Touring the Tamar

Day Twenty Nine | 13 Jan 2013 :

Today we pack up and leave Wynyard, saying goodbye to the beautiful rolling hills and their patchwork of poppy fields, potato crops and tulip fields too (that weren’t yet in flower unfortunately)…

…and heading East again to Green’s Beach - but not before more natural disasters.  Before we have even risen in the morning we hear a rumble and shudder not at all dissimilar to an underground explosion.  Living in a mining community we are quite accustomed to the occasional controlled blast and this sounded very much the same… only stronger and louder and sustained over a longer period… turns out it was an earth tremor about 10km off shore, to the North of Wynyard!  It would appear at this point that disaster is following us, so we decamp pretty quickly and set off.  Later in the morning, another tremor is felt, but luckily, there are no further developments.

Green’s Beach is situated at the mouth of the Tamar River, which leads South to Launceston, with easy access to the lovely Tamar Valley Vineyards! … more on that later.  :)

The first couple of days are really low key and relaxed, probably the most casual days yet… a little beach walking, a little fishing and just hanging out together.

Day Thirty One | 15 Jan 2013 : 

A trip down to Launceston is planned for the day, as the boys have all booked themselves in for a tour around the Boag’s Brewery…  a local Tasmanian beer that happens to be a favourite of my darling betrothed.  As I hastily make plans to get my nails done while we are there, I suffer the expected barbs about how ridiculous it is to get my nails done on a camping holiday.  Shortly after reminding said betrothed and his beer swilling entourage that I am the designated driver for the day, all are in agreement that my nails are in desperate need of some attention! 

A great day was had by all  :)

More to come on the beautiful Tamar region and it's lovely wineries!

Cheers for now,

Jules

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Cradle Mountain Beauty

Day Twenty Eight | 12 January 2013:  ‘WOW’ is fast becoming a very over-utilised word for me in recent weeks….  but WOW!!!!  Cradle Mountain was everything we thought it would be.  We did not have clear weather, but that in no way diminished it’s beauty, in fact the supremely ethereal quality of the clouds enshrouding the mountain peaks, coupled with the grey mist driven by icy wind actually enhanced the experience for us.  The grandeur and mystique of this prehistoric landscape was altogether humbling and awe inspiring.

There are several walks on offer, but given the wet and slippery conditions we did the 6km Dove Lake Circuit, which is mostly flat and comparatively easy.  We decided to leave Lachy with Nanny and Poppy all the same, as even that circuit would have been out of reach for him.  The other three kids just adored the trek and came alive in the conditions as much as we did.

Here are just a few highlights from the hundred or so photos that I took.... (hmmm, you'd better go grab a cuppa!):

… already a cool morning on the coast, the temp continued to fall as we approached the Lake St Clair National Park.

… our first ghostly glipse...

... and it just got better...

  

 

We topped it all off with lunch at the Cradle Mountain Lodge, adjacent to this cosy log fire.  A welcome end to a chilly 10 degree morning trek!

Fantastic day!

A place we definitely hope to revisit another time, perhaps even for a snowy winter experience, bunkering down at the end of the day in one of the many log cabins dotted around the lodge, with open fire blazing!

But our journey continues, as we begrudgingly leave Cradle Mountain....

Back with more soon.  :)

Jules

x

The Edge of the World

Day Twenty Seven |  11 January 2013:  Today we took a little road trip to Arthur River, the most Westerly point on the Tasmanian coast! Referred to by locals as 'The Edge of the World', South Africa is 10,000 miles to the west.  The ancient, rugged landscape is, as always, breathtaking.

On the way home we pulled off the highway into this most stunning little spot, Boat Harbour Beach…

.… just another idyllic little paradise

 Has this little park not got the absolute best view on that planet or what?

If not for Uncle Ken as our local tour guide, we would definitely miss these little out-of-the-way spots.  The perfect spot for a Corona before heading back to camp!!

Beautiful! 

Next step, Cradle Mountain!  OMG - it's going to take me a week to sift through the multitude of pics we all took.  Watch this space for some amazing sites!!  :)

Cheers,

Jules

The Wild West

Day Twenty Five |  9 January 2013:  On the road again today and heading west to the North West Coast of Tassy.  We will use Wynyard as our base and do little day trips from there.  Situated right on the coast and overlooking the wild waters of the Bass Strait, many of these little townships really cop a battering from the strong winds whipping straight off the sea and we are bitterly cold the day we arrive.  Our mid-summer happy hour is a chilly 14 degrees!

Day Twenty Six | 10 January 2013:  Today we have a crack at The Nut!  Seriously!  We head further west for the day and visit the gorgeous little seaside township of Stanley, nestled at the base of a landmark chunk of rock, known as The Nut. A beautiful historic little town, Stanley is actually the birth place of our very first 

Tasmanian born Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons.

After a way-too-big-but-totally-yummy lunch at the local café, featuring awesome seafood dishes, we ride the chair lift to the top and do the 2km circuit.  We soon realise that The Nut is not as completely flat on top as it appears from the ground.

 

Lachy stays on the ground with Nanna again, as the chair lift ride is not one that I am confident he will endure peacefully!  He is pacified with chocolate ice-cream though, so all is well.

It’s unanimous.  We all love Stanley! 

Thanks for joining in on our little journey...

Cheers,

Jules

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