Arriving off the 6am ferry meant our first view of Tasmania was in the most beautiful frosty morning light with ribbons of mist lining the valleys. Ah…now this is what we came to see! At 2 degrees it was a bit fresh though!
After a much needed full 
English breakfast we drove to Cataract Gorge, in Launceston. It’s a Victorian reinvention of a natural gorge, tamed and civilised for afternoon strolls, brass bands, cream teas and, for the times, exciting rides across in a chairlift. It still has the original chairlift, which we had to do, and a bushwalk along the Gorge revealing its natural beauty too.
Ben also noticed a lot of very familiar places names here!
We’d arrived with a basic itinerary to work our way north from the port then travel right around Tasmania starting in the East. So we headed up to the Tamar Valley to Beauty Point, named not for its looks but rather after a favourite cow that unfortunately drowned in the Tamar many years ago, or at least that’s the story they tell the tourists?? There is also a coalmine here called Beaconsfield, which may ring some bells, because, in 2006, it was the scene of an mining accident where 3 men were trapped 1 km underground for 14 days, while their colleagues came up with ingenious ways to get them out. Unfortunately, only 2 men survived, but their unfolding story stopped the nation. The mine is now closed since it became unprofitable, but they have a great museum and let you wander all over the site, including the cage that took the miners underground.
Going down!
Teaching Cameron how to use a ‘dial’ telephone!
Beauty Point – Moo!
Another interesting stop here, requested by our own little Steve Backshall – Ollie – was the Platypus & Echidna House. It is a breeding and rescue centre for these monotremes (the worlds only egg-laying mammals). I had to apologise to Ollie here because I had scoffed when he told me they were poisonous, only to be told by their keeper that Platypus do have a poisonous spike on their hind legs that can make you sick for some months. Ollie was in heaven when we got to be in the Echidna’s run whilst they were being fed.
Platypus
On our drive east we stopped to see Legerwood, famous for its WWI memorial trees carved into wooden tributes to local war dead when the trees started dying. It was ingenious and moving.
Holiday House with a view!!
Coles Bay & Freycinet National Park was our next overnight stop. and we were amazed to see our gorgeous holiday house (amazing find Ben!!). It had wall-to- wall windows looking over the ocean and beaches. We drove the Freycinet National Park to do a long bushwalk down to Wineglass Bay. It is a goblet-shaped bay, but got its name during the whaling period when it was used as a slaughter bay when the water would turn red. The walk down was steep and really hard work but sitting on the white sand in the now pristine bay was well worth all the sweating! Before we left, we had an early morning walk on our own practically private beach collecting large shells and wishing we could take this view with us.
Wineglass Bay
Tasmania is famou
s for its culinary delights, and we therefore needed to do our own research. So leaving Coles Bay we stopped at the Freycinet Oyster Farm for some freshly collected oysters, Kilpatrick style and Garlic scallops – delicious! And of course great seafood needs fine wine so another stop at Devil’s Corner Vineyard filled the brief. Poor Ben was driving, but I was happy to do the tasting for us both and we came away clinking with some award winners! But if there is also an award for best view, this vineyard would win gold since it overlooks the simply magnificent Oyster Cove. Sipping wine, eating cheese, warm sunshine and incredible views, and it was truly hard to leave
Oyster Cove with the Hazards (mountains) in the background
Other unique road hazards
Whilst driving, we were all amused to see a sign on the side of the road reminding motorists to “Expect the Unexpected”, only to round the next corner to see a large brown snake slithering across the road. Ben just managed to avoid it and to satisfy his curiosity turned back to take a look. We later identified the snake as a highly venomous Tiger Snake.
Hobart was our next destination where we arrived on the same day as the Targa Rally (a tarmac rally race of about 100 cars of all type and age) and you could see them all at the Hobart Marina – Ben & Ollie loved it, Cam & I not so much. Salamanca Craft Markets was more my style for some excellent coffee and interesting food vans, including some delicious cakes to take away.
So far we think Tasmania is terrific; it’s historic, picturesque and untouched, three of our family’s favourite things.
aah those ‘old fashioned’ dial telephones.. ! of course I don’t remember them I think my mum told me about them ! xx
He was dead serious when he asked us how it worked and it felt very strange to be putting my fingers in the holes to dial!! Also told him about having a ‘telephone table’ in the hall, or are you too young to remember that too??
That’s my Mum’s phone! Still connected, still in use, everyday. Must have clocked up millions of hours of conversation by now 🙂
I may have a vague recollection …xx
We are so glad you are enjoying Tasmania. It is so diverse and the climate can change so much from one place to the next. Looking forward to catching up with you soon and hearing all about your adventures. Travel safely.
Thanks guys, yes we are really looking forward to seeing you soon too and swopping those travelling stories. A x
Wow – what an amazing place. Looks really beautiful. So funny that the kids don’t recognise dial phones! Leila asked me yesterday what a phone box was for, she genuinely couldn’t understand why we ever had to stand in a special box to make a phone call. Love to you all xxx
You would love Tasmania, parts of it remind us of New Zealand. Maybe add it to the itinerary of your next trip Amy!! We are sad to hear you are going home soon, we have missed meeting up with you en-route, but we’ll see you on the other side!
Axx
Many thanks for the travelogue, Adele. So pleased to learn the ‘wandering Walkers’ have had such a wonderful time in ‘Tassie’……we thought you might. For us, it remains one of our favourite parts of the world. We find it is a comforting reminder of times past…..before the rest of the world went mad. Hope you enjoy the rest of your
travels in Oz. We look forward to seeing you next month.
Love Pauline and Roger
xxxx
Tasmania is everything you said it was…and more. We even enjoyed the snow we had as it just made the national parks here even more beautiful, and it was a treat after all the heat of Qld. Could happily have spent 2 more weeks here. Really looking forward to catching up with you at ‘the party’. Our love to you both, Ax
Hi guys.
We will follow your path in next january. Flights and nights are already booked. Tasmania, Great Ocean Road and Melbourne/Sydney by road.
I hope you are well and you keep on enjoying your trip.
For us, one year more in New Caledonia then we go back in France.(or not)
See you later in Europe except if you want to visit us in NC.
Have a nice day.
Christophe.
Hi Christophe, sorry for the late reply but great to hear from you. Tasmania is amazing, as is the Great Ocean Road, let us know if you want any tips for places to stay, we would definitely recommend our accommodation in Hobart, Tarraleah, Cradle Mountain and Wine Glass Bay – all very reasonably priced. We will look forward to seeing where you end up when you leave NC! Hope the rest of the guys are well, keep in touch.
Hi Ben.
Happy to keep on following your australian trip on the internet.
We’ll be able to see you in Europe or not (I’m going to ask a job in Carrabean Sea but i’m sure you will find time for coming !).
We shall take off for the Vanuatu next week. (Scuba diving and trekking).
I hope you re well.
Keep on walking 😉
Christophe.
Thanks Christophe, we’ll have to add that to our list of places to visit! Ben
Hi Ben .
Vietnam seems to be a wonderful country. I hope we can go from France in a few years .
I forgot to send you the pictures of Vanuatu. The link is :
https://goo.gl/photos/Y3StsmiNWqqPARZA6
I missed my assignment in the Caribbean. So we meet again in the UK next time. Lisa wants to see boys and Harry Potter Park
Keep on walking 😉
Christophe
Hi Christophe, good to hear from you, sorry for the slow reply! Sorry that it didn’t work out in the Caribbean, when are you heading back to Europe? We will look forward to catching up again with you all in the near future, say hi to everyone. Thanks for the link. Cheers, Ben
Hi Ben.
I don’t no where you are now. Certainly return in UK.
I hope it’s not too hard for you to go back to routine.
I send you a link of our last trip in Australia.
https://goo.gl/photos/dzq3CUcb1Q8qS8wNA
I’m still waiting for my next assignement. I hope it will be South America.
Good bye.
Hi Christophe, great to hear from you, we have been meaning to post an update on our whereabouts so your message just prompted us to do so! As you will see, we are still in Australia where we have decided to remain for the foreseeable future provided I can find reasonable employment! We have a routine of sorts, the only difference from the UK is the weather and the fact that I am not currently working, but I hope that will change soon. Where are you guys now, back in France? South America would be amazing, do you know which country it would be if this happens? Your photos of Tassie are amazing, really stunning – we just looked through them and there are many places we recognise from our own visit last May. Philip Island also looks beautiful, that is somewhere that remains on our bucket list! I hope that we can keep in touch in the future, please pass on our best wishes to the rest of the guys.
Hi Adele.
It’s certainly not the easier choice but sure is the best. I hope you will be happy in your new life and i’m sure you will find a new interesting job in the near future.
The new Françoise’s assignement is Martinique. A French Carribean Island. So we don’t go back to France but we leave for the Carribbean Sea ! I take a training leave (I’m not sure of the translation but I go back to school learning english and spanish instead going to work during one year) waiting for my assignement in the Carribean too.
So we hope you will be ready for a Airbed and Breakfast soon ! 😉
A you stay in Australia you have to visit the Wilson Promontary National Park. The best place we visited for 4 years. (Wonderful Beaches and walking. Lot of animals. Very quiet place).
Best wishes to the rest of the familiy
See you soon.
Christophe
Hi Christophe, exciting times for you, I don’t think your family is destined to stay still – congratulations! Martinique, what a fantastic place to get a posting, we have never been to the Caribbean so don’t be surprised if we turn up on your doorstep one day! Is your own posting guaranteed in a years’ time? We have heard great things about Wilson Promontory, I think our families like similar places so its definitely somewhere (else) that we’ll put on our bucket list. Please give our best wishes to Françoise and the kids. Good luck in your new adventure and keep in touch. Best, Ben