Tasmania: Day 4 & 5

Day 4 we spent most of the day in Launceston (this is the northern part of Tasmania). It was the most beautiful little town I had ever seen and I wanted to buy a house and move my family there! We spent most of the day in Cataract Gorge. There were hikes, a chairlift, lakes, pools and cute little antique looking cafes and houses all built along this gorge. Here are a few pictures off the internet!

 We swam in this pool, which I thought was so stunning with the hills as a backdrop!

Here we are by a giant redwood tree in the lovely manicured gardens at the Gorge.

Miss Mary and I

Thomas on the chair lift

From Launceston we headed toward Cradle Mountain.  On our way Stan took a minor unplanned detour and we found a beautiful lake to picnic at called Lake Barrington:



After some sandwiches and cherries we got back on the road.  Driving around sunset we came across some wildlife.

Found a little echidna crossing the road while we were driving!

and a wombat!

We got to cradle mountain just in time for the night feeding of the Tasmanian devils. They are nearly extinct now and are under a very secure breeding program where they are tracked and reintroduced into the wild. We got to pet a baby devil and after hearing the statistics, I am pretty sure that will be the last one is see, unless it is in a zoo.

The second closest relative to a Tasmanian devil is the quoll. It is very similar but it can climb and hunt in the trees and is quite a bit smaller.  

In the morning we went on a few hikes around cradle mountain. Here we are at Dove Lake; it was so peaceful!

This second hike to Crater Lake was covered in moss- I LOVED it- everything seemed very magical and I wish I had more pictures!

After a morning at Cradle mountain we started to drive south back to Hobart to get my dad back on his plane (He flew out a day ahead of us). We were lucky to go through some old historic towns where early convicts had built many infrastructures. Here we are in Richmond near the old bridge.   We also stopped by a raspberry farm for some delicious lunch eats!

Tasmania: Day 3

The next day was officially Australia Day (January 26th).  We started the day off at Douglas-Apsley National Park en route to Bay of Fires.

Although it is the middle of summer, Tasmania is not that warm. 

Stan, still wanted a good swim, so he hoped on in...with two kids to follow. Mary and I are sensible :-)

After our swim in the water hole, we drove up to St. Helens where we happened upon a local Rotary Club sponsored fair. They just happened to be in the middle of a log chopping contest. So, we stayed to watch!

I think this guy was the winner. Chopping a log in less than 20 strokes. 

Then we meandered on over to the carnival bit of the fair!

Thomas enjoyed the slide while the girls had a go in the haunted house

Then of course are the giant bubble balls- you should know I am jealous every time I see a kid doing this!

Each kid won a prize for picking a duck (everyone is a winner :)).

Grandpa and Thomas!

After the Australian Day fair, we drove some more to Binalong Bay at the Bay of Fires to see the beautiful beaches framed by grey boulders and orange liken. 

Tasmania is famous for some of the best scuba diving in kelp forest. I would be really afraid to dive in the long tall kelp. Often you hear stories of people becoming disorientated with what is up and what is down as they follow the kelp one way.

Each beach stop-off, had something completely unique to offer. It was weird because they were all right next to each other. We found one gorgeous beach just like squeaky beach at Wilsons Prom, Vic.

Attempting a family shot. I need to start thinking about our outfits before we sit on beautiful beaches as we always look a tad mismatched.

Apparently something is hilarious!

The kids with Grandpa

Thomas found some kelp!

Olivia loves to do this pose. She recently participated in a neo-classical ballet class where she did this position while being help up in the air by some teenage boys. She admits being small has it's perks :-)