More Tassie Tales

30th Jan

We have now seen two of what are usually considered highlights in Tasmania- beautiful Wineglass Bay on the east coast, near Coles Bay and the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur convict ruins.
We walked to Wineglass beach yesterday and actually had a swim just for the fun of it (the air and the water both VERY cool). The beach is so beautiful and looked wonderful from the lookout above, a small crescent shaped strip of white sand, surrounding by green mountains.
We ate our standard walking fare of tuna and crackers and then finished the 11km circuit walk back around Hazards Beach and back to Coles Bay. We saw a few wallabies and some nice views, but apart from that it was a fairly plain sort of walk out.
We then drove up to a nearby lookout. I was about to take a photo when I heard someone yell out a surprised hello to me. It was a couple we first met in Broome, then again at 80 Mile Beach, then Port Headland, as we travelled down the west coast. Mick and Sarah are about the same age as us, and set off from the east coast on their trip around Oz just a couple of weeks before we did. It was really great to bump into them again and a big surprise, as we have travelled slightly different paths and didn’t think we’d see them on the road again. We all sat down and had a drink and chatted and swapped stories, highlights and lowlights from our travels so far. Hopefully we’ll see them again- perhaps when they pass through Port Macquarie, as I think we’ll be home before they intend to travel through.
After a good afternoon I went for a walk around the beach at Coles Bay- the wind stopped and the sun just shone through a gap in the clouds- it looked really beautiful and serene.
We had breaky at the local bakery this morning which was nice, before we set off for Port Arthur. On the way we stopped at a berry farm at Swansea and bought a nice mixed berry jam and some jam tarts for later.
When we arrived here at Port Arthur it was misty and pouring rain. We felt a bit deflated. But we set up the caravan and had some lunch and the skies began to clear. The wind picked up and turned into a bit of an icy gale, but the reward was mainly blue skies. So we set off to explore the convict ruins at Port Arthur. We were very impressed, not only by the buildings and houses, but more so by the stunning surrounding environment, the beautiful harbour, mountains and the gardens and manicured lawns at the site itself. We went on a short harbour cruise (included in the entry fee) and also a guided walk where the history of the settlement and some colourful tales were told by a very interesting guide. It was very cold in the harsh wind, but the place shone in the sunshine and the blue skies provided a great backdrop to the scenery around us.
We returned then to our lovely caravan park- spacious and each site surrounded by trees. There are lots of birds here, including green rosellas only found in Tassie. We’ve also seen lots of fairy wrens, flame robins and honeyeaters. There are rabbits around too- and also wallabies etc (all though we haven’t seen one yet). We would love to see a Tasmanian Devil in the wild.
Off to do some bushwalks in the national park here tomorrow, and also to go to the Tasmanian Devil Centre, where they look after injured or orphaned devils and you can watch them being fed. Should be fun.
Only about 3 weeks until we expect to be home now! Happy and sad about that.
Love and hugs,
Emma & Adam xx


31st Jan

Today we started our day with a trip to the Tasmainian Devil Centre located just outside Port Arthur. This centre is partially funded by the government to breed Devils and care for injured devils. There is currently a cancer/tumor like disease running through the wild devil population, and it is very contagious, so the devil population is declining rapidly, so enterprises such as this could possibly save the devils from extinction. I found the devils quite cute, like a little dog (with big teeth and a jaw pressure that equals a great white shark!). Emma thought that they looked a little odd as their powerful back legs and hips are lower to the ground then their front legs and shoulders…..making them run a little like a Hyena. They played, shrieked and fought over food, just as I had read they do….I left thoroughly enjoying my devil experience. Near the end of our trip we are staying deep in the wilderness of the NW, and they claim to often have wild devils as well as wild quolls visit at night. Seeing such endangered animals in the wild would be a treat.

Anyway, onto some local attractions (blowholes and rock formations) and a great walk out to a high waterfall, cascading straight into the ocean……something like I would expect to see in Tahiti. The bay beneath this water fall is popular for scuba divers that engage in cave diving, seeing spectacular kelp gardens and brightly coloured algaes and seadragons in the 60m long caves……the water was so deep, but clear……..personally I wouldn’t be able to get my head around this being a prime Great White breeding and feeding area to even contemplate getting in the water.

We had some lunch from a local caravan at the beach! I had local fish and the best chips ever, and Emma had a locally caught crayfish on a sandwhich. For desert we had locally grown berries with home made ice cream and cream topped with a berry coulas. Top lunch to refuel for the next chapter of the day!

Off we head to the Fortesque NP, and end up doing a long and energetic walk out to Cape Huen where the rock formations known as the stacks (or pillars) exist. The formations look like large columns stacked together to make a mountain. When we get good internet reception we will post a few pictures. Emma went on another brief walk to see if she could get a few piccies of some penguins, but they must have been out fishing.

Off to Hobart tomorrow, doing some cool things like visiting the Cascade Brewery to sample their finery, as well as the Cadbury factory to do the same. Emma will no doubt have some bush walks in mind for us to do too

Over and out

A+E







The remotely cruel, but beautiful Port Arthur

Me, purched upon a boulder overlooking beautiful Wineglass Bay

Tassie Devil, comin to get ya!