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Tasmania
  • Duncan Grant
Oct – Nov 2017

Tasmania

A 14-day adventure by Duncan Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 23, 2017
    Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Station Pier, Port Melbourne.

    October 23, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    On board Spirit of Tasmania-
    Shared the car deck on the boat with a car club who were heading to a rally in Tasmania -there were some great old cars to see.
    Mawson had a great view out the port hole and we leafed through our lonely planet Tasmania book whilst we had dinner.
    Our cabin was comfortable and warm and best of all our night was smooth sailing .    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant
    1

    Devonport

    October 24, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Arrived in Devonport at 5.30am. Waiting to disembark at 6.45am
    After a smooth crossing of Bass Strait, our initial stop was for Angela's to visit the now decommissioned Mersey Women's Hospital-this is where her Midwifery training took place back 1982 - 1983. The hospital, which has stood empty for many years, has been totally vandalized and is to be demolished soon- sad to see this happen-so many happy memories.
    We then checked out her old flat she had shared for a few months-now stands in only marginally better shape than the hospital !
    It was then breakfast at the wind swept Mersey Bluff -cold but looking out over Bass Strait a great breakfast treat !
    Our next stop was a few kilometers down the road to the township of Latrobe-Ange lived in the nurse's home for the rest of her training-the nurse's home is now part of the hospital administration offices but unfortunately off limits despite a polite request to have a look down the corridor.After a drive around the small township-including Angela's old walking track and a look at the big hill she would climb we found ourselves at the House of Anvers-a chocolate shop and chocolate Museum for a delicious morning tea - needing to tackle that exercise track that Angela's once used afterwards !!!!
    We decided to stock up on some supplies back in Devonport and visited Hill Street Grocery-a great store so inviting and everything displayed in such a way that browsing was a must. There are apparently several of these stores throughout Tasmania-originating in Hobart.
    Our next stop was to visit Simon Martin Whips and leathercraft -the smell drifting around the store was amazing and such beautiful leather goods on display -you could watch them working with the leather, crafting it into quality products in front of your very eyes.
    Our final mission for the day was to sit on the banks of the Mersey River and watch that Spirit of Tasmania commence her evening sail back to Port Melbourne.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Penguin

    October 25, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    This is a coastal town near Ulverstone. It has a feel of a pretty English seaside town which lends itself to sitting and licking an ice cream as you look out over the water. But the biggest joy of all is penguins ! The world's smallest penguin comes ashore here during its breeding season.
    Our very own little Mawson was so excited to get acquainted with one of his very own standing tall and proud in the main street.
    From here we went inland to the Leven Valley , Preston Falls and Leven Canyon. A lush green region with rolling hills and rich soil.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Leven Canyon

    October 25, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    After leaving the coastline we drove inland to view mountains, wildlife,waterfalls,fertile farmland-breathtaking scenery.
    The Leven Canyon is only a 45min drive from the coast and the reserve covers almost 2,500ha.
    We took the walk to Cruickshank's lookout with views 275m above the Leven River. The Canyon is 12km long with six sets of rapids and two waterfalls.
    Angela took on the challenge of 697stairs down into the canyon and what goes down must come back up-suffered painful legs for days following.
    Our lunch was in a relaxed bushland setting, in full sunshine.
    We visited the delightful Preston Falls which plunge 25meters into the shady depths of a gorge.
    On our way south we admired the view into the lush green valley and stopped at the boutique Leven Valley Vineyard where we tasted and purchased a great bottle of chardonnay. We had both forgotten just how good chardonnay can be !!!    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Zeehan

    October 25, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We had decided to use Zeehan as our base and spend the next two nights there. It is centrally located on the west coast, known as the ' silver city ' and was once Tasmania's 3rd largest town.
    We were introduced to Hazel, an old bus that had been converted to motorhome of sorts and like a lot of old girls when not in much use get a little musty between the sheets -Duncan saved the day with some great smelling aftershave we used as airfreshner !
    After an early chilly start we spent a great part of the day at Cradle Mountain.
    We made our way back Zeehan passing many gum plantations on the way. We drove around the old township and spent our remaining time at the School of Mines Museum. Fantastic history of machinery and other early mining equipment.
    Also housed at the School of Mines Museum was a huge array of rock examples not only local but from all over the world - there were hundreds of exhibits.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Cradle Mountain

    October 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    World Heritage listed, Cradle Mountain, is the centre piece of Cradle Country and is the northern gateway to the Tasmanian Wilderness
    Cradle Mountain - is that perfect new-moon curve of rock, and is still holding onto the last of the winters snow. It's reflection is beautifully mirrored in the still waters of Dove Lake.
    This impressive landform was sculptured by recent glaciers from 500 thousand years ago.
    This area is also well know for wildlife watching and we weren't disappointed seeing wombats
    enjoying an early morning grass munch.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Strahan

    October 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    This is such a great little town. Nestled between the waters of Macquarie Harbour and the rainforest, a picture postcard destination. There are restored pioneer buildings, cute little shops and cottages overlooking the bay which itself is dotted with boats in all shapes and sizes.
    The down side was the evidence of forest destruction to make way for plantations-such a difficult scene to deal with.
    We were off to experience the magnificent Gordon River and in the evening were delighted to watch Australia's longest running play-The Ship that Never Was -telling the dramatic and hilarious true story about the last great escape from Sarah Island. In January 1834 the last ship built at the convict settlement of Macquarie Harbour was about to set sail for the new prison at Port Arthur. Ten convict shipwrights had other ideas- and so the play is performed telling the story of an amazing escape and extraordinary voyage. Interactive, hilarious and so entertaining !    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Hogarth Rainforest / Falls Walk 2

    October 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The walk to Hogarth Falls took us through an example of temperate rainforest. We passed by several species of large trees together with an display of differing green ferns. Examples of Blackwoods, Blackburn, Driftwood, Sassafras, fish bone ferns, hard wood ferns, tree ferns just to name a few.Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Ocean Beach, Strahan

    October 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    You will find Ocean Beach 6km from the township of Strahan. This beach stretches 33kms in length running uninterrupted from Trial Harbour in the north to Macquarie Heads in the south. The surf here is full of strength and pounds its way to the beach, definitely not a swimming spot. The surf whipped up by the "roaring forties" ( strong westerly winds found in the southern hemisphere between the latitudes of 40 and 50degrees ) has at times recorded waves of over 20meters off the coast.
    It is also a great place to watch the sun melt its way into the sea as evening falls.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Gordon River

    October 28, 2017, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We took a cruise from Strahan with the local family ,World Heritage Cruises. It took us along the magnificent Gordon River into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area across Macquarie Harbour passing through Hell's Gates, the narrow entrance into the Southern Ocean. Much of the river course flows in an uninhabited wilderness area and contains a cold climate rainforest-the colour of the Gordon River freshwater is of weak tea appearance due to the absorption of tannin from vegetation namely Buttongrass. We had the opportunity to go ashore and take a stroll into the rainforest observing some ancient Huon Pines. The length of the river is approximately 193km and is the major river located in the central highlands, south west and western regions of Tasmania. This part of Tasmania's World Heritage Area is closely linked to the successful campaign to protect the beautiful Franklin River from being flooded as a result of the proposed damming of the Gordon River in 1980's .Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Sarah Island

    October 28, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Sarah Island, or Settlement Island as it was officially known during the Penal Settlement 1822-33 and sometimes referred to as Headquarters Island was established in the remote reaches of Macquarie Harbour in 1821. It was used as a penal settlement where convicts laboured under the hardest conditions in the cold,damp rainforest felling Huon Pines for boat building. Of all possible sites to choose from Macquarie Harbour would have been the most windswept and barren places but also the most secure. As Sarah Island could not produce good food , malnutrition, dysentery and scurvy were often rampant among the convict population.For many the burdens of Sarah Island were intolerable. Particularly during the early phase of the settlement, some deliberately committed murder on order to be sent to the gallows and escape from the tortured lives they led.
    One of the best known prisons to escape from Sarah Island was Matthew Brady.
    in June 1824 Brady and 14 companions seized a boat and sailed to the Derwent Estuary before taking to the bush and for the next two years Brady lead one of the most notorious of Tasmanian's bushranger gangs. There are many other wild stories of those that made an attempt to escape, Alexander Pearce upon capture confessed to cannibalism of others whom had made the escape with him. There is the well known story of the ship that never sailed, Australia's longest running play which tells of the dramatic and hilarious true story of the last great escape from Sarah Island.
    Today Sarah Island is a well established tourists destination, many ruins, not as well preserved as those of Port Arthur , can be seen, including those of solitary cells which were completely dark inside with barely enough room to lie down. However unlike it's history, today Sarah Island holds a natural beauty that makes its difficult to grasp the incredible misery it once held.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Queenstown

    October 29, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Most of western Tasmania is green, Queenstown is orange / red. The winding decent into Queenstown has a moonscape appearance which is mostly bare and dusty hills where once rainforest was - the clearest testimony anywhere to the scarification of the west coast's environment by mining.
    The town retains a rough and ready pioneer feel.
    We unfortunately were a day too late to be entertained at the Paragon Picture Theatre with a Mae West special - disappointing !!!
    Not sure how many of our AFL players would be happy to play a game on the Queenstown footy oval with it bare surface .    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Franklin - Gordon Rivers National Park

    October 29, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park lies in the heart of the Tasmanian Wild World Heritage Area. It is a region of dramatic mountain peaks, beautiful rainforest, deep river valley's and spectacular gorges. It contains many Aboriginal sites with a testimony to an Aboriginal heritage extending back over 36 thousand years.
    The national park's most significant peak is Frenchmans Cap (1443m) with a white-quartzite top that can be seen from the Lyell Hwy. The mountain was formed by glacial action and has Tasmania's highest cliff face.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Tarraleah

    October 29, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    This special little place came as a complete surprise to us. We had decided to stay overnight here, not knowing anything about it other it being a convenient stop between Strahan and Hobart.
    This gorgeous little town was once home to hundreds of Hydro pioneers and their families. The thriving hydro village reached its peak in the1950's to 1970's and was once home to 2000 people. Once the hydro work died due to improved technology, work dried up and the population plummeted. Much of the town was sold off for removal and the remainder was put up for sale in 2002.
    Today, Tarraleah makes a handy stop over between Hobart and The West Coast, with confortable accommodation and wilderness activities. In peak holiday time as well as enjoying mountain biking, bushwalking , golf, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching there is the pleasure of the lodge's cliff top spa or cooking classes focusing on local produce. There is an array of accommodation and dining venues here for the tourist, in a town which was lovingly converted and restored by the new owners, a family who literally bought a town. After spending a lot on the town they sold the whole shebang to private interests.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Mt Field National Park.

    October 30, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Mr Field, 80km northwest of Hobart was declared a national park in 1916 and gained Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in 2013.
    It is famed for its alpine moorland, lakes, rainforest, waterfalls, walks, wildlife, tall trees and skiing.
    We took the Tall trees Circuit- the Swampy Gums-some growing up to 100 meters tall . The one Angela is hugging in the photo is 79 meters tall and is still growing. The information board at the park entrance states that these trees are the tallest in the world.
    We also walked to the beautiful Russell Falls. For many people, this three-tier waterfall is the prettiest in Tasmania.
    Finished the day in Hobart our base for the next few days.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Southern Tasmania

    October 31, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    The South of Tasmania is made up of four unique regions, Bruny island, D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon Valley and the Far South.
    We made a stop at Margate to stock up at a Tasmanian owned and operated produce store which carried an extensive range of goods.
    We followed the D'Entrecasteaux Channel southward and passed the car ferry terminal for Bruny Island.
    We drove southward hugging the coast and stopped to admire little coves, bays, small hamlets and the Huon River.
    Along the coast and along the river we enjoyed the sight of many different boats and yachts , such a gorgeous site to behold.
    We lunched at Huonville, watched some colourful ducks swimming on the Huon River, and took delight in the wood carvings which were carved from the stump of trees that had been planted in remembrance of the local soldiers who fought in the Boer War. The trees had been planted in 1902 and 100 years later, at the end of a safe life for the trees several carvings were made from the stumps. The Apple Picker -in the photo is dedicated to the pioneer women of the Huon Valley.
    On our return trip from the Airwalk we stopped at a roadside shop selling bags of Rubigold Apple's-after tasting the crisp apple that had a perfect balance of sugar and acid we went back and bought a second bag-that's on top of the 1kg bag of Jazz apple's from the morning shop -3kgs of apples for us to devour over the following few days yummie - !!!
    The Huon Valley is dotted with sheep, cattle and apples and is so green -such a beautiful place to visit.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Tahune Forest Airwalk

    October 31, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    'TAHUNE' - is aboriginal and means ' peaceful place by running water '
    Tahune Airwalk is in the country where the traditional custodians of this area , Lyluequonny people , lived and travelled.
    Today's Tasmanian Aboriginal people, the Palawa people and their forebears, continue to hold a unique cultural and spiritual identity and association with this area, which respects everything within the environment and live in harmony with the land.
    We are asked to show respect, take care as we walk this land, enjoy our time here, and remember the spirits of the Palawa people always remain in this land.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Tahune Airwalk (cont)

    October 31, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    The Tahune Airwalk allows you to walk above the forest canopy, amongst the forest giants. You can look down and see the waters where the Huon and Picton Rivers mingle. The 600 meter walkway ends at a spectacular platform, 50 meters above the riverbank.
    Airwalk Facts -
    Opened 1st July, 2001
    Construction completed in three months
    Airwalk length 619 meters
    Average height 20 meters, 37.5 meters high above the forest floor at the end of the platform and 48 meters above the river.
    Built to withstand 180km/hour winds.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Mount Kunanyi / Wellington

    October 31, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Mt Kunanyi (Wellington) 1270m, towers above Hobart and the view from the top is unbelievable. The road to the pinnacle is sealed , you find yourself winding up and up from the city through temperate forest, opening out to lunar rockscapes at the summit. Glimpses of the view below as you ascended the Mount are sporadic between the forest growth and are quite daunting !!!Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Tasman Peninsular

    November 1, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Just an hour from Hobart lie the coastal landscapes, beaches and historic sites of the Tasman Peninsula.
    We enjoyed the sites of Pirates Bay, Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen, Blowhole and the Tessellated Pavement.
    The Tessellated ( or tile like ) Pavement is a result of erosion.
    The Blowhole- more like a sea tunnel, the waves surge into a confined area, crashing into the rocks and depending on the tide, sends up plumes of spray.
    Tasman Arch - a former sea cave, is a spectacular landform. The collapse of most of the roof has left an arch as a frame to the sea.
    Devil's Kitchen - Formerly a sea cave but unlike Tasman Arch, it's roof has completely collapsed.
    Our Tasman Peninsula visit was completed by stopping at the ice cream and seafood van where we indulged in some magnificent scallops, calamari, and Duncan's favourite - oysters- finishing with a large berry ice cream to share.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

    November 1, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The gardens date back to 1818 and cover an area of approximately 14 hectares. Prior to European settlement local Aboriginal tribes used the site , with traces of their occupation still apparent.
    We came across dad and mum duck with their nine little ducklings on the lawns of the gardens - gorgeous !Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Mona Museum of Old and New Art

    November 2, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We took a wander around the quirky museum of old and new art , Mona , situated on the banks of the Derwent River in Hobart. It is arrayed across three underground levels and is the brainchild of Hobart philanthropist David Walsh. Words used to describe Mona include funny, weird, confronting, subversive, sexy, provocative, engaging, disturbing - described by the owner as " a subversive adult Disneyland".
    The beginning of your visit, everyone is given a hand held visual and audio directory , opening it states -
    - Have fun you crazy kids, go on, knock yourselves out ......... that we did !!!!
    Some of our pic's are -
    - self portrait, The miracle of human vision.
    - Bottle cap man (1970) wood,bottlenecks and
    enamel paint.
    - The entrance to The Everything Level.
    - Computer electronic devices pumps 320 magnetic.
    valves. Water generated words changing every
    second.
    - Vermeer's Room -the Mona crew have reconstructed
    Vermeer's 17th century studio.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Hobart

    November 2, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    This beautiful city sits beneath Mt Kunanyi/Wellington spreading itself along the Derwent River and is Australia's second oldest city
    The history and heritage of Hobart remains mostly intact with magnificent period buildings right throughout the city. Hobart has a beautiful waterfront precinct with a magnificent deep water harbour. The area is known as Sullivan's Cove and it stretches from Salamanca Place to Hunter Street. Salamanca Market is a famous Saturday highlight selling fresh produce, local crafts and entertainment
    We paid a visit to the replica of Mawson's hut, the famous Sir Douglas Mawson who set sail from Hobart to Antarctia in 1911. The hut is 100% authentic, right down to the matches, stove, bunks etc. It also has his little golliwog sitting on his bunk which staff let our little penguin mascot, Mawson have a photo with. As well as several trips across the Derwent Bridge and the beautiful historic buildings, we also visited the main entrance to the site of the former Beaumaris Zoo, where the last captive Tasmania tiger died in 1936.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantTasmaniaDuncan Grant

    Cascades Female Factory

    November 2, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    This is Australia's most significant site associated with the female convict story , and forms part of the Australian Convict sites World Heritage listing. Between 1788 and 1853 some 25,000 women convicts were transported to Australia for their crimes. Approximately half came to Tasmania, having five of the colony's female factories. Overcrowding was evident and these women worked, slept, ate, prayed and gave birth within the 13 feet walls. Infant mortality was extremely high and once a child reached 3 years of age it was removed and placed in an orphanage. This was the last time most children and their mothers ever saw each other.
    Work was difficult, working unrelenting hours in appalling cold conditions. They were tired , dirty and poorly feed.
    Photos :
    Walls of the prison yard.
    The 7.5kg hot iron-used in the laundry, several of these irons in use to work was continuous. The only protection for their hands from the scorching hot handles was a course piece of cloth.
    Bonnets, one with name Ann Kelly-a meditation on stitching the number of days needed to mark off a 14 year sentence. The other ornate bonnet depicts a date, unknown if year of freedom or conviction.
    The aim was for a bonnet to be made to honor each female convict at the site.    Read more

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