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Tasmania & New Zealand
  • Lucy M
  • Colin Martin

Tasmania & New Zealand

with side dishes of Tokyo, Sydney & Dubai
A record for us - if anyone else is reading, hope you enjoy 😊 Read more
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  • Tasmania & New Zealand
    12

    First beach walk

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Snug Beach, a lovely small stretch of beach, where the waves (a mix of sea and River Derwent) gently lap against the shore.

    After just a few mins, our brainwaves are lulled into relaxed calmness, where thought and the issues of the modern world seem pointless. What a lovely state to be in 🫠Read more

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    Bruny Island

    February 23, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    A must visit, according to all the guidebooks, so that was enough for us. Thankfully much cooler today, after the scorching temps of yesterday.

    There are various ways you can get to Bruny, but with the organised tours pricy, starting at 7am (nope!) and the itinerary, dictated to you, we opted to take Sheila across on the ferry ourselves. A great plan as it turned out, the ferry is larger but similar to the Sandbanks Ferry (no chains though) and you roll on/off very efficiently.

    Bruny has a long ‘good’ road down its spine which we drove along, and smaller gravel roads elsewhere which were off limits to Sheila.

    The coast line was beautiful with empty beaches, pure white sands and just our footprints.

    There were foodie stop offs en route, cheese, beer, chocolate, oysters (the word shucked new to me) and a place for a cuppa.

    The island has a narrow double sandbar, called ‘The Neck’, keeping the north and south bits tethered. We had great views of The Neck from an observation platform (with way too many steps 😬) and the accompaniment of relentless howling winds as we climbed.

    We popped into some of the foodie shops, and encountered ‘a disgorged from their coach’ tour group, taking over the chocolate shop, as we exited.

    Having finally stowed everything from our bags away in the morning (stowed, never to be found again) we had a clear run at dinner, managing to eat at a reasonable time.

    Great first day with Sheila, who I think enjoyed it too 😁    Read more

  • Tasmania & New Zealand
    How many roos in this pic?1

    All creatures great & small

    February 24, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Bye to Snug Beach…...

    Woke to bright sun and warmth after a cool 24 hours. First stop today Bonorong Wildlife Park, on the way to Scamander, our second campsite for the next two nights.

    We’ve driven from the south of the island to the east coast. Possibly our longest drive of the trip, on virtually empty roads.

    The wildlife park is a sanctuary for injured and rescued animals, there for the animal’s benefit not ours. Some inmates are now in breeding programmes, keeping their endangered species alive.

    A lovely couple of hours seeing Tassie devils, echidnas, birds of all plumage and shriek levels, and feeding the ‘roos and wallabies*. Oh and one bunny!
    My idea of heaven.

    * roo / wallaby slobber comes as standard!    Read more

  • Tasmania & New Zealand
    Out of bounds to me!Col's clothes cubbyThe middle draw is a rebel21Travel bun

    Sheila - all you need to know….

    February 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Sheila is a 4 berth van, although you’d have to know the other occupants very well to make it work!

    There’s a bed that at the flick of a switch raises/lowers. I say flick of a switch, but I need Lofty II (my trusty footstool) to reach it 😁

    There’s a ladder to the bed when in it’s nighttime configuration. It needs an agile spine twist and robust knees, to get up and down - neither of which I can boast these days. Negotiating the ladder makes night loo visits treacherous, so I’m trialling sleeping on the lower bed level for a bit! This still comes with its own treachery though, I might be short, but the lowered penthouse ceiling can administer a sharp head butt 🤪 to the unwary (experience talking).

    As on our last trip, there are cubby holes for all our bits, and you cram whatever fits into them (13 cupboards/drawers). The order one might enjoy at home (clothes, condiments and coffee in their allotted places), those noble principles slip in a van. It’s dog eat dog, everything out for itself. If the teabags, toothbrushes and t shirts fit cozily altogether in one cubby hole, so be it.

    The bathroom is great for ‘hidden’ storage. I brought * along suction hooks, so towels, washing bags etc can hang in there minding their own business.

    When on the road, particularly if it’s a twisty turny route, the middle drawer, suddenly launches itself, landing with a massive and terrifying thud on the floor. We then have pull over sharpish, in case it comes careening towards us up front!

    I’ve silenced the cackling crockery and screechy saucepans by adding a sheet of kitchen roll between them all. It’s calmed the interior massively, making for a quieter, less fraught ride.

    I’ve already mentioned the microwave, which is in the clouds, even Col has to stretch to get food in and out!

    The window blinds are good, but when they’re down, the cord disappears right up, and only Col can reach the cords to pull the blinds up again.

    Always take a tall grown up with you when travelling 😂

    Leaving:
    Stow EVERYTHING away. Make sure all cupboards are firmly closed, count you have pushed in 10 buttons. Unhook the life support systems from outdoor taps and sockets. Turn off electrics, pump and gas inside. Prey you haven’t forgotten anything and set off. Simples!

    Returning:
    Plug in all sorts, switches on inside, kettle on, charge phones etc, blinds down, PJs, dinner, bed prep and sleep 😁

    I think that’s everything…….

    * I also brought a veg peeler, cheese grater, small sieve, folding scales and whisk! We’re staying in a lot of places, and some kitchens are better equipped than others 😬    Read more

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    Freycinet NP

    February 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Love a day when we don’t have to check out at 10am!

    Drove to see the blow hole at Bicheno, great to watch, loved the echo boom just before the sea squeezed through. Some folk stood quite close to the blow hole, but they all escaped a drenching (to my disappointment!)

    We then debated how we could see Wineglass Bay, another Tassie ‘must see’. The recommended boat trip was an early start and over 4 hours, and the walk (more of a hike) was beyond my capabilities. We were almost resigned to not seeing the Bay, when we saw the ‘scenic flight’ sign, calling out to us. We’re a sucker for those, so we called to check availability and within the hour were strapped into a helicopter. Great flight, but 25 mins just not long enough! Amazing views, and seeing the vista from above was defo the most spectacular option.
    (Note to self, be very nice to the bank manager when we get home)    Read more

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    Good morning
    1

    New routines

    February 26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    At home my morning ritual is done without thought, I reach and the teabags are there, I don’t need bucks to put the washing machine on etc.

    Here each day needs brain cells, which, so soon after waking up, is tricky 😵‍💫.

    Anyway, gradually a new morning routine is forming. Today felt the easiest yet, so maybe I’ve found my groove!

    Yesterday, on the way back to our site, we stopped near a beach and had a brew. As well as an electric kettle we have a whistling one for the gas hob, which we can utilise when we’re not hooked up to the camp electrics. It’s unbelievably satisfying to be able to stop and make a cuppa ‘in the bush’.

    We need to go to Coles or Woolworths (=Tesco) every 2-3 days. We need discipline as we’re unlikely to use up some foods (herbs) before we fly off to NZ, but inevitably our eyes get drawn to things (noodles) which then (annoyingly) sit in the cupboard unused. I guess at home every thing gets eaten eventually and it’s hard to get out of that buying habit 😬

    So we need to check out at 10am, but it’s lovely to take a few mins sitting in a bright sunny camper having our brekkie, wondering what today will bring 😊    Read more

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    Next destination

    February 26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Left Scamander Sanctuary site this morning, en route to Launceston. Had a wander around the nearby town of St Helen’s for a bit, then headed inland and west from our location on the east coast, taking in a couple of look out points as we went.

    This trip was on the A3, suggesting a good tarmac road (which it was). What we didn’t know was that the road would wind its way through the mountains and forest, hairpin turn after hairpin turn, snaking through, with a constantly changing, uneven camber. Add to this Sheila’s own bounce and sway and it was not the most comfortable of rides for the passenger 🤢 or driver, as it went on for a good 2 hours or more.

    So you can imagine the relief we felt, reaching our final destination for the night, the Big4 campsite in Launceston. We did our usual arrival duties, Col plugging in cords and hoses, me getting things ready for the evening etc.

    Just as Col had sat down for a well earned beer, I plugged in the kettle for a much needed cuppa but the kettle wasn’t working. Not wanting to appear stoopid, I checked the plug, internal panel switches etc but all was as it should be - and yet no leccy…..    Read more

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    Launceston - we have a problem….

    February 26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    ….. Long story short, Col has deduced something electrical has probably become detached inside Sheila, likely due to our rollercoaster ride earlier.

    We can use the main hook up lead as an extension, to power one electrical thing at a time, but we have no mains coming in to power the van as a whole. Some small items work off the battery (approx 24 - 30 hours or so of stored power) but not all.

    At least we haven’t broken down on a remote road somewhere - that would be 100 times worse. We’re on a comfortable site, we have the essentials, for now, but I can’t pretend my stress levels haven’t gone up. It’s a measure of a company, when they have to fix something, so I hope this is little more than a minor hiccup. Hopefully we’ll get a call in the morning and all will be sorted 🤞🏻

    Meanwhile, here’s a pic of me washing up, standing on my trusty stool, so I can reach the sink properly 😂😂😂    Read more

  • Tasmania & New Zealand
    New thingymajig

    Launceston - we had a problem

    February 27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    So the electrics issue may have been a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, but getting it sorted was a major headache. I said a company shows their true colours when they have to fix an issue. I could rant, rage and weep* on this post over the way THL, who oversee the vans, dealt with our issue, but I’ll save that for my complaint comms 🫤

    It took 24 hours for an angel, real name Steve from LES to arrive and fix the fault. LES’s efficiency have been the polar opposite of THLs 😠

    Our new best friend was able to switch out the errant thingymajig and we’re up and running again. It took him 20 mins.

    Col, an excellent problem solver himself, worked out the issue earlier, so was able to point Steve in the right direction.

    Hopefully that’s our drama done and dusted for this trip😬🤞🏻🫤

    * have done all three today    Read more

  • Tasmania & New Zealand
    1Wish this moult would hurry up

    Little penguins

    February 27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After a slow day, starting with me having a treatment to ease my aches, a quick trip into the town centre (Launceston being Tassie’s 2nd largest town) and the tedious waiting for the electrics to be fixed, we decided to tick at least one of the things off our must see list: seeing little penguins coming to shore.

    This was a ‘night activity’, something we don’t do often as sites don’t like you coming back late / in the dark. Also we have a very strident reversing ‘beep beep’ which would wake the dead (we drove straight in to avoid a camp mutiny).

    So off we set, Chinese takeaway in tow. We stopped to have our food and bush cuppa, then onward to Low Head, where the tour started. Lovely skies and a sunset accompanied us on our drive.

    The conditions seemed perfect, but turns out the little guys prefer more wind and higher tides - nevertheless eventually a few small groups land and start their slow waddle and preening process, past us and up to their chicks and burrows. Some indulging in flirting with other penguins as they go by (they’re not averse to a bit of ‘no strings’ hanky panky).

    It’s moulting season, so a few looked like fluffy toys, with feathers puffed out at odd angles. They’re at their most un-appealing to others in this state, so can only observe the others having fun!

    It was an adorable sight as they waddled past, they’re tiny, the smallest penguin breed (30-35cm) tall *. Our guide was mega knowledgeable, you could tell she adored them and her job.

    We drove back to Launceston (about an hour) making sure we didn’t squish any wildlife - the roads and verges defo come to life at night. There were loads of pademelons (sm wallaby type creatures - loads on our site too), bunnies and other critters I can’t name.

    We (and they) get home in tact. Fab evening, full of cuteness 🥰

    * I love how their shadows make them seem bigger than they really    Read more

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    Near camp amenities
    Google pic

    Pademelons

    February 27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Weird name, but very cute wallaby type creature (large cat/ small dog size).

    They are (we’ve been told) devoid of brain cells so given the choice of avoiding a car they seem to be attracted by the prospect and consequently get squished, however careful the driver. This then attracts any scavenging Tassie devils, putting them at risk.

    Sadly there are lots of little furry bodies lining the sides of most roads.

    We have pademelons on our site, if popping to the loo when it’s dark, they’re foraging amongst the leaves and when scared, they lope off like ‘roos.    Read more

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    ⚠️Arachnophobe klaxon⚠️

    February 28, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I can’t stand spiders, so why do I have a morbid fascination and terror for the Aussie ones 🤷‍♀️

    Col had a VERY close encounter today, when removing the electric plug from the camp socket cubby 😱

    Very sorry folks …..    Read more

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    Cataract Gorge

    February 28, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Cataract Gorge is about 5 mins round the corner from our site. It was Launceston Cup day, which might explain why there were lots of folk at the gorge today, think everyone had an unofficial day off. On a midweek Wednesday, there should only have been a few seniors (us included!)

    We jumped on the chairlift and traversed the gorge basin, it was quiet, calm and the views were beautiful. After a cuppa we wandered back over the suspension bridge and back to the magic bus. The sun was hot and think we both caught the sun at that point, as we’re sporting vibrant pink patches now 😬

    Next stop, Platipi…..    Read more

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    More creatures…..

    February 28, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Platypus - first time seeing these guys for real. This was a sanctuary for ‘platipi’ who have been rescued and recuperated, but can’t be released into the wild. There’s no breeding prog, as they’re not endangered, but knowing a baby platypus is called a puggle is a first class fact 😁

    We know what they look like, but seeing them for real, they look like they’ve been made up from a box of spare parts or a kids drawing - cute and surreal! The males have a venomous barb near their back legs - you’d really know about it, if it got you - an induced coma or amputation being one of your possible treatment options. Plus they lay eggs - WTF?!

    They’re very sensitive and easily stressed, so don’t travel well, which is why the only place you can see them is Aus & San Diego(?).

    Echidna - turbo hairbrushes! Bigger than hedgehogs, but equally adorable, they scooted around us on short legs, in their purpose built room. Their spines were laid flat so when they squeezed past it was like a gentle brush against our skin. They have very long wormy tongues, and in the wild cover a lot of ground, hence never keeping still.

    Seahorses - a breeding programme to supply tanks / aquarium around the world. They can birth up to 1000 babies (the male does this and the aftercare!) so the tanks were swarming from newly birthed, nursery to teenagers. We got to gently handle a couple - but not sure how much they enjoyed it tho…..

    Octopus - just having a good tentacle stretch

    The only critter I have yet to see - and want to very much - is a wombat….    Read more

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    King Solomon’s Caves

    February 29, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Bye to Launceston (you pronounce the ‘ceston’ bit fully - no silent vowel!) I’ll remember you (sort of) fondly for the annoying issue with our power on arrival and the 🕷️.

    Onward to the North coast, but before we got there, we visited the King Solomon’s caves at Mole Creek Karsta NP.

    A bit of a drive on some now familiar twisty turny Tassie roads. The caves were amazing, fabulous calcite formations, which took millions of years to form. The clever lighting brought out the best of the stalactites and stalagmites. When the guide turned the lights off, it was a thick, inky, black which you could almost feel. Excellent caves, well worth the snaky detour.

    After a spot of lunch parked up at the visitor centre, we started the drive to our next site, Boat Harbour Beach. Yet another rollercoaster drive, as we set off up hills, through forests, round hills and acute switchbacks, through more forest, down hills - you get the idea. When we arrived on a proper road again it was a huge relief.

    Eventually we hit the larger than expected north west coastal town of Burnie, which signalled our end destination was upon us at last.

    As we drove into Boat Harbour, we saw the water again (the Bass Straight this time, which separates Aus from Tassie). Having been inland for a few days, this was a very welcome change.

    After a walk on the beach to get some fresh air and be attacked by flies, we checked in with the rather ‘off beat’ site owner. Our pitch is quite high, and we can see the sea (so to speak).

    Once it was dark, we stepped outside and the skies were awash with stars. The Milky Way and large & small Magellanic Clouds were instantly visible with the naked eye. Unbelievable and breathtaking.

    In the UK, you forget the skies can look like that. I expect the locals just take them for granted…..    Read more

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    Doorstep of doom

    March 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    At least once a day (but often more) when we’re on the move, I drop something. It never falls down at my feet - oh no - it manages to funnel itself down the side of the door, on to the low step I need to scale, when getting in /out of Sheila. The item is always dropped before I’ve used it, not when I’m putting it back into the glove compartment having done whatever. This makes me sooo frustrated! I can see the thing but won’t be able to reach it until we stop and I’ve climbed down.

    Yesterday’s unattainable item was my hand cream (slither of pink in pic) 🫤

    Today: tissues & my sun hat 🤷‍♀️    Read more

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    Pinch, punch…. 1st of the month…

    March 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Table Cape lighthouse and lookout….
    The campsite host threw in the suggestion as we were heading out, that we visit Table Cape lighthouse ‘just up the road’. It was close, but up the road here can sometimes be different to my definition! Anyway it was worth the slight detour to our plans.

    Wings Wildlife Park - see next post….

    Penguin (a town)
    Named after the fairy or little penguins, like those in Low Head, they come here to roost and breed as well.
    We stopped on the foreshore, made a brew, sat on a perfectly placed bench commemorating Max Dazeley (thank you Max) and took in the sea view.
    As well as the big penguin, I loved The Tardis community library ♥️    Read more

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    Getting from A-B

    March 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Col is doing all the driving, which we’re both mega grateful for 😂

    I’ve already blathered on at length about the roads here, snakey, sneaky, slopey and steepy (or are they some of the seven dwarves🤔)? One redeeming feature is that thankfully, there are very few pot holes* Sheila (and I) would hate those.
    * There were a LOT of pot hols on our last Aus trip 😬

    When we’re driving through the forests, with extremely tall trees either side, steep drops, gulleys, and sheer cliffs, the place does feel ancient and other worldly. Then you meet a coach coming towards you and it’s an ‘eyes closed, breathe in’ moment 😳

    Many of the trees are native huon pine, which grow a millimetre a year, and their wood is feted as one of the best for building, carving etc. The tallest tree can be over 2000 years old, and their root systems spawn more trees, so a whole bank of huons could be one mega organism.

    When we manage to find ourselves on a decent dual carriageway, they’re pretty much empty and we make good progress. Sadly these roads seem to have been a bit of a rarity on our longer cross country trips.

    Just realised the pics are from ‘good’ roads. I can’t take pics on the twisty roads, usually hanging on to my seat 😬    Read more

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    3

    A wombat called Sunny

    March 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Wings Wildfire Park….
    The desire to see a wombat has been building….. We didn’t get a chance to visit Maria Island, a wombat haven, so I needed the next best thing.

    This park was recommended by Cheryl at work, so was on our must do list. The drive was further than expected and at the end of another of Tassie’s famous circuitous roads 😳

    As well as general entry, Col bought me a wombat encounter! After cooing over the koala (Blinky, a rescued joey from the SA fires, a few years back) we proceeded to Sunny, the juvenile wombat’s enclosure.

    I sat on a bench and had a barrel of young wombat plonked on me. She was totally adorable ♥️
    Sadly her mum had been hit by a truck, and Sunny was found in her pouch ☹️

    After a while Sunny became restless, so her handler put her down and she started chewing on my trainer laces, her fave thing! Then she got an attack of the zoomies, following on my heels as I walked around her enclosure, she kept up despite her little legs. I loved meeting her - what a cutie!

    We then wondered around seeing the other critters, devils, potoroos, fed the wallabies, ‘roos, etc. Sadly, we didn’t really give ourselves long enough for them all, but having a wombat sitting on my lap had to be the highlight!    Read more

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    The Nut

    March 2, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    After an unexpected and unpleasant cold shower (my worst nightmare!) we visited Stanley, home to ‘The Nut’. An ancient volcanic remnant, that sticks up and out of the tip of Stanley. We (literally) jumped in the chairlift and up we went, getting blown about like a feather in a brisk wind. Fab views from up top, well worth the ride. Oh and we met a wild echidna, having a good old grooming sesh.

    The beauty of Sheila is that we can stop pretty much anywhere and make a cuppa and a snack.

    Today’s lunch break is at the base of The Nut, overlooking a gorgeous half moon bay. Bliss.

    When we got back we dipped our feet in the sea on the beach close to where we’re staying. It was quite fresh, but it felt soooo good!    Read more

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    The road to Strahan (‘Strawn’)

    March 3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Up and off promptly as we’re ‘movin’ on’ today. Said goodbye to the idyllic beach round the corner from the camp, wish I could take it with us, it’s so lovely.

    So we’re off to ‘The West Coast’. It’s a very windy day and in high sided Sheila, we felt the wind buffeting when parked up, so driving in it……an extra dimension for Col to battle (not to mention the much ‘loved’ serpentine roads!)

    We found ourselves driving past Emu Valley, rhododendron garden which kept coming on and off our ‘to do’ list. We decided to go in and despite a complete absence of flowering rhododendrons (wrong season!), we had a lovely, if not bracing, windy walk. The Japanese garden was beautiful. We even saw the head of a platypus peeking out one of the lakes.

    Then we got on with the business of driving, or rather Col did, I tried to keep the music going in between snoozes.

    The drive was about 3 hours or so, but it felt way longer. We stopped in at a lay-by near Rosebury for the usual refreshment, then eventually arrived at Strahan late afternoon.

    Still very windy, as we arrived and we were parked up under massive trees which swished constantly, with each gust! We hunkered down for the night, but it’s defo going to be a cold one 🥶    Read more

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    Gordon River cruise

    March 4, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    OMG a 6.30am wake up needed, so we could be off and out by 7.45am. Luckily this ridiculous early start proved to be well worth it. We boarded a cruise gliding through Macquarie Harbour and down the Gordon River, which was excellent.

    Great scenery, staff, boat and service, couldn’t fault a thing. The mirror effect on the river was beautiful and compared to yesterday the weather was 100% improved.

    It was so quiet on the water, as the boat had a stealth mode, so you could feel the quiet and tranquility (despite it being a full of passengers!)

    As well as a buffet lunch, we had a walk through the forest and around Sarah’s Island, a notorious penal colony. The history was fascinating and so well told by our guide.

    A great day, but boy, are we knackered now!    Read more

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    West Coast Wilderness Railway (WCWR)

    March 5, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Before leaving Strahan, we went on the WCWR. We had to book this way before we left home, having no idea whether it would be good or not!

    Well it was good - phew!
    The trip was on a beautifully restored heritage train. The interior of each carriage was fashioned from a native wood - our carriage ‘Teepookana’ was crafted using sassafras wood, which was a beautiful pale colour. There was a thoughtful and informative commentary, which we actually wanted to listen to!

    The train wound its way at a leisurely pace, along the banks of Macquarie Harbour, and through temperate rain forest. The track was built to service the copper mining industry, back in the day. The track and train were restored in the early 2000s, and it now attracts people like us, bringing much needed employment and business to Strahan (as did the cruise yesterday).

    We were seated opposite a Brummie couple, whose holiday was even longer than ours! They started on a world cruise in January, leaving the ship at Sydney to do their own thing.

    The return trip was a peaceful 3 hours, after which we had to hot foot it back to Shelia for another 3 hour (less peaceful) journey - to a middle of nowhere placed called ‘Wayatinah’, our next stopping point for two nights.    Read more

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    2Website pic
    2Campers having a gossip about us lot! Sheila is far right2

    The middle of nowhere

    March 6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Wayatinah, our current site, is dead centre of Tassie. Apart from a big hydro power plant, there’s not a lot else around here.
    Having said that, we’d been told about The Wall:
    https://thewalltasmania.com.au/
    about an hour’s drive away at Derwent Bridge. Off we went, not sure what to expect, but it was a series of large wooden (huon pine) panels, with the most incredible carvings, and an amazing level of detail. Some depicting Aussie struggles & history, other panels open to interpretation. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside but I’ve attached a pic from their web page and some pics of the outdoor artwork.

    When there, Col bought me the cutest carved echidna (sassafras wood)!

    We realised we were close to Lake St Clair, so took a short detour there, before heading back. Lake St Claire is Australia’s deepest fresh water lake. We only saw a small part of it, as a full scale hike wasn’t on the plan for today!

    We’ve encountered quite a lot of ‘one horse towns’ on this trip, and Ouse (‘Ooze’) is one of them. We had to go there as Ouse has the only IGA (modest supermarket) for miles, and that’s pretty much all it had! Amongst other things, I was after some rice crackers, but they don’t know what they are in these parts 🤷‍♀️

    Now back at the camp, feet up and chilling a bit, which we haven’t done that much of, as we want to see and do as much as we can!    Read more

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    From nowhere to somewhere

    March 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    After two nights in the middle of nowhere, today we’ve made our way to somewhere: Port Arthur. The drive was about 3 hours, but the roads were open and not as twisty as previously. We started going through larger and larger towns, where there were lots of people, ‘proper’ shops, and petrol stations (we’ve had to fill up at a self service petrol pump more than once). Compared to the tiny places we’ve been to, this felt like quite a change!

    As we reached the coastline again, we stopped at a couple of lookouts, before ending up at Port Arthur our last campsite of the trip, and our last night with the lovely Sheila ☹️

    Port Arthur was another well known penal colony. So much of Tassie’s history goes back to the internment of criminals from the UK. Many of the towns and villages we’ve passed through have UK place names, Bothwell, Gretna, Hamilton, Osterley, Beconsfield, Chudleigh, Sheffield, Tewksbury etc. To coin a phrase, ‘there’s no place like home’, guessing the prisoners and those eventually released, must have been terribly homesick, naming their new villages after the ones they left behind.

    We got to our site late pm, then spent what felt like several years disassembling each cupboard and cubby hole and attempting to pack things up. One of my least liked jobs, trying to replicate the organisational mastery, managed so triumphantly at home. The fear of knowing there’s always going to be ‘too much’ and it’ll never fit back in the original luggage is overwhelming. It also represents the end of our Tassie roadtrip, which is sad 😔

    We shall finish this miserable task in the morning - success is by no means certain….😬    Read more

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