Week 5

 

 

Day 29: We headed to the 'famous' Salamanca markets that is a must see thing to do in Hobart, really nothing out of the ordinary compared to other markets, it's just on a larger scale. We then headed towards Port Athur. Through some people Al had spoken to earlier in Tassie we organised some cheap accommodation on some private property. We pulled up and met Roger who took us to a spot on his 400 acre site. We were blown away, ocean views, camp kitchen, combustion fire, toilet and hot showers. The kids loved the two rope swings that were set up. That afternoon Roger mentioned that there was a kind of a big do on that night, in nearby Nubeena for their Regatta and Aussie day celebrations. So we thought we'd head in and check it out. There were approx 200 people there which equated to three families.

 

 

Nubeena Festival

Roger's Place

Day 30: In the morning we went to the Remarkable cave just south of Port Arthur. We were able to climb down and into the cave as waves were going in and out of it, only because it was low tide. Then we took the kids on a 90min walk up to the nearby blowhole. Unfortunately due to the low swell the blowhole wasn't that spectacular. That afternoon we went to Eaglehawk to see Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch, and the Tesselated rocks.

Remarkable Cave

 

Morning tea at the Blow Hole

Tesselated Rocks

Day 31: We went to see convict and mine ruins from the 1830's where the worst of the worst convicts were sent, near Lime Bay State Reserve. They were to work in the mines completely naked!! The mine was decommissioned in the early 1900's due to the homos, probably should of given them clothes. That afternoon we relaxed and swam (well Housie and Charli swam) at Safety Cove beach, the water was crystal clear but only about 15 deg. That night Al had booked us all in for a family friendly ghost tour that is suitable for kids. When we arrived we found out that that Al had actually booked us in for the adults tour and it wasn't recommended for kids. We still did the tour, Charli was slightly nervy after hearing some of the ghost stories and Declan reckoned that the tour was boring. We did take some photos and in one of them there is a strange light and smoke that definitely wasn't there when we took the photo. Real or a crock of crap?? You can be the judge.

Coal Mine/Convict ruins 

Port Arthur

Day 32 : Charli's 11th Birthday!!!! After some presents in the morning, Roger took us up to his caravan that he lives in at the top of his property. From here, he would have one of the best views in Port Arthur. He is part way through building a stone cottage and hopes to finish it some time this year. Then we left for Hobart to take Charli to Hogs Breath for her Bday. Then onto Lake Pedder for the next few nights. It rained while setting up, the first time on the trip so far. As we couldn't do much that night, we read about Lake Pedder and discovered that it gets 300 days of rain each year!!

Day 33: Scored a win with the weather, with the rain gone and the sun out, we drove around and checked out Lake Pedder and took the kids on the Creepy crawly walk. Al and Charli were relieved that no creepy crawlies were actually there. It was just a nice walk through some Rainforest's. That arvo the kids talked us into doing a train bike ride (a 4 seater bike that you pedal and it has rail wheels on a disused railway line) at Maydena. Well, the first 50 metres seemed fun, then it just became hard exercise! We don't exercise on Holidays!! Luckily there is some one following on a motorised one that can give you a bit of a push up the hills. Leaving there in a pool of sweat, we went up and had a look at Junee Cave from which water flows from 25-30 km's of underground tunnels. We then drove out an looked at Gordons dam that has a 140 mtr high wall. That night back at camp a Spotted Quoll ran past Housie while at the fire and into the annex of the camper where Al and the kids were. They were unable to get a photo due to the quoll sitting on the step and the camera was in the camper.

 

Creepy crawly walk

 

Day 34: Stopped in at Mt Field National park and saw Russell falls, had to contend with our Asian buddies to get a photo of the waterfall. Parked up the night at Lake St Clair, they had campervans and caravans crammed in like sardines. A private operator has taken over the accommodation side of things and they are aiming for people to stay in their cabins. The kids were happy to see an echidna just wandering around the camp.

Russell Falls

Trunk of fallen tree 

 

Lake St Clair camp

Day 35: Kayaking out on lake St Clair, lunches packed we paddled over to the other side and pulled up stumps at the bottom of Fergy's hill. Lots of brown trout jumping and swimming past and the kids had fun climbing the drift wood and rocks. The afternoon was a small hike along the Larmairrenemer Tabelti Aborigninl cultural walk and back. Not much to see along it but a good way to wear the kids out ;-)