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Published: February 28th 2008
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Hi everyone,
Time for an update on our travels in OZ. On the 28th Jan we set out south from Perth, W.Australia to enjoy the less extreme end of the state.
Driving south from Perth you encounter many ports and industrial sites, competeing with whole new towns that are springing up on the beautiful coastline. The south of WA is a lush warm area with many vineyards, fruit production and farms. We spent our first night in Bunbury a small seaside town with a great beach, ie no sharks jellyfish or stingrays. Oward the next day through Cape Naturaliste national park, beautiful seascapes spoilt only by the huge number of flies constantly trying to get into your ears, eyes and nose!
On route south we went through forests still smoking after recent bushfires had swept the area. Fortunately these had bypassed the "Valley of the giants" an ancient tingle tree forest. Tingle's are huge gum trees standing up to 90m high and here a fantastic walkway has been engineered suspended 40m above the ground it allows you to wander among the tops of these wonderful trees.
In Denmark a sleepy tourist town we met Claires cousin David and
his wife Janet, with whom we spent the day exploring the surrounding area. Our campsite at Denmark was rather special, with a en suite bathroom for our campervan, a real treat. We also spent a rare extravagent evening at a restuarant overlooking the Southern Ocean, dining well drinking champagne and enjoying each others company.
Our return towards Perth was marred by rain and low temperatures, (sometimes as low as 24 degrees) Back in Perth we spent 9 days enjoying the waether with swimming sightseeing and out running in 37 degree heat! We even went to Perth zoo where I had worked 18 years ago, much changed now all for the better though Tricia the asian elephant who I worked with is still there, looking very good for her age (she's the same age as me).
We also spent time getting visas for thailand, enough anti malarials tablets to fill a small suitcase and the enevitable sending home of parcels.
we flew out to Tasmania on the 14th Feb and landed in Hobart late at night so late in fact that our hotel had closed and we nearly spent the night under the stars fortunately we found "cosy
cabins" an inappropriately named cabin site that gave us refuge for the night in a cabin with 5'5" beds!
Next morning it was back to the airport to pick up our new camper, we had been upgraded and got a much bigger van, with almost enough room to swing a possum in.
Tasmania is best known for its convict past, in fact at one time every second person in Taz was a convict. But it is also a very beautiful island with some of the last remaining rain forests, brillinant white beaches and fantastically sculpted coastlines. Next to these magnificent sights are also some pretty grim area such as the large ore mining towns on the west of the island where mountains are being turned into gravel. We also spent hours driving through areas where the rain forest has been totally felled and the earth literally scorched killing all in the path and leaving nothing but the bare hills. I can only hope the Australian government see sense before it is to late.
Among our highlights were a long treck around Freycinet Peninsula along one of the worlds most beautiful beaches. On this walk we also met our first
venomous land snake, a copperhead. We politely stepped aside and let it go on its way.
We also visited several wild life parks working on ensuring the survival of Tasmanian devils, a small viciaous marsupial now endagered by disease and logging. We visited a sanctuary for Platypuses and echidnas the only two egg laying marsupials left, both very cute! We were impressed by the knowledge and dedication of the staff at both of these centres long may they continue!
Sadly during the latter part of our trip the weather changed and was cold wet and quite unbelievabley windy thereafter, so sadly not as much walking as we had hoped for. We finished our tour in Port Arthur, the old penal colony, magnet for Australians seeking conections to there distant relatives. It has a tough history made worse by the gun masscre which took place in 1996.
Tasmania is a lovely intriguing place, and we could have spent a month touring and walking but as ever we have to go on. So here we are on our final stop in Australia, 2 nights in Brisbane to prepare for S.E.Asia.
Well thats another blog with more stories no
doubt, until then enjoy the photos and keep in contact as its always a treat when we get emails!
Best regards
Shane & Claire.
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David
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Elephants at Perth Zoo
See West Australian March 5. Putra Mas, one of the male elephants wrecked an enclosure at the zoo and caused an evacuation of visitors.