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