Saturday 31st March 2012 - Turners Beach to Devonport

Rain again overnight - great a wet camper trailer!
We drove to Hawley Beach to drop off the keys to the Arthurs Lake cabin and then we wasted the day at the chocolate factory and around Devonport. It's been a long day! We leave tonight on the boat back to Melbourne.

Friday 30th March 2012 - Mole Creek to Turners Beach

Much to our pleasure the resident platypus was seen by us all in the creek right outside our camper trailer. We packed up (in the rain again!) and headed for Preston Falls. It kept raining for most of the day unfortunately! The falls were long straight down a long drop.

Preston Falls

We then moved onto Gunns Plains Cave and mostly because it was raining we decided to pay to go in. It was a beautiful cave.

The Wedding Cake at Gunns Plains Cave

The rain continued so we decided to head for the coast as we are leaving tomorrow. We found a little inexpensive caravan park at Turners Beach. After dinner we drove down to Lillico Beach and under the guidance of a couple of volunteers who had red light torches we were able to see 9 Little Penguins walking up the beach. Very cute!

Thursday 29th March 2012 - Launceston to Mole Creek

We took a while to get going after a breakie of pancakes and eggs. I caught up on some washing so clean clothes were the go for the day.
Our first stop along the way to Mole Creek was the Alum Cliffs. This area was used extensively by Aboriginals for ochre collection. It was a shortish walk down to the lookout past a wooden sculpture that we didn't understand to the lookout. It was a very big drop off. On the right hand side you could see the ochre in the rocks. It was an unexpected, beautiful view.

The girls at the Alum Cliffs lookout

Ed and I being romantic!

On the walk back down Thomas spotted a yellow worm. It looked like an earth worm but Ed seemed to think that it wasn't. It was quite a bright yellow.

We had lunch at the cliffs and then hit the road again to get to Mole Creek. Along the way we stopped at the Chudleigh Honey Farm and sampled some of the delights on offer. We bought some honey macadamia Nougat and some very naughty chocolate orange honey. Yummy!!
We found the Caravan Park at Mole Creek and dropped off the camper trailer right next to a creek.
We took off in the direction of the Manuka Cave & the King Solomon Cave. Unfortunately we are a bit tired of paying around $50 every time we want to see a cave, so we decided to forgo the cave and do the Fern Tree Walk. It was very lush, green and wet just like the temperate rain forests that Charlotte studied last year at school. We even saw an old fossil shaped like a turtle shell.

The kids and the fossil

The Fern Tree Walk

 After the fern Tree Walk we drove up to Devils Gullet. It was a steep path to walk up to get to the viewing platform. It was a long drop down and made all our tummies flutter being up so high! It was an amazing view of all the mountains and hills around. Apparently they had heaps of snow there last weekend which covered up the boardwalk up to the platform.

The view to the right of the lookout

The view in front of the lookout

According to my friend Lee, Willem Dafoe is in a movie called 'The Hunter' about the elusive Tassie Tiger. I was sorely disappointed that he wasn't there to greet me!

We had a relaxing time back at the caravan park with a camp fire beside the creek.

Wednesday 28th March 2012 - Arthurs Lake to Launceston

We left Arthurs lake close to lunchtime and took the road to Launceston. The road was very steep and had several hairpin bends along the way. Luckily Olivia made it without being carsick!
We enjoyed a lunch of fish and chips down at the Seaport Marina. The tide was out so the boats were all sitting in mud!

After an ice-cream we headed to Cataract Gorge which is right in town. It is pretty amazing to have a gorge right in the middle of a city. We surprised the kids with a chair lift ride across the gorge. We also did a short walk through the park across a suspension bridge. Much to Ed's pleasure 3 young girls (1 of whom was in a leopard print bikini) were doing a photo shoot on the suspension bridge. That made his day!!!

Look closely!

We found a caravan park at Haspen and we were very slack and stayed in a cabin for the night! I cooked some mini muffins which were good for snacks and the kids met some new friends at the park. Hot showers and a comfy bed and the kids enjoyed some ABC kids!

Sunday 25th March - Wednesday 28th March 2012 - Arthurs Lake

Our friends Lewie and Loretta kindly offered us the use of Lewie's Dad's cabin at Arthurs Lake. We decided that we needed a break from the cold so after a few messages we got onto Geoff and collected the keys. We got there and Ed had to go under the house and pretend to be a plumber as all the pipes had come apart due to the cold. Apparently they had snow there the weekend before we got there. After the pipes were sorted out we got the fires going and we were nice and toasty. I even cooked dinners on the wood stove and we kept it alight so that we could have nice warm showers. Ed tried several methods for fishing and was finally successful catching a 36cm trout. It was very tasty!

It was nice to read, play board games and cards with the kids in-between multiple fishing expeditions. It was very nice not to have to wear all out warm clothes and beanies to bed to keep warm. The fires in the cabin kept it very warm. When we drop the keys back some red wine will be left with Geoff as thanks for our time there.

Saturday 24th March 2012 - Waterhouse Bay

We packed up early and got on the road. We didn't drive far till we found Waterhouse Bay on the north coast. We just chilled out in the sun and the kids played on the beach. The wind dropped in the evening and we enjoyed another campfire and after dinner some damper made by Ed for sweets.
The sunset was beautiful.

The beach at Waterhouse Bay

The kids on the beach

It was another cold night. I can't believe this weather!

Friday 23rd March 2012 - Mt William National Park

After a couple of days on the Bay of Fires we moved on up to the Mount William National Park. We stopped at a couple of campground before choosing Camp No. 4 to stay at. The weather was a bit crappy (windy +++). Along the way the kids found an old-fashioned pump to get bore water.

Thomas on the pump

Charlotte giving it a go

And od course it's Olivia's turn!

It was cold there and a little windy. We met Paul and Maxine again and had to help them break into their car. Ed got in just as Paul broke the whole lock! Of course there was more fishing attempts but lots of weed and windy don't work well with a fish dinner! A campfire again helped to keep us warm until another cold night in the trailer!

Wednesday 21st - Thursday 22nd March 2012 - Dora Campground at The bay of Fires

We left Coles Bay early and headed to Bicheno hoping to take the kids for a snorkel. Unfortunately it was very windy and there was a huge swell so that plan was cancelled. We stopped briefly at the Douglas Appsley National Park and took a short walk down to the rocky riverbed.

The Riverbed at the Douglas - Appsley Park

We drove on towards The Bay of Fires and found a free camp at the Dora Campground. We set up and went down to the beach, Ed as usual with a fishing rod in hand. We should see some of the red/orange stained rocks but the plan was to explore them more the next day.

The Blowhole at Bicheno

Ed having a fish

The Bay of Fires

The next day we went exploring all the beaches and lagoons all the Bay of Fires with some of the best views from The Gardens. Whilst it was pretty to look at I was slightly disappointed with it. It's hard to describe but I sort of felt that it would be more impressive. 

The Bay of Fires

We had a couple nights with the company of Paul & Max and their boys with a campfire and marshmallows.

Saturday 17th March - Tuesday 20th March 2012 - Freycinet

We packed up early and headed for Freycinet. As we were driving Charlotte asked the date and as we both replied the 17th March Ed and I looked at each other and realised it was our Wedding Anniversary. Happy 11th anniversary to us! We were driving down the Freycinet Peninsula when we had a moment of connection to the network on our phone, so I called ahead to the National Park to get a campsite. Unfortunately there were none available so we turned back and headed to Friendlies Beach. We found a lovely spot close to the beach. After we had set up we headed down to the rocks and the beach for a bit of a explore before returning from the beach to hit the school books and journals (much to the dislike of the girls when a beach is so close). Ed and Thomas meanwhile explored the beach and rocks for good fishing spots!

Friendlies Beach

We had a friendly kangaroo around us all the time and the kids called him, 'Boy' (very original).
We had a nice meal with a lovely bottle of wine and some brie and biscuits to enjoy our celebration.
We spent a couple of days enjoying some sunshine, beach, fishing (with no result!) and relaxing!
On Monday the 19th we went down to the national park just past Coles Bay. We camped there for a couple of nights. Our first adventure was the steep walk up to the Wineglass Bay lookout. Wineglass Bay is so named due to the times when whaling was an industry in the area. They said that the water in the bay looked like red wine with all the slaughtering of the whales in the bay. The bay is now a beautiful beach minus the whale blood (thank goodness!)

Wineglass Bay

The beach wallaby

Olivia on Friendlies Beach

After a rest up at the lookout we decided to tackle the walk down to the bay. It was very rocky and steep in places, however we made it down. There was a few friendly wallabies down there which the kids enjoyed a pat. Ed enjoyed a body bash and the kids stripped down to their undies and I went down to my undies and a singlet top and we hit the surf. It was cold but just had to be done! After cooling off we tackled the steep climb back up to the lookout and then the walk back down to the car park. We kicked back afterwards and relaxed down at the beach.

A lookout overlooking Coles Bay

We enjoyed some more exploring the next day. Honeymoon Bay, Sleepy Bay and Bluestone Bay and the Cape Tourville Lighthouse.

The Cape Tourville Lighthouse

Bluestone Bay

We enjoyed a lazy afternoon relaxing on the beach and caught up with another couple (Paul & Maxine) who have 3 boys. The kids enjoyed an afternoon playing on the beach and we chatted about travelling around Tasmania. We had seen them a few times on the way around. We were all heading up to the Bay of Fires so there was a good chance that we could see them again.

Wednesday 14th March - Friday 16th March 2012 Tasman National Park

We woke up early and whilst I stayed warm in bed Ed went down to the little jetty and caught a squid. The kids then joined him and caught some more. Yummy! After a leisurely morning including some school work we set off to explore the Port Arthur Convict Ruins. It is bigger than I realised and a very beautiful place with a tragic old and recent history. The staff quarters (Commandant's house, Parsonage, Medical Officers house are all beautifully restored/intact) There are still large remains of the Penitentiary, the hospital and a number of other facilities. We had a tour which gave us some interesting facts before we went off and explored on our own. The kids had activity books to fill in which is a great addition to their journals. The tour also included a boat tour around the bay to see the island of the dead (burial grounds for 1100 convicts and staff) and the boys convict facility (boys as young of 7 years old were transported out here).

Olivia in leg irons in Port Arthur

Charlotte on the chain gang. Why is she smiling!

The Penitentiary at Port Arthur

The Church Ruins

The sad recent history of the 35 people killed and the 19 people injured was very much on my mind. They have created a memory garden and pool alongside the ruins of the cafe where many people died. It was important for the kids to understand the significance of both the old and new history of Port Arthur.

The 35 leaves in the memory pool to remember those who died in 1996.

We also saw the Tessellated Rocks which were pretty amazing. These rocks have very straight cuts in the rocks which are in perfect alignment. Quite spectacular!

We also went the blow hole, The Arch and Devils Kitchen. The rock formations are beautiful with lovely colours and huge vertical cliffs. They were all within an easy distance of each other.

The Blow Hole

The Arch

Devil's Kitchen

What a surprise it was wet again that night.
The next day Ed and the kids went fishing and caught some more squid. We then went on the Canoe walk for around 2 hours and the kids had fun finding the Little Penguin rookeries along the way. Unfortunately we didn't find any chicks in any of them. I strained my foot on the way back (old plantar fascists injury) so I rested up for the afternoon. Ed took charge and cooked dinner and even helped some female backpackers to cook dinner as it was raining again!
The next morning Ed had an offer to go out on a boat and he caught some tuna. The kids and I relaxed and watched a movie. After he returned we went for a drive around the peninsula. Whilst we were gone a tree feel on our camper. Luckily we were out as it could have been a disaster with the kids running around.

Our close call

We had a fire overnight and no rain and Ed and I enjoyed a lovely meal of fresh Tuna and chips.

Tuesday 13th March 2012 - Hobart

We packed up the trailer early and said goodbye to our WA friends. We left the trailer at the caravan park so we could more easily explore Hobart. First stop, (while the weather was clear), was up to Mount Wellington. It is a steep drive up the mountain which I think is over a 1000m above sea level. It was cold and windy up the top but the view was fantastic.

The kids on top of the rocks at Mount Wellington - the highest point.

The lookout at Mount Wellington. As we were in there you could see the clouds moving in and it got even colder!
We left Mount Wellington and headed toward Salamanca Place. We were not going to be there on market day (Saturday) however it was good to look around. The first stop was the Faerie Shop (yes I spelt it right). Olivia wanted to go there to spend her birthday money from Granny (Ed's Mum). She bought herself some clip on earrings (little pink castles) (Mum do I really have to wait to get me ears pierced!), a bottle of fairy dust and some fairy glitter to put on your face. Charlotte used some of her own money to buy a pair of pink up cake clip on earrings. Thomas got some mini dinosaurs. I bit like 'Toys in the Park' for our Vic Park friends. We stocked up on some fruit and veggies and then we had one more stop before we left Hobart. It was a surprise for the kids - The Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Upon our entry we each got given a family block of dairy milk chocolate. I quickly put them all away hoping that they would forget but knowing that they wouldn't. We had a talk about the factory and we were shown a DVD of how chocolate is made from start to finish. Them we went through the store. The kids were excited to see all the chocolates and wanted to buy the whole store, especially the easter eggs. They were all actually quite cheap. It shows you how much they are marked up in the stores. They make easter eggs 11 months of the year to build up a supply as the demand in Australia is so great. Apparently we consume the most easter chocolate in the world!

The factory in Hobart makes all the family blocks of chocolate, all the Freddo's and Caramello Koalas and easter chocolates.
As everything is so close in Tassie we didn't pick up the trailer and get on the road till nearly 4pm. Port Arthur was only approximately 50km away so off we went. We drove into the Tasman National Park and set up camp in time for dinner and a camp fire.

Monday 12th March - Cockle Creek to Hobart

We were going to go and explore Bruny Island, however it is much the same as Cockle Creek so we decided to forgo it and go up to Hobart and the Tasman Peninsula. We made it up to Hobart after lunch and after a few difficulties found a caravan park to stay in just out of Hobart.
I had 3 places that I wanted to go to whilst in Hobart:
1. MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art)
2. Mount Wellington
3. The Salamanca Markets (Saturday only)
On arriving at the caravan park I discovered that MONA was closed on Tuesdays. So we piled into the car and spent the rest of the afternoon at MONA. It is an amazing place. It has it's own winery and beer (Moobrew) as well as some fantastic indoor and outdoor facilities. They also have accommodation there. But the place you come to see is the museum. Kids under 18 are free. On arrival everyone gets an iPhone device as none of the exhibits are labelled. As you move through the museum you touch the pink circle and it automatically tells you what pieces are in your location. You can click on a love or hate button with each piece and it tells you how many people think the same or differently to you. If you want further details other than the artist and materials used you click another button called 'art wank' and it gives yo more details. Loved it. The building is amazing and if I were an Architect like my brother in law Simon I would probably appreciate it even more. The collection is very eclectic. There are some areas not appropriate for kids so Ed and I took turns to go in. The exhibit that amazed & grossed out the kids was the 'Poo Machine!' It is basically a series of large containers with loads of tubing that imitates a digestive system and it does a poo at the end of it. We even watched them feeding the poo machine! Olivia wrote in her journal that she didn't like the poo machine. I must admit it did smell a bit! I really enjoyed myself seeing the way they mixed the old and the new art using lots of multimedia. It was great. I can't believe that the kids lasted so long there and for the most part enjoyed as well. They also contributed towards an art piece which is being collected. It was a graphite rubbing on stones. I believe that they are collecting thousands of these rubbings for the artist to create a large scale piece of art. That was exciting for the kids. Even Ed enjoyed himself at MONA too.

This is difficult to see. It is a wall of fine water jets with different words spelt out at around 5 second intervals. Charlotte was fascinated trying to read all the words.
We treated the kids we all had takeaway food for dinner and then drove back to our campsite. When we got there we could see another trailer right next to ours when there was heaps of space. Ed was slightly outraged until we discovered that it was our friends again from Port Huon Mick and Angela. We had hot showers and did the laundry and relaxed for the evening. The kids also had a long play in the playground with a family of 3 boys who came over on the same boat as us.

Friday 9th March - Monday 12th March 2012 - Cockle Creek

We left Port Huon and drove down to Cockle Creek. It is the southern most point to camp in Australia I believe. We found out that it was a long weekend in Tassie so we decided to stay put for a few days. We set up camp and just chilled out for the day. It was actually quite sunny would you believe and it was great to dry out the camper and air everything out.

Our campsite

Ed and Thomas went for a fish and caught 3 flatheads whilst to the disappointment of the girls they had to catch up on some school work. We also had a visit from John & Narelle who we met at Port Huon.

Thomas catching crabs for bait on the beach.

But what a surprise....a bit of sun was followed by a cold, rainy night! Just when we thought that we were finally dry!

The following day was cool with glimpses of sun so after an early fish by Ed, Charlotte and Thomas (Olivia is not that committed to get out of bed - just like her Mum!) we all set off to see the Whale sculpture at the end of the National Park followed by the 2 hour walk to the southern most point of Australia.

The girls and the whale.

Thomas and his mate!

After seeing the whale we moved on to walk to the southern most point accessable by foot. We scrambled over rocks and beach and followed the path out to the point. On the way we passed some ruined buildings which were built by convicts to house the families of the whaling captains (I think!). We made it out to the point led of course by Thomas 'rock hopper' Greenway.

We added a rock to the pile. As you can see it was an overcast day and despite the exercise of the walk it was still quite cool. Upon our return we had some nice ham & cheese toasties. Yum. We also enjoyed a visit from Mick & Angela who we met at Port Huon.

In the afternoon Ed wrecked his hands collecting oysters and mussels with Charlotte and Thomas. Olivia stayed with me and we just hung out together. I made a chilli sauce and we enjoyed chilli mussels but the fire. A great way to finish the day. And guess what???? no rain. Yipee!

Thomas an the walk

Olivia up the tree

We were keen to see Hastings Cave and the thermal pools (and the promise of a nice hot shower) so on the Sunday we got going there. We packed the shower gel and shampoo for the hot shower afterwards. Unfortunately the caves were expensive to get into and as we had seen  quite a few already we decided to just pay to use the thermal pool and shower. Before we jumped into the pool we went for a walk and finally Olivia was rewarded with seeing a platypus! We also saw a snake - thank god from a distance!

We keenly got the bathers on and jumped into the thermal pool only to discover that it wasn't that thermal! Apparently it averages 28 degrees! It was cold!!!!! The only thing that made it worth it was the hot shower afterwards!

We then decided to get a bit dirty by going to a cave ourselves. We got some directions and drove to the start point for the walk to Mystery Cave. It took us about 1 and a half hours return to explore the cave. Apparently it has the biggest collection of glow worms. It was a slippery walk down into the cave, but once we turned the torches off it was beautiful! The pictures will not do it justice.

It was a great way to explore and the kids were so excited to have had their first 'real' caving experience.

We spent the end of the day just hanging out on the beach and at the campsite followed by a warm fire and dinner. The kids were tired after the cave walk and went to bed tired and fell asleep straight after another chapter of a Famous Five adventure.