Strahan – Macquarie Harbour & Hells Gates

Boarding the Lady Jane Franklin II for a 6 hour cruise by Gordon River Cruises – leaving Strahan wharf and heading out along Long Bay, into Macquarie Harbour to Hells Gates, which is the stretch of water between Macquarie Heads out to the Indian Ocean. Left at 8:30am, dull and rainy – so many changes during the day from overcast, misty, rainy, to all shades of grey and blue in the sky, and greens in the forests, to deep shadows in the rainforest to brilliant sunshine, so lots of contrasts in the photos.

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18th April, 2018

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Strahan – “The Ship That Never Was” Play

Went to a play at the Richard Davey Amphitheatre in Strahan, the play is called “The Ship that Never Was” (written and directed by Tasmanian playwright, Richard Davey), put on by “The Round Earth Company”, the longest running play in Australia, which was celebrating their 25th year in Strahan. The theatre is located on the right side of the Strahan Visitor Centre (where you can purchase your tickets). Everyone turned up in their winter woollies (jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, etc), and as you come through the entrance, there are piles of blankets, so you just grab one and take a seat. As we entered, they were still rolling back huge tarpaulins that were covering the seats. We sat down, looked at the stage, looked at each other, frowned, and said what have we got ourselves into.

The play tells the dramatic, and hilarious, true story of the Great Escape from Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour. Brilliantly done, there’s only two members of the troupe performing nightly, they sing, tell the tale of the characters and events, at the same time as changing the set into a ship (very clever). The show encourages the audience’s participation with playing certain roles (all you have to do is recite a specific word or phrase on cue – which adds to the humour). If there are children in the audience, they too are called upon to “go on stage” and play a little role (hold a sword, jump up and down, move from here to there etc) – all so wonderfully done, the play was so well received by the entire audience – we had a great time, well worth attending.

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Found a great spot in Strahan for coffee and a quick bite for lunch, the Coffee Shack. We also had excellent meals at the Ragatta Point Tavern.

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From Strahan to Zeehan is approx 50kms, along Henty Road – some roadside scenery from our day’s travels, lovely forests and mountains (of course), so green……

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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17th April, 2018

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Strahan – Macquarie Heads

Looks like it’s pouring in Strahan, looking back towards town, can hardly see the mountains. Lovely scenery looking east as we head towards Swan Basin, with numerous little islands and even blue skies. Even a small stretch of sealed road along the dirt road, for all of about 2kms, then back on the dirt road (very odd). Through beautiful forests, to Macquarie Heads. Parked in the car parking area in the Caravan Park. Noted a caravan sitting in a lake of water – poor loves, when they first parked there, obviously it was dry, but they have had so much rain throughout the region. The owners would have woken up to a not so pleasant surprise, having to wade through the water when exiting the van. Walked up a little track in the sand towards the water, down the other side to view Macquarie Harbour, with Bonnet Island and it’s lighthouse across the water from us. Wind picking up, sky getting dark and it’s starting to rain again – time to head back to Strahan.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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15th April, 2018

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Strahan – West Coast Wilderness Railway

The West Coast Wilderness Railway is very much a tourist attraction, but we loved it. A reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point, Strahan. Wonderful working engine, and beautifully restored carriages – a great journey, that shakes, rattles and rolls (as evident in many of the photos). Shame it rained so heavily all day – didn’t dampen our spirits though, such a great day.

-Full day steam train journey, travelling the entire West Coast Wilderness Railway line.
-Enjoy views of Macquarie Harbour as you travel along the foreshore from Regatta Point Station.
-Journey deep into western Tasmania’s cool temperate rainforest.
-Travel alongside the King River to Teepookana, once the fourth busiest port in Tasmania.
-Cross historic bridges, including Iron Bridge, and see the remains of the 244-metre trestle bridge at Quarter Mile.
-Experience the only operating Abt rack and pinion section in the Southern Hemisphere.
-Take a short walk in the rainforest at Dubbil Barril.
-Visit historic stations along the line, including Lower Landing, Rinadeena, Dubbil Barril and Queenstown.
-Watch the locomotive being turned at Queenstown Station.
-90-minute lunch stopover in Queenstown, including a walking tour of the town.
-Live on-board commentary.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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14th April, 2018

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Queenstown – Nelson Falls

Continuing along the Nelson Falls Track, in the Princess River Conservation Area near Queenstown, to view where the Nelson River spills over the mountain top – a beautiful waterfall, a magnificent sight. See also the Nelson Falls Track.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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12th April, 2018

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Queenstown – Nelson Falls Track

Heading towards Nelson Falls, in the Princess River Conservation Area near Queenstown, one of the most beautiful rainforests we have seen on our Tassie travels, the Nelson Falls Track. And the fact that it’s raining, the colours seem so much richer and the trees and plants look wonderful drenched in the water. So many different colours and types of the fungi. The little river is the Nelson River. I never tire of Mother Nature’s incredible achievements. See also the Nelson Falls.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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12th April, 2018

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Lake St Clair

Goodbye Maydena – north, then west, to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park to have a look at Lake St Clair (oddly enough in the suburb of Lake St Clair). Stopped in at their Visitor Centre, quite interesting with it’s hologram display of the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger, now extinct). Some lunch (great soup) at the Lake St Clair Lodge,  and then a walk down to the lake. You guessed it, still raining. Don’t think we are seeing the Lake at it’s best. Across the Lake, way off in the distance, is an unusual looking building – it’s Pumphouse Point, two industrial buildings which have been transformed into a retreat.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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12th April, 2018

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Southwest – Edgar Dam

We have been out to Gordon Dam, so heading back down that way again, to see Edgar Dam in the suburb of Southwest, in the Southwest National Park, more than 60kms south of Maydena. Edgar Dam is at the southern end of Lake Pedder, with Edgar Pond south of the dam wall. Heading down Gordon River Road again, but hang a left down Scotts Peak Road. Travelling through this area, makes you very aware, there is no-one out here. No homes, haven’t seen any other vehicles – if you have car problems, it’s really going to be a problem, there is no mobile phone coverage. Thinking positive …….. It’s an awful long walk back to civilisation. True Tasmanian wilderness.

Roadside Scenery: As we drive down the dirt road, which surprisingly, is in good condition, note there are so many apiaries, at the side of the road. And Mother Nature has put on an amazing display of mist/fog over the mountains, so stop for a look. As soon as we get out of the car, bumble bees show up, not an issue, just a little annoying – wonder if the heat of the car draws them.

We live on the east coast of Australia, so seeing all this mist is quite the novelty for us, never lasts long around our area – I’m rather fascinated by it. Just standing there, you can watch it move, change shape, the density changes, as it rolls over the mountains – seems to have it’s own life-force, it’s beautiful.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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11th April, 2018

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National Park – Forest Secrets

Forest Secrets is in the suburb of National Park (unusual name for a suburb), is a sensory trail/750 metre long nature walk (graded easy). If you wish, you can purchase the Forest Flavours Tucker-box, to taste the forest as you wander along the track (gave us a chuckle, quite the novelty). As you walk along the track, you can learn about the different plants and tree species. At the time of our visit there were sculptures along the trail. We were even lucky enough to spot a platypus in the river. And it’s raining again….

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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8th April, 2018

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Hobart Bypass

Continuing on from Grove to Hobart – wow, the mist is so low to the ground. You can still see the top of Mount Wellington though. Through Hobart, then along Brooker Highway, west to New Norfolk. Unfortunately there is no quick way through the mountains from Geeveston to our night’s stay in Maydena. We have been informed by the owners of The Giants Table and Cottages, that there are no supermarkets in Maydena, best to purchase some supplies in New Norfolk.

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It’s raining again, we know a song about that….

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8th April, 2018

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