Day 24, Saturday 18/1/2014, Melbourne to Newcastle

Our wake up call was at 0550hrs. There is a long day of driving ahead of us today which will have to be shared around. That means I'll have to do a shift in the defender, and one for the kids. Hopefully we'll make it home by 2200hrs. We were driving home through a true heat-wave. 42 degrees celsius at Albury and Gundagai. We were taking our thongs off to see who could stand on the tar the longest. You could cook your dinner on it! Leah and Gary will be taking two days to get home and plan to stay in Gundagai tonight. I hope it cools off a bit for them.


Another fantastic road trip over.
I just love this amazing time with family and friends!!
This is living!!

Day 23, Friday 17/1/2014, Bay of Fires to Devonport, "Spirit of Tasmania"

There is a slight drizzle today, so our tents are packed up for the last time damp (Murhy's law). We were all ready to go by 0800hrs. Everyone has it down pat now that it's our last pack-up. Today we headed inland to Launceston, through farms and mist covered mountains. Our first stop was at St Columba Falls. There was a 1hr return walk to the bottom of the falls through rainforest and creeks.

Our next stop was at Holy Cow Dairy for cheese tasting, ice-cream, milkshakes and coffee. They even had gluten free stuff for Amara.

Then we headed to Cataract Gorge Launceston. It seems to be the local hangout with kids and teens climbing and swimming in the gorge, the rock pool and the commercial pool next to it. There were beautiful green manicured lawns and gardens, a walk out across a swinging bridge looping back the other side, then a return trip on the longest chairlift span in the world. That allowed us to explore most of the scenery in a relatively short time.

All meeting back at our little "Tea Cups Cafe" in Devonport gave us a sense of completion as our first and last place in Tasmania.

We the lined up to get back onto the Spirit of Tasmania and were sent down into the belly of the ship to park. As soon as we got to our cabin, the other three lined up to use the toilet (I went at the cafe). Col took 20 minutes and had to flush twice. Jordan went and flushed. Jack then took 15 minutes and it wouldn't flush. It overflowed onto the bathroom floor. Lucky there are little walls in all the doorways. Ewww! We arranged for an engineer and cleaner to come to our room, hence we were late for tea. We had however gone out on deck during this fun little saga to watch the ship depart. Bye Tassie! I didn't get my shower until 2100hrs.

(thanks for the 2 group photos today Leah)

Day 3, Saturday 28/12/2013, Devonport to Cradle Mountain.

An early start to the day with a wake up call over the intercom at 5:15am (Even the memory kills me a little inside – Jordan).  We had to be down in the car before 6am for departure. First we had a moment to capture a sunrise over Tasmania.

The Laneway café in Devonport was very quaint and arty farty and had delicious breakfasts. They even had gluten free toast for Amara.

Next was a quick grocery shop at Coles (the markets weren’t open). Col and I bought paddle ties from the canoe shop and Leah and Gary bought a gas bottle.

We all met at La Trobe at the Chocolate Factory

 I enjoyed tasting all of the fudge several times and concluded that cappuccino was my favourite. It sprinkled on and off but nothing that dampened the spirits. Next on the list was a cheese factory and then a raspberry farm. Jack bought a tub of strawberries and a jar of strawberry jam. Col a tub of raspberries and me some yoghurt with raspberries.

 It was a lovely stroll around the property which included a Monet pond with bridge and waterlilies. I almost got a photo of Leah, but it’s blurry as she was running to avoid it and I didn’t have it on ‘sport’ mode. (Next time).

Then it was a hilly/mountainy drive on narrow roads past rivers and ‘road kill’ to a town called (Kurri) Sheffield. It reminded me of Kurri in the age of the buildings, but it was much nicer with cute galleries and cafes. Col bought a drysabone vest, Jordan a long cardigan and we all had fun in the marble shop, especially Eliza and Amara. 

A fun spur of the moment stop was halfway from there to Cradle Mountain where we came upon the state wood chopping competition and watched the world champion chopping. Amazingly strong and fast, lots of excitement.

We’re now starting to see beautiful rocky peaks. After crossing a bit of a gorge and damned river we rise into Alpine Country with the familiar rocky territory with stunted shrubs and short spongy grass.
Our campsites at the Big 4 are near the entrance to the National Park. The sites are tiny little pockets in the bush. All separate and private with a kitchen/fireplace building and amenities block that are made from bush rock and blend the roof into the ground like a hobbit’s house. Beautiful. More amazing is the local wildlife. Either it’s a stunted wallaby or some marsupial wandering our site (turns out it’s a pademelon) and even better were the echidna and wombat wandering around when we went for a walk 20m up the road to info. So beautiful!! Fiona got some good photos. Then I found a very strange creature on the log behind our tent. About the size of Jordy, black and white stripes with a pink belly. 

The gas bottle Gary bought has a different connection so Col lent him one of ours. We all had tea together in the rock building with a fire blazing. One lady there had done the summit walk plus Lake Dove perimeter in 4hrs. She also said that snow was expected on the peaks tonight. With the change blowing over and the icy wind I’d believe it. It is now raining and only too dark to write at 9:15pm.
An early night to bed to keep warm. Jack has had a temperature this evening but has perked up after some Panadol. Eliza had one 2 days ago and Col a week ago!

Day 2, Friday 27/12/2013, Wodongah to "Spirit of Tasmania" Melbourne.

A 4hr drive to Melbourne.

Williams and Parkes left their cars at the docks and trammed into Melbourne, while Morgan’s parked at St Kilda and hung around the park and pier.

Had lunch on the river, cranskys, then the boys and girls split to shop and tour. We loved the cute little alleys with cafés, boutique shops and art. Every alley, street and building reminded me of a movie set.

It was a slow line-up drive onto the ship, starting at 6:15pm and finally aboard at 8pm. Leah and Gary showered the girls first, then met us upstairs. Out on deck to farewell Melbourne under a beautiful sunset, then in for a buffet dinner.

A bit of exploring of the ship, then back to the cabin to shower and write in this diary that I bought in Melbourne today.

Tasmania here we come. 5am start tomorrow to get ready to drive off at 6am, but I’m not at all tired. Time to read some more ‘Game of Thrones’ to the rocking of the ship and the sounds of Jack’s sudoku writing and Col’s snore.