Back north

We headed north again, off to visit friends in Devonport on Tasmania's north coast


We stopped a few times on the way, once when we saw this windmill (still works)






And this family of wooden wombats, can you see the non-wooden one at the back?










We reached Devonport for a look around and did some geocaching before meeting our friends. Geocaches are found in all sorts of interesting locations.

We found two near some sculptures


One near this sculpture of Neptune (god of the sea)


It was a very good scuplture. You can see Bass Strait in the background






and we found another cache near this sculpture






Which apparently was non popular with the good people of Devonport and was exiled to this location.



A big day today and a long drive..... time to relax and plan the next day

More soon...

Straight down across the strait

We crossed Bass Strait in time-honoured fashion (in a Boeing 737) and landed in Hobart

Capital of the State of Tasmania.

After hiring a car we decided that lunch in the Royal Hobart Botanic Gardens would be a great idea.





The gardens overlook the Derwent river but are known around the country as the location of "Petes Patch" which is an organic vegetable garden featured on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) show "Gardening Australia"

Peter Cundall presented the show until recently and was most often seen tending to the garden seen below.









Of couse Pete had some help.... Can you see his assistant Wombat above ?









The patch was full of interesting crops when we visited.









After lunch we headed up to Mount Wellington. There was a gentle gale blowing at the top and I had to hold on tight to avoid being blown off the mountain.










There were snow drifts.... wombats prefer to be indoors if it snows.

The view over Hobart was amazing even if it was cold. Time to head back down the mountain



A visit to "Cadbury World" revealed that in addition to chocolate they also sell large wombats.

Very impressive.





More Soon.

Melbourne Daze

Breakfast with friends to start the day.
Here is wallaby and possum and I sharing breakfast, a big day for me ahead.










First up a trip to Melbourne Gaol. This is a foboding place, turned into a museum now. This is where Ned Kelly was hung.... the gallows are still there! Creepy place a night I expect





Each cell has a display with the history of the Gaol and the prisoners

The prisoners would sleep on a thin matress on the stone floor. Winter must have been particularly enjoyable !



After escaping from Gaol, one of us enjoyed the view though the windoes of one of the many cake shops to be found the hidden shopping alleyways of Melbourne










Then on to this: The Shot Tower. Encased in its own protective glass skylight the tower was used to make shot (by dropping molten metal from a height)


This particular location was used in the movie "Mr Nice Guy" starring Jackie Chan.

We know this because we researched it...... but we can't tell you why !


We are off to Tasmania now... I wonder what the weather will be like ?

Off to Melbourne

Melbourne has so many famous landmarks....
The Flinders Street Clocks










The Yarra River









Here is another view









The GIANT wombat.....?????









Despite Melbourne's reputation for changeable weather the days were quite warm and dry.










The Zoo was interesting as well, with Lions









And baby elephants!









and of course Wombats.... everyone wanted to see them.

More Soon

Wombats wake up !

Its Spring ! and traditionally the time Wombats emerge from Hibernation., possibly to find lady wombats or .... go to footy finals or..... go to Melbourne and Tasmania (brrrrrr).



Its warm in Brisbane but I am off down south to see the sights where the weather is still cold.


I may get to visit wallaby while there and see many other interesting things.... I leave tomorrow morning. More soon !!!