Today we did some walks in the central part of Bruny Island. This included Clennetts Mill and the lookout although we couldn't see bugger all due to the smoke from fires on the big Island. We stopped off in Adventure Bay and notice all the red phytoplankton floating on the surface of the sea. This is the stuff that creates the bioluminescence at night. There was heaps of it all the way along the coast. Then it was off to the Whiskey Distillery for some tasting. Very expensive but an opportunity to taste some Whiskeys you would never get a chance to try otherwise.
In the evening after tea we went chasing the bioluminescence again at Adventure Bay a bit more success this time. Some great displays in the waves. Then it was another game of dodge the Pademelon the way back to camp.
Top Mill
Top Mill Boiler, (Would be great Garden rust.)
Top Mill
Phytoplankton at night
18th Jan
We left Bruny Island today and headed for Bothwell, We took the back roads via Richmond (which was very busy so we didn't stop there for long) then headed towards Campania and Colebrook. We arrived in Bothwell and set up camp in the little council caravan park there, its a nice little spot right next door to the cemetery. After setting up camp we were very hot and needed a refreshment so headed to the Castle Hotel where we ran into some very interesting characters who are born and bred in Bothwell and more then happy to share a bit of local knowledge. Linda had a little walk around the cemetery at dusk as it was a nice evening, we discovered the memorial of the Grote Reber who built the first Radio Telescope. He lived in Bothwell for 34 years after emigrating from America.
Really
Ferry
Bothwell Campgrond
Bothwell
Melton Mowbray Hotel
19th Jan
Headed off this morning down the back roads heading towards Oatlands, on the way we came across a sandstone manor house that appeared to be unoccupied, all through the area there are many sandstone manor houses some have been abandoned and others lovingly cared for. Also many derelict farmhouse and barns.
We spent half a day in Oatlands on self guided tour admiring the convict built buildings. The old prison exercise area had been converted into the local swimming pool and we had an interesting chat with the local guard who tipped us off on a great way to go back to camp. Back in Bothwell we then did a self guided tour of the town as it also has many old convict built buildings. We then dropped in at the Castle Hotel for refreshments and a found old mate he told us that the Manor house we saw first off was called Strathbarton and was owned by two teachers who only visit 2 or 3 times a year. He also told us about Grote Reber who in his old age started to pilfer salt and pepper shakers when he went on bus tours with the old folks along with cutlery and crockery.
We had a counter tea at the pub and it was bloody good and cheap.
Strathbarton Manor
Strathbarton Manor
Oatlands pool
Oatlands
Oatlands windmill
20th Jan
We left Bothwell this morning and are taking the back roads through to Launceston. Once up in the hills we could see the smoke from the fire around Miena (Central Plateau). Our drive took us up into the hills and into the highland lakes district at well over 1100 meters. We took a quick detour into the hydro village of Poatina, a cute little place with fantastic views of the mountains. Then down hill into Cressy driving along small country roads lined with hedgerows just like in England, through to Longford where we stopped for some lunch and had a walk around the town. Longford is well known for its car racing history back in the 50's and 60's. We have arrived in Launceston where we will stay for the next couple of days.
21st Jan
First stop this morning was the car museum to see their current display, one of the highlights was the HQ Monaro that nearly fell off the Tasman Bridge in 1975 after the bridge was struck by a large ship. On our way back to collect the car via the park there was a Devaux Coupe having a photo shoot, we had a chat with the designer/builder, a fancy looking jigger. As its was a very warm day we decided to head for the beach, Low Head was recommended by the young fella in the car museum. It is an interesting place as its at the head of the Tamar River and Bass Strait. Within minutes of getting there the sea mist rolled in from Bass Strait and we couldn't see a bloody thing. We did check out the lighthouse and pilot station, both historic sites then it was round to East Beach for a stroll in the mist along the water's edge. Then a quiet drive home via Lilydale.
65 Cooper S
Dicks Sierra
Lucky Monaro
Devaux coupe
The Sea mist is comming
Low Head lighthouse
Misty Beach
22 Jan
Our last day in Sunny Tasmania. A lazy morning having breakfast in the shopping district of Launceston (reminded us of Ballarat), then walking around the old part of Launceston admiring the homes. After leaving Launceston we took the back roads to Devonport stopping off at the Narawntapu National Park for a final walk along the beach. We reconoitered the campsites making notes for our next trip then a late lunch in Port Sorrell at the fish and chippy. Instead of queuing up for the ferry at Devonport we stopped at the pub across the river where we could see the boat out the window, we chatted with an old couple who used to live in Bothwell and waited until they started boarding cars, had another round then drove over to the terminal to board.
We had a quiet and peaceful night at Rosie's Inn. Heaps better than the quirky Junction motel. After resupplying in town we headed for Mount Field National Park. Found a nice little campsite down the back then went for a stroll to Russell Falls. We didn't really do very much it was pretty cold, coats and beanies. So we had an early night.
Mount Field campsite
Walk to Russell Falls
Russell Falls
11th Jan
We planned to do the Alpine walk today as the forecast was for warm weather, unfortunately due to the Gell River fire the Lake Dobson road was close so we changed our plans and did the Tall trees and Lady Barron Falls walk. In the afternoon we relaxed around camp then attended the ranger bushfire update. As the weather was going to be hot and windy the walks in the Alpine area were closed. We decided to move in the morning to Bruny Island. At sunset we walked to Russell Falls again to see the glow worms and do a bit of light painting.
Bushfire update
Water bomber
Bent tree fern
Lady Barron Falls walk
Lady Barron Falls
Light painting on Russell Falls
Russell Falls at Dusk
Light Painting Russell Falls
Tall Trees Walk
Westerway Station
12th Jan
Packed up and headed towards Kettering to catch the ferry across to Bruny Island, stopped in at New Norfolk trash and treasure market on the way and stocked up on supplies at the supermarket. Just caught the 2:00 ferry across to Bruny Island and set up camp on the Neck which is close to a beautiful deserted beach.
Bruny Island ferry
13th Jan
Decided to stay at this camp ground for a few nights and travel around the north part of Bruny Island. We spent all morning wandering along the beach at Dennes Point. The water was warm and clear, the sand was white and soft, and the weather was perfect. "Bliss."
In the afternoon we stopped at the quarantine station and walked the interpretation tour, which took us around all the buildings that are still standing. As and added bonus we saw some Quolls who didn't realise they are supposed to be nocturnal creatures. At first we thought it was a cat laying in the grass until we took a closer look at its head. Which is pointy, and it had spots. On the way back to camp we stopped in at the Cheese, Bread, Beer Brewery for some well earned refreshments.
Dennes Point
Dennes Point
Quarantine Station
Quoll
And again
Delicious
14th Jan
In the morning we walked the Cape Queen Elizabeth track to Moorina Bay then drove to Alonnah General store for supplies but found that it was crap and expensive, fortunately the only pub on the island was just across the road so we stopped in there for a drink before heading down to Cloudy Beach to check out the campsites. On the way back we stopped in at the Bruny Hotel for tea then went back to our campsite at the neck and then walked 2 km along the beach to the rookery where penguins and the shear waters come in at dusk. We didn't realise the beach was closed and the ranger gave us a stern talking to. She was only about 12 years old and told us we had to walk home along the road in the dark. We agreed to do that and then found another track onto the beach and walked back to camp. On the way we noticed the breaking waves were glowing in the dark. It was the bioluminescence we had been hearing about. When we got back to camp Ken grabbed his camera and took some shots but wasn't very successful in capturing it. It was an amazing sight.
Moorina Bay
Moorina Bay
Moorina Bay
The Neck beach
Neck beach Sunset
Not sure what this lunatic thinks he's doing.
Glowing sea
15th Jan
We packed up camp at the Neck and set up at Cloudy Beach Corner campsite which is very peaceful as the only access is via the beach and the Wicked campers cannot get here without getting stuck. We relaxed at camp in the afternoon catching up on some reading and then headed to Adventure Bay to try and see some more bioluminescence. Unfortunately it had moved on, but another lovely evening and we watched the lightning over the bay in the distance. The 40 minute trip took us an hour and half on the way home as there was Pademelons, Wallabies and other unidentified hopping creatures everywhere, there was that many it was like a slalom course. (Ken was so used to dodging creatures when he saw a rabbit on the road he missed it).
Bio during the day.
16th Jan
A late start then off to Jetty Beach to do a walk around the Peninsula, we did our good deed for the day by supplying a young fella with apple juice as he was having hypoglycemia episode due to his diabetes. We couldn't drive passed the Bruny Hotel on the way home and had to stop for a refreshing ale. Two other ladies who had left their husbands back at camp mooched onto the end of our table and it turned into a little more of a session than we had planned.
PS: There are a lot of March Flies, Mossies and Midgees here on the Island.
