Tasmania

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G'day all
Arrived in Melbourne and set up camp at a Crystal Brooks Park, a very shaded and quiet park on the outskirts of the city. Next day was spent in the city centre, riding on a beautifully decorated Pakistani style decorated by Pakistani Bus decorators, to celebratethe Commonwealth Games. With the hypnotic Pakistani music playing we could almost imagine we were in Pakistan, even the conductor kept swaying to the music!!! We did the tourist bit wandering around Melbourne, and spent some time watching the very eventful start to the Australian Grand Prix on a large screen in Federation Square. Lots of people watching the race and the atmosphere was great. We visit another China Town and have a Chinese meal (cheap of course) before heading back to camp.
Monday morning up bright and early as we are off to Tasmania and need to pack all we need for a week in on rucksack. The remainder will be left in secure parking at the airport.
Its just a short hop to Tassie and we are met at Hobart airport by Arnie's friend Ray who takes us back to meet his partner Jan, we are staying with them tonight, before heading north.
Ray very kindly lends us his car for the duration of our trip in Tasmania and next morning we are on our way north passing through Richmond, Oatland Ross. We stop at Ross, this is a very quaint village, just take the cars, rubbish bins etc. Off the streets and you could easily be transported back to late 18th century. But it seems that Tasmania is looking after it's heritage very well and there are lots of villages with old buildings that take their history very seriously.
Tonight we are staying with some more friends of Arnie's, John and Brenda. We arrive in Ullveston at around 5pm, and immediately Arnie's off to the Judo Club with John.
Despite the worsening weather, we have a wonderful couple of days with John and Brenda. Thankyou John and Brenda for letting us stay in your beautiful home and for feeding us!
We leave there on Thursday, heading towards Cradle Mountain, it's a very scenic drive, but we are fascinated by the mailboxes we pass on the roadside, a chainsaw, motorbike, cow, steam engine and flowers just to name a few, very innovative use of old junk!!
Sadly by the time we reach Cradle Mountain, it's so cold and hailing, snowing and raining!!! All the walking tracks are closed and there's a severe weather warning in place for all bush walkers and sheep farmers for the next 2 days. Disappinted we start to head head out of the park and our disappointment is made up by a wombat that just wanders across the road in front of us.
Next stop Strahan and it just doesn't stop raining so it's a cabin for the night at the YHA . Next morning we go on the Gordon River cruise, out through Hells Gates and then up the river for a rain forest walk, truly a RAIN forest walk!! But despite the rain we a 2000 yr old Huon Pine. Next stop Sarah Island, a convict island and this is most entertaining as the talk is given by a raconteur who brings the whole story of prison life, the politics involved and the ship building on the island to life.
Buffet lunch is included on board the boat, so as soon as we get back to Strahan we head back to Hobart passing through Queenstown, the mining area known for it's moonlike appearance as there aren't any trees or shrubs, just rocks as all the top soil has been washed away.
It seems a long drive back to Hobart as for the first part of the journey the road is very twisty and we are very glad to get back to Ray and Jan's.
Next morning after bacon and eggs cooked by Ray, we visit the Salamanca Market and look for and eventually find Battery Point, the oldest part of Hobart! (It wasn't very far away!!)
Sunday morning and it has snowed during the night, so Ray takes us up Mount Wellington, many of cars coming down have snowmen built on their bonnets. On a clear day there's a fantastic view of Hobart from Mt Wellington, but it's a little misty today!
Monday morning we again borrow Rays car and head down to Port Arthur, for the 2nd installment on convict life in south Australia. It's a lovely drive down there and the weather has improved at last. The day is spent imagining what life life was like, not only for the convicts but also for the people and their families who were involved in convict life. All around it seems to have been a dire existence, with very little respite, despite the beautiful surroundings!!!
On the way back we briefly stopped at a park to see a Tasmanian Devil, most probably our only chance to see one of these ferocious little creatures. A few friends come to Ray's as it is our last night. Thankyou Jan & Ray for feeding us so well and for putting us up!!
Next morning it's back to Melbourne, where we spend a frustrating day at Air Sri Lanka and Air Malaysia sorting out our travel dates, it's not cheap either!! However by 5pm, we have all our flights arranged until we reach Amsterdam.
Having had enough of Melbourne so we head out of the city for Ballarat which is where the next installment will come from.
G'day folks.

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Comments

[Marion]

Maggie, not sure if this place is for my comments! Anyway, thanks for such enjoyable reading, can't wait to go tere for my self. Marion

[mary Cowan]

not sure who you are
enjoying your journal but I cant place two so may be you can enlighten me mary Gate house of Fleet Castle douglas