Tamar Valley to Western Highlands

 January 18.

A fair bit of relaxing beach walking today, First at Bridport then at Beechford. We toured back to camp via Low Head. An Old bloke approached us at the lighthouse and he was going to give us some info whether we liked it or not. Apparently, the Queenslander was built by accident when there was a mix-up with the plans, he also showed us a pair of Penguins in their burrow.

Bridport Beach

Bridport Beach

Low Head Lighthouse

Low Head Queenslander

    
                                    

January 19.

We realised we've got two months in Tassie, not two weeks so it's time to slow down. Today we moved from Scottsdale to Bracknell.  Scottsdale was a good location except for the logging trucks that start before sunrise and finish after sunset.  The campground we were in was right next to the Tasman Hwy.  Tonight we have the sound of a bubbling river and the occasional baaaah of a sheep. Oh, the SERENITY.

Bracknell Camp

Cascade Bitter

January 20

A relaxing day. In the morning we did a walk along the river then around the village of Bracknell. It is a lot bigger place than we thought.  All the street names have girls names and some have little boards with painted pictures of ladies on them.  We initially thought that these were pioneers of the village but it turns out that wasn't the case. The street names were just a quirky naming convention that someone came up with.  In the afternoon we went for a drive along the little country roads, out to Poatina a former hydro town, Cressy another nice little village, Longford which is where some formula one races took place back in the 60's then on to Bishopsbourne and back to camp.

Comfy Bus stop

Low level practice.

January 21

We moved about 20mins down the road to a lovely campsite at Liffey falls. No data or phone reception here so we have gone dark for a few days. We did a quick trip into Deloraine and stocked up on supplies. 

Liffey Falls Campground.

January 22

This morning we did the return 3 hour walk to Liffey Falls. (In true Hawkey fashion it took us 4 hours).  It was a beautiful walk through Myrtle Beech, Sassafras and tree ferns following the Liffey river most of the way.  The falls are three upper tier and a lower level of cascades. We continued on to the upper carpark to see the big stringy bark tree that the lady in the campsite told us about.  It was then down to the lower cascade to get a few shots.  On the way back to camp we stopped along the Liffey river at one of the pools and watched the trout feeding on insect in the sunshine, they were jumping out to catch them.  We spent the rest of the afternoon under a shady tree reading a book.

Liffey River

Bent tree ferns

Upper Cascade

Upper Cascades

Lower Cascades

Fungus

Jumping Fish

Liffey Falls Walk

January 23

Before leaving Liffey falls we did the Liffey conservation loop walk.  This area of Liffey falls was purchased by Bob Brown back in 1990 and he set up the Bushland Heritage Australia Trust to manage it. Its an area filled with Myrtle Beech, Sassafrass, Tree ferns and some stands of Manna gums. Many of the Manna gums in Tasmania have been logged to clear for farmland.

Someone lived here once.

Mana Gums

After leaving Liffey it was a long climb up the Western Tiers and across to Miena (My-ena) we reached an altitude of 1200 meters.  We arrived in Miena which is on the bank of the Great Lake.  The lake is part of Tasmanias Hydro scheme and is also very popular with anglers looking to catch trout.  We stayed overnight at the Great Lakes Hotel Caravan Park, which was just the carpark out the back of the pub.

Miena Dam (1924)

John Beamont memorial

January 24.

We ummed and ahhed about whether we should drop in to see the Waddamana Hydro Power Station Museum as it was a 70 km dirt road detour winding through the hills.  In the end, we decided why wouldn't we and we are glad we did.

Waddamana Power Station was Hydro Tasmania's first power station.  It commenced in 1910 and was commissioned in 1916 with two generators powering 300 homes in the Hobart region and the zinc works at Risdon.  Due to the location, all the machinery and building materials were brought in by a tramway with horses pulling the trains. And then constructed on-site.  The power station was decommissioned in 1965 and everything was left as it was as the site was too remote for it to be easily dismantled.

We ended up spending 3 hours there.  We had only planned to stop for a quick look.  We are staying tonight in Bothwell a favourite town of ours.

Log Books back to the 1930s

Art Deco light in the entrance hall

Turbine Hall

Control room

One for the Ladies. :P

The Penstocks

January 25

We spent the morning walking the streets of Bothwell. (all ten of them.) All the street signs have tartan backgrounds. Scottish families moved to Bothwell around 1822, It was named after Bothwell in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Bothwell claims to be the home of Golf in Australia. The first golf course was only seven holes and was established around the 1850's at the Ratho property. They also have the Australian Golf museum at the visitors centre.  

In the afternoon we cruised the backroads through the hills amongst the sheep farms via Ouse and Hamilton.  If we were to ever move to Tassie Bothwell would be high on list we are not sure what it is but community here are really friendly.

Tickled Ken's fancy

The Dead Centre of Town

Gets cold in these parts

A few of the buildings in Bothwell

January 26

Today we left Bothwell for Mount Field National Park, its only an hours drive away.  We found the perfect campsite on the Tyenna River a lovely peaceful spot.   After setting up camp we went for a walk along the river looking for fishing spots on the way back we came across the National Park hotel who were having Australia Day celabrations.  We stopped in for a drink and then moved into the beer garden to listen to the live music and had a couple more drinks.  It was a lovely afternoon.

Drive from Bothwell to Mt Field NP

Australia Day National Park Hotel