Dear Family and Friends,
We have been traveling in some beautiful and remote locations where wifi is either absent or spotty & I have not been able to make posts.
Preceding this post is multiple days, and I believe they post in descending order with the most recent date first so you will need to scroll down (or click "older posts") and begin with "Last Day in Queensland" to view them in order if you have been following along.
Thank you so much for taking part and being a part of our family story.
Much love,
Kelly
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Cradle Mountain
Monday, May 25
The Lemonthyme property is marketed as a retreat in the wilderness- it lies about 40 minutes from Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park and the owners have cut multiple beautiful bush trails for guests to enjoy, I believe so that once you arrive there is no need to leave...
This morning we walked along some of the shorter routes at Lemonthyme and then headed to Cradle Mountain. We had lakes and devils to see!
The Lemonthyme property is marketed as a retreat in the wilderness- it lies about 40 minutes from Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park and the owners have cut multiple beautiful bush trails for guests to enjoy, I believe so that once you arrive there is no need to leave...
This morning we walked along some of the shorter routes at Lemonthyme and then headed to Cradle Mountain. We had lakes and devils to see!
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| Our cabin |
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| Big Tree Trail |
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| Big Tree indeed! |
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| Good place for a picnic |
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| Cradle Mountain Dove Lake |
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| Panorama of the Dove Lake Circuit we treked the 6K around the lake! |
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| But not before enjoying some hot chocolate for energy! |
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| Note Nash & I on the walkway- Ross had already moved ahead |
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| Our first view of a wombat in the wild! |
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| The endangered carnivorous marsupial- the Tasmanian Devil Doesn't he look cute? |
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| We went to the Devils @Cradle after dark feeding... photos do not do justice...it is the noise that is so haunting... |
Gordon River Cruise & Lemonthyme Lodge
Sunday, May 24
Today was an all day cruise from Macquarie harbor out to and along the peaceful Gordon river. Today we learned much about the convict history of Tasmania and the rare Huon Pine.
Today was an all day cruise from Macquarie harbor out to and along the peaceful Gordon river. Today we learned much about the convict history of Tasmania and the rare Huon Pine.
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| Set to sail- |
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| Hell's Gate- this very narrow and shallow entry into the harbor was treacherous for seaman but got it's name from the convicts who passed through fearing they would never see loved ones again |
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| The Captain is happy to show the boys how things work |
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| Atlantic Salmon farming |
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| Feeding the fish |
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| The boys decided this was the best view! |
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| Sarah Island Historic Site- Tasmania's oldest convict settlement |
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| "Disco Dave"- our guide who made history come alive! |
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| Huon Pine Forest- this rare timber unique to Tasmania was used for ship building because early colonists found that after lying in water for years the wood did not decompose. The felling of these trees stopped in the 1970's. |
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| Oldest boy looking out to where he is going... |
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| Youngest boy reflecting on where he has been... True to their personalities! |
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| Morrison's Huon Pine Sawmill-over 100 years old & run by seven generations of the same family |
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| Lemon thyme Lodge- just in time for dinner ****Notice the lady in the background above Matt's shoulder-she had a very special surprise for us**** |
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| After dinner for the 2-legged creatures, the boys feed the 4-legged ones! |
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| Pademelons and the possum Clyde came for dinner |
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| SURPRISE!!! A four month old rescued baby wombat **Please ask us to tell you the full story when we get home- truly once in a lifetime & I will say... "only in Tassie" |
From Salamanca to Strahan
Saturday, May 23
Today we leave Hobart for the Strahan (pronounced "strawn"). It is Matt's first opportunity to drive on the opposite side of the road with the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car! His only real worry is the animals that come out to the road at dusk... we have seen wallabies, pademelons & possums who didn't make it across the road.
Matt & I visited Salamanca Market on the walk to pick up our car & as a family we made several beautiful stops along the way on our 4-hour journey to the opposite side of the state.
Today we leave Hobart for the Strahan (pronounced "strawn"). It is Matt's first opportunity to drive on the opposite side of the road with the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car! His only real worry is the animals that come out to the road at dusk... we have seen wallabies, pademelons & possums who didn't make it across the road.
Matt & I visited Salamanca Market on the walk to pick up our car & as a family we made several beautiful stops along the way on our 4-hour journey to the opposite side of the state.
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| Morning view from our bedroom window |
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| The Harbor and Mt. Wellington with fewer clouds than on our bike riding day |
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| Ready for fishing |
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| Salamanca Market |
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| Enjoying a wallaby burrito for breakfast |
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| Ready to give it a go! |
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| First stop: The Wall in the Wilderness- a local wood sculpter blessed Tasmania's Central Highlands with a larger than life 100-panel display of the history of the community (no photos allowed inside) |
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| Our first of the "60 Great Short Walks of Tasmania" - The Franklin River Nature Trail |
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| This river flows into the Gordon river which is on our itinerary to cruise |
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| Seond "60 Great Short Walk" |
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| Nelson Falls... it hardly looks real... all the bright green moss covering the stones... beautiful! |
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| On down the road... |
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| Iron Blow Lookout- we had great fun trying to throw rocks into the pool in the cavern left by mining |
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| Ormiston House- our lovely B&B for one night. From this widow's peak you had a great view of the port |
Bruny Island
Friday, May 22
Today we headed to Bruny Island National Park for a 3-hour adventure boat cruise on the Tasman Sea to where it meets the Southern Ocean. We had no idea what was ahead of us...adventure indeed!
Today we headed to Bruny Island National Park for a 3-hour adventure boat cruise on the Tasman Sea to where it meets the Southern Ocean. We had no idea what was ahead of us...adventure indeed!
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| Ferry over to Bruny Island |
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| Grazing sheep |
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| The Tasman Sea |
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| Beginning of the cruise- we thought we were "all rugged up" in our "jumpers" (coats) & "beanies" (hats) but more layers were to come... |
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| Lunch time for these birds- |
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| Our sister boat- we were on one that looks just like it |
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| Breathing Rock- None of the 4 of us had ever seen this before...it was truly amazing |
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| The hole in the rock would suck in the water... |
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| ...and "breath" it out... We could have watched this phenomenon for "hours" |
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| Sea birds |
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| Past these rocks there is no other land mass until you reach Antartica! |
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| Seals- being a permanent residence for these seals, passing by here was most unpleasant to the nose! |
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| The rolling ocean... (and my rolling stomach) |
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| Slightly different posturing from the start of the trip! |
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| Back on shore, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local winery- |
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