Tasmania Mania Part 2! The West Coast

The West Coast
Strahan - 2 nights
After a fantastic visit on the east coast it was time to leave Hobart and head west to national parks country for a stay at Strahan and Cradle Mountain. The drive was just under 300kms, and took us through amazing country that saw us climbing up through the mountains, and back down the valleys. The cold climate rain forests are beautiful, and soaring eucalyptus nestle amongst giant ferns. Normally a drive of this length would take under 3 hrs, however due to the nature of the drive, you must go slowly, so it turned into quite a marathon and we arrived in Strahan after 6 and half hours of driving time.

Quick rest stop on the drive to Strahan to marvel at the trees defying gravity growing over the rock ledges that line the roads - Mt Field National Park, TAS

Queenstown in Tasmania's east is known by the locals for its pollution and barren landscapes from late 19th century Copper mining practices that have polluted the landscape and waterways, and ruined the topsoil and rate of revegetation. Over a 30km stretch of road appears a dramatic change in the landscape, where forest gives way to barren hills. The town itself is quite pretty, and just out of town is a lookout over the mine. We were lucky enough to arrive during a short break (in the constant rain) to see a beautiful rainbow and have the sun light up the valley and mine below - Queenstown, TAS

A short drive from Strahan out to the Macquarie Harbour mouth, known as Hell's Gates. It is named from the original convicts claim that it was the 'entrance to Hell' referring to their arrival at the Port Macquarie Penal Settlement in the 1800's. It is a notoriously shallow and dangerous entrance to the harbour - Hells Gates, Port Macquarie Harbour, TAS

Chilly and wet, but still managing to crack a smile and pose for the camera - Hells Gates, Port Macquarie Harbour, TAS

Rugged up and taking a stroll to a waterfall through the rainforest in - Strahan, TAS

Damien taking his chances posing on the slippery log... no, he didn't fall in! - Strahan, TAS

I met up with one of my fellow P.H.otography 2012 participants, Ian, for a photoshoot at Strahan at sunset. Lots of fun, and good to bounce ideas and settings off another photographer! Thanks Ian - Strahan Harbour, Tasmania

Fishing Boats - Strahan Harbour, TAS

Cradle Mountain - 2 nights

Our last stay in Tasmania was planned next to Cradle Mountain in the Cradle Valley some 1000mtrs above sea-level. Not sure how much this is common knowledge to you all, but the higher you climb, the colder it gets. For the science buffs: when you pressurise air (or any gas), it gets hotter, and when you release the pressure on air, it gets colder. As air  pressure drops as you get higher above sea-level, the temperature is lower than at ground level. Needless to say in practical terms this equates to layers people, and lots of them!

Driving into the clouds at 950mtrs above sea-level. Yep, it's really clouds! - Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

900mtrs up and 8'c.... not the summer holiday we had imagined!

Entrance to the national park - Cradle Mountain, TAS

Waterfalls at Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

'Here's a big smile for you' - from Miss Blaire. Ronny Creek walking trail at Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Cooper & Damien all rugged up on the Ronny Creek Walking Trail - Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Umm...who says matching pastel track pants aren't cool! They are warm though! Ronny Creek Walking Trail - Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Cradle Mountain view (centre at back) from Dove Lake - Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

(from left) Alison, Cooper, Damien and Blaire at Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Waterfall on the Cradle Valley Boardwalk - Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Running into more friends from Hedland at the Cradle Valley Visitors & Information Centre, with Karl & Donna Kingston Lewis - Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Leaving Cradle Mountain for the ferry to Melbourne, we took a day trip to the Devonport in the North West corner of Tassie (couldn't leave out the North-West!). On the way, we visited the beautiful Allendale Gardens for a Devonshire tea. Kids could run around, and we got a hot cuppa. - Allendale Gardens, Edith Creek, TAS

Another fuzzy bumble-bee! Allendale Gardens and Rainforest Walk, Edith Creek, TAS

...And some more cow photos as we went through Dairy country - Smithton, TAS

I love this, the cows all bringing themselves to the milking sheds at milking time out of habit. Yep, they are coming in themselves, not a farmer or cattle dog in sight!

"The cows come marching one-by-one hoorah, hoorah!"

Super excited to be going on a chairlift to the top of the Nut - Stanley, TAS

Cooper and I's selfie on the chairlift - The Nut, Stanley, TAS

Trekking across the Nut - Stanley, TAS

Views over Stanley from the top of the Nut - Stanley, TAS

This is the Nut. It is an old volcanic plug with 3 steep sides which rises 143mtrs from sea-level with a flat top. We took the chairlift to the top and walked across for views over the township of Stanley (seen in the foreground at the base of the Nut) - Stanley, TAS 

The mothership - sad to say goodbye to Tassie, but it was time to travel back to Melbourne - Devonport, TAS

Driving onto the Spirit of Tasmania for the overnight trip back to Melbourne - Devonport, TAS

Tasmania Mania! The East Coast

Devonport
After leaving Ballarat we traveled to Melbourne to catch the overnight ferry to Devonport to begin 14 days of fun exploring beautiful Tasmania!

There are four separate car decks on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry in which you can drive your car onto. Luckily we were on the last deck to load (first deck to unload!)

'Ahoy there mateys!' Cooper and Blaire inspecting the cabin before the overnight ferry voyage across the Bass Strait. The distance is 460kms from Melbourne to Devonport in Tasmania - at Melbourne Ferry Terminal, VIC

East Coast
Launceston - 2 nights

Just 5 kilometres from the heart of Launceston is Cataract Gorge, you would think you are miles out into the Tasmanian wilderness. Also home to the world's longest single span chair lift.

Damien and Cooper on one of the many walks to take a look around the Gorge - Cataract Gorge, Launceston, TAS 

We took a look around the waterfront restaurants and cafes at Invermay - Launceston Waterfront, TAS

From Launceston we took a day trip through the Tamar Valley to 
 visit the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre. There were lots of interactive displays for the kids to play with including trying to turn this wheel that was part a huge steam engine - Beaconsfield, TAS

Beaconsfield is most recently known for the underground mine collapse which occurred in 2006 that trapped three mine workers. Two of those men survived and the community spirit that was shown was recognised in 2007 with an award for the whole community in the Australian of the Year Awards for Local Heros - Beaconsfield, TAS

This is the mine shaft where Brant Webb and Todd Russell emerged after 14 days trapped underground. The mine actually reopened for a period after this collapse but closed in late 2012 as it was no longer financially viable. - Beaconsfield, TAS

One of the interactive displays,. Damien called Cooper from an old fashioned telephone box (out of the picture) and then Cooper answered the phone he was so delighted to hear dad on the other end.

Well wishes board for the trapped miners in the Heritage Centre - Beaconsfield, TAS

We stopped in at Evandale on our trip through the Tamar Valley as it is one of the older heritage villages on the drive northwest (became a gazetted town around 1845). This was an old fashioned general store with the original fit out still present - Evandale, TAS

As with most older towns the post office is generally a beautiful old building - Evandale, TAS

Genius idea - cafe aimed specifically for families with loads of healthy food choices for kids, reasonably priced, in a huge park, with vinyl beanbags on the lawn so you can spread out in the shade and enjoy a relaxed lunch - City Park, Launceston, TAS

Awesome weekend Harvest farmers market in the heart of the city - Launceston, TAS

The kids enjoying homemade double choc lamingtons and raspberry lemonade at the farmers market - Launceston, TAS

Harvest Farmers Market - Launceston, TAS

Coles Bay - 3 nights

On the way from Launceston we crossed through Mount Elephant Pass and stopped in at the famous Mount Elephant Pancake Barn - Mount Elephant, TAS

Damien and Blaire sharing lemon and honey pancakes, Yummm!!! - Mount Elephant, TAS

Elephants, elephants everywhere - Mount Elephant Pancake Barn, Mount Elephant, TAS

On the way travelling south to Launceston we stayed for a few nights in the beautiful Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula. Launching point to beautiful bays and mountain walks, and spectacular sunsets - Coles Bay, Freycinet Penisula, TAS

Exploring the beach at Coles Bay -Coles Bay, Freycinet Penisula, TAS

Beautiful Coles Bay with clouds over the mountains in the background - Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, TAS

We decided to tackle the walk up to the lookout over Wineglass Bay (3kms return trip) with the kids. It was a fantastic walk (and workout carrying the kids) and were glad we made the effort - Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, TAS

The lookout over Wineglass Bay after 1.5km trek up the mountain - Freycinet Peninsula, TAS 

Rest stop and snack time at the top  of the lookout for Wineglass Bay - Freycinet Peninsula, TAS

Blaire trying an oyster at the Freycinet Marine Farm - Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, TAS

Hobart - 4 nights

Arriving in Launceston we stopped for a quick visit to the Pressing Matters winery to meet their incredibly talented winemaker - Paul Smart. Paul also happens to be my cousin and we and a great four days hanging out together.

Bumble Bee - all fuzzy and cute - Tea Tree, Tasmania

Hanging out with cousin Paul at there Tahune Forest Airwalk - Huon Valley, TAS

The last viewing platform (left) is suspended above the treetops - Tahune Forest Airwalk, Huon Valley, TAS

Swaying side to side on the viewing platform - Tahune Forest Airwalk, Huon Valley, TAS

New best friends - Paul and Blaire - Tahune Forest Airwalk, Huon Valley, TAS

The boys on the very top of Mount Wellington - Hobart, TAS

Views of Hobart from Mount Wellington - Hobart, TAS

Picking strawberries in Paul and Greer's veg garden & fruit orchard. Getting inspiration to do something with our garden when we get back to Perth! - Hobart, TAS

Tasman Arch on the way to Port Arthur - Tasman Peninsula, TAS

A full day was needed to visit and explore the Port Arthur Australian Convict Site. There is so much to see here, with a renowned history for being a harsh penal settlement that housed repeat offenders and more hardened criminals between 1833 and 1877. More recently Port Arthur is known as the site of the 35 murders by Martin Bryant in 1996, this is acknowledged at the site, but to their credit it is teated respectfully and does not form part of the tourism - Port Arthur, TAS

Port Arthur historic site - Port Arthur, TAS

Foreground is the 'Isle of the dead', where the convicts and officers were buried during the time the prison was operating. Background is the old site and ruins of the boys prison, where boys as young as 8 were sent for punishment for repeat offences - Port Arthur, TAS

Dinner at the Drunken Admiral - and pirate and nautical themed restaurant - Hobart, TAS

Cooper doing a pirate face with a fork(?) - Drunken Admiral Restaurant, Hobart, TAS 

A real tassie devil at Bonorong Wildlife Park - Brighton, TAS

Paul and super cutey Flynn at Bonorong Wildlife Park - Brighton, TAS

Totally flukes a chance to meet the koalas as the keeper was finishing up a talk to a tourist group - Cooper and Blaire loved it! - Bonorong Wildlife Park, Brighton, TAS

Blaire posing with a koala - Bonorong Wildlife Park, Brighton, TAS 

Friday night saw us head into the city for fish sand chips at  Fish Frenzy (yumm) and watch the sun set over the city - Hobart, TAS

After dinner we mosied on over to Salamanca square. to the pop-up bar and Rektango. For two hours each Friday night (5-7pm) a band and a pop up bar is set up, and families are welcome to bring kids a long for a boogie and enjoy a family friendly atmosphere and beverage. Kids were having a great time dancing - Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS

Flynn and Cooper having a boogie at Rektango. I wish Perth would do something cool like this!! - Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS

Last day in Hobart we got to help celebrate the kids second cousin Flynn's 2nd birthday. He is such a sweet little kid, and had so much fun actually using the diggers on this cake to break it up into pieces - Hobart, TAS

Happy 2nd Birthday Flynn!! Hobart, TAS

West Coast update to follow soon...!!!!