HAPPY, COLD, TRAMPING AND HOVERING



Happy Anniversary Darling!


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY


Just before I get into this new lot of blogs, a quick one to say that we celebrated our first anniversary on the 1st May – like the wedding it was a very low key celebration as we tend to remember the 21st Oct (the day we reconnected ) as our main annual ‘togetherness’ celebration. We were still at New Norfolk and decided to go up to Salmon Ponds for lunch. We discovered that to just go through the gates they wanted $8 and then they wanted you to purchase bags of fish food for another $2 each. If you wanted to eat there, they were happy to serve you pancakes. The woman we spoke to, on the front desk, was I’m sorry to say, one of those rare Tasmanians who had zero personality. She was unfriendly and curt. Needless to say, we did not stay for lunch. The place was quite pretty and presented some lovely photo opportunities; one of which caught the lad out in a very peculiar light indeed. What do you think?

We took a quick stroll around the ponds and then drove back into New Norfolk and had a pleasant and well priced lunch at the local pub. As I said, it was not glamorous but it was fine. A very pleasant experience made perfect by the perfect husband. Steph.

Stunning Archway

COLD AT COCKLE CREEK

Almost the Edge of the World

Well, it’s happened – yesterday DD informed me that he thinks he is “all Tasmania’d out”! Mind you the poor lad had a flu jab the day before and was feeling just a tad offish – you know these men! Perhaps we are not fed up with the place yet, but we are probably starting to become just ever so slightly accustomed to the incredible beauty here and some of the ‘wow’ factor is wearing off.

Personally, I am still loving the place even tho’ I have discovered that I am not quite so in love with cold weather as I had thought. There is cold and there is cold – Heaven knows what it will be like in the actual winter time. I think this is at the back of DD’s mind too. People have been telling us, and it is confirmed on the Weather each night, that Launceston is colder than Hobart and there has been talk of black ice on the roads. I think our lad is quite rightly concerned about towing the van in those sorts of conditions. Of course, when it comes down to it, if there is black ice due to extreme cold, then we will be staying put until it is safe.

We are right in the middle of our house sitting stint and very much enjoying being here in a real house with a real fire and with real pets – all quite surreal for us after 3 ½ years living in the caravan. Neither of us feels that we are ready to do this full time yet however, and will be pleased at the end of the day to hit the road once again.

Lonely Beach At Cockle Creek

Not Snow, it just Felt Like It.

While here in Kingston we are well situated to explore the Huon Valley and surrounds. We have been as far south and west as roads in Tassie allow and have visited the end of the earth – a tiny little hamlet called Cockle Creek, population 3! This is as far south as you can travel in Australia by road. The day we elected to go for this 100k plus drive was not the best weather-wise but the scenery along the way was nonetheless still stunning. Due to the poor weather we didn’t stop along the way to do a great deal of exploring – we had thought to take the little train trip along the way at Ida Bay but it was not operating that day. We are going to strike this more and more it seems as tourism operators in Tasmania often determine that their season is over at the end of April and either close their doors or dramatically reduce services until later in the year. Perhaps it is time to head north.

We drove south through Dover, Strathblane, Southport and Lune River. Most of these places were minuscule but picturesque. Dover was a slightly larger settlement and just picture postcard perfect. Despite the beauty there is not a great deal of reason to go all the way down to Cockle Creek except to say that you have done the trip. We are glad we went.

Reflections on the Huon

TRAMPING AT TAHUNE

Mysterious

One of the ‘must do’ things we wanted to do whilst at Kingston, was the Tahune Air Walk – this is, for the West Aussies, much like the Valley of the Giants out of Denmark, except on a much larger scale. A massive steel structure spans immense areas allowing you to walk amongst the tree tops. The area is essentially the eastern most point of the western wilderness and the forest is temperate rain forest. The most prominent trees there are the enormous Stringy Barks which reach up into the rarefied air trying to touch the very Heavens. The day we were there, despite a good forecast, the weather proved dank, damp and misty –not uncommon at this time of the year it seems. The mist, we now know, often does not clear there until around midday. Due to the eerie vapours wafting and drifting around us, it appeared that the trees succeeded that day, in actually touching those moisture laden skies.

The drive there was quite something, back into rain forest again, steep winding roads and visibility almost zero thanks to the heavy mists clinging to the deep valleys. The whole effect was quite surreal and not a little scary, particularly when we came grill to grill with a large timber truck travelling very fast, the opposite way, in the middle of the narrow road! We barely had time to scuttle across to the gravel to allow him passage. I did wish I had managed to get a photo of him so that I could report his very dangerous driving, but it was all over before I had time to think. I do tend to become incensed with stupid and irresponsible drivers like this who not only endanger their own lives, but take it upon themselves to risk the lives of strangers as well. Oh well.

How Many More Steps

When we arrived we had a chat to the super friendly lass behind the counter and she advised there were two avenues open to us – we could either drive the car up to the entrance to the air-walk (a good option for a fat old woman with a crook knee) or we could take the 120 or so steps up to the entrance. Now, I’m sure you all understand stupid pride – I couldn’t suggest the car ride as that would be wimpy – I rely on my knight in tarnished armour to recommend that sort of gentle option for his faded rose, BUT NO!!!!!!!!!! “Oh, I think we should walk it” he says grandly. Oh great, now I have no option but to agree, or look a wimp. So off we trudged. 120 steps, at least............. By the time I had hit say no 10 I knew it was going to hurt really badly. By no 20, I wanted to hurt him really badly. By no 50 I was worrying about whether or not my will was in order – by the time we reached the summit I had it sussed. The rotter wants me dead................I was on to his dastardly plan – trouble is I thought he was going to succeed. In the end, I am of course, very pleased that we walked, the bush was exceptional and we saw so much that we would otherwise have missed. It was my plan, after all to do these walks while we are here, but what I hadn’t planned was to put on even more fat layers and become even less fit. Oh reality really hurts when you come face to face with it. There was no hiding from the facts on that climb.

Touching The Skies

Anyway, I digress – once on the actual walk we strolled along (if one can stroll on a steel and wire structure high above the trees – one that shudders and shakes with every step taken) through the canopy. The walk is quite a long one and on a sunny day I believe the views are exceptional – we do have photos of their photos! We were not sorry about the mist however as it created a special ambiance of mystery and dark beauty. The effects would have fitted very well into any Harry Potter story.

A Precarious Pathway

After the air walk we took the Huon Pine walk (I was not going to give in) and that was particularly pretty and informative. We had of course already heard a great deal about the Huon Pine trees, but it was still interesting and very well signed along the way.

We stopped for a really good coffee and a shared piece of cake after our walk (we had earned it, we had earned it!) Needless to say by the time we left, the sun was out and the mist has burnt off – Que!!

Almost There

We drove back to Kingston pleased with our adventure and happy to recommend the experience to others. I will personally always love the Tingle Trees at home the best as they are just so wonderful, as are our native Karri, but these giants are also wonderful and well worth your attention.


Amongst the Tree Tops



HOVERING AT THE HUON



Glorious

 When we travelled out to do the Air Walk and to Cockle Creek we had to drive through the amazing Huon Valley. I have to say that so far, this is my favourite part of Tasmania. DD keeps telling me how much like England it is, and whilst I have no personal point of comparison, certainly it lives up to my story book image of Britain. Tiny villages set into lush green pastures, and nestled up against the banks of the incredibly beautiful Huon River. At this time of the year, the fields are hazed with gold and glorious luminescent crimson. Alpacas, woolly sheep and black and white Saddle Back cattle graze placidly along the way.


Still Glorious


The Huon River has to be the most picturesque I have ever seen. The ever present Button Grass stains the water to a golden honey colour and the dark waters present perfect reflecting conditions. Whole mountains reflect in their entirety along with trees, houses and boats. Boats! Tasmania apart from being an island has an absolute abundance of waterways – doubtless due to this, boats, particularly yachts and sailing boats abound. The photo-opportunities along the way for sailing boats perfectly reflected in the silky still waters were endless.

What Can I Say

We took advantage of a Huon River Cruise  (Franklin Eco Tours) – a delightful experience – 2 hours spent drinking good brewed coffee, nibbling elegant culinary treats and soaking in the abundant beauty of the river and surrounds. My camera was quite worn out! The boat cruise cost $65 and was perhaps a tad overpriced but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would certainly recommend it to other like minded beauty hounds. For those interested, the boat leaves daily at 2.00 pm from the pretty little village of Franklin. If I were to live in Tassie, I would want to live in Franklin. The town is historically significant and is just soooooooo very pretty. It is everything I could possible want and almost every home has water views. Hmmm, now how do I convince DD – the prices are right there as well, properties starting in the low $200,000s. In WA you would be looking at somewhere around a cool mill just for the land!

Words Superfluous

Oh well, I can dream – I doubt I will be able to convince the lad to move this far south. Until next time, hold on to your dreams – Stephanie.