G'day Cobbers!

Well, we made it safely across the Ditch and onwards to Hobart.
Not quite as warm as NZ or indeed the rest of Australia but rather reminiscent of an English summer - temperatures and unpredictability. We had a relaxing day in Hobart wandering around and taking in all the sights.

On Monday 28 February we picked up a hire car and, loaded to the gunnels, set off for 10 days around Tassie.

We stopped at various scenic spots heading south east (Tessellated pavement and various blowholes, sea arches etc)

 

and finally arrived at Port Arthur scene of a penal colony for transported convicts who had reoffended.

We spent 6 hours wandering around and learning all about it - who said this was just a holiday?!  It was pretty cold and wet that day - a real change for us.

Anyway, from Port Arthur we headed up the east coast and camped for 2 nights in Bicheno.  We seemed to then follow the good weather around.  One day we went to Freycinet National Park and did a fairly short walk to Wineglass Bay,

and also went to see the Fairy Penguins one evening.  Unfortunately these little critters are currently in the moult so aren't out at sea and coming back in at night.  Consequently we only saw a dozen or so of them rather than a hundred or so that would be around in November/December.
From here we headed west and stayed a night in Launceston before continuing west to Cradle Mountain.

We were really lucky with the weather here - we arrived in glorious sunshine and did a short walk that afternoon.  The next day we did another short walk in equally fantastic weather.  The only problem was that at 800m elevation, it got freezing - literally - at night!  Jon's sleeping bag is not great so he wasn't a happy camper!
From Cradle Mountain we headed out to the west coast and have been at Strahan for 2 nights.  We've had temperatures of 22-23 degrees which has made a very pleasant change!  When we arrived last night (6 March) we noticed a sign giving a free night's camping in exchange for clearing gum tree bark from the site.  We volunteered and spent a couple of hours this morning doing just that and now have a free night camping and also free internet access now!

Anyway, tomorrow (8th) we're heading back east and have to give the car back on 10th.  We have 2 nights in Hobart before flying to Melbourne on 12th then picking up our campervan on 14th.

We've just checked the Christchurch backpackers where we were staying.  Sadly it's closed due to earthquake damage but everyone there was safe.

Carol's still having problems with her trapped femoral nerve which means Jon is so far having to do all the driving.  She's hoping it will resolve itself very soon as she's getting a bit fed up with it now.