tasmania

Mon 04.02 - Checked prices for car rentals and of course decided on cheapest one. In the evening we went for a walk around the Salamanca Area and up Kelly's Steps to Battery Hill. Hobart is a nice city, but its quite cold for summer. Mid teens. Home temperatures.

Tues 05.02 - We picked up car, A Ford Festiva, and head first of all to Richmond. Its a beautiful little town. It has the oldest prison in Oz. Used, of course for the convicts sent over from Britian and Ireland. The oldest Catholic Church in Australia is also there. And did I tell you, it also has the oldest bridge in Australia!

Then it was off to Port Arthur, 100kms up the coast. On the way we stopped off to look at different bits of the coast line, namely Devil's Kitchen, Tasman Arch, Remarkable Cave (which wasn't that remarkable!) and the Tasman Blowhole. Port Arthur was also used for convicts. There was a massive compound which included a prison, a solitary confinement area, church and hospital. One of the information boards told the story of a fella from Derry called Dermot Doherty, who was sent out here. There was also a memorial garden to 35 people who were killed here in 1996 when a cray guy went round shooting indiscriminately.

Wed 06.02 - We drove further up the east coast to Coles Bay. This is a great quiet village. Set up tent about 2pm. Heard NI accents. Chatted to Tammy (Belfast) and Dennis (Enniskillen), and Teresa and Sammy (Larne). Theyve been living in Tassie since the 1970's and came out on the 10pound fares. They gave us loads of advice on the thing to see in Tassie and the things to leave out. This was great as we have limited time with the car. Went to sleep in tent about 10.30pm to the sound of Dennis playing "Fields of Athenry" on the harmonica. Priceless!

Thurs 07.02 - Up at 8am. Made our way to the National Park. Began walk to lookout where you can see Wineglass Bay. The walk was up 280 odd steps. Great view of the bay. Chatted to couple Billy (Waterford and Barbara (Dublin) on the way down from the lookout. We then drove to Launceston, the second biggest town after Hobart. Pissed with rain. went to Cataract Gorge. There was a lake there with a cable car going over it. Didnt bother, just went for a walk.

Went looking for a caravan park. Eventually got one beside a main road. The traffics very loud. Had dinner with Paul and Michell from Kettering. Billy and Barbara arrived. Chatted to 11pm then went to tent. Managed to sleep despite the traffic.

Fri 08.02 - Raining. Drove to Cradle Mountain, via Sheffield. Mount Roland in background. Got to National Park and made way in the 7.5km unsealed road to Dove Lake. The best scenery I've seen in Tassie. A beautiful lake surround by hills with Cradle Mountain looming higher than all the rest. Impressive. We spent 2 hours walking aroungd the lake. Highlight so far in Tassie. We then drove to Stahan (pronounced Strawn!) on the west coast. There was loads of mountain with tip disappearing into the clouds, and large lakes. Its what I would imagine the Scottish Highlands look like.

Sat 09.02 - I got drench taking tent down. We got more rain in the last week than we got in the 8 months in Australia! We drove to Lake St Clair. The day was quite misty so there wasnt that much to see. It was a little eerie. Headed on to Mountfield National Park and went to Russell Falls. A beautiful waterfall that cascades down 3 large steps of rocks. Also view Horseshoe Falls.

(On Aimee's advice) We then head for New Norfolk. and camped there for the night. A sleepy little town. Not much happening. A crowd of people from the Albury-Woodonga 4 wheel drive club camped beside us and lit a campfire. They asked us to join them. Had good laugh. A cute little stray kitten befriended me. In tent by 11pm. Didnt sleep very well. Lots of noises outside tent. Claire and I were like people in the "Blair Witch Project". We were too scared to look outside. Slept eventually.

Sun 10.02 - Drove back to Hobasrt after our whistlestop tour of Tasmania. Went to Glenorchy markets. Then drove southwest to through Huonville and Geeveston to the Airwalk in Tahune. The Airwalk is like the Treetop walk in Walpole, WA. Nice thing to do. The highest point was 47m (141ft) above the ground. We drove back to Hobart and went to the top of Mount Wellington, the mountain that looms over Hobart. Its 1270m above sea level. The top was actually in the clouds and it was below minus up there. And much to my excitement there was snow on the top. The first snow we've seen since Jan/Feb 2001! We left car back then and booked back into hostel.

Mon 11.02 - Woke up was right ear blocked. Can't hear a thing in it! Shopped for a fleece but didnt one.

Tues 12.02 - Out of room by 10am. Window Shopped til 4pm and then caught bus back to airport. Got flight from Hobart to Sydney. I got intense pain in both ears as we landed in Sydney, due to blockage. Got taxi to Coogee and stayed in "Wizard of Oz" hostel. Saw a few cockroaches in room. Yuck!

Wed 13.03 - Into City Centre and got Quantas flight validated. In the afternoon I went to doctor about my ears. Gave me drops and antibiotics. Back to hostel and took it easy for evening. A few more cockroaches in room.

Thurs 14.04 - Saw my first Tyrone jersey in Oz. A fella from Clonoe, outside Coalisland. Spent a few hours shopping in Randwick and then down to Coogee beach. Spent the evening window shopping on Catlereagh Street. Went for a pizza for our Valentines Meal.

Fri 15.01 - Up at 7.30 Got taxi at 8 to airport. Went to see doc in airport as I was still worried about the ears giving me pain. Got flight to Honolulu, Hawaii at 10.45am. It was a 9 hours flight. We departed Sydney at 10.45am 15th Feb (local time) and we arrived Honolulu at 11.45pm 14th Feb (local time). We actually get to go to sleep on the 14th February twice!!!