South again, then north again!

A long day's drive over the mountains, through sleet at times but spectacular to the lovely coast south of Hobart.  Lots of French names here as the explorer Entrecasteaux came here with two ships (the Recherche and the Esperance) in the 1790's.  We stayed at Roaring Bay, so beautiful

and did some lovely walks, first along the coast, pretty bay after pretty bay

and then up in the hills.

Donna had to head home so first to Hobart airport then back north to Launceston, pausing briefly at Richmond, a cute little town

which was busy because the Sunday market was in progress, then in Oatland where houses were actually stone-built and the topiary was amazing!

In Launceston for 3 nights so looking forward to not moving on tomorrow.

More Cradle Mountain pics

Echidna

Wombat 

Quolls 

Tasmanian devils 

Cradle Mountain...

...is THE national park to visit in Tasmania.  Our first afternoon was misty but we walked around Dove Lake, so atmospheric!  What a place.

The forecast for the next day was bad but it dawned bright and clear so we went back.  Lovely walk, glorious scenery,

wombats 

and echidna in the wild and then Tasmanian devils 

and quolls in a conservation park.

Another grand day out!!

More photos in another post or two.

Into the cold!

It was 30 degrees when we left Donna's and 7 when we arrived in Hobart, but as we drove out the following morning it all looked quite spring-like, daffodils and cherry blossom, etc.

Stopped in New Norfolk which has a lot of old (for Australia) buildings,

antique and arty shops.

Headed for Mount Field national park where we saw big trees and waterfalls.

We had to abandon our plan of going up to Mount Field and  walking around Lake Dobson as our hire car didn't have snow chains!!

But had another day of walks , more big trees, tree ferns

 and another huge waterfall all quite stunning!

Heading a bit further North tomorrow, may have snow.

Quiet in Queensland

It's nice to stop moving for a while, so feel quite relaxed after 10 days by the beach in tropical Queensland 

with Donna and her new dog.

As usual some DIY on the house, but we did manage a 13km walk in the Eungella rainforest - beautiful.

Generally did not a lot - well, we are on holiday!

Moving on to Tasmania tomorrow where it'll be a lot cooler.

Last post from Japan

Had an afternoon and day back in Tokyo, so after organising our airport transfer we found a lovely house and garden, built by the Mitsubishi/Fujitsu family in the 1890's.

 A huge Japanese house, now largely demolished and a European style house for guests.  The gardens were much bigger but got requisitioned during the war.

Then last day around the Imperial Palace which you can't enter or even really see.  But the gardens were pretty.

Sending this from the airport!

Matsumoto other pics from Judy's camera

On the journey down from Takayama 

and on the Kiso walk

Kamikochi pics from Judy's camera

She likes reflections

and other things, of course.

Matsumoto 3 ...

... or rather Kamicochi, a mecca for hikers and mountaineers.  At 1500m altitude people come from all over Japan to enjoy the scenery,

and if you don't want to climb a mountain (we didn't!) there are miles of paths along the river valley.  We were even joined by a troop of monkeys for a few hundred metres.  

Just brilliant, we'll let the photos speak for themselves...

... although this is a photo of a photo!

Rounded the day off with a Nepalese curry, and why not?!!

Back to Tokyo tomorrow, then last day in Japan.

Matsumoto 2

We took a train down the Kiso valley to walk from Yabuhara to Narai along a bit of the old Edo period road from Tokyo (then called Edo) to Kyoto.  The train went through the hill but we had to walk over, 

but it was mostly through woods so very pleasant.  

And Narai was a big surprise, a whole street about a kilometre long lined with original houses - this was a staging post on the way.

Another grand day out.

Matsumoto 1

It's the beginning of the end of our Japan trip, up here on the edge of the Japan Alps.  First stop was a visit to the very helpful tourist office who advised us what to do and how to do it.  

So, Friday afternoon to the castle, not far from our hotel.  

Very impressive and a bit lighter than Matsue, smaller pillars and more openings.

Even a shrine to their saving grace in the roof.