8th Week - Monday - New Norfolk

Moving day - about 100 km down the road.  Drive out of the ferns and trees of the wilderness area to farming land.  It was quite a contrast as it appears very dry here.  No lush green paddocks to be seen, looks more like central Vic.  Arrive at New Norfolk our home for the next couple of nights.  The trees here are still loosing their leaves so are yellow, gold and red, very pretty.  Set the van up and after lunch we were going to take advantage of the glorious sunshine and having the Derwent River next to us to set off for a paddle in the kayak, but on closer inspection there were too many speed boats.  Instead we did the grocery shopping and then went for a stroll along the side if the river.  

7th Week - Saturday/Sunday - Tarraleah

Another short trip on Saturday and we are set up at Tarraleah.  Not sure if this town has made the mainland news but the whole town is up for sale for $11 mil.   Just a caravan park, holiday units, cafe, church, old school made into accommodation, pub, golf course and a few houses.  Not sure what you would do with it other than try to attract tourists.  You have to turn off the highway so it doesn't even get passing traffic.  We are here for 2 nights.  As we had 2 wet days then campsites without water there is a pile of washing so we are just going to sit here to catch up and hope it doesn't become crowded because of the long weekend and last weekend of school holidays.  Only thing we have done is go for a drive to look at Tungatinah Hydro Power Station and across the Nive River the Tarraleah Hydro Power Station.  We did a drive around town and found a lookout.  It is a balcony on the side of another building for Tarraleah Hydro Power Station and overlooks the pipes running down to the Station we had just driven from.  10 minutes and everything was covered, although this is a good place to stay if you are marking time or need to catch up on washing.  There were us and 2 other vans plus 3 tents here the first night.  (Probably 20 powered sites and 30 tent sites).  Sunday night there are us and 3 vans and 1 tent.   Extremely quiet.

Tarraleah Hydro Power Station

7th Week - Friday - Lake St Clair

Set off this morning for Derwent Bridge.  There is camping behind the pub here but because we need power for the fridge we won't be stopping there but will stop to look at the wall.  It is 75km to Derwent Bridge and the first 6km out of Queenstown is up, round a bend, still going up and another bend and another.  This I think is the worst section but it was windy and up and down the whole way.  One guy we met said he could read the number plate on his caravan while travelling round the bends.  Luckily there was little traffic the whole way.  We pulled up at "The Wall" which is made up of hand carved timber panels 3 metres high 1 metre wide.  When finished the wall will be 100 metres long.  The panels are mostly Huon Pine and are in various stages of completion.  This enables you to see how the carvings are formed from drawings to the finished product.  The work is amazing in each panel.  Unfortunately no cameras are allowed but I presume there are some pictures on the website.  (www.thewalltasmania.com).  I can't check as we currently have no internet.   Back in the car and we drive down to Lake St Clair which is in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.  We discover they have powered sites so here we are (not where we intended to be tonight but we will head there tomorrow).  Set up camp and after lunch as we are in a National Park, what do you do,  go for a walk.   We did the 1.5 hour walk.  Leaving from the visitors centre we headed to Watersmeet which is the junction of the Cuvier and Hugel Rivers.  In the brochure it highlights what wildlife you can see, one being the tiger snake, hope not!  Crossing the river and onto the Platypus Bay Circuit with views of Lake St Clair (deepest fresh water lake in Australia) and the mouth of the Cuvier River.  The wreck of an old barge is on the beach of Platypus Bay and if lucky you may see platypuses, but we didn't.   Next we went on the Larmairremener tabelti Aboriginal cultural walk who are the indigenous people of the region.  We then doubled back to walk back to the visitors centre around the edge of the lake to Cynthia Bay instead of the direct route.  Looking out over the lake you could see Mounts Olympus, Rufus, Ida, Hugel and the Traveller Range in the background.  This is one end of the overlander track.  Walkers can start here or at Cradle Mountain and it is approximately 80 km and takes around 7 days to arrive at the other end.  You must carry everything you need and bring all rubbish back out with you.  While walking today Ian was keeping an eye out for the 2 ladies he was talking to at Cradle Mountain who were just setting off.  They should be arriving today or tomorrow, but we didn't see them.    A very enjoyable walk.  Only needed to stop in one uphill section, although huffing and puffing in a couple of other sections.  Back to the van to put the feet up for a well earned rest. 

Lake St Clair

Watersmeet

 

7th Week - Thursday - Queenstown

Up today and into town to catch the West Coast Wilderness Railway.  We had wanted to do the full day trip from Strahan but as it was booked out we chose the half day one from Queenstown.  The railway was built in the late 1800's  and transverses some of the steepest grades in the world using the rack and pinion system and was repaired and opened to tourist in 2000's.  They have 3 steam trains that rotate to pull the refurbished carriages.  The trip stops at Rinadeena Saddle where you get out and walk on the bridge over the track to look down on the train.  Next station is Dubbil Barril where you get off for a 15 minute rainforest walk.  Back on the train for the return trip to Queenstown.  On the return trip you stop at Lynchford Station where you get off and pan for gold.  Unfortunately we didn't find any.   The train passes through rainforests and runs beside the Queen River and then to King River Gorge.  An enjoyable trip although now glad we didn't do the full day as rattling around for half the day was enough.  After lunch we went to the train workshops and had a tour around where they do the engines and carriages up.   Grabbed a coffee and then some groceries before back to the van for the night.

7th Week - Wednesday - Queenstown

Set off this morning having been warned that the road is up and down and round and round.  We actually didn't think it that bad.  We thought the road near Branxholm worse.   Anyway got here in good time so went for a cuppa and walk around town.  Headed out the caravan park to set up.  This is where I had a seniors moment.  We have two bubble levels, one for side to side and one for front to back.  Unfortunately I was, incorrectly, looking up the front to back one while trying to get it level side to side.  We got the wheel levelers out but they weren't high enough to make us level.  So we moved to a different site.  Once again we couldn't get high enough to level the van but decided it would have to do.   Ian then started to unhook the van.  Just before he jacked the van up I realised my mistake.  So back in the car Ian goes and it wouldn't start.  Great now what.  I went off to the amenities and a little chat with another lady here.  When I got back the car was going (no idea why it just started when Ian tried it).  We then leveled the van using the correct bubble level and after receiving my lecture on which bubble level is which, we finished setting up.   (First time I had ever got in wrong but still had to get a lecture).  After lunch we set off for a drive.  First stop was Mt Huxley lookout which gave you a view over the mountain range.  Further up the hill we came to Mt Jukes Lookout with views down into the valley and over Lake Burbury.  Very beautiful.  We travelled down towards the lake but the main road into the lake was closed.  We found a dirt road down to the shoreline but the water level was extremely low.  Returned to Queenstown and drove out on the Hobart Road to the lookout that side of town with views back over the town.   We drove back to town and to the football ground.  It is called The Gravel Football Oval and is the only silica gravel oval in the world.  Because of heavy rain, it makes grass or turf impractical to use and maintain.  It is now heritage listed so even if they found a way to change it's surface they can't.  The local junior team was training while we were there.  I don't know how they can play competitive football on it.  All you could see was rocks and stones.  Plenty of gravel rash for the trainers to fix.  Back to the van for the night.  (PS.  The car started first go each time during the afternoon)

Lake Burbury

Gravel Oval

7th Week - Tuesday - Strahan

Awake at 5 am.  Why you ask.  Because we have a family in a motor home next to us and that is what time they got up!  Dozed until 6.30 when we got up to be down at the dock by 8.  Our vessel was Lady Jane II and we were heading up the Gordon River but first we headed to  Hells Gates which is where the bay joins the ocean.  The bay is the second largest bay in Australia behind Port Phillip Bay.  We went out on the ocean turned around and back into the bay towards the Gordon River.  We stopped and looked at some fish farms and then headed into the heritage area.  We moored at Heritage Landing which is a boardwalk where we left the boat for a 400 metre walk through the rainforest.  Unfortunately everyone from the ship was also there so it was not peaceful but still enjoyable.  Back on the ship where we lunched on chicken, salmon and salads.  Next stop was Sarah Island, one of the oldest convict settlements in Australia.  We had a guided tour and heard how the inmates turned the island into one of the largest ship building yards in Australia.  Back on board we returned to Strahan.  Enjoyable day although we have decided if we return we will do the Franklin River on a sail boat to reduce the number of people and hopefully you will be able to appreciate the wilderness and peacefulness of the area.

Hells Gate

Entering the heritage area

Sarah Island ruins

7th Week - Monday - Strahan

Another short drive and we are parked in Strahan.  Too early to go to the caravan park so we stroll around town and visit the information centre.  We were stopping here to do a cruise and an all day train trip but unfortunately the train is booked out this week so we only have the cruise here.  Set up at the park and after lunch we drove to Ocean Beach which is Tasmania's longest beach (40 miles).  There are no facilities here and it is not patrolled.  Back through town and up to Water Tower Hill Lookout looking back over the town and pier.  Next up was a 45 minute return walk to Hogarth Falls.  Pretty good falls considering it was a very gentle walk.  Apart from the cruise tomorrow that about covers what we want to do here so back to the van to laze about.

Strahan

Hogarth Falls