Tassie 2023 - Final Days

 3rd - 5th March - Stanley

We are camped at Peggs Beach/Black River near Stanley. The first place we visited was Highfield house, an estate owned by the Van Diemans Land Company.  The property overlooks Stanley and a rock feature called The Nut on a windy promontory. Construction of the house began in 1832 and was completed in 1835. The house and the surrounding farm buildings were built entirely by convict labour.  It was the first European occupation in North-West Tasmania, its purpose was to graze sheep for wool, however, the weather conditions were so harsh the wool enterprise failed.

Highfield House & the Nut

The next day we went to the Trowutta hill climb run by the North West Car Club. A free event for spectators that we really enjoyed. It's proper grassroots motorsport that anyone can have fun with regardless of their budget. 

We had a lucky escape when a Honda Integra lost control and spun right in front of us, we were showered in dirt and gravel but no one lost an eye.

After the hill climb, we went back to Stanley for a drink at the local and ran into some fellow travellers that we met at Derwent Bridge a week ago, and have been bumping into ever since. We ended up at the local seafood restaurant for a slap-up meal.

Stanley (reminds us of Cornwall)

On our final day at Peggs Beach, we did the beach walk, as there is little access to the beach from the campground there was no one on the beach so it was great to have it all to ourselves.

6th - 8th March - Riana and surrounds.

The weather has turned cold and wet, we took the opportunity to do some washing and a bit of shopping in Burnie before returning to our camp in Riana.

We were hoping the weather might improve so we could ride our bikes along the bike trail in Penguin, but it was just too windy and showery so instead, we did the scenic drive to Ulverstone and some lunch there and returned to Penguin for a drink at the local.

The locals want to Heritage List the Bins 

The next day we went out to Leven Canyon and walked to Cruickshank's lookout which looks out over the Canyon and has spectacular views we then walked down 697 steps into the rainforest and back to the car park.  

697 Steps into the Rainforest

9th - 12th March - Longford Motorama

We visited the historic town of Evandale which was established as a military post in 1811.  Evandale today is a National Trust-classified Georgian village.  Our next stop was Perth where we stopped for lunch at the local.

Bronze of John Glover, Landscape Artist

At the weekend, we went to the Longford Motorama. On Saturday, they displayed the historic cars and motorcycles at the Woolmers Estate.  The Woolmers estate is also home to the Longford motor museum.

Of course, they interviewed the Jag owner.

On Sunday we went out to Symmonds Plains Raceway to watch the historic cars doing laps of the circuit. 

Then into Launceston for a last look around before we head home.  It was so quiet on a Sunday afternoon, just like Melbourne back in the 1980s.