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Published: December 28th 2011
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Hello,
Well I hope you all get this travel blog - completed and to all intended. I thought I was reasonably savvy with technology but I keep stuffing this up! Maybe it's because of holiday brain!
After we left South Australia we went to Hamilton in Victoria and stayed with Stu & Peta Alexander. It was lovely to see their two kids (Jake & Phoebe) and we had a great afternoon and night with them. Stu has been our South Australian tour guide who told us to go to Coffin Bay which was awesome. Anyway, we set of from Hamilton and headed 1 hour south to Port Fairy and then started the drive to Melbourne. Mal got a surf at Port Fairy - not the best but I kicked him out of the car so he could stop being so grumpy and saying "I won't take my boards off the roof for two months". He was smiling and relaxed after his surf. We then drove to Port Campbell which was this tiny town but very cute and stayed overnight. The next day we did the Great Ocean Road and saw the twelve (actually 8) apostles. Amazing as we have
always wanted to drive this wild and exposed strip of coastline. We stopped in at Bells Beach where Mal watching a solo guy surf 10 ft plus fully onshore. We then continued to Melbourne to get on the ferry to Tasmania at 7.30pm that night. We managed to drive through Melbourne and find the ferry with only 1 radical u-turn at this massive intersection when we realised we were going the wrong way! I had a tear in my eye when I drove past the shops in Melbourne knowing that I couldn't stop!
The ferry was a great experience - the kids loved driving the car on, having dinner, the cabin and playing in the kids section. Mitch is such a social kid that the kids he met he knew their names, where they were from and what type of car they were driving! It was calm when we put the kids to sleep and then we entered Bass Strait and the ferry was rolling! Mal & I took another Kwell and we managed to get to sleep.
We arrive at Devonport, Tasmania at 6.00pm the next morning. We headed off to Hobart and drove through the beautiful
Tasmanian countryside. We arrived at the caravan park which was horrible. We were so sick of driving and really needed a holiday (ironic as we are on a 2 month holiday) so after a big argument we decided to headed 2 & 1/2 hours north on the east coast to Bicheno. We set up camp at the caravan park and could start to relax. Bicheno is a beautiful little town. We went on a Penguin Tour at night and saw the blue penguins as they came out of the water and nested for the night. There were hundreds of them and it was amazing. Ella was fascinated with them. One day we went for a walk to Diamond Island, which is inhabited by the penguins and can be walked to at low tide. Ella found some penguins in the burrows and from then on was mesmerised by penguins. We really started to relax in Bicheno and we went walking through the forest; explored and found lots of beautiful beaches;and went fishing. One day we went to Coles Bay (near the famous Wineglass Bay) and went for a 3 hour sea kayak which was great fun. We were in tandem sea
kayaks and the kids did well - they only complained when I hit some rocks and when we weren't paddling fast enough! Mal had a couple of surfs - more out of desperation than anything. The locals kept saying that the swell has been small for a few weeks. We did a day trip to Hobart and went to the Salamanca Markets which were fantastic. It sold such amazing quality products.
After Bicheno we set off for Binalong Bay, in the Bay of Fires area, for Christmas. At the last minute we booked a cottage at a discounted rate with an amazing view. I must admit I was glad to be sleeping in a proper bed again! Anyway, before you get to Binalong Bay we stopped at St Helen's to do some food shopping. As we were about to pull into the supermarket Mal saw Fran Smyth who I used to live with in Nedlands when I was at Uni. She couldn't believe it and before you know it we were at a Christmas party in Scamander where they live. A nice reunion.
We had a nice relaxing Christmas Day. We went to the beach in the morning
and then came home and had Christmas lunch. We then had the post Christmas rest and then went back to the beach for a swim. I had my first swim - freezing! My feet when numb but I did it!
We have begun to sample the culinary delights of Tasmania. In Bicheno there was the best butcher who also sold amazing Tasmanian cheese and pate. There was also a great bakery. Plus there is great wine, fresh raspberries and good restaurants everywhere. We have to keep a lid on it or else we will be fatter by the time we get home.
As we expected, the weather has been a mixed bag! We have had quite warm and sunny days to freezing days where we needed scarves and jackets. It has rained most nights but only 1 day did it rain during the day and it poured. The tent held up which was great.
We move to St Helen's Caravan Park tomorrow (10 minutes down the road) until New Years. Back to the tent...Have a Happy New Year and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012.
Love Mal, Liz, Mitchell & Ella xxxx
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