Last bit of Tas, Judy's pics

Mostly the botanic gardens 

Last days in Tasmania

Wandered the streets of Hobart past historic (for Australia) buildings 

stopping at Salamanca market.  Then had a great Nepalese thali for lunch before walking along the Hobart Rivulet to try and spot a platypus - see the separate post.

The botanic gardens were really pretty and interesting as our final visit.  They even had a Japanese garden - see Judy's pics...

...and a Monet pond and bridge.

Leaving tomorrow for Sydney where we have to stay overnight before the long journey home.  

Back on Wednesday if all goes well.  It'll feel very strange for a bit!!!

Launceston and east coast 2

Some of Judy's pics

Platypus in Hobart

The Hobart Rivulet is a small stream not far from central Hobart, where there's a project to try to clean up the water for the few platypus that live there.  Although it was early afternoon and platypus are normally active at dawn and dusk, one was very active as we walked past.  Watched for a good quarter of an hour. 

What a treat!!!

Launceston and the East coast

Had a lovely day without a car, strolling down Cataract Gorge 

and then around Launceston, admiring the historic buildings (well, Victorian art deco is very historic to most Aussies)

and generally being good tourists.  What a lovely town. The Queen Vic museum of Tasmania 

passed a very agreeable couple of hours, most enjoyable.

Next day we went further North to the Narawntapu national park where we walked past the lagoon with a bird viewing hide and back along the beach. 

 Tasmania has lots of different stuff in a small island.

A day of rain saw us heading to Swansea on the east coast, stopping for a lobster sandwich (Chris) and fish and chips (Judy) at Bicheno on the way.  Both are pretty little towns with harbour and beaches, shame about the rain!

Under a clear blue sky we drove north up the beautiful east coast as far as the Bay of Fires which is so inaccessible that you have to just look at it - and take photos of course - stunning.  

Then another waterfall before an evening at the theatre in Launceston - what could be more Australian than the musical Georgy Girl all about the Seekers!  Remember them???  We even remembered lots of words of their songs, and our singing didn't clear a big space around us.

Back in Hobart now for the last couple of days, coming via the Tasman national park with beautiful cliffs. 

 Something different again!

As you can guess, we really like Tassie!

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.