tasmania2020

[tasmania2020]

13/3/20

Woken at 4.45am by Virgin Message to say our flight from Melbourne changed , now leaving at 4.30pm .

Lucky to get back to sleep !!!

Messaged Peter & staying overnight at their place .

Checked out 9am . Breakfast at Sandy Bay’s McDonalds .

Wet . Headed to airport , refueled & dropped car off .

Virgin have to be the worst at checking luggage in !!!

3/4 hr late leaving Hobart 😡.

Arrived in Melbourne at 2.45 pm . A burger for lunch . Not much to see& do at airport . Headed to our bay to wait for our 4.50pm flight .

Once again our flight delayed😡 Finallly boarded but told we in a queue of 13 planes & had a 45 min wait before taking off !!

Arrived in Canberra just before 7pm .

Peter met us at the Airport .

Take away pizza for dinner & bed by 10.30am.

Home in the morning.

[tasmania2020]

12/3/20

A later start today .

A drive to Sorell first up ! Not much there . Bought some morning tea and headed to Seven Mile Beach to have same.

Decided to head back to Hobart.

Called into Salamanca Bay - started to rain so we headed to Central Shopping Mall .

Wandered there for an hour or so.

Returned to Sandy Bay . McDonalds for lunch.

Back to hotel by 2.30pm.

Dad went for a swim .

I sorted our cases & had a read .

Showered & up to Point Revolving Restaurant 6pm .

Just lovely.

Drinks & meal supperb.

Ross - Sirloin Steak ( pre dinner Scotch)

Chris - Flambé prawns ( champagne cocktail)

We shared a sweet - Strawberry Pavlova.

A beautiful Cab Sav ( Drew - Tasmanian wine) .

Got to see over Hobart in the daylight & dark .

Following dinner we moved onto the Birdcage Bar for a drink & entertainment - Daystar Duo . Husband & wife . Great fun .

Back in our room by 11.30pm ( latest night on trip ) .

[tasmania2020]

11/3/20

Up early for a 7.20am start . Tour bus picked us up at the hotels main entrance.

Tour guide Rick very experienced & good local knowledge.

20 min drive to catch the ferry at Kettering.

Grabbed a coffee before transferring to same.

15- 20 minutes crossing time .

Our first stop on the island was at The Neck Adventure Bay lookout - 230 steps to top! We slowly made it & well worth the effort . 360 degree views !!! Tasman sea so blue & clean ! Houses in the area mostly holidays rentals.

2nd stop Resolution Bay - where Captain Cook laneded in 1792 . Photo of the 2 trees standing there then !!! First painted by Richard Stanley . A little walk along the sand before our morning tea.

Morning tea consisted of oysters , cheeses & local bread.

Cheeses :1.Saint

2.1792

3.Cider Wash Tom

Local fresh pacific oysters . Huge ! We had one & Dad almost brought his back up !!!

3rd stop Hotel Bruny to deliver our lunch orders then onto the Cape Bruny Lighthouse .

Rick did a running commentary as we went .

No Koalas in Tasmania- not the right gum trees.

Sited some wallabies but not a white one 😉 various gum trees , blue gum the most common.

Special trees:

Sassafras

Myrtle

Sassafras leaves Ecstasy type quality. Small has a calming effect !!!! Convicts building the Lighthouse used leaves in a tea 😉😂😉.

A pepper tree also sampled . Apparently this type of pepper the in thing on our current TV Food shows !!

Drove through townships of Lunawanna & Daniel’s Bay .

Rick pointed out another small island off Bruny -

Satellite Island . $1500 a night

Selling for US $6,000,000.

4th stop Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

2nd largest Lighthouse in Tasmania

Another long uphill walk to reach !!

Guided tour by Chris - very knowledgeable. See photos.

360 degree viewing. Good viewing -

Cloudy Bay

Edistone rock - small island just visible - southern most point of Australia

Pedro Bianca nearby to Edistone Rock - extreme surfing - can find on YouTube.

5th stop - Alonnah

Hotel Bruny for lunch -

R. Fish & chips

C. S & P Squid

Cider tasting with Adam following lunch . 4 ciders tasted one 8.4 %. None really appealed to us .

6th Stop

Fudge tasting -very sweet.

7th Stop

Honey tasting - no where near as nice as Kangaroo Island .

Reached Ferry terminal for 4.30pm ferry .

Arrived in Kettering 4.50pm .

Back at our hotel by 5.30pm.

Long day but good .

Toasted sandwich & coffee for dinner .

Quiet evening . Early night .

[tasmania2020]

10/3/20

A little sleep in this morning .

Breakfast & on the road by 9.15am .

A hour & half drive to Tahune Adventures .

Passed through the towns of:

Huonville

Franklin -beautiful old houses

Port Huon

Geeveston _ woodworks , town lined with local heroes carved in wood .

Arrived at Tabune Adventures 10.35am

Sunshine at last !

Entry $26.10 per person (seniors that is ) 😂😂

A quick coffee before heading to the Skywalk . Area impacted by Bushfires early 2019 ! So sad to see the destruction 😪. Business only reopened late February this year .,

Dad becoming a seasoned walker & climber 😂😉.

Walked the Skywalk , the highest area 50 metres over the river.

Convinced him to take the track to the Swinging bridge - 6kms return . Walked the narrow swinging bridge over the Picton River . The other bridge over the Huon bridge still out of action following the fire last year . Great vantage point overlooking the Huon & Picton rivers merging ! Just beautiful!

Returned to the Visitor’s centre around 12.30pm .

Had lunch at the Cafe looking at over the river :

Dad - toasted ham , tomato & cheese toastie

Me - potato & leek soup

Called into Geeveston on the way back - found an old fashioned Lolly shop - clinkers for dad , white knight for me .

Back at hotel by 4pm .

A few things sorted before heading to the pool & sauna . Just lovely !!

Back to our room to shower before heading to Bristo for dinner - Dad Roast lamb , Roast beef for me .Shared a New York Styled Baked Cheesecake (yummy).

A drink before another $10 in the pokies . Dad’s picked . Walked away with $30!!

Early night as we are up early tomorrow for a full day tour to Bruny Island.

[tasmania2020]

9/3/20

I was up at 7.30 am - decided to hit the gym & do a half an hour on the Treadmill.

Breakfast in our room on return from Gym .

Thought we’d spoil ourselves so have organised a full day trip to Bruny Island Wednesday . Pick up from our hotel & drop back following tour .

We set off on a coastal trip today . Morning tea at Kingston Beach . Weather cool today . Walked along the esplanade. Such a pretty & popular spot .

Then onto Blackmans Bay . Another walk along the beach .

Drove further down coast but misty rain coming in . Decided to head back to Blackman’s beach for lunch . Fish, potato scallop & chips by the sea !

Returned to Sandy Bay around 2.30pm . Stock up at supermarket before returning to Wrest Point .

Some sorting out in our room before heading to Resort cafe for arvo tea .

Back to our room to change into our swimmers before hitting the pool & spa .

Clean up before heading out to dinner at the Bistro - Carbonara for dad & crumbed prawns for me . Shared a pub loaf with garlic butter . And a red wine .

Played the pokies for a short time before returning to our room .

Watched some telly with a red wine before heading to bed .

Off to Huon Valley tomorrow.

[tasmania2020]

8/3/2020

Good sleep after a very frustrating Saturday.

Have decided & booked our remaining 5 days at Wrest Point . Good base for day trips down south .

Left our overnight accommodation 9.30am .

Found a Car wash I New Norfolk - car needed a vacuum !!

Refueled and headed back to Hobart .

Spent a couple of hours shopping in Central Hobart before heading to Wrest Point.

Lovely Baked Roast (beef for dad , pork for me ) for lunch . Yummy shared vanilla slice for sweets !

Booked into our room around 2.30pm.

Unpacked then went for a walk along waterfront.

A swim & spa before showering & heading out for dinner .

Returned to Waterfront Bistro . Shared Garlic bread & Marguerite Pizza - yummy .

Wasted $20 in the Pokies before heading back to our room to watch the end of the cricket !! Well done girls !!!

Coffee , TV then bed .

[tasmania2020]

7/3/2020

Up & had breakfast by 9am . Light rain .

Changed our plans deciding to head out to the central highlands to Derwent Ridge .

Called into Richmond on the way - lovely spot - checked out the the bridge .

A very long drive to see ‘The Wall’ . Lunch at the Wombat Cafe before heading there . Great artwork ! Not able to take photos !! Still a long way from completion .

A long drive back to Kingston only to find no accommodation anywhere including Hobart!! Long weekend in Tasmania too 😡.

Very lucky to get overnight accommodation at New Norfolk just north of Hobart - Derwent Valley Resort - basic but clean.

Takeaway McDonalds for dinner .

After such a frustrating afternoon of trying to find accommodation we’ve decided to base ourselves in Hobart for the next 5 days and do day trips !

Bed by 10.30pm.

[tasmania2020]

6/3/20

Up early & breakfast by 8.45am .

On the road by 9am.

Beautiful drive south .

Morning tea at Samander - nice little walking track to the headland ( Whale watching spot ) . None seen . Very pretty!!!

Next stop Bicheno - Devils Corner Winery ! Just magnificent. Thanks Jon for the heads up !! Wine tasting & a couple of bottles bought !!!

Slight backtrack to Coles Bay . Ice cream for me 😂😂

Onto Freycinet National Park. $24 day entry for the Park . Decided on a 1.5hr walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout !! Wow what a challenge !! We made it with a few rests on the way !! Spectacular view !! Well worth the climb !!

Next stop Swansea for arvo tea . Bark Mill Bakery .

Decided to push onto Orford for an overnight stay .

Cabin like accommodation with a view of the water .

Nice dinner at their Bistro - Lamb Roast for me & Chicken Schnitzel for dad .

Not so lucky with the pokies tonight - got our money back though😉.

Short walk before heading back to unit for an early night .

[tasmania2020]

5/3/20

Wet ! Wet ! Wet!

Woke up to heavy rain this morning. 40plus ml over night. Plans changed !

Breakfast at hotel .

Drove to Bay of Fires !! Rain continued to fall !!

Such a pretty area . Some nice photos but not able to walk the beach!!😪😪

Returned to St Helens around 11am . Morning tea in the car by the water !

A short drive along the waterfront to the Peron Dunes . I braved the weather to reach getting there drenched in doing so !! 😂😂

Returned to our hotel for a quick change of clothes & shoes before heading to a local cafe ( Bay’s Kitchen ) for lunch ( toasted ham & cheese sandwiches & a latte).

Quiet arvo back at hotel . Rain ++

Decided on the RSL for dinner - Salmon Patty for me & Lamb shank for dad .

Looked like Raffle night but turned out to be Triva !! 😂😂

Hit the pokies and came away with $50. Cheap night .

Back to hotel to watch Cricket then bed .

[tasmania2020]

4/3/20

Leisurely breakfast before setting off to Cataract Gorge.

So many Camper Vans parked !!!!

Area much improved since our last visit . Now has an Inclinator !! Cheated and took down to ground level 😂😂

Nice warm morning . Wandered . Got dad to walk up to the Alexandra Bridge & beyond . Travelled down via the Chair Lift !! Dad too !!!

Next stop Jansz Winery . Tried a few 😉😉.

Then onto Bridport. Area very popular with campers . A huge Caravan Park on the shore . Local Primary School also having the Athletes Carnival on the foreshore !!!

Yummy lunch at the Bridport Cafe . Scallops for me & Steak sandwich for dad !!!

Next stop Bridstone Lavender Farm . Wow ! Would love to be there in Spring !!

Then off to Scottsdale & Derby ! Campers & Mountain bikers everywhere. Not for us ! Moved onto St Helens .

I took over the driving at Derby !! Little did we know the road from there to St Helens was like coming down the ‘old Clyde Mountain only longer’ !!

Reached St Helen’s 4.25pm

Booked into Tidal Waters Resort for 2 nights.

Chinese takeaway for dinner - Beef & Cashews .

Sat out on our verandah overlooking the water to eat same .

Quiet evening watching TV .

Off to the Bay of Fires tomorrow.

[tasmania2020]

3/3/20

Stayed at Peter & Lauras overnight . Up 6am . Peter drove us to Canberra Airport arriving 7. 20am.

Ran into Mark & Stephen Kelly . Both travelling to Sydney for work .

Coffee & a short wait before boarding 8.25am.

Good flight - 55 mins .

Late breakfast at ‘Stomping Ground Brewing Co’ - Latte & Bacon & egg roll.

Wandered airport , bought a sandwich for lunch then headed to our departure lounge for our 1.10 pm.

Our flight didn’t get away until 1.35pm arriving in Launceston at 2.25ll pm. Bags slow to appear !!!

Picked our car up at 3pm - Mitsubishi Outlander .

Headed to our hotel ( Village Family Hotel Sth Launceston) . Basic but clean . Close to Cataract George for our visit tomorrow before heading north .

Unpacked then into the city centre . Browsed shops before heading to Wollies for supplies .

Pizza & red wine for dinner .

Early night after an early start .