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Published: September 28th 2011
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I was up early again and headed to Cataract gorge which is right in the city of Launceston. There is a suspension bridge, a chairlift to the other side and some walking tracks. I didn't have much time so I just walked across the suspension bridge and back. It's a beautiful spot but after the accident gorges just aren't my favorite place to be.
After snapping a few pictures I headed up north from Launceston to Beauty Point where the Platypus house is located. It's a conservation facility for Platypus and a couple of echidnas. Platypus are such an interesting animal.
Although their duck bills look hard they are actually more soft like leather and have thousands of little sensories. They are blind under water as they have to keep their eyes closed. It's rare to see these shy creatures in the wild as they can sense you coming long before you would ever see them.
We got to see a few of them in their tanks being fed so we could see them in action under water. They float so they have to hook themselves under a log or rock to stay under. Fascinating creatures!
We
then got to walk into the room they keep two echidnas. They are just roaming around the room and as soon as we walked in they came right up to us to check us out. They are sooo cute. I think I have a new favorite animal.
We North Americans often confuse them with porcupines but they are different and not related. They have quills like porcupines but they aren't similiar and they can't shoot them out at enemies. Also, echidnas lay eggs which porcupines don't do. They are just so cute with their little waddle.
We got a bowl of food to feed them and were able to let them crawl into our laps. They have really long skinny tongues (they normally eat ants). It was so cute! I got some pictures of them in my lap.
I then headed back down south and made my way over to a town called Sheffield which is known as the town of murals. Don't worry they didn't steal the idea from Chemanus, BC. They actually give the Canadian town props for inspiring them to do the same. They have murals all over the town about the history of
the area.
I stopped and took some pictures of some murals and had lunch here. Nice little town. Some really great murals in town. I headed into the mountainous region and into cradle mountain national park. Such a beautiful spot. This place really made me feel like i'm at home!
I did a little walk to see a waterfall and then drove down to cradle mountain and got some great pictures of it with Dove Lake in the sunshine. Glad I did that, you'll see why in the next blog! I did another little walk called the Enchanted walk. I saw heaps of wallabies nibbling away on some grass and then I saw a HUGE wombat eating as well. Tasmania is such a great place to see wildlife! My hostel was more like a campground and once it was dark out the possums came out. I had one follow me from my car right to the door of my room. Kinda cute but he just wanted food.
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