Tasmania - 2017

For 2 weeks at the end of January to early February 2017, we truly enjoyed 2 weeks of wandering around Tasmania with family members visiting for an extended period from the UK.

We had been in and around ‘Tassie’ a few times previously and enjoyed trying to share with our visitors some of what this small boutique island State of Australia has to offer.

After arriving into and enjoying Hobart, we headed west in a clockwise direction around Tasmania as shown on the map below, before departing Hobart back to Queensland.

Tasmania... the island State of Australia

There will be as few words as possible in the post, preferring to rely on a few photos hopefully telling there own story of each location.

In And Around Hobart

After our visitors enjoyed the incomparable Mona Museum Of Old & New Art and after our daughter and fiancé joined us for the Hobart stay, it was time to enjoy the broader area around Hobart along with city's very popular Salamanca Markets.

View of Hobart from Mt Wellington

Tahune AirWalk amongst the trees

Richmond - with the oldest bridge in Australia, convict built from 1823 

To Strahan

This was our longest drive during this trip, so we stopped briefly at Derwent Bridge to stretch legs whilst visiting ‘The Wall’ built using 50, 1metre wide x 3 metre high Huon Pine panels, skilfully carved with images conveying some of the history of Tassie.  What stunning craftsmanship by the single and very dedicated artist.

'The Wall' - Derwent Bridge [photos courtesy, The Wall]

20% of this island State is listed as World Heritage wilderness, so on a wet an misty afternoon, we cruised from Strahan along the Gordon River admiring some of the few remaining areas of temperate rainforest in the world, especially with trees in it like Huon and Celery pine.

Temperate rainforest in the midst, Gordon River, Tasmania

Cradle Mountain

It was quite cool but we were weather lucky to walk around Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain, whilst continuously admiring non-stop scenery enhanced by a clear sky and later observing some local fauna.

Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain

Boat Shed, Cradle Mountain

Hungry young Tasmanian devils, Cradle Mountain

First time view of wild wombat, Cradle Mountain

Local wallaby & baby, Cradle Mountain

Via Launceston To Coles Bay

It was the Tamar River, placidly flowing through Cataract Gorge we followed towards the sea where the produce from a few very fine wineries were enjoyed and acquired before continuing east to Coles Bay and Freycinet Peninsula, another World heritage location.

Cataract Gorge, Launceston

Bicheno, Tasmania

A National Park near Coles Bay

Some of us hiked our way to a lookout to watch sunrise over the famous Wineglass Bay before taking a boat cruise around the ruggedly beautiful coastline into it.

Wineglass Bay lookout after a cloudy covered sunrise... still very beautiful

Inside Wineglass Bay looking out

Sleepy Bay, Freycinet Peninsula

Whilst at sea we marvelled at our own Attenborough moment in amongst 20-30 seals, hundreds of birds and a massive pod of playful dolphins feeding on huge schools of fish

Rare Australian fur seal sun baking on the coastline

Playful dolphin playing alongside the boat, near Coles Bay

Eaglehawk Neck

Further south from Coles Bay is Eaglehawk Neck located close by the historical Port Arthur but also a great base for viewing more of what Tasmania offers, especially along the coastline.

Coastline near Eaglehawk Neck

Fortescue Bay, Tasmania

We will again return to Tasmania, probably with our small pop top caravan in tow, to enjoy the clean air, beautiful produce, trout filled lakes and rivers and stunning wilderness areas to camp in.

Weather change sweeps through during a final sunset in Tasmania

If you never ever go, you'll never ever know what you’re missing... go well!