Category Archives: Tasmania

Mt Wellington, Hotel SOHO,Part Two

May 22, 2016 leakygreens 2 Comments

This is a continuation of the yesterday – was getting too long. The drive to the top was about 30 kms but it was well wooded and fun to watch the trees changing the higher we drove. It is a pity that some drivers don’t share the roads a little bit more freely.

Once we were at the top the view was spectacular. The day was as clear a day as you could ask for. So perfect.

There were little patches of snow and people were throwing snow balls and building snowmen. A couple of kids were experiencing the snow for the first time. Screams of shock as snow dared to venture down the back of a hoodie. I laughed.

The air was magic. Clear, tasty but a little thinner than further down the hill. The rocks were very different all across the top of the mountain. We stayed a while and went to the lookouts and just marvelled at the land we could see from the top. Just fabulous.

After driving back down the mountain we went to the pub I had seen on the upward journey called Hotel SOHO.

It was a warm and friendly pub and they had $10 meals. We had roastpork, with crackling, apple sauce and wonderfully roasted vegetables. A wonderful meal all round.

A lovely day in beautiful weather.

Australia, Hobart, Hotel Soho, Mawson's Hut, Mt Wellington, Salamanca Markets, Tasmania

Hobart, Salamanca Market, Mawson’s Hut, Mt Wellington, Lunch.

May 21, 2016 leakygreens Leave a comment

As we were preparing to get organised to leave this morning I heard a bird trilling outside our window. No idea what it is yet, but I will find out. But it was very insistent as if it expected me to do something for it. It hopped and squawked for quite a few minutes, so I was able to video it and take some pictures. Here it is.

A lovely noisy visitor on our windowsill this morning.

So once it had flown away, we ventured outside to yet another cool and crisp day but absolutely beautiful. Bright sun and no clouds and a little wind. We parked near Elizabeth Pier and walked over to Salamanca Markets and revelled in the colour, smells and variety.

Some stands were lucky to have trees to hang their wares, and the wood carvers have spent a lot of time on Huon Pine as evidenced below with the rolling pins in the second last pic from the markets.

Salamanca Markets are great fun. There are some very clever people in the world who can make and grow some amazing things.

After about an hour of wandering and knowing we can’t take most of it home, we went back towards Elizabeth Pier and I took some photos of some buildings and we found our way to the Mawson’s huts replica exhibition.

The interior of the two huts which were joined together.

I have no idea how they survived in the conditions they lived in. A very interesting and ‘worth a look’ exhibition. Bit sad though due to the loss of dogs and men’s lives but an amazing period in history. They were true survivors.

We then had a cuppa and I wandered around the dock and took too many pics. But that will be in my next post, otherwise this will go on and on forever.

Australia, Hobart, Tasmania

North Hobart and a lazy day.

May 20, 2016 leakygreens Leave a comment

Today we went to drop off one of our team to her friends in Battery Point. From there we went to North Adelaide to the State Theatre. It was built in 1913 and there was another building across the road built in 1915. Lovely area. We had coffee and chat with a friend of mine I used to work with who lives in Tassie – it was lovely to catch up. I love our friendship, it falls into the ‘low maintenance’ category, which means it does not matter how long between visits – we just catch up and continue on. Beautiful. Worthwhile 🙂

After we found our car in a drizzly street we went food shopping for the next few days and then home. Nice to just veg at home sometimes. Ahhhh.

We have really enjoyed Tassie this time – more than last Te and we enjoyed it then. We wandered around the streets of North Hobart for a little bit and the architecture was wonderful, buildings built in the early 20th century. Really interesting some of them. More tomorrow.

Australia, Ross, Tasmania

Oatlands, Ross, Lake Leake and return – 224 kms

May 20, 2016 leakygreens 2 Comments

Took our time getting going, cos we can and headed north towards Oatlands, where there was a pancake shop and a renowned pie shop. The pie shop was not as fabulous as we had hoped. The chicken curry pie had wonderful pastry but the contents weren’t what they could have been.

On we went, a few kms further north, to Ross. There is a famous bridge there too, the third oldest bridge in Australia. Two stonemasons, who were convicts worked on the bridge and when it was completed they were pardoned. Awww.

We had a great day just pottering and we happened upon Lake Leake on the map and of course had to go there.

We needed to start heading back so we stopped here and there and enjoyed the scenery.

Australia, Hobart, Margate, Tasmania

Back from Bruny Island

May 20, 2016 leakygreens 2 Comments

Lunch was wonderful and the drive back beautiful, in spite of all of us being on semi-high alert on the bush road.

We drove back through some lovely areas and saw a train parked on the highway complete with a steam engine. It was in Margate. There were pancakes, coffee and at the end of the train very reasonably priced second hand furniture and knick knacks. Some of it was really beautiful and the chandeliers were to die for!!!

Australia, Bruny Island, Hobart, Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania

Bruny Island and surrounds.

May 18, 2016 leakygreens Leave a comment

We left home nice and early today to get to the 10 o’clock ferry to Bruny Island. It took almost an hour to drive there but the journey was not difficult. We drove through beautiful country and enjoyed every minute of it. We got to Kettering about 15 minutes early , so bought a coffee each and a tea for me from the cafe at the ferry entry. Waiting in line we did get to see Norman Coburn – “Donald Fisher” from Home and Away fame, who currently lives on Bruny Island with his wife Tina.

Once we had arrived on Bruny Island we went on a lovely drive along the main route around Bruny Island and we made our way to Adventure Bay on the south west coast and we stopped at Penguin Cafe which faced the coast. It was here that we had morning tea, in a very cosy and comfortable coffee shop.

After our morning tea and a decent wander on the beach, the sand is pristine and it is hard and wet underfoot. Birds’ footprints, shells and wave prints covered the surface of the sand. We walked for some time with me taking photos of water, birds and landscapes. It was then time to return to the car parked at the #Penguin_Cafe to drive through the Mt Mangana Forest Reserve. The road was designated 4WD but it looked OK and we decided we could turn back if it got’ iffy’. It was 9 kms at about 40kms an hour or less, through magnificent forest. It was just beautiful, fresh and tropical in parts with tree ferns along the edge of the road. The straight eucalypts towered above us as we drove. Sun was filtered onto the road and flashed in our eyes as we rounded the corners. The clay under the tyres crunched but was moist and sticky. It was sheer good fortune that there were no cars coming the other way. It was a tense drive with all six eyes on the road for the entire drive. When we finally popped out at the other end we were just a few minutes from our lunch venue.

The road through Mt Mangana Forest Reserve

Next stop was the winery for lunch and our waitress recommended the day’s special, braised lamb leg with Polenta with cauliflower, beans, cherry tomatoes, with a red wine jus. It really was beautiful.

Australia, Old Hobart Town, Oldest bridge, Richmond, Tasmania

Tasmania, wineries, scenery.

May 18, 2016 leakygreens 1 Comment

Today was great fun. It started early, by western time standards, we left around 7:00wst/9:00. Headed straight to Richmond. We had been there before and it was again, lovely. The weather was crisp but not unpleasant. I have better and warmer clothes and so was able to meander around without worrying about finding somewhere warm to hide. First stop was the wonderful bridge. The oldest in Australia.

Bakery – Richmond

Outside the Bakery, Richmond

We wandered around the main street and found our way to the The Bakery, Bridge Street, Richmond. There was a beautiful tree in the courtyard and we decided to sit in the sun out the front, to have our vanilla slice, and date scone with jam and cream. After that we separated and I wandered off to take photos around the town.

Smoke from a very old chimney

Beautiful stonework

An Stone on the footpath

Original stone building

Store with modern addition of alarm light

Bridge Street, Richmond

Bridge St, Richmond

As I perambulated along Bridge Street, I happened upon a place where a model of Old Hobart Town, depicting life in Hobart in the 1820’s, is situated. It was fantastic to see. I have always enjoyed model anythings, really, and this one has running water and bonsai trees growing next to realistic model buildings. Very cool.

The next stop was lunch just down the road at the Frogmore Winery. Indoors was warm and interesting. Lots of kitchen knick knacks and produce in jars. The restaurant sat beside a bocce pitch with vines behind, and in the background, hills and fluffy clouds.

Lunch was lovely, with pulled pork slider, Cappaccio beef with aioli and salt and flowers, A Tempura squid with honey and a garlic aioli.

After lunch we went hunting for a cheese factory we had seen on the way past called the Wicked Cheese Factory. Saw some of the workers in the maturing room and the packing room.

After the cheese, we went for a drive around the Derwent River, to Glenorchy and found a shopping centre. Bought some pyjama pants because I forgot to pack any!!!

Australia, Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania

Off to Tasmania !!

May 13, 2016 leakygreens Leave a comment

This is the image of our resort where we are staying for 6 nights.

Hope you are ready for our little trip to the southern island of Australia. We are flying into Hobart early afternoon on Monday and then the adventure begins anew.

Travellers, Not Tourists – my time and travels around the world and in my own backyard!