Blogs from Claremont, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Oceania

Well here we are in the lovely city of Hobart with its many old historical buildings and a great waterfront with Constitution Dock where all the yachts complete the grueling Sydney to Hobart race each year and situated on the Derwent River. The Salamanca Markets were a must so we caught the bus into the City as it is always such trouble finding a place to park our big truck. We both had a quick look and then I left Trevor with a paper and a mug of coffee at a café while I looked at the market properly and he was very happy with that as it was very crowded and of course like most men he is not that interested in that type of market. We visited the Mona Museum which stands for ... read more

A little further along the Lyell Highway we come to Lake St Clair National Park, which lies immediately south of Cradle Mountain and is where the Overland Track ends (or begins, depending on which way you walk it). It's pretty late in the day by the time we arrive, so we opt for a short walk along the shore of Lake St Clair. Compared to that of its twin park around Cradle Mountain, the scenery here is less striking, but this walk is going to give us our best opportunity yet to see the animal at the top of Alex's Most Wanted list - Ornithorhynchus anatinus, a.k.a. the duck-billed platypus. The gently sloping sandy lake shore, which gives way to woodland as you walk away from the water, are - according to the park guide - ... read more