What a great day! Not only was the weather warm, sunny and calm, but we also had a varied and interesting day. We got bikes from the Pension and biked along the Salzach River to Anthering. The Salzach is still thundering along with flood water but it seems to have dropped 2 to 3 metres from it's flood height. The bike paths are fantastic, smooth (mostly) and dedicated to cyclists only and there were heaps of cyclists out and about. They were all shapes and sizes, all ages, wore all sorts of clothing and only a smattering of the lycra brigade and helmets. Anthering is a small village about 15kms from Salzburg. We weren't sure what trail we were taking from there but after panting our way up a long steep hill (like the Beulah Ridge ... read more

We started the day with a huge breakfast and then bought a One Day Card for a number of attractions for the day. After studying the map, and the tours available, we figured that with a pamphlet listing all the places to visit we could do them all on foot. What can I say about Salzburg without writing a book? It is an incredibly beautiful city especially the old town down by the River Salzach and up to the castle on the hill. There are 1000s of bikes! They are everywhere. Car's are modern with rarely, if ever, an old one. People are friendly, there are heaps of young people (it's a university town) and there are a few too many beggars - all the same race and I really wondered about their need. Lastly, I ... read more

So, back to New Zealand. Up at 4.00am, to the airport, Virgin Airways to Melbourne then Air New Zealand home with long stops in Melbourne and Wellington. Sigh........ How extremely boring it is waiting for flight links, but needs must. I'ts nice to go on holiday and visit friends and see new places but it's also good to get back home again. A&M are an inspiration on travelling in young/old age especially when wanting to add a bit of adventure to it. We thoroughly talked through biking in Europe and now hae that to look forward to planning for 2013.... read more

We decided that instead of heading north again we would go to Bruny Island for the next two days as there appeared to be plenty there to keep us occupied. We left the house at 9.30 and headed for Kettering where the ferry leaves from. Despite getting there early there was already a queue of cars waiting to cross to the island. While we waited we admired the lovely bay with a marina full of yachts and boats. The day was a beautiful clear, sunny and dare I say it, warm day. The ferry trip across to the island is only 20 minutes but it was time enough to admire the approaching island, the calm water and the large coastline around peninsulas, bays and islands. Once on the island we drove firstly to Bish’s (Bruny Island ... read more

We left Hobart and headed up the Derwent Valley where we took the road to the Mount Field National Park. The road went through rural areas where there was a lot of hop orchards similar to the Moutere and Motueka locations at home. On arrival at the Visitor Centre we took a look at the interpretation displays then walked firstly to the Russell Falls. The walk took us through rain forest not unlike New Zealand if you swapped the eucalyptes with beech trees. The tree ferns were similar but fatter and shorter in the trunks. The Russell Falls were really nice, falling from a number of stratigraphic horizontal layers so that the water fanned out on each level. We then walked the Tall Trees track taking us through hugh eucalyptus trees with enormous trunks and rising ... read more