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We travelled around Tasmania in March 2014, arriving at Launceston and driving around the island anti-clockwise. We drove up to the north west to Stanley and then headed south to stop at Strahan where we took a cruise to the Gordon River, before travelling to Hobart via Lake St. Clair. We travelled north again through to centre with all its lakes to stop in Launceston for a couple of day trips south and north before returning to the big island.
Thursday 20 March 2014
Thursday 20 March 2014
We took the 7.20am flight out to Sydney for Launceston and arrived on a cool and overcast morning. After picking up our hire car (Hyundai 20) we drove up to the north coast and stopped at Ulverstone for morning tea and to also get Di some medicines for the flu she was getting. We continued along the Old Bass Highway to Burnie were we had lunch and did some shopping.
Ulverstone, Tasmania
Burnie, Tasmania - view from the Old Bass Highway
Burnie, Tasmania - Table Cape
Boat Harbour, Tasmania - nice beach at this village
Stanley, Tasmania - main street
We arrived at Stanley and booked into our accommodation above the post office. It was excellent and large! Di decided on a long sleep to try to beat the flu was in order, so I took a walk along the streets looking at the history.
Stanley, Tasmania - crossing over main street
Stanley, Tasmania - Joseph Lyons birthplace (he became PM)
Stanley, Tasmania - the old bond store
Stanley, Tasmania - old general warehouse
Friday 21 March 2014
Friday 21 March 2014
The morning was very grey and there was a threat of rain. We decided to take the chairlift up to the top of The Nut where we walked around the top. It was very windy and cold but it was a nice walk - not that there anything in the way of shelter from the rain, except for a couple of little sheltered gullies where some trees had grown.
We completed our walk just as the rain really started and we only got slightly wet going down on the chairlift. The rain was to stay with us the rest of the day as we travelled south to Strahan.
Stanley, Tasmania - "The Nut"
Stanley, Tasmania - a very narrow neck of land
Stanley, Tasmania - view from the top of The Nut
Stanley, Tasmania - nice 2km walk around The Nut
Stanley, Tasmania - taking the chairlift down from The Nut
It was a beautiful drive to Strahan except for the rain and when we arrived the wind was still howling.
After booking into our B&B we strolled around the town. However, it was bit too windy and cold to do much, except get a coffee and look at the harbour. There are lots of worse places to watch the world go by!
Strahan, Tasmania - windy harbour
Saturday 22 March 2014
Saturday 22 March 2014
Today we were taking the cruise out through Hells Gate (the entrance to Macquarie Harbour) and then to visit Sarah Island that had one of the original convict camps and then into the beautiful Gordon River, before returning to Strahan.
Our cruise boat was somewhat larger than the boat used when we first visited here 40 years ago.
"Hells Gate" at the entrance to the harbour is only 60 metres wide and can have very large seas running. I can't imagine entering here under sail and rowing boat.
Strahan, Tasmania - bigger cruise boats these days
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - entrance to the harbour
The current running was quite strong, but it was flat when we visited. We turned back inside the harbour and headed towards Sarah Island, passing fish farms on the way. Some of the locals believe these farms are doing a lot of environmental damage in the area.
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - "Hells Gate" entrance
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - fish farms
Sarah Island was one of the toughest settlements in early Australia. This was for the 'out and outer's" - those who would not behave anywhere. The island was de-nuded of trees and barracks, jail, kitchen and commandant's house built. Because there were no trees, they had to build a fence along the whole of the western side of the island for shelter. This was up to 6 metres high in places. Some posts still remain today. They also increased the size of the island by laying down tree trunks and filling in with wood and gravel. We were given a great tour of the island.
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - approaching Sarah Island
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - convict jail in the settlement
Leaving Sarah Island we entered the famous Gordon River. This is simply stunning country. We took a walk to see some of the remains of the huge Huon pines that had been cut down. Some of these trees were over 600 years old. Unfortunately it was very difficult to get some good photographs.
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - entering the Gordon River
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania - reflections on the Gordon River
We arrived back at Strahan in the afternoon and had a look at the old steam driven saw mill. I don't think the OH&S (WH&S) would be acceptable these days.
After some coffee, we walked into Hogarth Falls, not a long walk, but very nice and well worth the effort, and a great way to finish our visit to Strahan.
Strahan, Tasmania - old stream driven saw mill
Strahan, Tasmania - track into Hogarth Falls
Strahan, Tasmania - Hogarth Falls
Sunday 23 March 2014
Sunday 23 March 2014
Today we were heading to Hobart, with stops to look at the old mining town of Queenstown and then on the Lake St Clair, to do a walk, and then finally into Hobart. We have visited Hobart many times, so this time it was just an overnight pit stop.
Leaving Strahan we drove to Queenstown. It hasn't changed much over the years and still looks like a mining town. The drive over the mountains was nice. Many of the hills around the area do not have any trees. They were either cut to keep the smelters going or died from the pollution.
Queenstown, Tasmania - coming over the mountains into town
Queenstown, Tasmania - the original open cut copper mine
Queenstown, Tasmania - the de-nuded hills
We arrived at the Lake St Clair Visitor centre where there were lots of people, either involved with the Overland Track (Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair), just out walking for the day, or staying at the centre.
Di still wasn't that well and decided to sleep in the car while I went on a walk.
Lake St Clair, Tasmania - Visitor Centre
Lake St Clair, Tasmania
Lake St Clair, Tasmania - 500 year old fallen tree
Lake St Clair, Tasmania - Confluence of Hugal & Cuvier Rivers
Lake St Clair, Tasmania - view from the platypus hides
Monday 24 March 2014
Monday 24 March 2014
From Hobart we headed north through the Great Lakes area of the midlands of Tasmania. These lakes have some of the best fishing in the world, and the area is dotted with lodges.
On the way to Launceston we called into Liffy Falls. We had last visited here 40 years before and we still loved it. Unfortunately, compared with our last visit, there was not much water over the falls.
Great Lakes, Tasmania
Liffy Falls, Tasmania - lovely walk into the falls
Liffy Falls, Tasmania - not a lot of water around
Tuesday 25 March 2014
Tuesday 25 March 2014
In the morning we drove north to coast and then came back to Launceston via the bridge and western side of the esturary. We had a couple of hours to spend before getting our flight back to Sydney, so we went to the Cataract Gorge and took the chairlift across to the other side and then walked back via the suspension bridge.
From there it was back to the airport......
Cataract Gorge, Tasmania - taking the chairlift
Cataract Gorge, Tasmania - Suspension Bridge
Cataract Gorge, Tasmania - looking up the gorge
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