Platypus, penguins and pure Tasmania

After four days and nights exploring Hobart and the area it was time to depart this morning and thanks to the ending of daylight savings were able to awake with out the need for an alarm.  We were out of Barillia Holiday Park just after 8am.


Our first stop on the very windy and mountainous route was at the Salmon Ponds in Plenty, just past New Norfolk. As we were ahead of time and the salmon ponds weren't going to be open 'til after 9am, it was decided to stop at a bakery. Deejay's Bakery in New Norfolk was one of the only places open so we stepped on in and ordered some drinks and shared a Jelly Slice.  It was in fact the best jelly slice we have ever had (from a shop).

Getting to the Salmon Ponds we weren't sure what to expect, but surely can recommend just for the pleasure of feeding the salmon and different kinds of trout.  The 'dancing' the fish performed was just fantastic.

Further walking around Katie spotted a platypus, and then before too long we spotted another, wow, two platypus in the wild so to speak.

We dropped in to see the Hydro Power station at Tarraleah, and also happened to bump into a couple of hairy cows to Katie's delight.

Back on the road we stopped off at the Wall in the Wilderness, got stung $12 each and weren't allowed to take photos. It is very grand and fantastic work, but not worth the admission considering it is a long way from being finished.

Next it was time to stretch our legs and take a short stroll through the wilderness to Nelson Falls.

Finishing off the day was a truly memorable evening.  We boarded Sophia, and were taken through Hells Gates and back, then disembarked for a walk on Bonnet Island. Then back on the boat for some Tasmanian Cheese and wine.  It was then when we went back on to Bonnet Island when we saw six Little Blue Penguins, in their natural habitat. We couldn't take any photos of them as the flash would burn out the retnas in their eyes.

A very long but rewarding day with too many highlights to mention.

Market, Museum and Richmond

Salamanca Market is huge, in fact it would be the biggest market we have ever been to. It stretches for what seems like 500 meters with at least 300 stalls. Lots of hand made items, from wood to glass with food and drink in between.

 We started early and were going through the stalls well before 9am.

After looking a little around the area after the markets and then onto the docks area, it was only a short stroll to see the recreation of Mawsons Hut.  This is an exact replica in size, materials and the men's artefacts. Initially there is a bit of reading from signs and this gave us a great refresher on Mawson's story.  Then entering into the internal room of the hut we saw (a replica) of where the men endured two winters.

Across the road from the hut is the TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) where we skipped through the art gallery, but found great interest in the Tasmanian Museum.  The museum consists of three levels and each one covers a specific period. Top level Aboriginals at the period of European settlement. Level 2 European and convict history, and ground flora and fauna and how it was recorded during European settlement.

After lunch of fresh from the sea fish and chips back at the harbour, it was off to Mount Nelson location of a semaphore station and great views of the Derwent and Hobart surrounds.

Finishing the day we headed out to Richmond and explored the Church, the Old Gaol and a replica of Old Hobart Town.

Port Arthur

As we had both been to Port Arthur in the past, we knew what were were in for but still wanted to go back to see just a little more. The haunting remains of the
penitentiary, the vast open areas and the remaining homes that have survived throughout the years.

The other item we both hadn't seen but weren't going to miss, was the cruise and tour of Isle of the Dead.

 The operators of the site have a dual hull catamaran that took us out onto the harbour for a cruise including commentary and then allowed us to disembark for our tour of the island.

 Our guide was a wealth of information and provided a very detailed account of the happenings on the island.  We learn't convicts went originally allowed tombstones of any kind and how free people were buried on the higher side of the island, with their tombstones and their backs to the penitentiary.

After the tour we finished our cruise with a Tasmanian Scallop Pie, well I tried one and finished it, but Katie stuck to the lamington and coffee.  The pie was just like a curry pie, but without chicken or beef.  It was very strong, fairly tasty, but not something I would try again.

The afternoon was spent looking around the site and then returning back to Hobart.

We did stop off at a museum on the way.  As it was only $3 entry we weren't disappointed, but the photos explain themselves.

Females, freezing mountain and fascinating museum

Cascade Female Factory, the place where many female convicts were sent when they arrived in Hobart, is just south of Hobart and provided us with an insight to one particular woman's arrival. We attended the 11AM performance of Her Story and were impressed.
The site does not have any of the original buildings but has marked areas impressed on the ground showing the locations of walls. With the performance the walls appeared to come up from the ground and we were taken to the past.

Afterwards, we drove to the top of Mount Wellington to see the view from the top.  But as we drove up and up the cloud rolled in, the rain come down, then the sleet, and at the very top, snow!

It was cold, and for some stupid reason we ran across the car park to the enclosed viewing area to look out at the.... clouds!  We read all the boards and signs in the building and then scooted to the other building in the freezing temperatures. Thinking the other building would have more info we entered, to find it was a toilet block.

After descending back down the mountain we were off to M.O.N.A. and found it a bizarre mix of very old to very modern art.  In the same area there were Egyptian mummies and some art only created as it would seem weeks ago, There was even a wall representing a female body part,using plaster moulds, I won't go into detail, but from memory there were over 70 different ones mounted on the wall at head height.

 

The afternoon was spent with a little relaxation and of course laundry.

Tomorrow... more convicts.