2nd week - Monday- Branxholm

Packed up and set off.  We drove to Bridport but didn't see anything we wanted to stop for.  Next stop Scottsdale where we went to the Information Centre and were told which waterfall had water running and which didn't.  Wandered up and down the street but because of the public holiday not much was open.  Drove to Branxholm where we are spending 2 nights.  It is $20 a night for power, toilet and shower, although hot water is $1 for 4 minutes.  The IGA Supermarket takes the money for the park and they also sell petrol/diesel.  Set the van up, had lunch then drove to Legerwood to see the memorial tree carvings.  Very well done and were carved by the same gentleman who carved the ones at George Town.  The trees were planted in 1918 and chainsaw carved in 2004 commemorating local WWI heroes, Gallipoli and the Anzacs. 

 

There are 4 circuit drives around the area and we chose to do the one that went to the waterfalls.  We went through towns Ringarooma, Pyengana, Derby and drove up Mt Victoria.  The road was dirt and is just over 1 lane wide and is has blind bends so you have no idea if something is coming the other way.  When you meet someone you have to pull as far off the road as you can, close your eyes and pass each other.  At least I was.  At the top of the mountain you couldn't see anything but cloud.  We drove past the first 2 waterfalls as we had been told they had no or very little water until we came to St Columba Falls.  You had to walk 600 metres downhill to the bottom of the falls.  Walking down I was thinking you have to go back up.  The falls were quite impressive.  They are 90 metres high (which are one of the highest in Tassie) and have 42000 litres per minute falling over.  In winter it can get up to as much as 200,000 litres per minute.  It was a lovely walk through the trees and ferns although I was huffing and puffing on the way up.  
 
 

  

We next passed the Pub in the Paddock which is a pub that has been licensed since 1880 and is one of Tassie's oldest country pubs.  They also have a beer swilling pig that lives out back.

Back to the van where there are 2 other vans, 4 tents and 3 combi vans parked with us.  I haven't actually seen another woman yet.