We spent the day doing the washing. Walk into Zeehan township which was pretty much deserted. We were the only patrons in the Cecil pub. In the afternoon we drove to Strahan and booked our Gordon River Cruise for the next day.
Camp site Zeehan
MacQuarie Harbour, Strahan
3rd Jan
This morning we wondered around Queenstown. We walked up Spion Kopf lookout which has great views of the surrounding hills and the township. The vegetation is gradually recovering, there is a lot more than the last time we were here but when you drive out of town you can see the mining companies are still raping and pillaging the landscape. We had a drink at the Empire Hotel which has a beautifully carved Blackwood staircase in the reception area.
Then it was off to Strahan for the afternoon Gordon River Cruise. The boat left at around 3:00pm out through Hells Gates into the Southern Ocean. Unfortunately it was a particularly calm day so we didn't get to experience it's full choppines. Then off to see some fish farms in Macquarie Harbour before continuing on to Sarah Island for a guided tour of the ruins on the island then down the Gordon River and into the rainforest. Another guided tour of the rainforest checking out the Huon Pine trees then back to Strahan arriving at around 9:30 pm. We got word that our favourite tunnel (Spray Tunnel) is now inhabited by glow worms so we went to check them out on our way back to camp. It's like fairy lights lining the tunnel.
Queenstown
The Bridge
Gordon River
Fish Farm
Hells Gate
Sarah Island Bakery
Heading home
4th Jan
The weather forecast was for a hot day so we decided to drive along the beach at Trial Harbour. This proved to be a good decision and we relaxed on the beach and had our lunch watching the waves break over the rocks. All of a sudden the weather changed, within minutes there was a cold front and clouds upon us. So we'd had enough of the beach and headed inland. It was misty all the way back, We drove Reece Dam part Tasmania's Hydro system. It had turned really cold so we headed for Rosebery for tea and we had a top meal at the Top Pub.
Reece Dam
Trial Harbour beach
5th Jan
Today we thought we'd tackle the four wheel drive track to Montezuma Falls. It was very muddy and chopped up.We drove for an hour before we came across a big bog hole with plenty of evidence of other people getting stuck, we decided bugger this and turned back managing to crush the wiring for the trailer lights and short out the back of the ute in the process. So it was a detour to Rosebery for fuses and lunch. Since we hadn't reached Montezuma falls we took the tourist drive and walked in along the old tramway. Turns out this was a lot more picturesque than the four wheel drive track and only marginally quicker.
leatherwood tree
Montezuma falls
Suspension Bridge
Flying saucer crash
Tramway bridge ruins
6th Jan
We left Zeehan heading towards Lake St Clair. Stopped in Queenstown to pick up supplies and look through the museum which was basic but informative and interesting. Well worth a visit. We spent much longer than we planned there on our way to Lake St Clair the weather turned to shit, and by the time we got to Lake St Clair there were no campsites left. We continued on to an alleged campground at Bronte Park. First we drove past and ended up at one of the lakes so we turned around and headed back to the little town. There was a hand painted campground sign but not a reception place or people just a bunch of old fishing shacks with caravans poking out of them. We found a small grassy spot with some power outlets (that we don't need) and a toilet block. We enquired at the general store and asked "where can we camp" the reply was "wherever you like" then we asked "who do we pay" the reply "dunno". So we just pitched our tent on a nice grassy spot. So far the most the noise we have had is the birds and cows. Couple of other campers came in and asked the same question we did, our response was "dunno". So they camped here as well.
Aqueduct
Bronte park Campground
Luxuary
7th Jan
It's a lovely although and we were woken up by the Maggies woodling. We drove the 20 minutes back to Lake St Clair and did the Shadow Lake Death March, which took us 5 and a half hours through some very interesting landscapes and vegetation. At the halfway mark we stopped at the lake for lunch and soaked our weary feet. At the end of the walk it was time for a well earned beer and cider at the Derwent River Hotel where we caught up with some campers we met in Zeehan.
Guinea Flower
Linta pointing out Little Huegl
Tree pimples
8th Jan
Still no sign of the caretaker at Bronte Park campsite. We packed up this morning and went back to Lake St Clair for a short walk. Next stop was The Wall Gallery, a series of carved Huon Pine panels. It's far from complete but the craftsmanship is stunning. Unfortunately we do not have any photos as we were not allowed to take any in the Gallery, you really have to see it to appreciate it anyway. The weather forecast for the next few days in the hills is cold around 14 degrees maximum and wet. So we have headed south towards Hobart and have taken a Motel in New Norfolk.
Mount Olympus
A stick
9th Jan
After a noisy night in the quirky Junction hotel we checked out a day early and booked a room in a quaint B&B just across the Derwent River away from the main road. We then headed into Hobart and did some shopping. On the way back to the car we stumbled across a public park that had been a Scottish Pioneer Cemetery. All the headstones have been moved to the border of the park leaving only a few of the large monuments in place. It had nice views looking down into Hobart. We took the back way home to New Norfolk within 20 mins of leaving Hobart we were in the country. When we arrived in New Norfolk we walked around the town and visited the New Norfolk Asylum. What a big complex it used to be. It was in operation from around 1830 until 2000. Some of it has been preserved or re-purposed and some is in ruins.
Arrived in Tassie after an uneventful crossing. Went into Devonport for Breakfast and supplies. While we were there we did our good deed for the day and jump started some fellow mainlanders.
Traveled west on the Bass Highway stopping off at the seaside town of Penguin which is fairly heavily themed.
We really enjoyed the small seaside towns along the coast as they reminded us of what it used to be like at places like Rosebud, Portarlington and St Leonards when we were kids. No big developments and plenty of fibro holiday homes.
Next stop was Sisters Beach for lunch and a walk along the pristine white sands. Then onto Fossil Bluff for look back in time. Very interesting Geology with the layer of stones in the rocks laid down by the Glacier with a layer of fossilised shellfish and sea creatures above.
Our first camp was in Montagu a small a council campsite popular with the fisherman.
Leaving Melbourne
Penguin Crossing
Penguin Beach
Penguin Christmas
Poppy Field
Fossil Bluff
Have a look at these Fossils
Can you see the Indian Chief?
Goats Head Stick
28th December 2018
A lovely quiet and peaceful campsite so we decide to stay a few days. Old mate from across the road came to say hello and give us a bit of local knowledge then half an hour later he dropped back with a couple of fish fillets. Apparently some people don't like the Blue Eye and he said if we didn't want it we could give it to the birds. We then took off and spent the day exploring the Arthur Pieman conservation area dropping in at beaches on the way and walking along the waters edge. We came across some quick sand at Green Point and did our first bit of beach driving at West Point.
In the afternoon we ventured into the forest and did the walk to Trowutta Arch which is two sink holes one dry and the other a 20 meter deep pool. The walk down was through a old growth forest with massive tree ferns and Myrtle Beech trees that towered above the forest floor.
When we got back to camp old mate came over with a couple of whiting fillets in case we didn't like the Blue Head. So we ate them both for tea with home made chips. Linda liked the Blue Eye it was like Blue Grenadier but Ken preferred the whiting.
Green Point
West Point
Arthur River
Trowutta Arch
30th December 2018
After hearing that Linda liked the Blue Eye old mate turned up with another 3 Fillets so its fish again for tea.
Our trip out today was to Dip Falls via some bush four wheel drive tracks with lunch at beautiful quiet picnic area on Black River. Dip Falls are a basalt formation just like the organ pipes national park but bigger. We thought we would take a short cut on the way back down some old forest tracks (Bloody hell) they were covered in fallen trees it was really slow going, we cleared a path a couple of times but then it just got too hard and in the end we decided to turn back as we had only covered a small portion of the distance in about an hour.
When we got back our quiet peaceful campsite and turned into a circus. Bogans and ferrals everywhere. Fish Curry for tea.
Black River
Black River Picnic Spot
Dip Falls
Viewing Platform Dip Falls
30th December 2018
After being woken up in the middle of the night by crying babies we moved on to Arthur River and spent the day beach driving on Arthur Beach to Couta Rocks. We tried to go along the beach beyond Couta Rocks but the sand was so soft eventually we got bogged. In the end the only way we could get out was in reverse so we turned around and will have another go tomorrow once we have lightened the load.
We are camped at Arthur River in a beautiful little camping spot. Which is very quiet.
31st December 2018
On our second day at Arthur River we did the track out to Sandy Cape. The bush section of the track varied from muddy holes, rocky slopes and deep soft sand followed by half an hour along the beach to Sandy Cape. It was well worth the effort to get there. Beautiful weather, peaceful and lunch relaxing on the beach. On the way back to camp a quick stop in Marrawah Tavern for well earned drink. We had a quiet new years eve. First year in many we haven't seen fireworks.
Edge of the World (Arthur River)
Shell in Midden Heap with plant growing
Midden Heap Sandy Cape
Lunch on Sandy Cape Beach
Track to Sandy Cape Beach
1st Jan 2019 HAPPY NEW YEAR
We left Arthur River on our way to Zeehan. We detoured down the end of the Balfour Track to the old mining settlement of Balfour. Which is long gone. There are a few privately owned houses nestled in the bush. At the old Balfour cemetery only 4 graves remain. The bush has reclaimed the rest.
We have arrived in Zeehan and are staying in the local caravan park. (4 hook showers)
