Hi everyone We leave Tasmania tomorrow after 5 weeks here. We have a day sailing back to Melbourne. On Monday we fly to NZ for 4 weeks catch up with familyand friends. The van and car will be stored at Ashley Gardens Caravan Park, in Melbourne, which isn't too far from the airport. We have loved our time in Tasmania, and could have stayed longer, there are still plenty of walks, waterfalls, and beaches we haven't had time to explore, especially in the north east. We felt very "at home" here. Our caravan has now travelled 6,900k in the 6 months we have been living in it, 1400 in Tasmania. Our car has clocked up 18,200 since we bought it. From Bridport we drove to Georgetown and up to Low head lighthouse, at the entrance to ... read more

Hi everyone We are now heading our way up the east coast of Tasmania. We had a great time at New Norfolk, exploring all around, then ventured down to Snug where we had 4 nights in a lovely campsite beside a sandy beach. We drove south as far as we could go, past Southport to Cockle Creek. Lovely scenery, and 4WD tracks to get to the end. Another day we took the ferry and minibus and went to Buny Island. We did a cruise ina rib 12.4 inflatable with 3 300hp outboards. They took about 40 people each, and there were 4 boats doing the trip the day we did. It was a great trip, very cold - we wore our black BB4WD jackets and the red raincoats over we were given, and were still cold! ... read more

Hi everyone We came over to Tasmania on Saturday and are really enjoying it here. After 2 nights at Ulverstone, on the north coast near Devonport, where our ferry came in, we then travelled to Stanley, in the NW corner of Tasmania. Stanley is an interesting fishing village , with lots of history. We spent 3 nights there, and did day trips with the car to Arthur River and the "Edge of the World", on the west coast, which had amazing scenery - red rocks and rough west coast breakers coming in to the river mouth and bar. We also went inland to Dip Falls, and through forest to the Big Tree. In Stanley we caught the chairlift up "The Nut", which rises 152 meters above the ground, and walked around on the top, where mutton ... read more

Hi everyone We have had a good time in Melbourne. A quiet Xmas and New Year, but we have avoided the enormous crowds at the beaches around here. It was a good choice to stay here, as there are many things to do. We have caught the bus to the city many times now, ridden the trams and ferries, and visited most of the attractions. We have also taken quite a few day trips out of the city. One , to the Mornington Peninsula, on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay to the end was so busy, people were camped all along the foreshore, and the traffic was horrendous. We were pleased we didn't go there for the Xmas break (it was booked out anyway, so we couldn't!) Another day we drove east, and ended ... read more

Hi everyone After 6 days in the Grampians, exploring most of the area, and doing most of the walks /climbs including the Pinnacle, the highest peak of the Grampians, we drove down to Ballaret for 2 nights, and got our fill of Australian history. We visited the Eureka and Gold Museums and also spent a whole day at Sovereign Hill, an excellent living museum representing Ballarat's 1st 10 years following the discovery of gold in 1851, set outdoors on 25 hectares on an early goldmining site. There were working exhibits including wagon wheel making demonstrations, pill making at the pharmacy, gold melting and casting ignots, gold panning, and 2 underground gold mine tours. There were lots of working steam machines (Graeme and Rick would love it), and people wandering around in period costumes. Chris was impressed ... read more