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Published: June 18th 2009
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After more than 5 weeks in Melbourne, I was starting to get too confortable and I was abusing my host hospitality. Also it was getting colder so I had to make a move. My contacts suggested me to go to Tasmania before it get too cold. So Just before Easter I did 7 days travelling in Tasmania to test the van and the functionnality. I was also travelling alone during that week.
I took a cabin to make sure I would get a good night of sleep on the ferry. I took a share 4 beds cabin. It cost a bit more that 200$.
I arrived in Davonport at 7 am and I headed for Cradle Mountain. It was gray, raining at the mountain. There was many hike but it was not pleasant to walk in a such weather. Later I have heard that there is sun 10 days a years at that mountain so it was normal. I asked around and people recommanded me to go east so I headed Lauceston. I stop on the way to king salomon cave $19. It was a good tour and I learned that some free campsite are not published. The park
ranger indicated me a new spot they where just arranging but I had to drive a bit more to respect my itinery. So I headed to Lauceston the town was not very lively so I continue with the objective to reach Scottsdale but at 9 pm with windy road and fog I had to stop at a look out for my first night.
The next morning I reached Scottsdale and discovered a nice free camping I could have stay in the town but it was too early in the morning to stay there. The objective for that day was to go to St-Helene via a forest road passing to the Ralphs fall and St-Columba fall. This was the first time in the gravel road with my van. I was very happy to have new tires since the road was not that good. I have meet at the falls some other travelers and hike with them. I arrived in St-Helen quite early afternoon and started looking for free camping. The information center didn't have the update info because many indicated camping were not camping anymore but day use only. I start searching in a recreational park and end up after
11Km of bad gravel road to a toilet block and campsite spot. There was few gray nomad a bit suprised to see me there with my van. they had all 4x4 and off road caravan. They saw i was travelling alone and invited me to have wine and eat with them. I have learn it was important to start looking for a campground early.
The next day,i went to Wineglass bay for a hike and for the night I travelled up to Mayfield bay. Some travellers told me there was a very good campsite. I had difficulty to find a place that night because the camping was very popular. I sweezed between 2 other campervan and had a night fire with youngs people from the area.
Next I was in Hobart for the weekend. I meet Claudette university's friend Jason. We went to University and mount Wellington. I decided to stay at the hostel to meet people. It was a pretty friendly Hostel and I met Katarina from Italy. We went together at Port Arthur a prison in the early days of Australia.
After that weekend I headed toward the west coast the city of Strahan. I
had to stop at hamilton for the night in a rest area. Not a pretty town but a good stop half way. The next morning I went to Lake St-Clair and did some short walks before arriving to Strahan.
Strahan is nice but not much to do if you don't go on a boat tour ( 100 $). I spoke with other camper in the town and offer me 3 possibilities to camp: the beach access (no one there), a camping outside the town (not really for backpacker but more for fisherman I was not feeling at my place there) or in the pin forest where a gray nomad and his son were. They were a bit hidden in the pine forest but this was the best place with those 2 campers. I cooked with them and used their fire and play a bit with the kids.
After Strahan, It was time to head to Davenport to take my ferry back to Melbourne. I was supposed to leave in the morning 7 am so I arrived the night before and took a chance and asked if there was a spot left on the ferry. I had to pay
20$ extra to leave that night instead of the following morning.
Back to Melbourne I did some modification to my van and did the eastern weekend in the great ocean road with Claudette, Nina and Joe.
After this I was ready to head toward Perth.
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