Tasmania

We were lucky enough to have perfect weather for our wander around Tasmania in March. Here is a small selection of some of our favourite spots. 


Mt Wellington, Tasmania

Within 20 minutes drive of Hobart, Mt Wellington is a real surprise. It rises to around 4,000 feet.  The panoramic views (when not blocked by clouds!) are stunning.


Port Arthur

Port Arthur, on the Tasman Peninsula, is one of Australia's most significant heritage areas. It is difficult to fully appreciate that this glorious little settlement was once a harsh and brutal gaol.
 



Tessellated Pavement

A side-trip to a visit to Port Arthur provides the opportunity to clamber along the wonderful tessellated pavement at Eaglehawk Neck.



Ross Bridge

Heading through Richmond and Ross en route to Bicheno, an exploration of the historic Ross Bridge is a must.



Low Head Pilot Station

Friends at Beauty Point treated us to a fantastic sail on the wide and deep Tamar River in their beautiful Adams 10.6m yacht. We enjoyed perfect sailing conditions, and explored historic Low Head Pilot Station (location of Australia’s third lighthouse).







Woolmer's Estate

At the heritage listed convict site of Woolmer’s Estate near Longford we found the National Rose Garden and grounds showed the stress of unusually dry and hot conditions. 



Joseph Lyons' house

Tidy town winner, Stanley, is the birthplace of Australia’s tenth Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons. At the age 35 of he married 17-year old Enid Burnell. Joseph Lyons died in 1939 and in 1943 his widow (Dame) Enid Lyons went on to become the first woman elected to the Australian House of Representatives. 

The Nut, Stanley

The distinctive feature of Stanley is Circular Head volcanic plug, known as The Nut. It rises to 143 metres and the top can be accessed either by a very steep track, or by a chairlift. 



Bypassing the easy chairlift option

There was no wimping out for we baby boomers.TOH and I slogged up the pathway that has a 1 in 4 gradient. The reward was stunning views and the luxury of having The Nut completely to ourselves.
 



Strahan Harbour

Strahan is as cute as can be, in spite of the rain, which falls 300 days a year.  It hadn't rained for 16 days when we visited.  Perfect!
 

Mt Lyell No 1

The four hour trip on the magnificently restored Abt West Coast Wilderness Railway is unique.     The railway originally commenced operations in 1896 and runs between Strahan to Queenstown on a rack-and-pinion railway line. It is scheduled to close at the end of April 2013.



Reflections on the Gordon River

A Macquarie Harbour cruise, departing from Strahan and travelling through Hell's Gates before heading up the stunning Gordon River, is not to be missed.


Ocean Beach, Tasmania

From Strahan, it is easy to explore one of Tasmania's most magnificent beaches, Ocean Beach, which runs for about 36 km and has the Great Southern Ocean on one side and the wilderness on the other.



Ouse Rose Garden

Heading back to Hobart,via Queenstown and Derwent Bridge, we found another rose garden to explore in the quaint little township of Ouse, which sits on the Derwent River about 88 km north of Hobart.


Hobart across the Derwent River, viewed from Bellerive

Our ciruit around Tasmania ended with a walk along the boardwalk at Bellerive, in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, who visited Tasmania in 1836.