Day 138 to Day 150

Day 138 December 15 Monday
Got up too early to go to the internet café so went to the west end of the island called the Nobbies, which are two small islands. There is a big silver seagull nesting area in amongst the boardwalks and the birds and the birds are not really happy about it. An island, about 1.5 km away has about 20,000 seals on it which you can see with binoculars. There is also a blowhole which was not blowing because the tide was too low. Headed back to town and stopped at a small lake park. Lots of black swans. Also, short tailed shearwaters are nesting there but were gone for the day. Went into the town of Cowes and printed out my Tassie tickets. Also updated my blog. Went to Rhyll Inlet and went for a 2km hike along the water. Drove off the island and headed towards Melbourne. Got some petrol today at 98 cents a liter. That is about half what I was paying in northern OZ which is several tens of dollars a day difference. Spent the night in Chelsea at South East Holiday Village caravan park. The park is about 38 km from the ferry dock.
Day 139 December 16 Tuesday
Got up at 5:45 am and had breakfast. Headed off to the ferry by taking the coast highway which leads directly to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, Easy ride except for the millions of bike riders, sometimes in groups of 50. At least it was early enough and the traffic was somewhat light. Got to the ferry and they took my butane for the stove (got it back in Tasmania). I spent the day on deck 10 with the van being on car deck 6. Deck 10 was a lounge with lots of tables. Spent a lot of the time reading. Got a free coffee when I got on the boat because the man could not find the till or something like that. Went to deck 7 to buy a parks pass and pick up some info. From about 10:30 to 5:00, two young women played guitars and sang a big variety of song for pop to blues. Very good to listen too. Took a long time to get off the boat dock since everyone had to go through fruit quarantine again. Drove a short distance to Able Tasman Caravan park. Fquite few people from the boat were in the camping area.
Day 140 December 17 Wednesday Tasmania
Slept in until 8 am. The Bonine for motion sickness does that to me even though I only took a quarter of a pill. Didn’t get sick. After breakfast drove into downtown Devonport and got myself a good map at the local AAA and then to Coles for some food. Headed east out of town on Highway 1 then taking B71 to the road to Narawntapu NP. Spent the night close to the water. Lots of little wallaby like critters around. Built a fire after dinner and watched the sunset.
Day 141 December 18 Thursday
After brekkie, drove to Bakers beach and went for a short walk. Left the park and drove south on C740 to B71. Took C715 north to Beaconsfield and then to Greens Beach. Nice drive. Went back to Beaconsfield and went into a rock shop and bought a book on fossicking in Tasmania. Drove across the Tamar river on B73 then heded north turning east on B82. Took the turn to Weymouth where there was a beach which was suppose to have some agates and jasper. Nothing special but some neat lava which I think is called pillow lava. Left there and went back to B73 to Bridgeport then south to Scottsdale. The city had a free camp for travelers.
Day 142 December 19 Friday
Left camp and drove on A3 to the junction with Gladstone hwy B82. Stopped at Blue Lake which was an old tin mine. They sluiced the gravel for small amounts of tin oxide. Just past Gladstone went to a fossicking area which is suppose to have tin mines with smoky quartz. Went up one road and could not find the mines with a lot of hiking. Went to another road and found the water channels to feed the mines but still did find what I thought the mines were. For lunch went to the creek that came out of the area and found some smoky quartz crystals and chunks. Left and headed to another place on the Weld River but it was running to fast to walk along the edge looking for minerals. Headed back to A3 and to St. Helens on the east coast. Spent the night in the Bay of Fire right on the ocean. Met a single lady in a motor home and we had dirinks together before dinner. She had a cute friendly little black Chihuahua named Raven. Pleasant conversation. Eight guys fishing for 4 hours and not one fish. Optimists. I went and talked to them and they had caught one. As we were talking one of then said “Didn’t we have 8 rods?” Sure enough one was missing. A pelican, poor thing, had got caught in the line and pulled the rod and beach holder out into the ocean. The friends of the rod owner were laughing their guts out. Was funny except to the pelican.

Day 143 December 20 Saturday
Said goodbye to Lizzie and her dog Raven and headed back to St. Helens and then south on A3 to the turn off to Freycinet National park. Pretty pink granite mountains. Decided to hike up Mt. Amos (454 meters). It was another class 3 over slippery steep slippery granite and up granite ridges. Very pretty views from the top. Made it up and down in one piece. Drove to Cape Tourville lighthouse and viewpoint. Spectacular. No camp spots in the park which is ok since they had no showers. Went into Coles Bay and got a spot at Illay Caravan Park. Did some laundry too.
Day 144 December 21 Sunday
Left Cowes Bay had went back to A3 and headed south. At Sorell, found the cell phone worked and made some calls to family and friends. Some more to go. Turned onto A9 and went to the Tasman peninsula. Took the road to Lime Bay Nature Reserve, a state park. In the area is what they call the Convict Coal mine which prisoners from the prison at Port Author worked in. Spent the night close to the water again. The wind died down too making for a nice evening.
Day 145 December 22 Monday
After brekkie, headed back, stopping at the convict coal mines and prison (goal). At least they had a nice water view. Saw a couple more echidnas. They sure are cute. Would like to see a Tasmanian Devil in the wild. Took B37 to Port Arthur which was a tourist trap having an old prison. At Eaglehawk Neck, where there was a guard station to make sure people did not escape from the peninsula, took C338 to Tasman Arch, Devils Kitchen and Tasman Blowhold. Really cool places were the ocean has cut into the limestone coastal cliffs. Took A9 back to Sorell and then A3 towards the Hobart Airport. Found a place to have my oil changed. Made a few phone calls. Went to 7 Mile Beach and found a caravan park to spend the night. Very windy and hot. Finally getting up into the 80’s again. Feels like a blast furnace after many days of under 70 F.
Day 146 December 23 Tuesday
After breakfast made some more phone calls. Then left Seven Mile Beach Caravan park and headed to A3. Drove into Hobart switching to A6. After a short drive took B64 and then the road to Mt. Wellington. It is 1250 meters high (3800 ft) and looks straight down on the city. Spectacular. Called Daniel and MT from there. Drove back down and went to B68 along the water. In Kingston bought some groceries and continued to Gordon where this is a big park on the water one can stay for free.
Day 146 December 24 Wednesday
In the morning, two young women brought me a pan and some food. They were leaving Tasmania and would have had to throw it out. Left the park and continued on B64 until I got back to A6 at Huonville where I went south to Ida Bay. There is a rock hounding place there which is suppose to have petrified wood and ferns. I did not find anything as the vegetation was very think. Went back north Took the road to Hastings Cave and Thermal Springs. Took Tughanah road up into Coal Hill to find agates. The place was thick with vegetation also. Decided to go to the thermal springs for a swim. Not hot but warming than the air. Went for a walk in the woods. Headed back to Ida Bay and stopped at a gem store. The man had a very nice shop with lots of minerals from Tasmania. I asked about the place called Lune and he told me where to go and that it would be hard digging. Found it and sure enough, the material is in thick clay. I did find some small pieces of petrified wood and agate. (S43 28.379,E146 54.279). Went to Southport camp for the night which was close by.
Day 147 December 25 Thursday MERRY CHRISTMAS
Went back to the rock hounding site and dug around for an hour or so and found some petrified wood and agates but no ferns. Drove back to A6 all the way to Hobart then taking hwy 1 and then A10 to New Nofork. Spent the night at the local park. Turns out resturaunts are closed in the afternoon.
Day 148 December 26 Friday BOXING DAY
Left New Norfork and headed west on B62 then B61. Decided to stop at Mt. Field National Park, home of the famous Russell Falls. Walked to the falls and then further on to Horseshoe Falls. Drove up the 16 km dirt road to the alpine country. Went on a four hour hike called the tarn shelf circuit. Very alpine like with tarns, lots of small lakes and streams. Tired at the end. Stayed at the campground in the park.
Day 149 December 27 Saturday
Left Mt. Fields NP and continued on B61 into Southwest NP all the way to the end of the road at Gordon Dam. It was a very beautiful drive with lots of mountains and lakes. There is a huge area here in south west Tasmania without many roads or trails. Drove back and stopped at Junee Cave. A river comes out of the cave as the water apparently comes from water soaking down though the limestone. At Westeway, turned north on C60B to A 10. At Wayatinah, turned left and went a few km to the campground on a lake. There were a lot of people here. Whew. Glad I am leaving tomorrow.
Day 150 December 28 Sunday
Left the camp and headed west on A10 heading for Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair national Park. Went on a 3.5 hour hike up into the mountains taking the Shadow Lake circuit trail which is 15 km (9 miles) with 1000 feet elevation gain. Very windy and nervous about tree limbs coming down. As I got about half way, the wind was now with rain, not too heavy but annoying especially when coming horizontally. Got to the lake but the clouds were low and the wind was still blowing ant still raining. Got into the visitor center and dried off a bit. On my way to A10 picked up a couple who had just hiked the 80 km overland trail and were heading to a restaurant at the road tee. Dropped them off and then headed further west on A10. Stopped at Nelson Falls which is in the Franklin-Gordon river NP which were pretty. Went as far as Queenstown, a copper mining town and looks like one. Spent the night at the local caravan park. Took a nice hot shower. Ahhhh.

Day 133 to Day 137

Day 133 December 10 Wednesday
Went to the internet place here in town and updated my blog and sent a few emails and did a little financial stull. Decided to go north on the Great Alpine Highway to Mt. Hotham where there is a big ski resort. When I got there I did not think it was as nice a place as Mt. Buller. The base area did not have much room and the roads were very steep. I went for about a 3km return hike along a ridge and back along the side. Very nice views. On the way back down stopped at Victoria falls which is the site of an old dam for making electricity for a mine. Dam is mostly gone and you need a 4x4 to get to the falls. Drove back to Swift Creek and spent the night at the city run caravan park. The English couple that were there last night were still there.
Day 134 December 11 Thursday
Left Swift Creek and headed south to Bairnsdale, When I was a long way away remembered that I forget to give back the ammenities block key so I am out the ten buck deposit. Not about to go back. Got oil and filter for the van in Bairnsdale. Took C 601 north to Mitchell R. National Park. Went to the Den of Nargun. It is a cave with a waterfall. Nargun was an aboriginal monster half man and half rock. When you threw a spear at it the spear came back and if little kids came to the pool it would catch them and drag thm into the pool. Further on was a woman’s cave called Deadcock Cave. (Translation from aboribinal words?) Hike to the Mitchell river. Left there and drove further up C601 to a road that went to Angusvale. It was a good unsealed road that went 16 km to a very pretty campground. Even though it was early I decided to spend the night there. As I was reading a book just before dark, a cute little wombat came walking towards the van from across the field. It got to within 50 yards and then turned and walked away up the hill. Great although the picture was not good because of poor light.
Day 135 December 12 Friday
When I awoke, there was fog almost down to the van. A bunch of kangaroos were in the field. It cleared up after a few hours and I drove back out of the park and down C601 to A1. Headed west to Sale when I took A440. After a few km, I stopped at the Sale Wildlife Refuge and too a km walk through the small lakes. Saw some pelicans and other birds. I continued on and then too C485 all the way to Loch Sport where I had lunch by Lake Victoria. Drove back a ways and took the road south to Golden Beach. There were campsites all along the ocean so I stopped at C7 sites. Late in the afternoon a ranger came and she told me that a big wind and rain storm was coming overnight. It started raining shortly after she left.
Day 136 December 13 Saturday
No wind overnight as far as I know but some rain. Drove down the road to Seaspray. Then took C496 to A440. Heard on the news that Melbourne had the highest 24 hour rainfall in a year at 42 mm. I saw lots of water along the road. At Yarran took the road to Tarra-Bulga State Park which is a temperate rainforest. Stopped at Tarra waterfall and it was flowing well. When I got to the park hiked a 1.5 km loop trail to Cythea waterfall. The ferns and big trees are fun to walk through. Headed further into the park and walked the loop to the swinging bridge back to the car park. Saw two lyre birds which did not stick around long. Drove a dirt logging road back to town, the Bulga Park Road. At Welshpool, drove up into the hills to see Agnes waterfall. It was a dam across the top of a chasm and the water. At Foster headed south on the road to Wilson Promontory. Decided to spend the night at Panakie Caravan Park on the east side of the peninsula. It had started to rain and by evening it was raining and blowing.
Day 137 December 14 Sunday
Since it is suppose to be windy and rainy today decided no to go to Wilson Promontory until after I get back from Tassie. Drove into Yanakie and called Spirit of Tasmania about my email tickets. They said they would send them again. Really not needed since I have confirmation number and photo ID. Drove to Fish Creek and then south on C445. Took a side to Waratah Bay a cute community on the water. Then drove to Walkerville North and then South where there were some old lime kilns that provided lime to Melbourne in the early days. Then to Cape Liptrap lighthouse and the Cape Liptrap NP. Continued on to Venus Bay a real tourist trap type of place. Drove then C442 to Iverloch and followed the coast line to Cape Paterson. Very pretty coast line. Managed to get a pic of an echidna before it scampered off into the bush. Headed through Wonthaggi and went to Phillip Island. Spent the night at Amaz’n Things Holiday Park space 8.

Day 124 to Day 132

Day 124 November 30 Sunday
Continued south on B140 to Warrnamboll then took Princess Highway east to B100, The Great Ocean Highway. Stopped at the following places: Bay of Isles, Bay of Martyrs, The Grotto, London Bridge, the Arch. Spent the night at Port Campbell in the caravan park, space 8. Very pretty coast. I can see why it is so popular.

Day 125 December 1 Monday
Left Port Campbell and stopped at Loch Ard George, and the Apostles which was spectacular as promised. Except today was very windy all day with rain squalls. Had to wait so get some pictures in at least partial sun. Went for a walk in the temperate rain forest at

Melba Gully State Park. Just like Jurassic Park with huge ferns and jungle. Stopped at Joanna beach named after a ship wreck. On the way to Cape Otway light house, there were lots of red gums there and saw six kolas there, one with a baby. Spent the night at Apollo Bay.

Day 126 December 2 Tuesday
Continued on B100. Just before Lorne, I hiked the short distance to Seaoak Falls. Since the area is in a draught, very little water was coming over. At Lorne, drove the 16 km to Erskine Falls, also not a lot of water but still pretty. Went to the Information Center and went on-line for ferry tickets to Tasmania. Leaving Dec. 16 and returning Jan 5 at a cost of $360. The trip over for the driver was half off at $50. The vehicle is $65each way. It will be during the height of the holiday travel season. Christmas and New Years in Tas. Hope I can find places to stay. Continued to Split Point Lighthouse and walked around. All the little towns along the way had very nice beaches. Most were filled with kids surfing since it is only a few hours at most drive from Melbourne. Went through Geelong, a major city, using hwy A1 again. Just out of town took C704 to Bacchus Marsh (yes two c’s). Spent the night at the caravan park.

Day 127 December 3 Wednesday
Left Bacchus Marsh and headed to Ballarat on M8. Then took A300 north following the Goldfields Tourist route. At Daylesford headed north a short distance to Hepburn Springs. There is an old spa there and a nice brand new one. The springs are soda water with a sulfur smell and tasted awful. Besides baths there were all kinds of spa treatments. Ate lunch at Mt. Franklin and drove to the top. No view. Drove all the way to Echuca on the Murray River. The river is pretty much the border with New South Wales. Spent the night at a park along the river. Did not appear to be flowing and looked stagnant.

Day 128 December 4 Thursday
Drove into Echuca and took A300 to C355 to Shepparton. Just east of town took C366 south to Merton where I headed West on B300 then C516, then B340 to Alexandra. Just outside town took to road to Eildon National Park. It is big reservoir with mountains all around. Spent the night at Lakeside campground space 44. A few spaces away was a group of about 30 salespeople spending the night having a party. Went for a walk a short distance around the lake.

Day 128 December 5 Friday Lake Eildon

Left the campground and drove the Skyline Rd to Eildon, a small resort town on the lake. Went up to and drove across the hydroelectric dam to Pinninger Lookout with nice views of the reservoir. Went to the Cathedral Mountains State Park. Went to Neds Campground and hiked the one hour to Neds saddle and then the 15 minutes to Neds Peak. View not good because of the trees. Drove to the end of the road, rough and steep to Sugarloaf Saddle. I hiked (climbed )

to the top of the peak which was about a half hour trip. The last half was a definite class three climb and I took the easier of the two routes. Very nice views. Decided to spend the night in the park at Cooks Mill campground. Flies were not bad at all. Tired today after all the hiking in the warm weather.

Day 129 December 6 Saturday
Left Cooks Mill camp and drove B360 to B 300 to Mansfield. Along the way saw for sure my first wild echidna so I could not stop because there was no shoulder on the road and someone was tailgating me. Took the road to Mt. Buller which is a big ski resort. Long steep twisting road

again to the resort. Mountain is 1800 meters high (about 5400 ft). Hiked about 1.5 km to the very top. Nice and not too much wind but cool. Ate lunch there. Drove back to Mansfield. The road from Mansfield to Whittfield on C321 was through the mountains and the road was curvy and steep in places. Very pretty. Continued on to Moyhu where I spent the night at a cute little caravan park space 12.

Day 130 December 7 Sunday
Left Moyhu and continued north on C 321 to C521 which intersected the Great Alpine Road near Myrtleford. At Myrtleford took the road to Mt. Buffalo lake which is a man made reservoir, which was full. Walked around there a little and had a snack. Went back to Myrtleford and took the Great Alpine Road to Buffalo NP. Named so since an early explorer thought it looked like a sleeping buffalo. The mountain is granite and has a plateau at the top. Drove up another steep and windy road to the plateau and had lunch at Lakeside Park and campground at Lake Cataril. Drove to the end of the road and hiked up the 1.5 km trail to the summit of The Horn at 1732 meters, the highest point in the park. It is amazing on the trail they jack hammered steps in the granite. Very good 360 deg. views and very little wind for a change. It was cool, in the 50’s. Drove back down and decided to climb the Hump which is1695 meters. The trail goes past the Cathedral which is a rock climb. Nice views from there too. Drove down to the entrance and had my entry changed to two days as this is a very nice park. Went past the town of Bright a short distance and spent the night at Freeburgh Caravan Park space 25.

Day 131 December 8 Monday
Drove back to Mt. Buffalo NP. Hiked to Eurobin Falls about 1.5 km return. Actually Ladies Bath falls and upper and lower Eurobin falls which were good. Drove further up the road and hiked the 4 km return trip to Rollasons Falls which has upper and lower falls. Lower falls were pretty but the upper falls did not have a very good view. Then drove to the reservoir picnic area which was down about a 6 km single lane dirt road. From there hiked to Og, Gog and Magog rock formations on almost a way trail for a 4.5km return trip. Decided then to hike up to the Monolith which was close by. Hiked the 1.5 km to the rock outcrop and found that they had closed the final stepped for safety reasons. Nice views from there. Getting late so headed back to Bright and got a few groceries. Could not find internet café with wireless or ethernet for my laptop. Stayed at Freeburgh Carvan park again. The owners are from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Day 132 December 9 Tuesday
Left the nice campground and went back to Bright to mail some things and get some petrol. Drove to the town of Mt. Beauty via C536 and C531 and continued to Falls Creek Alpine Village, a ski resort. Not as nice as Mt. Buller in my view. Checked on the dirt road to Omeo and was told it was ok. All alpine country most of the way. Hiked up the one km trail to Mt. Cope for some nice views. Saw two young researchers for Melbourne doing plant studies. Continued driving through the Alpine NP to Omeo, Dirt road was ok but steep and twisty and narrow but pretty and fun. Drove past Omeo to the town of Swift Creek and spent the night at the city owned campground.