Week 08

Day 50

Devonport -> Devonport <Map>

Today 325 Total 6311

Our last full day in Tasmania today, and there were still a number of things on our 'to-do' list.  We made an early start and by 9am we were...

...at the Anvers Chocolate Factory.

I have to tell you that there is a plaque on the wall that praises the properties of the cacao bean and assures us that it has "...health, energy and aphrodisiac attributes...",  as well as containing "...the same amount of anti-oxidant properties as red wine. " 

Needless to say, we had to sample their wares.  How could you not embrace all these fine qualities?

Your wish is my command!

There were some beautiful roses around the chocolate factory.

The next stop was the Ashgrove Cheese Factory.  Sorry, no photos here as we were too busy sampling cheeses including a particularly interesting Wasabi Cheese.  It probably needed a beer to put out the fire!  We left with a firm Red Leicester and a nice runny Goat's Milk Feta.

The next stop should have been on our route about 4 weeks previously, but this would have meant a rather steep and windy road while pulling the van, so we put it off.  We now had time to revisit the area and hence stopped at the Bridgestowe Lavender Farm.  This is one of the largest privately run lavender farms in the world and produces high quality lavender oil on a par with French farms.

We were about 2 to 3 weeks too early for the fields to be in full bloom, but you could see the purple tinge starting to appear.

Put your imaginary lavender-coloured glasses on to view this

We had lunch here (home-made sausage rolls with lavender and tomato relish!), then moved on to the last stop of the day, Narawntapu National Park.  One of the animals we've seen very little of during our visit is the Wombat.  According to the tourist literature, this is the place to see them as they are accustomed to humans in the park.

We regret this is the best we could do.  The southern end of a north-bound wombat getting away from us at top speed. Was it something I said?

Not put off by the inhospitable antics of the four-legged bolsters, we went for a walk to a bird hide on the lagoon.  Lots of Black Swans, Eurasian Coots and a couple of Musk Ducks in the lagoon.

Black Swans in close formation

We spent a while watching from the hide then walked back to the carpark.  What we were not expecting was for Sue to look up while we were crossing a bridge to see a Tawny Frogmouth and chick in a nest only a few feet above our heads.

Tawny Frogmouth mother and chick

The chick was very interested in us but mother was doing the normal Tawny Frogmouth imitation of a branch and remaining motionless the whole time.  A magic few minutes were spent gazing at the pair in their very minimalist nest.

It was then back to van to start thinking about packing for tomorrow's voyage back to the mainland.

Day 51-52

Devonport -> Melbourne <Map>

Today Car:25 Spirit of Tasmania:445 Total 6336

First, what do you call this rather common bird?

a    Plover

b    Masked Plover

c    Masked Lapwing

d    Spur-Winged Plover

e    Vanellus Miles

f     Vanilla Kilometres

If you answered a, b or d, it seems you used to be correct.

If you answered c, go to the top of the class.

If you answered e, you're obviously a twitcher and should not be in the quiz.

If you answered f, you are obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

We have called this bird a Plover (or Spur-Winged Plover if being pedantic) for as long as I can remember.  I'm not sure where or when this name change took place, or for what reason, but officially it seems that this is now a Masked Lapwing.  I wonder what the bird calls itself?

A quick trip into Devonport showed that our ferry was already waiting.

Spirit of Tasmania II docked in Devonport

Late afternoon, we drove about one kilometre from the caravan park to the loading area.  Here we completed boarding formalities and security checks, then were allocated a queue in the departure carpark.

Ready for boarding

Much to our amusement, we were joined in the queue by what looked like a vehicle previously used in The Beverly Hillbillies.

Complete with slightly wonky lead-light windows over the cab, a veranda with chairs at the back and a cat.  A home away from home, or just someone's home?

Farewell to Tasmania - A few folk waving, and the Spirit of the Sea statue on the Devonport breakwater.

What a lovely calm evening on which to depart Tasmania.  We have had such a wonderful time and seen so many new sights that we feel sure we'll be back.

Welcome to Melbourne

Docked at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, 6:30am

Fortunately we had a really smooth crossing of the notoriously rough Bass Strait. We were docked, off the ship and into Melbourne's peak hour traffic by 7am!

What we weren't really prepared for was the change in the weather between Tasmania and Victoria.  For the last six weeks we have been in a delightfully cool if sometimes damp climate where the temperature rarely got over 20°C.  Suddenly we were in Melbourne and the temperature was forecast to be 34°!  The van air-conditioning that hadn't been used for two months was suddenly called upon to keep us cool while it stayed hot and windy all the way through the day until 9:30pm when it finally cooled.  Good old Melbourne weather - if you don't like the present weather, just wait a bit and it will change!  Sure enough, tomorrow is forecast to be 18° and rain. 

Day 53

Melbourne <Map>

Today 125 Total 6461

After picking up Andy and having breakfast together, we all went off for the day to the William Rickets Sanctuary in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. This is a sculpture park of his works based on his theories of Aboriginal culture.

An inviting entrance

All the sculptures are blended into rocks and boulders and hidden beside pathways through the forest.

High five with a sculpture

One of these figures is not doing Marty Feldman impressions

We had a nice lunch together in the ranges, then back to Melbourne.

Day 54-55

Melbourne

Today 29 Total 6490

Dinner with Andy for my birthday, followed the next night by dinner with friends from New Zealand who were coincidentally in town for the opera.  Mostly we were focussed on getting ready for the trip home.

Day 56

Melbourne -> Gundagai <Map>

Today 490 Total 6980

We started the day with breakfast with Andy and Eddie, followed by nearly 500kms up the Hume Highway heading home.

Andy and Eddie at our farewell breakfast (the chilli scrambled eggs were great!)

Day 57

Gundagai -> Karuah <Map>

Today 560 Total 7540

Another big day, including tackling the mind-focussing Pennant Hills Road.  For the benefit of those who sensibly don't drive caravans through Sydney traffic, Pennant Hills Rd. is a suburban street pretending to be a city bypass.  It is 3 lanes (each way) of buses, semi-trailers and B-Doubles, and is the only real way to get from the Pacific Hwy to the Hume Hwy.  I'm forced to believe that this is because the city fathers feel that as Australia's largest city, Sydney should be a destination and hence should not be bypassed.  Consequently there is a 14km gap between motorways when one is transiting from north or south.

No photos as the knuckles were well and truly white and firmly affixed to the steering wheel at all times.

Day 57

Karuah -> Sawtell <Map>

Today 365 Total 7905

A far less stressful day today, as the divided highway extended as far as Port Macquarie, where we went off the highway and parked on a headland overlooking the Pacific Ocean for lunch.  Most restful.  The day ended at my cousin's place for a lovely family meal and a catch-up on all their activities (Thanks, RnR!)

Day 58

Sawtell -> Home! <Map>

Today 381 Total 8286

The last day of our holiday.  We had a really terrific trip and will probably return to Tasmania as there are still things we'd missed.  Having said that, we're also really glad to get back home to our own bed, bathroom, and where there's a dishwasher and you don't have to pay to do the laundry!

Our last lunch stop was at Ulmarra, where a local family turned out to watch us.

Female Eastern Water Dragon, and...

... her mate (Males have red and sometimes yellow markings, and are generally bigger)

Scurrying around in the bushes were 3 smaller juvenile dragons, all living on the banks of the Clarence River next to the town's swimming baths and picnic area.  They looked straight out of Jurassic Park.

We hoped you've enjoyed our trip.  Stay tuned for our next adventure.

Love to all,

Chris & Sue