So…..Be warned this will be a long one as there is so much to tell and even at that I will not have done this wonderful place justice.

My Advice:

First of all, make the effort and go to Tasmania, be in no doubt, you will not regret it, especially if you enjoy walking, hiking or mountain biking. Take appropriate light, warm, waterproof clothings and good boots!

Day 1

The tour commences and I meet my fellow travellers, 18 in total, 17 women and 1 poor man! An inspirational Canadian couple with such a zest for walking, I am not sure of their exact ages, however, definitely late 70’s early 80’s. Graeme with his two titanium knees and Linda who would put anyone to shame fearless and game to go and walk anywhere.

Our tour guide is Lawrence or Larry to those that like him, you couldn’t not, what a lovely lad. The following words/phrases will forever remind me of Larry: Cool Banana’s, Alrighty & Cool Beans.

The tour did cater throughout for differing abilities on climbs and walks and I am delighted to say I did it all without the requirement of a cardiac ambulance!

Travelling from Hobart to Strahan, lots of miles to cover.

First stop: Mountfield National Park – Tall Trees, we took the Russell Falls/Horse Shoe Falls trek which wasn’t long, really beautiful as you will see from the pics below.

Second stop: Lake St Clair National Park – surrounded by mountain ranges and our first glimpse of Cradle Mountain and my first creeping worry about my aerobic fitness level and yes my age as I glanced around the bus! The group was a mix of ages a third under 30, a third 30-50 and the final third 50+. We took a short walk up to Platypus Bay just nice to stretch our legs. Lake St Clair is the deepest freshwater lake in Australia and no I wasn’t tempted to jump in! Water temp estimated to be around 5-8 degrees.

We are staying at a comfortable Motel in Launceston for 2 nights called the Penny Royal. I know it doesn’t look like much!

Day 2:

There was a choice to either do the hike to Montezuma Falls or take a river cruise along the Gordon river. I chose the latter and it was such a good choice. First of all, it was on a big comfortable catamaran, including lunch (which was good). I loved this trip as throughout it there was a running commentary either verbally or on the TV screens on board showing pictures and giving the information past, present and future of what you were seeing.

Out towards Hell’s Gates, aptly named as the currents are lethal. We sailed from Port Macquarie a Penal Settlement 1831, a brutal time to get into bother and being a prisoner officer didn’t seem a bundle of laughs either. Some poor souls made a breakwater of stone and constructed a railway track (there is a pic, however, although it is hard to see now I can’t imagine how they did it). There are huge salmon fisheries along the way, held down by 12.5 tonne weights, this water is pretty fierce.

The Huon Pine which is the slowest growing tree in the forest ie one millimetre a year the oldest of which is around 3000 years old are really rather special.

Sarah Island is the first stop and the guides are super, we had the lovely Ollie who was very theatrical and hence it was no surprise to find out that he had played the lead part of which there are only 2 parts in the play called “The Ship that never was” which plays every night at the Macquarie Harbour in a small amphitheatre, yes I did go and it was excellent.

Sarah Island was a Convict Penal Settlement between 1822 and 1833 “remembered only as a place of degradation, depravity and woe!” John West recorded. I would encourage you to read about this place, so interesting. Craftsmen and artists worked in, well when I say worked I do mean as convicts, escaping convicts providing some of the first maps of the waters, the Scottish Master Shipwright David Hoy created the largest ship and boat building industry in the colony, convict workers conspired, schemed and bargained to get difficult officials dismissed. Australia’s first streaker lived here! Others like Alexander Pearce escaped and was famed for his cannibalism, finally the last escape from the Island on The Frederick, the ship that never was which made it all the way to Chile, as I said worth looking up.

The second stop and just a wonderful experience was in the worlds only Cool Temperate Rain forest, I cannot explain how wonderful the air is and the cool freshness of this area, this place is a unique and beautiful place where giant burrowing Crayfish live, for me it was the feel of the place I loved more than anything else.

This was a really good decision! Captain Morrow at your service lol 😉

And finally for day 2 the Play!

Day 3:

Cradle Mountain National Park. The Mountain is 1545m height and is one of the park’s most iconic features and is surrounded by stands of the native deciduous beech, rainforest, alpine heath lands and button grass. Icy streams cascade down the mountainsides and ancient pines are reflected in the still glacial lakes. It is wet, it is not warm, come to Australia they said! Our Hike today is to Marion’s look out 1223m up, you can choose to walk to Waldheim Châlet or do the Dove Lake Circuit, tempting, I am giving this a go!

There are so many walks and hikes you can do one of which is The King Billy Walk which just tickled me, it does seem to be a traditional route! 😉

So, I fall at the first hurdle, too busy looking at wombats! I wasn’t even on the really rough terrain, down I went on my left hand side straight into a puddle, down but not done, onwards! Why didn’t I put my golf wets in? Hiking boots? I am also having a stern chat with myself throughout this hike about my aerobic fitness, treadmills, terrain walking etc. I was surprised at how many didn’t do this hike half to be exact and I am not saying I was the first up, however, I was in the mix and could have gone on for sure which really pleased me this was steep and challenging. More mountains for me please.

A short drive through Sheffield famed for its murals and they are good if you are into that sort of thing and on to Launceston for the night where it was raining Koala’s and Kangaroo’s, am I in Australia?

Day 4: It has stopped raining at last!

Starting a Cataract Gorge and ending in Bicheno, Bay of Fires

Cataract Gorge was just a short walk, really beautiful, where you walk over the Alexandra suspension bridge or you can take the cable car, however, we arrived at 8am and so it was too early and the cable car was not open. I could hear the peacocks as we got off the bus and thought of Mum & Papa and the kids having a love/hate with those birds! I am going to let the pics doing the talking this time.

We stopped at a little pond and yes, how lucky we got to see a couple Platypus in the wild just doing to Platypus’s do! We then passed through Derby, famous for mountain biking, I have never seen so many camper van’s bikes and people out of no where.

This area is full of dairy cows, we had hoped to call in the Pebgana Cheese Factory, however, we were running late and because they served this with wine I think Larry was concerned he might have trouble rounding us up!

On to St Columba Falls, another of Tasmania’s 60 short walks, claimed to be one of the highest falls in Tasmania really gorgeous, this reassured me that my decision to do the cruise was the right one and the rest of the group said these falls were more spectacular and my FOMO fears were allayed. Larry included!

And finally, the Bay of Fires, oh! Folks how nice to kick off my shoes and get my feet in that water which was so clear and fresh surrounded by the orange coloured granite rocks.

Did I say the rain had stopped, I spoke too soon, so I have agreed to do the Penguin Tour, everyone loves a penguin tour……right? Not tonight! It was utterly miserable even the penguins didn’t want to be out! All I could think was WTF (sorry mummy!) what am I doing out here! The tour guide was really excellent, however, I was foundered and getting crankier by the minute – everyone has a breaking point! Thankfully it was only an hour long so I kept my crankiness to myself, bar a wee winge with my fellow miserable pals. NB Evidence that pictures lie! lol 😉

Day 4: The Sun is Out – oh Hello!

Up early and off we go to the beautiful Freycinet National Park, we start with Coles Bay which encompasses Honeymoon Bay just a short stop to appreciate the view and on to Cape Tourville for a short walk to the Lighthouse the views were really beautiful and now onto one of the things I have been looking forward to a trip to Wineglass bay, it’s beauty had really appealed to me and it did not disappoint it is STUNNINGLY gorgeous, one slight over look the 1000 steps to get do to it and up from it, oopsie! Well well worth it! The views today were spectacular The Hazard mountain range, 5 peaks.

A 20 min walk to get to the look out and then the steps to the beach and where had I left my swimsuit? On the bus I was disappointed however maybe my miss was my mercy as that water was cold. This was the first day I realised the piercing heat of the Australian sun! And yes I did have my factor 50 lathered on me. It was a truly pinch me moment being on this beach.

Tonight is our last night and so we are going to the Lobster Shack, time to experience the Oysters, Tasmania are famed for having the best oysters in the world and so if my mind isn’t changed here it never will be. Mmmmmm I had two! That was enough and whist they were better than the last time I remain firmly on the fence!

Day 5 – Woohoo the sun is still around and out!

Nature World Nature Reserve is first on the list today, Wallaby’s, Geese, Parrot’s, Snakes, Wallaby’s and oh! Yes at last TASMANIAN DEVILS, you do not want to mess with these wee rascals, to be fair they are scavengers and not overly interested in the living or human’s thank goodness. They were in enclosures, feeding time was pretty hectic and apparently they were really well behaved today. They have a jaw strength 5 times stronger than the average dog!

We called at Tiabunna nr Maria Island – Tiabunna also the name of Tasi’s native Hen, boho they are fast wee birds, I saw them at Cataract Gorge! They can run at 40km/hr I think you would definitely be ready for dinner by the time you caught one!

Planet friendly alert! Interestingly, well to me it is, and perhaps some of my friends and family members, Tasmania has discovered a way to reduce Methane emissions by approx half from cattle from a Kelp Feed which is cheaper for farmers to buy than traditional feeds, it is made from red seaweed called Asparagopsis.

ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?

And all too soon it is over and I say goodbye to my friends of 5 days and our amazing tour guide Larry!

And, finally, Mount Wellington, the last challenge! To be fair we were able to drive most of the way up and made the final assault. We went from a beautiful warm day to cold and unfortunately in our experience cloud covered peak. Charles Darwin said “it was a mountain of little picturesque beauty”. Hey what did he know! It might not be a beautiful mountain, however, the views over Hobart are spectacular.

I have a 6am flight to Melbourne tomorrow so an early one for this tired girl!