Blogs from Tasmania, Australia, Oceania

Day 15: Leaving Launceston we stopped at a motorcycle shop for some bits & pieces. Very helpful staff who recommended a nearby cafe for breakfast - which was good. Out of town we were soon on country sealed roads. Farms are very NZ-like and also pretty green by Australian standards. Soon we were onto some gravel forestry roads which as usual were great (still early so quite cool conditions). As per normal we soon found a gravel road on our route with a locked gate. We routed our way around this finding some great narrow sealed country winding roads. Then we were back onto gravel roads before again coming across another locked gate - more re-routing. Instead of a 320km day we ended up with around 240kms. Arriving into Devonport around mid afternoon we found a ... read more

Day 4 Leaving Queenstown after a breakfast at a local cafe, we were soon onto forest tracks - these were quite muddy as forestry operations were underway. We came upon some forestry workers who generously let us through a locked gate (after we asked them nicely). This allowed us to continue for quite some kms of great rocky roads before exiting onto a sealed road where we came into a small town with 1 Swedish themed restaurant. We stopped here for a very tasty Swedish lunch of salmon open sandwiches. Continuing through the town of Derwent we then did some more gravel before arriving at our very nice Air B & B house in Blackmans Bay overlooking the water. This was near the town of Kingston. We ordered a Chinese house delivered takeaway which finished off ... read more

The Chicken (Tori) Karaage is spicy in Hobart. I ate it, but it got the better off me at 4am. Not the best night sleep for all as my pre-dawn poop disrupted our shared room. The Bury Me Standing breakfast bagels were great though and the sanctioned sleep-in was appreciated by all. We collect our e-bikes just after 10 and pedal the scenic Hobart Rivulet up to Cascade Brewery. A really pleasant ride along a shaded rivulet (brook) through South Hobart. The brewery is opening for business/tours when we arrive, but with everyone feeling good, we opt to extend our ride south up to Strickland Falls. The enthusiastic mechanic at Hobart Bike Hire recommended it and he wasn’t wrong. The small waterfall is about 300 metres above sea level in the foothills of Mt Wellington. The ... read more

A much cooler night and quality curtains allows for a bit of a sleep-in and both kids are reluctant risers. It might be the 18,000 steps we’re doing daily. Today will be no different.We share a quick backpackers breakfast (Woolworths croissants, fruit and nutri-grain) in the Kermandie Guest Room. An expansive room with two 8 seater square dining tables, a couple of smaller tables and chairs and a couch, in front of a fire-place; all overlooking Port Huon marina. Dozens of seagulls circle and cry above the rows of boats below. On the insistence of all at yesterdays dinner, we jump in the Kona and drive through Geeveston for the Hartz Mountain National Park. The last half of the drive is on unsealed roads but the Kona handles it well. Arve Road swerves through gum trees, ... read more

The downside of a panoramic view is the sunrise hits you early. Doesn’t seem to bother Deaks! A quick continental breakfast at Lufra (is it complimentary? Not sure) and we are off to Port Arthur. Every drive down down here is a short drive, by Queensland standards, we are there in 20 minutes. And every drive on Tasman Peninsula is scenic. Always surrounded by water, beach, farm or forest.I must confess I didn’t know off Port Arthur before the mass shooting in 1996. And while the tragedy of the shooting hangs over the place, the historic purpose of the place is equally tragic and harsh.The old buildings - particularly the penitentiary and church - are beautiful. The stories of the prisoners, guards and commandants remind you of the grim and inhumane purpose of the place.Anyone living ... read more