The Giant Hedgehog

Published: February 3rd 2004Oceania » Australia » Tasmania » Launceston
February 3rd 2004

Where The Water Went

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The massive downpour of rain during the previous week made a bit of a difference to the gorge...

From Hobart, I was headed back to Melbourne with a flight from Launceston. My plan to see Cradle Mountain fell apart when I realised it was the last weekend of school holidays, and all accomodation there was fully booked. When I had initially arrived on Tasmania it was beautiful weather - and looking out onto the rain swept streets of Hobart I could only visualise sunny Launceston. Even though all the weather reports showed it to be poor weather across the entire island, I had faith that the sun was shining in Launceston - and so bought a ticket back there. For once my instincts were right - I arrived and instantly the slightly depressed feelings that had been welling up in Hobart disappeared. It was great. 

Due to the previous weeks bad weather, the gently flowing river at Cataract Gorge had now become a raging torrent, consuming much of the grassy park and the outdoor swimming pool on its banks. The difference between my two visits could not have been greater. Here whilst walking the Zig-Zag track (named appropriately) I saw my first real life Echidna. The Echidna is like a large hedgehog, but has a really large snout. At first it just didn't

I Can Still See You...

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If only my camera took photos quietly...