route back to the caravan park.

10th Week - Friday - Port Arthur

Having breakfast and Ian reads in the paper that Hobart had 80km winds last night.  Glad we left there.  My phone now indicates that I have a new message.  It is from the caravan park saying we have a severe weather warning,  110km winds are on the way!  Looking out the van it is a beautiful morning no wind whatsoever.  I had done the washing last night so we decided to take the risk and hang it out.   Next we set off for Port Arthur Historic Site.  In we go and with your ticket you get a playing card that you then match to a convict and see what happened to him.  My convict was a shoe maker.  Unfortunately he decided to make shoes (and sell or trade) without the knowledge of the guards.  He ended up on the chain gang chopping down trees.  Ian's convict made nails, very well by all accounts, and often exceeded the 200 required each day and would be rewarded with extra rations.  There was the history of numerous convicts and we read a few of them and about their lives before it was time to join the introductory tour.  This ran for 40 minutes and the guide pointed out the different buildings and gave a short history of them.   She also mentioned the severe weather warning and the wind seemed to be picking up.  Included in the entry ticket was a harbour cruise and after the talk it was time to make our way to the wharf for our cruise (you get a nominated time to do it).  The cruise went for 20 minutes and went past the dockyard where the prisoners made boats, Point Puer Boys Prison - an island where boys from 9 years to 17 years old were kept separate from the adult prisoners and the Isle of the Dead where around 1100 were buried.  There was a person to tell you about these places but unfortunately I couldn't hear him properly.  It was now past lunchtime and there were dark clouds forming so we got a pass out and returned to the van to get the washing in and have lunch.  Checked the weather update and the severe weather warning had been cancelled.  Back to the Port Arthur Historic Site.  As the rain is holding off we decided to do some of the outside buildings.  The Site covers 100 acres and is much larger than I had expected and I can really only list the buildings we went into which doesn't really tell you much so I won't.  We spent 5 hours there and only covered 2/3rds of it.  Luckily your tickets lets you back in the next day so we are returning tomorrow.   The buildings or I should say the remains of them are wonderful to look at and Port Arthur Historic Site is a must do but allow heaps of time.  The Penitentiary is the largest building there and dominates the view.  It started life as the flour mill but as it couldn't supply enough flour was converted to a four storey penitentiary which had 136 cells for the prisoners in solitary confinement.  The cells were about 6ft x 4ft and you were not allowed to talk.  The top floor was for better behaved prisoners and housed 480 prisoners in a dormitory of bunk beds.  There is currently an area at the back of it that is fenced off and archeologists are currently excavating it, you could view them working.  Our last stop today was the memorial for the people killed in 1996.  The 20 year anniversary was not long ago and the wreaths placed by Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten were still there.  In the introductory tour you are asked not to ask staff about it as some of them were there or knew people involved but you can ask for a pamphlet from the desk where you came in if you felt the need.    As it was now getting dark we returned to the van for the evening.  There appears to be more people here tonight but we still have no-one around us.

 

10th Week - Thursday - Port Arthur

Last night in Hobart and oh what a night.  The wind blew a gale all night long.  The van was buffeted about all over the place.  Didn't sleep at all.  Was talking to a man this morning who said he moved their motor home during the night and parked as close to a fence as he could get to try and shield them from the wind.  As we were packing up a couple came over and asked how bad the wind was at our site because their spot was out in the open and neither of them got any sleep.  I said ours couldn't be any worse than theirs and might be a bit better as we had vans either side of us. So they went back to pack their van up and move to our spot.  I hope for their sake that our spot was better as it is meant to be blowing again tonight.  We battled the winds all the way to Port Arthur.  We seem to be shielded from the wind on our site but will wait for tonight before I get too excited.  The park we are at have 36 powered sites and as we eat our lunch we are the only ones here.  I'm afraid that the afternoon is very boring.  Ian went for a walk on the beach and I had a little nap.   We shared the park with 5 motor homes for the night and although you could hear the wind throughout the night it must have been blowing over us as we felt no movement.

10th Week - Tuesday / Wednesday - Hobart

We have done all the things we wanted to do in Hobart so just caught up with washing and groceries.  Went to the RSL Tuesday night for dinner and played the pokies.  Wednesday morning had breakfast sitting at our table looking out the window at Mount Wellington with a sprinkling of snow.   Moving on tomorrow.

Hobart Showgrounds RV park

10th Week - Monday - Hobart

Some rain through the night and although rain is forecast for today we headed off in overcast conditions to the Botanical Gardens.  There were more people there than I expected and we wandered to the conservatory.  From the warmth of it we went to the Subantarctic Plant House and an arctic blast of cold air.  The room was kept at around 8 degrees and the whole time we were in there cold air was being pumped into it.  Back outside we moved on to the herb garden, succulents, palms, French Memorial Garden and of course the ever peaceful Japanese Garden with running water and bridges.  Over to the lily pond and finished in the Chinese Garden.  The rain held off and the sun actually peeked out a few times to make it more enjoyable.  Back to the van for a lazy afternoon.  The van two doors up are travelling with their cat who gets walked on its leash until it has had enough and then carried back to the van.    Not often you see a cat out for a walk.

10th Week - Sunday - Hobart

Up this morning and walked 100 metres to the show grounds market.  Not as big as Bendigo and with the usual show grounds preloved items.  In the car and drove up Mt Wellington.  This is over 1000 metres above sea level.  It was slightly cloudy but there was next to no wind and the thermometer showed 9 degrees.  A great view of Hobart and surrounding areas as there are 3 different lookout points that have boardwalks to them.  You can also climb over rocks and up on the roof of a little hut, which gives you 360 degree views as you are on the highest point of the mountain.  Back down the mountain and off to the casino.  We had thought we might do their buffet lunch but as it was mothers day the buffet was seafood and double the price so instead went in and put some money through the pokies.  We both had coffee and I played the pokies for about half an hour and we came out with the same amount of money in our pockets.  We then drove over the Tasman Bridge and found a shopping centre and went in for a look around and sushi for lunch.  Headed back to cross the Tasman Bridge again when we saw a sign for Rosny Park lookout so we headed up there first.  From here we could see Bellerive Oval.  Back across the bridge and back to the van where we have bunkered down.  Rain is on the way.  Mt. Wellington is now covered in cloud and you cannot see the peak.

Mt Wellington lookout

Mt Wellington lookout

Rosny Park lookout (Mt Wellington in background)

9th Week - Saturday - Hobart

Today we are off to the Salamanca Market.  We decided to get there early thinking as it is mothers day tomorrow it might become busy.  We were at the bus stop at 8 am together with another lady from the show grounds.  Her husband wasn't feeling well so she asked if she could tag along with us to the market.  We caught a different bus today from yesterday and when it pulled up in town we just sat there commenting on the fact that everyone else had got off.  The bus driver turns to us and says this the end of the line you will have to get off.  The three of us get off apologising as we go.  Yesterday the bus had turned around the corner and pulled up at the post office which is what we were expecting again today.  Oh well never mind.  We walked down to the market and Kathy went her way and we went ours.  The market has been operating every Saturday since 1973.  It was not as large as I had expected but there was still many stalls there with all the normal market things, food, clothes, toys, soap, flowers, books and so on.  After we had had our fill of the market we went for a stroll along the waterfront and then to The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.     It is the second oldest museum in Australia and is housed in Tasmania's oldest surviving public building the 1908-10 Commissariat Store.  It was full of the normal museum things.  We started in the cafe and after a cuppa and cake spent 3 hours exploring the museum.   A display of photos and memorabilia of migrant woman was also on exhibit until the end of May.  Enough educational things - off and had a late lunch in town before catching the bus back to the van.  

Constitution dock

9th Week - Friday - Hobart

Off to test out the bus system.  Managed to catch a bus and arrive in the CBD.  Actually it is very easy as the people at the show grounds give you very detailed instructions.  We went to the information centre and then used the walking guide brochure to walk around the streets looking at the old buildings.  We also went into a few shops but (what a surprise) no different to anywhere else.  We didn't do the water district as that is on tomorrow's agenda.  Next stop was the Maritime Museum.  This museum had the standard artefacts from ship wrecks together with memorabilia from early sailing and cruise ships.  It also had paintings of ships known to have sailed in and around the Hobart area.  They also had numerous models of different types of ships.  Not a bad museum.  Back on the bus and safely back to the van.    

9th Week - Thursday - Hobart

Moving day.  Off to Hobart.  We are only about 40km away.  We have decided to stay at the show grounds as there is a bus that that will take you into the CBD.  This way we don't have to worry about parking the car.  Traffic this morning didn't seem as bad as last time we drove through Hobart and we made it to the show grounds without incident.  Set up and had lunch before heading to the shopping centre near here.  Spent a couple of hours wondering around before back to our home for the next week.

9th Week - Wednesday - Bruny Island - Snug

Rained and blew a gale all night and was the coldest night yet. Found out when we got up that it had snowed on Mt Wellington (30km away by road).  We could actually see the snow.  This morning the sun peeped out.  We packed lunch and off to catch the ferry.  We had spoken to two couples who told us not to take the van over and one who said to (but this was after we had decided not to).   Boarded the ferry and were on to top deck.  Easy 15 minute journey.  Now on Bruny Island.  We headed to the topmost northern point first Dennes Point then to Killora Bay and the village of Killora.  Next was Barnes Bay before heading south to Adventure Bay.  This is where the cruises leave from but we were not doing this one.  We saw where Captain Cook landed.  We headed next to the most southern point of Bruny Island and the Cape Bruny Lighthouse which required a short walk up to get to it.  The scenery was lovely but not much different to Tassie itself.  Not sure if I would return here.  We had passed the caravan park and it looked okay but apart from a few walks around the place there wasn't much else we wanted to see or do so glad we didn't bring the van.  The ferry trip back was not as good as we were on the bottom deck in the middle and you couldn't see anything.  Back to the van for our last night at Snug.

Bit of snow on the higher peaks!

Cape Bruny

Cape Bruny

9th Week - Tuesday - Snug

Wind and rain during the night and rain this morning.  Cleared up a bit after lunch so we went for a drive to Margate, Kingston and Blackman's Bay.  Kingston was the biggest town but still only held our attention for a short time.  Drove back to Snug along the coast road and checked out the houses with views of the water.  Arrived back at the van as the rain started again.

9th Week - Monday - Snug

Moved on today to Snug.  Pulled up at the park and chatted to a guy we met back at Zeehan.  Caught up with where we each had been since we last met.  Set up and after lunch went for a walk along the beach and around the area.  They have plaques set out near the caravan park about the 1967 fires known as Black Tuesday.  62 lives were lost and two thirds of the houses were burnt.  It was a very interesting commemorative of the time and included survivor's stories.   Just lazed the rest of the day away.

Snug

9th Week - Sunday - Huonville

Woke this morning to rain but it cleared about 10am so we drove the 10 km to Franklin and went to the Wooden Boat Centre.  This is a traditional timber boat building workshop and actually has classes to build the boats.  The course runs for 7 weeks and during that time students build a wooden boat (usually from Huon Pine) by hand.  There were 2 boats there partially built so you could see what they do and one that was finished but the student had decided to make it into a sailing ship so was still there making the mast by hand.   This involved turning a square length of wood into a round length of wood!  The Centre also restores old boats for people and there were 2 there being made ship shape again.  They also run an 18 month course for the building of larger boats and you actually end up qualified to build and restore boats commercially.   We then strolled out to the wharf area and checked out the boats moored there.  Retuned to the van via the supermarket.  After putting away the groceries went for a walk around the park which has chickens, ducks and pigs.  The park is also beside a river which is meant to have platypus but unfortunately we didn't see any.  Back at the van we chatted to the neighbours and watched the clouds roll in.  We all went our separate ways before the rain came.

8th Week - Saturday- Huonville

Left Dover today in beautiful sunshine and drove and set up in Huon Valley.  Had an early lunch and then drove the 90 km to the Tahune Airwalk.  This is a steel walkway 40 metres above the ground amongst the tree tops.  You start with 112 steps (and I counted them to make sure the brochure is correct) before hitting the steel walkway which is 600 metres in length.  The highlight of the walkway is the cantilever that hangs out over the Huon River.  Returning back to the visitors centre you have covered 1.6 km.  We next did the Swinging Bridges Walk of 3 km.  You walk alongside the Huon River and then cross the river by way of a swing bridge which is 2 steel planks joined together making it about 1 foot wide with rope and nylon netting on the sides.  And as the names suggests it swings as you walk along and you look down to the river below.  I had a firm hold all the way over.  You then walk to the Picton River which you again have to cross on a swing bridge.  This one I actually only held on a couple of times as I was the only one on it.  Once Ian started crossing and making it bounce and sway more I had to hold on.  You then walk back to the visitors centre where we started the Huon Pine Track 1 km in length.  This walk was through the pine trees.  All in all an enjoyable afternoon.

8th Week - Friday - Dover

Ian looked at the radar and because of the rain looking like it was here to stay we decided not move.  We have plenty of time left so instead of packing up in the rain we stayed dry.  We spent the day doing nothing.  Oh by the way the rain blew over by 10 am and we had sunshine all day.

8th Week - Thursday - Dover

Still drizzling this morning but by the time we had breakfast and made lunch the sun was peaking out so off we set.  We headed for Ida Bay where there is a steam engine train ride.  Seeing as we had only just done the train trip in Queenstown elected not to do this one.  The only town further south is Cockle Bay.  We have no idea if there is anything there or just fishing shacks we so decided not to drive down the muddy dirt road.  We could have gone to Hasting Caves and did a tour of the caves but again chose not to do that one.  Next stop was Southport which boasts the southern most pub of Australia.  The pub and a caravan park is about all there is apart from the fishing shacks lining the coast.  Still the Bay was very pretty with its white sandy beach.  There wasn't much else to see so back to the van for a quiet afternoon.  If the weather stays fine we may go and drop a line in off a jetty.

Southport

Southport

8th Week - Wednesday - Dover

Set off this morning heading for Dover in the Huontrail area .  We had to pass through Hobart and came to within 3 km of the CBD.  Traffic, no idea where you are going and 2.5 tonne behind you made an interesting drive but we made it through and replaced the traffic with the winding road climbing up and down the hills.  Set up in Dover and after lunch went out for a scenic drive.  We had seen a sign pointing to Police Point so decided to see what was there.  Well apart from the coastline of an inlet there was nothing not even a sign.  No matter it was a pretty drive along the coast.  We also saw the fish farms for Huon Salmon.  Back to the van where it poured all night.

Police Point

Salmon farms

8th Week - Tuesday - New Norfolk

 Packed lunch and set off this morning to go back into the wilderness area.  We are going to chain ourselves to a tree (be it a number of years late).  We are heading for the Gordon Dam.  Drove along the Derwent River which just looked spectacular with the trees and autumn leaves on display.  Back into the pines and ferns with the first stop being the village of Strathgordon.  There is a cafe and a wilderness lodge there.  Nothing of interest for us.  Drove further on to a lookout taking in Lake Gordon which is huge.  It was a fantastic view with the mountains in the background.  Could have sat there for ages just soaking it up.  Drove up to Gordon Dam next.  It is so empty, would look so different full.  The dam wall is high and there is a company that does parasailing down it.  Definitely not for me.  I was hanging onto the railing of the fence just looking at it!   Back in the car and to a walk we noticed on the way up.  The Creepy Crawly Walk - 20 minutes.  Better not be any snakes in here.  It was a boardwalk and it went through trees and ferns and was very dark and narrow path (creepy).  You also nearly had to go on hands and knees to pass some of the tree branches (crawly).  Not a bad walk.   Back in the car and we see a sign for Junee Caves so off we go.  Park the car and follow the sign pointing up a path.  No distance or time was mentioned so we didn't know if it was 10 minutes or 10 days.  Probably ended up being 20 minutes.  You could only look in the cave as it was fenced. The Junee River runs through the cave.  Further on to our Next stop at Russell Falls.  There are actually 3 walks that start from this point but we did Russell Falls.  It was a nice walk but the falls had nowhere near the amount of water falling over them as the picture on the brochure.  With tired feet we finished our day and headed back to the van.

Lake Gordon

Gordon Dam

Creepy Crawly walk

Junee Cave

Russell Falls