• Christina Eylert

Tasmania and South Australia

Pengembaraan 35hari oleh Christina Baca lagi
  • Permulaan perjalanan
    26 Februari 2023

    Lets Go

    26 Februari 2023, Jerman ⋅ 🌙 -2 °C

    Early morning today, got up at 4 am, fixed the last stuff, had breakfast and left from home at 5 am to walk to the train station. Took me 17 min with the heavy back. The train came 8 minutes to late, but that was not a problem as we had to wait anyway until 5:58 am in Bremen-Mahndorf because of ongoing work. So we arrived in time at 6:06 am in Bremen Central Station. From there I took a taxi to the airport. I reached the airport at 6:18 am and the check-in counters were just about to open up. So no need to be there earlier than two hours. After check in and dropping of my back I went to the security check and all was done at 6:50. One hour left until boarding. Now I can start to relax. So far everything went so smooth, what a good start for my trip.
    Boarding was going smooth as well and we left in time. Can say that I really like flying with Lufthansa. Was not expecting anything on this short fly, but we got chocolate when we entered the aircraft, a bottle of water after take off and even one more time chocolate. Really nice! The weather is beautiful and it was a nice and calm flight to Frankfurt.
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  • Frankfurt

    26 Februari 2023, Jerman ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    I had a nice stopp over in Frankfurt. Talked to an couple also from Achim and had a second breakfast.
    So time was passing fast and boarding started just in time and at 11:30 am boarding was already completed. This time I am flying with an A380-800. This is the extremely big aircraft with two decks. Unfortunately there are no footrest 😥 First time Singapore Airlines without the footrest.
    And then we had to wait 1 hour until we got permission to take off. That was so enojing. We had to stay seated and one extra hour sitting in an airplane on a 12 hour ride is not funny. The take off in this big aircraft was amazing and very noisy. The wing was moving around quite a lot. Amazing and also a little bit scary to see how flexible it is.
    Before covid you always got a hot towel, this time not. To bad. The lunch though was really good.
    I am sitting beside a French family, the kids, grown up already, are sitting across the isle and the parents beside me. He can speak a little bit English so we can talk a little bit ever now and then and they are super friendly. So I am very pleased with me seat.
    The flight was smooth, just some light bump towards the end of the trip.
    We arrived at Singapore Changi Airport at 7:35 local time
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  • Singapore

    27 Februari 2023, Singapura

    In Singapore I have a 3 1/2 hour long stopp over. I started with walking around, as my knees really hurt this time, it was really nice to move them again.
    I must say I am super disappointed, my favorite foot massage mashines are not here anymore and I was looking so much forward to use them again. 😕
    Too bad. Wonder if they removed them because of Covid? 🤔

    I the beginning the warm and humid air was challenging me, but after a while I got used to it. But I am super tired and must they I not looking forward for another 7 1/2 hours on an airplane 😬
    Boarding was starting in time, we left Singapore 15 minutes to late. At least not one extra hour again.
    The flight was really bumpy in the beginning. Nothing bad but just all the time again and again. I am sitting beside a young girl from India. So I am lucky again with that. We talked a little bit, but we're both so tired and we're trying to get some sleep then. I must have been falling asleep a few times, but just for some minutes each time. It helps a little but, but I a so tired now.
    We arrived in Melbourne at 9:25pm.
    I cleared boarder control easy. The woman even started chatting with me about me trip and was really interested.
    After that I went to the baggage claim. Unfortunately they had some problems with the bags so we all had to wait quite a while for our bags. As tired as I am, I just wanted to leave the airport.
    Luckily my bag one one of the first ones to come. So I went straight to the last check of my bags. In the way in the line, a man ask for my declaration card and ask me what I have declared as I told him it's my snorkeling equipment and that I used it in Western Australia last time, i wanted to know if it's clean and as I said yes I got a stemp on the card hab just had to give it to the lady at the end of the line and was good to go. No further checks of my bags. Awesome.
    So I went to buy a Australian sim card and two sandwiches, booked an Uber and after 5 more minutes i was already on the way to my Airbnb, 15 minutes away from the airport.
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  • Melbourne to Hobart, Tasmania

    27 Februari 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    My Uber driver drop me off outside a secured living area called Watergarden Mews.
    From my host I got the pin for the security gade and it worked. I was a little bit worried about it.
    Then I "just" had to find house numer 55 in thet huge area. And of course, it was not one of the first houses.. No it was 8 minutes to walk to house number 55.
    But I found it!
    Had some trouble to open the door as the touchscreen was very sensitive and I touched a few times the wrong number, but after failing 4 times i made it at the fifth attempt. I tried to sneak in, to not wake up anyone that might be a sleep already as it's already 11:15pm.
    First of all i had a shower. Oh God that was Soo good! Than I packed up the few things I will need for the night, ate one sandwich and basically went to sleep.
    I slept very well, but woke up already at 5:49am and didn't manage to fall asleep again.
    So I was trying to take a nap but in the end gave up and had a sandwich for breakfast.
    After that I started to repack my bag, didn't went so well, but luckily I have the bag cover with some space for the stuff, that didn't fit in anymore.
    At 8:30am I left and walk to the main road where my Uber was picking me up at 8:45am. I arrived at the Melbourne Airport at 9:10am. Dropped off my bag, went through security and than had some time over until boarding. Also this flight is a little bit delayed.. So far not much, supposed to leave at 10:40am and now supposed to leave at 10:56am. We will see, which time we are really leaving..
    I found a place to sit and watch the guys unload and load my airplane, even saw my bag on its way into the aircraft. That was great. Also to really see, how many people are involved in parking, loading on and of, fueling up, deliver the catering stuff and all of this. Even saw the pilot check the airplane. Boarding was going smooth and fast, so hopefully we are leaving soon.
    Tassie here I come! 🤩
    After a short fly we arrived in Hobart at 12:10 pm. Got my back quick and went to pick up my car. That was also going fast and then I was on my way in to Hobart to buy the stuff I need. Unfortunately the first Kmart I stopped at, had basically nothing of the equipment i need. 😳 So I went to the second one, already think about, what I am going to do, if they also don't have a tent and so on.
    At the second Kmart store I got a tent! But there are no camping gas stove, no cutleries, nothing. It was even with the kitchen stuff impossible to get a normal knife. Totally crazy. So no low budget camping for me here, but that's ok. I also we t to buy food and was lucky to get the last cooling bag they had in store. Good that I ask the lady at the check out. I couldn't find them.
    Finally I was done and could leave Hobart to drive to Mount Field National Park.
    Baca lagi

  • Russel Falls, Mount Field National Park

    28 Februari 2023, Australia

    I didn't stopp on my way to My Field National Park. Sometimes there was no place to stopp where I would like to stopp and sometimes I missed the stops. But I think that was not so bad, i anyway arrived quite late at Mt Field National Park, around 4:20 pm.
    Went inside the Visitor Center and bought a National Park Pass. That one you need i all National Parks in Tasmania. I got one for 2 month, because so I just need to buy one and I am anyway visiting at least 3 parks and than it's also cheaper. And I don't need to remember and can also just stop and do a walk, if I see one. That's very good.
    As i was super tired the lady recommended me to to the walk to Russel Falls, Horseshoe Falls and the Tall trees Walk, what would take around 45 minutes.
    It is as a nice and easy walk to Russel Falls. And how beautiful are they. Falling down over many stairs. Really nice to see. The track to Horseshoe Falls was mich more challenging. Up hill it goes with a lot of stairs.. Nice.. 😬
    Had to stop only once to catch my breath.
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  • Horseshoe Falls and Tall Trees Walk

    28 Februari 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After making up all the stairs, it's supposed to be around 200 stairs, i think, it was a short flat walk to the Horseshoe Falls. Really nice this one's too, but I guess it's more impressive with more water running down.
    I have noticed, that it's quite dry everywhere. The grass is brown, you barely see some green grass around.
    From Horseshoe Falls ist a nice walk to the Tall Trees Walk. Also a really nice walk a little bit up and down, but not to bad. The trees are really amazing and it's hard to see the real size on the pictures.
    Unfortunately I saw no wildlife, just some birds. But no wallabies, Wombat, Echnidas or so. But maybe that's because I was so tired and it was hard to focus on the path on the way back. I might have missed them.
    Luckily it was just a short drive to my accommodation for to night, like 10 minutes or so. There I arrived around 6:30pm.
    I have booked Scouts Hall, really nice small apartment with all you need, except a place to cook. I had a shower and then I was "cooking" some rice in the microwave. That's actually worked out pretty good. Was eatable.
    And then I watched some TV and went to bed around 9:30pm.
    Baca lagi

  • Tarraleah Falls

    1 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    I woke up around 8 o'clock this morning. Have to admit that I have been awake quite a few times at night. There are many big trucks passing all the time and they are really loud. So I woke up many times. But still i got to sleep a little bit and I am feeling fresher than yesterday. I had a nice breakfast, packt up my stuff, tried to organize my car, but gave up quickly and left Scout Hall shortly before 10 am. First Stop, the berry farm at the end of the road to buy some lovely raspberry. Oh they are soooo good! 😋
    After that I went to Tarraleah Falls. It took me a little bit more than 1 hour to get there.
    It's so sad to see so many dead wallabies beside the road. 😥
    My first real wildlife encounter was.... A snake! I wondered what was laying on the road in front of me, as I get close i was like: Oh that's a snake. Luckily it was no other cars around as so I could drive around the snake. Later i learned that it was a black snake and the black snake is really comment here in Tasmania.
    The short walk to the Tarraleah Falls was very nice and easy in the beginning but became mor challenging after a while as it was going steep down the hill and I had to climber over and cross under some fallen trees. But it's anyway a really nice walk through a beautiful bush and the waterfall was really nice too.
    There is hydro station and the view from the viewing platform over the valley was really nice! From here I kept driving towards Lake Staint Clair.
    Baca lagi

  • Tungatinah Lagoon and Lake Binney

    1 Mac 2023, Australia

    Small stops beside the road in my way to Lake Saint Clair.
    The weather is pretty good, around 16 degrees and sunny every now and then. Partly als cloudy but it's not taking long until the sun ist back out. I like it! Could and especially should be worst.
    Fingers crossed so it's staying like this 🤞
    Baca lagi

  • Larmairremener tabelti & Platypus Bay

    1 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    On the way to Lake Saint Clair i finally saw some cockatoos on a field beside the road and also one wallabie! And close to Lake Saint Clair even an Echnida!! That one is a funny and cute looking little animal. Unfortunately it's pretty fast, as I stopped the car I looked in the back mirror and saw it running off into the bushes. So I didn't even got out of the car to look where it is. To bad, but I saw one!!! I will try to get a picture next time.
    I arrived at the Lake Saint Clair Visitor Center at 1:15pm. I asked the friendly stuff for a nice 1-2 hours walk and they recommend two to my. I decided to do the Larmairremener tabelti and Platypus Bay Walk. I started to walk to the Platypus Bay first with a big hope to see some Wombats and maybe even a Platypus. But I am not very lucky at the moment with the wildlife. There no animals around. Too bad. Though it was a really nice walk and the Platypus Bay remember me of Jurassic Park somehow. Don't know, the area made me look for dinosaurs to step out of the forest. Totally crazy.
    Then I did the other track, it's a aboriginal walking track with some signs with the history of the local tribes on.
    Also really nice walk through the bush. Hard to describe. It started to rain a little bit. But it was just some short shower of very light rain and the wind started picking up a little bit.
    For the way back I decided to take the path on the beach. Here it looked even more like Jurassic Park.
    Baca lagi

  • Nelson Falls and Horsetail Falls

    1 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    I stopped only twice on the way to Queenstown.
    First Stop was at Nelson Falls. Was lucky, it just stopped to rain for some minutes and it was only a short walk down there. Nice place, I am glad I stopped. Was first thinking to pass it.
    Second stop was at Horsetail Falls. I didn't walk there, you can see them from the road. Perfekt för me today. I am so tired now and just want to get to my accommodation.
    I arrived at the Mountain View Hotel around 6:30pm. I had to call the stuff to do the check-in on the phone. Must say my first impression of my backpackerroom tonight was, bad. Very bad. It was smelling very strange and looked super old. The bed was also very old.. Well that's what you get if you try to pay as less as possible 😬
    The shared bathroom was luckily nice, what made me stay. I first went to the kitchen and cooked dinner, then I had a shower and went to bed straight away. Tired like hell.
    Baca lagi

  • Frankland Beach Walk

    1 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    It is so nice here and I am still feeling fresh so I decided to also do the Frankland Beach Walk. Totally different, as it is along the beach with all the rocks and stones. Wind is freshing up more and more. So around the beach you need a jacket, if the track is closer to the trees it's to warm with a jacket. So I am dressing on and off all the time.
    Small showers every now and then but it's starts to get more cloudy so I guess that's not all yet!

    It's a nice and beautiful walk with an amazing nature around.
    After I finished the walk, took me around 1 hour I went back to the car and started to drive towards Queenstown.
    I saw one more Echidna on the road but also this was was running back into the bushes before I could even get out of the car.

    Edit: As I learned now, they are really, really rare and I can count myself very lucky that I saw two of them!

    It's around 1 1/2 hours drive to Queenstown. After around 1/2 it started to rain. And it was raining and raining all the way to Queenstown.
    Baca lagi

  • Road from Queenstown to Cradle Mountain

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    I slept better than expected.
    Woke up around 7:30 am. But spent some more time on bed. To lazy to get up jet.
    Must have been raining all night long. And it's still raining. Changing between a light rain and heavy rain all the time. Lovely...
    Got up and had breakfast and went then around 9:30am into town to the supermarket to buy some stuff I forgot to buy in Hobart. After that I went so a marketplace where I bought a hopefully warm blanket and even a hot waterbottle.
    Tonight it's camping time, no matter what. So I better be prepared. The lady there told me that she have sold many blankets the last couple of days to travellers at it has become quite chilly since last week's heat.
    After that I left Queenstown and it was raining and raining. So I will skip Montezuma Falls as I am not feeling for walking in the rain for 2-3 hours and I heard that the track is even on good days quite muddy. So no thank you! More or lass straight way to Cradle Mountain National Park! The weather can just be the same or better, worst ist impossible.
    I did some small stops at Lake Plimsoll, Lake Rosebery and the Mackintosh Dam. That was nice to in-between leave the car for a few minutes.
    Baca lagi

  • The Vale of Belvoir

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    As I came closer and closer to Cradle Mountain National Park the weather got slightly better and better, even the sun came out mor often. 🤞
    I stopped at the Cradle Mountain Lookout where you have a super nice view over the Vale of Belvoir.
    This landscape is amazing. I am looking forward to explore the park.
    Baca lagi

  • Dove Lake - Cradle Mountain

    2 Mac 2023, Australia

    I arrived at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center around 12:30 pm. I packed my back anf fixed some wraps for lunch and then went inside to get some information about the walks and to get a ticket for the bus. And i couldn't believe it, suddenly the sky cleared up and the sun was coming out! Perfect timing!!
    You can not drive into the National Park on your own, you have to hope on one of the busses that is leaving every 10-25 minutes at each of the 4 stopps.
    I decided to dive to Dive Lake first. That is the last stop.
    As we just left Ronny Creek, one stop before Five Lake, the bus driver said: oh there is a Wombat already awake. It's cold enough today to be up so early already . I wanted off the buss now, but that was not possible. So i was hoping he'll be there when I come back.
    Was thinking about doing the Dove Lake walk, around 2 hours around the lake, but unfortunately a section of the track is closed at the moment so I did just the short walk to the boat shed.
    Could even see Cradle Mountain with out any clouds around him! What a beautiful place, I am so in love with this place already.
    I went back to the buss station and jumped on the next buss.
    Next stopp Ronny Creek.
    Baca lagi

  • Ronny Creek - Wombat Parade

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    As I got off the buss at Ronny Creek I scanned the hill for the Wombat. But he/she wasn't there anymore. Started talking to a couple from Australia on the way and as we came around one corner, there was a Wombat! 😍 Quite far away from the track but I got so happy, I couldn't believe it. He then said after a minute or so, well there is not just one Wombat, there are actually three of them. Look more to the right and you see a mummy with her baby. That was such an amazing moment. I was almost crying, it was really touching me to see them.
    Then we heard from people walking back to the buss station, that there is one mor just around the next corner, right beside the track.
    I am in heaven.
    Found even one more, closed to a bridge.
    Had number four walk right beside me over the track. Saw nr five on the way back to the buss station. One more closed to him, but I think that was nr one. 😉 So I will not count that one.
    And then one more right beside the track closed to the buss stopp. Big smiles everywhere.
    7 Wombat around 2pm in the middle of the day within 30 minutes. How amazing is that!
    After that I went to the Ranger Station stopp, had some lunch. Totally forgot about eating with all the Wombats around.
    Here I want to go for some shorter walks.
    Baca lagi

  • Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    First walk up was the Knyvet Falls walk through a beautiful rainforest. Short walk of the track leads to Pencil Pine Falls. Lovely waterfalls but to crowed to i just took a picture and went on to Knyvet Falls.
    The track was going up and down a little, not to bad but a good training for my Canyoning Trip tomorrow!
    The walk is about to take around 45 min, I think I finished it in around 30 min.
    Knyvet Falls was a little bit disappointing as you are standing on top of the waterfall but you can't get down there. The rock formations were really special.
    Baca lagi

  • Enchanted Walk and King Billy Walk

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Next up the Enchanted Walk, super easy and nice walk beside a river. Started to rain though. Was waiting for it, as it got more dark clouds around. So I packed up my rain jacked and kept on going.
    Had to dress up a few times. In the sun it's warm, without fresh and with the rain almost cold. Funny game.
    But the walk was nice anyway. At the end of the Enchanted Walk i could continue to the King Billy Walk. Amazing old rainforest with Hugh trees. Really beautiful. Both walks together took me around 45 minutes instead of the estimated 1 hour.
    On the way back to Ranger Station I finally saw some Wallabies around the Giftshop. One was just jumping over the path right beside me. Amazing!
    As i started to get tired again, I just went on one more walk.
    Baca lagi

  • Rainforest Walk

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Last ones up was the Rainforest Walk.
    The shortest one of all, about 10 minutes. Also very nice and easy walk. Got to see the Penci Pine Falls from the other side of the river.
    After that I took a buss to the car park and saw another Wombat during the drive, Wombat Nr 9 😉
    Could be worst.
    I had a little break and then went to Devils@Cradle for the 5:30pm feeding tour.
    The one km there I could drive with my car as the sanctuary is just outside the Cradle Mountain National Park.
    Baca lagi

  • Devils at Cradle

    2 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Was there 5:20pm and got to take a look around the sanctuary for some minutes on my own.
    The tour started just in time.
    We got a lot of information about the Tasmanian Devil and the sickness that has killed 80% of them.
    To much to repeat here.
    They also have some Eastern Quoll, the small ones without with spots on the tail, they are on the red list already and really need more protection.
    The Spotted Tail Quoll, much bigger with white spots on the tail, are also in danger. So the sanctuary does a lot to keep these 3 Spezies native to Australia.
    So glad I did this tour. But I was very tired. The tour finished at 6:40 pm. I went to my car so I can get straight away to the campground. As i am in my way to start the car, I saw a Wallaby. So I got out of the car for a picture and then I saw the Wombat. Wallaby and Wombat at the same time. Amazing! Wombat Nr 10 for today 😉
    Then I went to the Campground just 15 minutes away from the Park.
    Well it's not a real campground. There are just to Dixie's and that's it.
    As i was very tired I had a sandwich for lunch, set up my tent and wanted to lay down as I started to talk to the German couple closed to my tent. Ending up talking beside a nice fire until 10:15 pm. It got really cold in the evening so I was wrapping up like a burrito and hoping to stay warm. 🥶
    Baca lagi

  • Canyoning

    3 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After an ice cold night with temperatures below 0 degrees and very less sleep I was not really feeling for getting out of my sleeping bag at 7:30am.
    Had cold feeds the whole night and just been sleeping some naps every now and then. The rest was okay warm, not very warm but it was okay. But the cold feeds kept me awake 😬
    I got out of the tent shortly before 8 am and
    decided I will have lunch in the car with the heat on. Trying to warm up. My car windows were still frozen, even though it's supposed to be 3 degrees "already".
    Shortly before 9 am I left the campground to drive to the visitor center to meet up with the Canyoning guides.
    I was just in time but actually the last one to arrive. My guides for today are Pat and Jackson.
    I got my equipment, wetsuit, warm neopren socks, shoes, helmet, lifwest and a harness. Packed down everything we need, got some instructions and then jumped into the buss to drive to the Ranger Station where we started our 45 minutes walk to the canyon. Good I did some tracks the last days. Was going a lot up hill but was good to manage.
    When we arrived to changers rock we got dressed up and walk the last step part down to the canyon. The trip starts with a 12 m abseiling down into the canyon, the point of no return. If you do that, you have to finish the canyon. There is no way out!
    We were all so ready for it!
    But gosh the water is cold! No problem with all the stuff on but the hands starts to freeze immidiatly when they come in contact with the water. So the whole trip everyone was trying to keep the hands out of the water as much as possible what was looking really funny 🤣
    Then it was a smaller jump for the warm up. A car seat jump as we were supposed to land on our bud. Shortly after that already the big jump, almost 7 m was waiting for us. We got our instructions and then everyone went down. It took me a second to encourage myself but I made it again and it was feeling great!
    Then we can to the laundry shoot, a big slide that got really fast. Super funny!
    With another big jump, a car seat jump, some swimming and some walking we made our way through the canyon until we arrived at our lunch break sandbank.
    The canyon is really beautiful. Can't really describe it, you have to see it.
    For lunch we had wraps, classic but so good. We could fill them by ourselves. MHH
    After that it was time for the next abseil, then another jump, the teacup jump as the pool looks like a teacup. We should to a yoga position at that one, what was really funny to watch.
    For the last jump we should do something funny.
    Adnd the very last waterfall, the smallest one of the day, we should look terrified when we slide it down. Think I nailed it! At least everyone was really laughing about my performance! 😂
    And then we were done! Almost to fast for me, not for my hands, they were just white since a while..
    The worst part still in front of us. Climbing out of the canyon 😬
    And I really mean climbing. Super narrow, partly extremely steep path to follow. Super challenging for some, some walked it super easy. Crazy. But we all made it. Had to stop a few times at the end to catch my breath. Had some guys waiting for me each time or even returning to look where I am as they didn't notice me stopping behind them right away. That was really nice of them.
    It should take around 20 minutes to changers rock, don't know how long it took me, but I made it! Worst was to do this climb in the wetsuit! Hard to bend your knees and move properly.
    So we got changed had a small break and then walked the 40 min back to Ranger Station to the buss that was already waiting for us. Back at the shop we helped our guides to unpack the bags and organize the equipment to big mountains. After that it was a goodbye to everyone one, we all had a great day!
    I went to my car and started driving towards Launceston around 3:30pm. Will see how far I am coming, but need to get some kilometers down, bad weather is ahead on the east coast.
    Forgot to say that this was the first day with really good weather, blue sky the whole day, 19 degrees! Awesome
    Baca lagi

  • Road to Hedspen

    3 Mac 2023, Australia

    Driving was going pretty good. Was expecting to be more tired after the last night and the day in the canyon. But it was going good, so I drove all the way to Hedspen, a small town outside of Launceston. 23 degrees here and some lovely Lorikeet welcoming me on the campground. Got to call the owner as the reception was already closed since one hour at 6 pm. But they had a free tent side for me so I could stay and started building up my tent, had a shower and then was cooking diner. Talked to an older lady for a while and as I first couldn't figure out how to turn on the oven she invited me to her cabin to cook there. But just then I made it to turn them on, finally.
    I even watched some cockatoos fighting over the best spot in the tree. So lovely to see all the wonderful birds around again. 😍
    So I went to bed around 9:30pm I think. Still over 10 degrees. Looking forward for a warmer night!
    Baca lagi

  • Eddystone Point Lighthouse

    4 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After a calm morning and a good breakfast I left the campground around 10 am. Got to the supermarket first to stock up an then started driving towards the east coast.
    My plan was to drive to Eddystone Point Lighthouse and the following the coastline to St. Helens.
    I stopped in Gladstone to fuel up and was shocked that outside of Gladstone the road turned into a gravel road 😳 Already now? Ist still 40km left to the lighthouse. I was not expecting this. But I kept on driving, slowly. Took me a while but I arrived at the carpark shortly past 1pm. Pretty exhausted as it takes a lot of concentration to drive on gravel roads. The first one was a "good" gravel road but for the last 15 km i had to drive on a horrible gravel road. Nightmare.
    But I made it! And it was so worth it! It was so amazing! Unfortunately it's pretty cloudy already as we are expecting a thunderstorm during the evening/night but anyway it is an amazing place. I walked up to the lighthouse and from there followed a small path down to the rocks an a small beach.after that I even walked to a beautiful beach on the other side of the car park. Around 1:45pm I decided to leave again. Long gravel road drive in front of me. I guess it will be like this almost all the way to St. Helens. I also decided to not stop at one of the other two stops. The clouds are getting darker and I am not feeling for drive even more on the gravel roads. Took me over one hour to come to St. Helens. From the 56 km to my campground only the last 15km was on a normal road.
    I decided to drive straight to the campground to check-in to my cabin, have lunch and maybe go then for another trip to some sights, if the weather is still fine and I am feeling for it.
    Baca lagi

  • St. Helens

    4 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    The reception crew couldn't believe it, when I told them where I was coming from. And that I was driving on that road with my small car. I also still can't believe I did that. 😅
    I had booked a bunk bed cabin with shares amenities but got an upgrade to a cabin with a queen-size bed for no extra cost! How amazing is that!
    I am staying here for two nights, as the weather forecast ist horrible for the next two nights. Hope it's fine over the day tomorrow, at the moment it is looking like it.
    After lunch i didn't feel for going anywhere anymore, so I decided to have a calm afternoon for the first time. Also really nice and needed. Around 8pm the rain started for real. Had some smaller showers before, but nothing serious.
    Don't know how often I woke up during the night from the thunder and the heavy rain. It was crazy! Good I booked a cabin!
    The thunder was so loud and strong in-between that I could feel the vibration from it. Totally crazy.
    Baca lagi

  • Columba Falls

    5 Mac 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    The night was terrifying. 😳
    The rain started already in the evening before I went to bed, but I woke up around 1 o'clock to a heavy thunderstorm. I was awake a few more times during the night, 4 o'clock was also really bad. And around 8 am it was raining so much, just unbelievable. Thanks God I have the cabin!!!
    I took it easy this morning, the rain stopped around 9-9:30am. Around that time i was getting up and started to fix breakfast. As it was still very cloudy I wanted to wait and see what is happening now with the weather. Around 10:30 am it was clearing up more and more so I decided to get ready and drive to the Columba Falls, a 45 min drive from here and a recommendation from the reception stuff yesterday.
    The drive was nice and easy, so the road was going a lot up and down, left and right. Just like the roads in New Zealand.
    I arrived at the carpark at 11:45 and walks the short track to the falls. They are so huge! They have a drip of 90 meters!
    As it was many people around I didn't spend much time there. Obviously everyone wanted to do something on a sunday. And the weather got just really good. Nice warm with 26 degrees, but very humid due to the rain last night. But I don't want to complain, it's finally warm!
    Baca lagi