Tasmania - day 22

Today was designated a day of rest, we planned to do very little. So we all had a bit of a sleep in, I layed in bed and read my book and took a long shower.  After breakfast we headed into Chudleigh to  have a look at the Honey farm, we tried some of their wares, and walked out with lot’s of honey.

After Chudleigh we headed back to Mole Creek and out to the Marakoopa caves. The caves were very interesting and the cave guide was very informative, he guides us through the caves explaining about the rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites and the history of the caves.

Stalactites

the frog pond, this little pond was about 20cm deep and the water was crystal clear

Not much else to show you, packing up in the afternoon back on the road again tomorrow

Catch you later

The Knights

Tasmania - day 21

I can't believe we have been here for 3 weeks........

From Hobart to Mole Creek

On the road again today heading north. We were supposed to be heading west, the original plan was always to head to Strahan after Hobart, our plan was to do the Gordon river cruise in Strahan.  unfortunately after much studying of the weather it was obvious that on the days we planned to be in Strahan it would be raining. So we headed north than a little west to a place called Mole Creek. So straight back up the heritage highway.  First stop Oatlands, my friend at work Nita had suggested that if we went that way, we should drop into the windmill so we did.

The Windmill

It was fantastic (thanks Nita) we did a tour of the windmill and I was enthralled at the way the windmill worked and how it crushes the grain and sieves it. It was really very interesting. Needless to say we are heading home with some windmill ground flour.  We had morning tea at the windmill, some super yummy Scones, and then wandered down the street.  When we were heading down to Tasmania a lot of people said to me, you have to go to Ross it’s got gorgeous old buildings….ect, and I did really like Ross but….. I loved Oatlands it was gorgeous, almost every building in the mainstreet (and it was a long street) was Georgian, sandstone just gorgeous. Throughout the street there were dry stone walls….and lot’s of lovely little shops that you can have a look in.

Dry stone walls

A lot of the buildings in this street had plaques on them providing information about the building it’s age and history. I would definetly like to come back and spend a few days in Oatlands.

                                                        The main street of Oatland

As we travelled along we passed through Campbell town again, we had a quick stop to give Marc a break as from the time we left Hobart we were driving straight into the wind constantly.

The red bridge

We arrived at Mole creek, mid afternoon.  Mole creek is the loveliest little town. We decided to pop into the local Hotel before going to the caravan park, the locals were so friendly I would have happily stayed and chatted for most of the afternoon.  The caravan park was a cute little camping ground, and we set up next to the little creek.

The paddock behind the caravan park

The creek we camped beside

We had a lovely afternoon beside our campfire.

Catch you later

The Knights

Tasmania - day 20

Pennicott’s and Bruny Island

When we were at Port Arthur we were supposed to go on a cruise around the Tasman coastline unfortunately we had to cancel as it was raining that day. Anyway when we were at the Salamanca Markets on Saturday we had a long chat with the salesman for Pennicott’s cruises (they do Tasman coastline as well as Bruny Island) and he assured us that Wednesday was going to be a great day weather wise we were a little skeptical as the weather had been a little ordinary the last few days but and we booked in anyway.  When we woke this morning it was clear and sunny, so we headed off to Kettering, were we could catch the car ferry across to Bruny Island.

The Marina at Kettering

The view looking down the coastline and across to Bruny Island

The penguin Rookery on Bruny Island, and the most gorgeous beach

We were a little shocked at the amount of people that arrived for the cruise, apparently the sales man at Salamanca had been pretty convincing….. they actually took out three boat loads of people for the tour.

The boats we toured on

The tour down the Bruny Island coastline and back took around three hours in total, it was definitely spectacular scenery and the tour guides were extremely friendly and very keen to interact with passengers as they constantly asked us if we were okay and made sure that every person on the boat had a chance to see whatever they showing us, to the point that they would turn the boat around so both sides of the boat could see and everyone had a good chance of taking photo’s.

The monuments see that little gap between the rocks, our boat went through that………

The blowhole, it was pretty cool, the boat actually got up really close so we could hear the air / water being sucked into the Hole

And we seen heaps and heaps of these guys……

More seals

We had a late lunch with Pennicott’s when we returned from the cruise, which was really lovely, then had a little look around bruny Island and then headed back to Hobart. It was time to pack the Trailer up ready to leave early the next day.

Catch you later

The Knights

Tasmania day 19

Today we had a little sleep in, yep we stayed in bed till 8am…. Today we had planned to do a few things around Hobart.  First stop was a the Quilted Crow, yep finally I get to visit a Tasmanian patchwork shop. I did try in Launceston, but the once chance I had when I went looking the shop had closed.

Anyway honestly I think I was in there for 30mins and spent $80 and I could have spent so much more. The quilted crow has the best range of wool fabric, I have ever seen.  The quilted crow shop is housed in a gorgeous old sandstone church. I just loved the stained glass windows and there was so many gorgeous pattens.

The quilted Crow

Inside the shop

After my visit to the quilt shop we had a little time up our sleeves so we popped over to a local café for Brunch. Then we headed to the Cascades Brewery. Marc had booked in a midday tour of the brewery, with some taste testing after and

 The cascades brewery

 The gorgeous Mt Wellington in the background

Miss S and I had booked in for the live history tour Louisa’s walk.  In the Live play Louisa’s walk, the two actors take you back in time so you can experience how an Irish immigrant was convicted and sent to Van Deimen's land and her experiences before and after arriving in Van Deimen's land. The play was really great, very moving and the actors really provide you with a good understanding of what female convicts in Australia had to experience. It was very interesting seeing the Cascades female factory site, where all female convicts transported to van deimens land would spend time

The fabulous actor’s from Louisa’s walk

All up it was a much more relaxing day today, which was nice and after my little visit to the quilt shop I was a little inspired and spent a little time sewing in the evening.

Catch you tomorrow

The Knights