Feb – Jul 2019

Tasmania and back 2019

We are going to spend about 6 months on this trip,
Take about 4 weeks to get to the ferry in Melbourne cross Bass Strait to Tasmania.
We will tour Tassie for about 10 weeks then cross back to Victoria and start a slow trip home exploring as we go! Read more

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Traveler Tasmania and back 2019
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- Day 48
- Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 1:41 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- Australia Constitution Dock -42.88243, 147.33049842°52’57” S 147°19’50” E
Sightseeing photos
March 21, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
We saw the Australia’s oldest brewery the Cascade brewery.
And some more lovely old buildings.
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- Day 50
- Saturday, March 23, 2019
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Australia Quarantine Station State Reserve -43.116131, 147.33040743°6’58” S 147°19’49” E
Bruny Island
March 23, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We have crossed over onto Bruny Island which no doubt would look spectacular on a bright sunny day! But we are going to view it when its wet and overcast but that’s the breaks when you travel during Autumn or Winter. The weather forecast is wet till Wednesday when its supposed to be nice and sunny.
Anyway we got to the ferry terminal and we were right up the front of the queue but then the loading guy comes along and said we would have to wait for the next ferry as this ones loading ramp was too steep, (I’m not sure if that was totally true) anyway we waited another 30mins then got on the lower deck of the Mirambeena car ferry and after a 20 minute voyage we were on Bruny.
We are staying at an off grid place for $5 per night its called Woodcutters Farmstay and there is only 1 other van here at the moment.Read more
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- Day 51
- Sunday, March 24, 2019
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia East Cove -43.366619, 147.33856243°21’60” S 147°20’19” E
Bruny island sightseeing day one
March 24, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
So much for the weather forecast as yet no rain today!!
After eggs on toast for breakfast we decided to have a short sightsee, as we are on a relatively small island we could drive to all the spots in one day but we have decided to stretch it out a bit (also Kay has a headache today so do not want to much bussing around bends).
We went to the neck which is a narrow stretch of land joining the 2 main land masses. I walked up the look out to get some photos.
Then we went to Adventure bay (this is where the only fuel outlet and general store are located) we saw the large globe artwork then went onto the Captain Cook memorial.
Kay’s headache was getting worse so we called it a day.Read more
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- Day 52
- Monday, March 25, 2019 at 5:50 PM
- 🌬 11 °C
- Altitude: 44 m
- Australia Mount Barren -43.486622, 147.14621243°29’12” S 147°8’46” E
Bruny island day two sightseeing
March 25, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 11 °C
Well the weather has deteriorated from yesterday, it was very windy overnight which had me a little concerned as we are so close to the waters edge, I got up during the night to lay the solar panels flat on the ground so that they didn’t get blown over and broken.
Anyway we still had some sights to see so first we went to the Quarantine station which is located on the next block from where we are staying, we only drove in and out as it was mainly sites where the building used to be and the history we have read about on the website.
Then onto Barnes bay which is where the original ferry terminal was situated before they moved to the deeper site they now use, there are some lovely sheltered bays on Bruny a boat owners paradise I would think. We then toured the island until we got the Mapel’s look out which is just short of the lighthouse. Then we went to cloudy bay where the sea was pretty rough but the wind surfers seemed to be enjoying it. From there we travelled along either fire or logging tracks through they forest until we came out at adventure bay then headed back to the caravan.Read more
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- Day 53
- Tuesday, March 26, 2019
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Australia Hardys Hill Nature Reserve -43.108204, 147.74668943°6’30” S 147°44’48” E
Nubeena ex serviceman's club
March 26, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
We left Bruny Island via the other ferry (same route different vessel)
On this one the ferry travelled forward while we were all facing the stern giving us the feeling of reversing all the way back to the Tasmanian mainland.
We dropped Sonny and Cher off at the Shelomith Kennels where they will be vacationing while we visit Port Arthur, this will save us having to leave them locked up all day in the car while we tour the historic former convict penal settlement.
We have booked into the Nubeena ex-serviceman’s club for 3 nights you pay $20 per night but they give you a $10 voucher to spend over the bar and they let us use the toilet and showers while the club is open.
To get here we crossed the Pitt Water Nature Reserve via 2 narrow causeways where the water can be blowing across the road.Read more
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- Day 54
- Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 9:30 AM
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 2 m
- Australia Big Possum Beach -43.147878, 147.8501243°8’52” S 147°51’0” E
Port Arthur Penal Settlement
March 27, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Well we had a big day today!! phew so tired, we visited the Port Arthur convict settlement, the guides are at pains to point out that this was not a settlement for the normal transported convicts! This was the place they sent the convicts that would not conform to rules that now applied to them, normally after they had been before the magistrate about 3 times for whatever crimes they were accused of they were sent to Van Diemans land port Arthur to be broken by using brutality to make them conform (but according to reports this generally didn’t work just made inmates worse) then they changed their methods to use isolation to break their spirits which drove them mad, so they built an asylum to house the nutters. Prizes will be awarded if you spot the hobbit in its hole.Read more
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- Day 54
- Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 11:37 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Australia Hardys Hill Nature Reserve -43.108444, 147.74641443°6’30” S 147°44’47” E
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Port Arthur more photos
March 27, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Well after a big day we returned to the caravan, phoned the kennels to check on our furry babies (by all accounts they are happy playing with other “inmates” sorry I meant resort guests (that’s what you get spending all day at a penal settlement).
So with Kay’s mind at rest we went over to the Ex-serviceman’s club for a drink and a meal, Kay had a nice juicy steak with a mushroom sauce (and the chef was very generous with the mushrooms) while I had my usual YES a “chicken parmigiana” surprise surprise, which was again huge we both left most of our fries to allow for the Kahlua cheesecake dressed in a berry sauce um um time for bed now.Read more
Traveler looks very interesting enjoy
3/28/19Reply
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Traveler Tasmania and back 2019
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- Day 55
- Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 8:30 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Australia Coal Mines Historic Site -42.988632, 147.71708342°59’19” S 147°43’1” E
Tasman Coalmine reserve
March 28, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
We went to have a look around the Convict Coal mine near the Saltwater township, we expected to see a deep mine shaft but it looks like its been filled in (shame) but there were ruins of the horses and cell blocks. You can only image how bad the conditions were for the convicts, spend the day down a dangerous coal mine come up for a good flogging the locked up in pitch black damp cell that’s not much bigger than most toilets.Read more
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Traveler Tasmania and back 2019
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- Day 55
- Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 8:39 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 37 m
- Australia Plunkett Point -42.988358, 147.71694942°59’18” S 147°43’1” E
Mine photos
March 28, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
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Traveler Tasmania and back 2019
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- Day 55
- Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 2:53 PM
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- Australia Egg Beach -43.020872, 147.92646243°1’15” S 147°55’35” E
Eaglehawk neck
March 28, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
After our time at the coal mine we moved on to Eaglehawk Neck which is a small isthmus that connects the Tasman peninsula with the Forestier peninsula, there is a small township there and a Tessellated Pavement, just up the road is another small town called Doo Town which is a holiday town where a lot of residents have used the name as a pun to name there houses like Do Drop in, Doo Ron Ron, Doo-all, and Do you like it, to name just a few. Just past here is the Blowhole (which wasn’t blowing as it was a calm day) the Arch and the Devils kitchen rock formations which are impressive to say the least.
Above Eaglehawk is an area called the Pirate bay lookout which gives a great overall view of the area.Read more
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- Day 56
- Friday, March 29, 2019
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- Australia Haystack Rock -42.186272, 148.0651442°11’11” S 148°3’55” E
Swansea (Tasmania not Wales)
March 29, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Big day today as we are up early only coffee for breakfast and off to pick up our furry kids, Kay had another restless night which is probably down to worrying about the pups.
After that we will refill our water tanks in Triabunna before staying off grid at Ye Olde Buckland Inn in Buckland.
Change of plans as Buckland place was unappealing so we went onto to a caravan park in Swansea where we are going to hole up for about 4 nights R&R
We saw a weird looking bridge called spiky bridge and the reason is obvious when you see the photos there is also a spiky beach which we didn’t get to see so not sure of the reason for the name.
When we got to site we set up and while Kay got on with the laundry I made myself scarce (gets me out hanging out the clothes) by taking the pups out for a nice walk around the headland which was good until Cher came over a bit weird it was like she was having trouble getting here breath so I gave her a bit of a carry while she calmed down (I’m hoping it’s down to her pulling against the lead and chocking her self, so will go back to using the harness and see how that goes or it will be off to the vet’s).Read more
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- Day 57
- Saturday, March 30, 2019
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia Waterloo Point -42.128559, 148.07896442°7’43” S 148°4’44” E
Swansea
March 30, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We have been away for eight weeks now the last four on Tasmania the weather has definitely cooled we are wearing jumpers Kay is wearing trackie pants but I’m still in shorts.
We took the pups for a run on the beach which is just behind the caravan park and there is a cut through to the beachside road.
We went into town to get some victuals, the town is small with only about 6 business outlets.Read more
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- Day 58
- Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 1:40 PM
- 🌬 16 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia Waterloo Point -42.128971, 148.0795942°7’44” S 148°4’47” E
Swansea out and about
March 31, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
We went out and about today first up we took the pups for a walk to the point where we sat and watched a couple of keen guys surfing.
Then we went to Kate’s berry farm for an early lunch Kay had Humbleberry pie with ice cream I had pancakes with a berry sauce and ice cream plus we had coffees.
Then we went to have a look at spikey beach but still don’t know why it is named that unless it’s because it’s over the road from the spikey bridge. We returned to town to visit the information centre and museum.Read more
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- Day 60
- Tuesday, April 2, 2019
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 182 m
- Australia Campbell Town -41.932878, 147.49419341°55’58” S 147°29’39” E
Campbell Town
April 2, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
We moved about 70km up the road to a lovely old town first established in 1822 and unlike most towns there are a lot of the old houses (not necessary from 1822 but old) are still here, there is an old bridge here called the Red Bridge which was opened in 1838 there are some 1,500,000 red bricks which were all made from the clay beds next to the river, amazingly the bridge carries 2,000,000 vehicles per year. We visited the information bureau and museum and then the bakery which has some awesome sausage rolls and scones.
The rest area is huge and free we are allowed to stay 2 nights so we will.
On the way we noticed that we are not far from home now.(see first photo).Read more
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- Day 61
- Wednesday, April 3, 2019
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 182 m
- Australia Campbell Town -41.932878, 147.49419241°55’58” S 147°29’39” E
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Campbell Town
April 3, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
It’s been a funny old day today as it came over really black the clouds looked like we were going to have a massive downpour and it got real cold but then the clouds blew over the sun came out and there was no rain.
There is a railway about 100 metres away but the trains only seem to run during the night we cannot really see them but it’s good their lights shining the way as they approach then leave and they blast their horns as there are a lot of level crossing. We hear them during the night but it doesn’t bother us.
Kay enjoyed herself feeding the ducks today.Read more
Traveler Good underarm action there Mum 🤔
4/3/19Reply
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- Day 62
- Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 10:04 AM
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 278 m
- Australia Griffin Hill -41.467675, 147.84966641°28’4” S 147°50’59” E
Griffin Park
April 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Wow what a cold night last night we think it got down to 2 dogs and there was frost on the ground outside the caravan, luckily the diesel heater was working although it did take a while, I’m hoping it doesn’t get any colder as I have heard that the diesel can freeze in the lines.
Anyway after some lovely hot cross buns we headed off the the dump point to get rid off our greywater and found a fresh water tap to refill our tanks ready for some off grid stays.
We passed through a couple of small towns Avoca and Fingal which were both very old.
We turned inland to camp in the state forest at the Griffin Park reserve, we are right next to a lovely babbling brook, it is very quite and serene here at the moment but we are a bit wary that come the weekend it may fill up with trial bike and quad bike enthusiasts as there are a lot of tracks around and about here, we will see how it goes, if it gets too rowdy we may move on Saturday and find somewhere else.Read more
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- Day 62
- Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 5:11 PM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 301 m
- Australia Griffin Hill -41.467347, 147.84936341°28’2” S 147°50’58” E
Griffin Park photos
April 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
I was out looking at the river when I saw a small creature hiding in the undergrowth it was trying to stay as still as possible hoping I wouldn’t notice it.
We had a massive rainstorm overnight with lightning and I meant to take photos of the campground showing how all the bike tracks had filled up with water but I forgot. I was in a rush to get away as we need to get phone reception to try and book a Vet appointment for Cher, she has developed something wrong with her chest she keep making like she is trying to bring up phlegm but nothing comes out and then she had a violent sneezing episode of 4 in a row where she nearly threw herself off her feet.Read more
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- Day 64
- Saturday, April 6, 2019
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 3 m
- Australia Lagoons -41.648206, 148.29793541°38’54” S 148°17’53” E
Chain of Lagoons campground
April 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Well when we finally got some phone coverage I called the vets but couldn’t get an appointment and with Cher not seeming so bad we have moved onto our next stop and will see how she is on Monday (we are hoping that it came on so bad due to the cold and damp of the forest).
We have managed to get ourself a great spot with a view of the Ocean from our dining room window (which is also our living room window, our rear kitchen window and close to Kay’s bedroom window).
We have been down to the beach for a stroll but we are having to limit Sonny’s running as one of his front legs is playing up which again could be down to the cold and damp of the forest.Read more
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- Day 65
- Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 9:46 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 2 m
- Australia Blowhole -41.880221, 148.30883241°52’49” S 148°18’32” E
Bicheno
April 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
The clocks went back to normal time today so only 2 hrs difference from WA. This throws your internal clock out meaning we woke up thinking it was later than the clocks said.
Anyway we set off for a sightsee headed south towards Freycinet we won’t actually go into the national park due to dogs not being allowed but we can see as much as we can on the way.
Bicheno was nice the costal scenery is outstanding, Tasmania is truly awesome in this regard.
We visited the Bicheno Blowhole and numerous other bays and had an extremely good day, which we finished off back at camp with a walk on the beach with the pups.Read more
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- Day 65
- Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 4:12 PM
- 🌬 17 °C
- Altitude: 32 m
- Australia Honeymoon Bay -42.1238, 148.28960542°7’26” S 148°17’23” E
Bicheno and Coles bay photos
April 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
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- Day 67
- Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 9:00 AM
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia Moulting Bay -41.299553, 148.27519241°17’58” S 148°16’31” E
St Helens and Bay of Fires
April 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
We took a trip in the direction we will be going after we leave the Chain of Lagoons, to view possible sites that we might move to, we did this to make sure it was worth moving the caravan, what we found was there were some really nice spots with ocean views at Swimcart Beach and Cosy Corner (which are in the “Bay of Fires”) but these sites were limited and the rest of the sites in these areas were really not as good as the site we are already on! (Privacy and ocean views). So we decided that as we couldn’t be sure of getting one of the good ones it would be better to stay where we are.
Anyway we took the opportunity to sightsee take photos and enjoy.
We visited St Helens had lunch in a Quaint little cafe did some shopping before returning here.
We watched a good DVD “Planet Terror” a Rodriguez blood and gore flick which was fun.
As the day had been nice warm and sunny so the night was clear and became quite cold, down to 7degs at one point (I ended up wearing trackie pants a jumper and a beany to get warm) we didn’t want to run the heater all night so only put it on at 6am.Read more
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- Day 67
- Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 1:00 PM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 35 m
- Australia Suicide Beach -41.174603, 148.27265941°10’29” S 148°16’22” E
Bay of Fires photos
April 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
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- Day 71
- Saturday, April 13, 2019
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- Australia Scamander River -41.467014, 148.26040641°28’1” S 148°15’37” E
Scamander Sanctuary holiday park
April 13, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Well after 7 nights off grid at the Lagoon beach we have moved about 30kms towards St Helens so that we can book into a caravan park (good deal stay 3 nights only pay for 2) as we need to do some laundry and Kay reckons I could do with a shower or two (that was a bit rude I thought) and she won’t accept my excuses of trying to save the planet by reducing water usage and not harming nature with all these soap pollutions.
But it is nice here as the sites are quite large and the amenities are like new, the showers are free although they are on a push button timer which allows you 7 minutes this is way more than the norm and they say if you want longer you just have to wait a minute then you can have another 7mins. (timed showers seems to becoming the norm at caravan parks in Tasmania and some actually charge you extra, around $2 per 4 minutes)
We could have stayed off grid if we had really wanted to if we used a laundromat or our generator to run our onboard washing machine and yes I could have used our onboard shower, but as Kay has already done 7 loads of washing and we have both showered and refilled our water tanks I think this way is best before we go off grid again for another week or so.Read more
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- Day 72
- Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 9:38 AM
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- Australia Policemans Point -41.062454, 148.29255741°3’45” S 148°17’33” E
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Ansons Bay and Policeman's point
April 14, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
You can tell the school holidays have arrived! The park is filling up with Rugrats and as usual they seem to think that the best fun is had by destroying anything and everything they can get at, which doesn’t seem to bother the parents as long as they don’t interrupt their drinking time.
Anyway we went out for another explore this time to Ansons Bay (which is so far off the beaten track that it amazes us that people would set up home in these place) and nearby Policeman’s Point, at Policeman’s point there is no housing just a boat ramp and a free camp which is similar to Lagoon’s beach in that it’s right next to the coast and has a set of toilets. If we hadn’t decided to come here to do the laundry we would probably have moved there.
On the way back we stopped in St Helens for coffee and cake.Read more
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4/19/19Reply
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- Day 74
- Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 10:00 AM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 80 m
- Australia South Mount Cameron -41.005277, 147.97053341°0’19” S 147°58’14” E
A Little Blue lake
April 16, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
On the way to our next over night stop at Petal Point we stopped to have a look at the Little Blue lake where we took some more photos there are 2 that are almost identical see if you can spot the difference its quite small so take your time (the last 2 photos)Read more
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