Hobart, Tasmania

Thursday, May 21

What a difference a day makes!!!
We knew that going south meant cooler weather & we encountered snow on our first day in Hobart, Tasmania's capital city.  Our introduction consisted of hiking to a bushman's hideout, mountain biking down Mt. Wellington, exploring the Royal Botanical Gardens and a short road trip to the quaint nearby town of Richmond.

The Harbor just in front of our apartment

The cave hideout of escaped convict Rocky Whelan

Heading down Mt. Wellington from the top-
it is wet, foggy & snowy...

The vista once the fog cleared a bit

Nash & Matt decide to take it off road for more of a challenge...

Reached the bottom near the famous Casade Brewery-
we began at the top of the mountain in background!

Continuing our ride through the area of Salamanca market to complete our 22K ride

After lunch we took a slow stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens-
it housed plants from all over the world and had a beautiful display of flora native only to Tasmania

Some of the plants looked as though they belonged on the ocean floor!

We decided that these gardens were probably the most comprehensive and beautifully maintained gardens we have visited.

The now closed zoo which housed the last know Tasmanian tiger

Lovely light on Hobart seen on our drive to Richmond

Hobart panorama

Oldest convict built bridge in Tasmania

The Richmond Gaol (jail)

Last Day in Queensland- Next Up: Tasmania

Tuesday/Wednesday, May 19-20-


Tuesday we took our last excursion of North Queensland up to Cooktown and the surrounds with an overnight in Cairns before making our way down south to the island state of Tasmania or "Tassie" as the locals call it.  Our time on the east coast has certainly given us a new appreciation for the diversity and beauty of God's creation in nature and His people!

Thank you Hamish!

Famous pub open since the time of the miners

Black Mountain-
This is one of the "mountains" formed by huge boulders that color black due to the fungi that grows on them.
There are legendary Aboriginal stories about how they were formed when two brothers were fighting over a woman to marry and lore of lost bushmen who tried to "hideout" in the rocks.

Cooktown- atop Green Hill

Green Hill vista of the Endeavor river

Swinging bridge that school children use to reach the school bus during the Wet season-
WATCH OUT! Crocodiles lurk below!

Cooktown Airport-
It has 1 employee, the ever cheerful Cindy, to check you in, weigh & load your bags & lead you to the tarmac.

That is not a ball, it is a coconut...
The boys came up with their own toss game while waiting-

Our plane- not much bigger than the seaplane from Heron Island!

The pilots of Qantas allowed the boys a sneak peek at the cockpit-
this marked our 5th flight with them on this trip.
Next stop: Tassie!

Rock Art at Laura

Monday, May 18


This day was dedicated to learning more about the indigenous peoples of North Queensland.  We travelled to the little town of Laura (inhabited by only about 60 people) and the Quinkin Centre.  Here, Johnny Ross took us high into the hills of the bush to view Aboriginal rock art.  We then met Yuku-Baja-Muliku rangers committed to saving turtles. & ended the day with a trek in the rainforest at night!!

The landscape changes as we drive along...

Banana plantation

So different from the rainforest...

Walking to the caves 

This bush had many uses for the Aboriginal people...

Ancient drawings with ochre, clay & charcoal-
people would camp in the shelter of the caves during the Wet season and tell their stories through art.
The dingo pictured here is the symbol for Johnny Ross' people.

Digging up the root of this plant to show us what the women used to dye their baskets-

As orange as the boys's shirts!

And the landscape changes again as we drive to the Turtle Rehabilitation Ranger Station

Turtle Rehabilitation Center

Archer Point

**Notice Nash in the upper left corner

Rainbow in the Rainforest

Night Vision Walk!!!

Hamish takes us for a Hike

Sunday, May 17

The Mungumby property has walking/hiking trails, mountain biking treks, a gurgling stream... a nature lover's paradise...
Today Hamish took us on one of his family's favorite trails to a waterfall pool for a swim.  He was so generous to share his knowledge of the history, flora & fauna along the way.

Water jug, snacks & "cozzies" (bathing suits) all packed-
we head out.

Learning about the rainforest from a true bushman

Hamish warned us we would have to be like mountain goats!

An old tank used in the mining of tin-
"The forest reclaims everything."

Strong legs needed!

Yes, he is poisonous

Our swimming pool is at the tip top-
Caution: wet rocks are slippery

Made it!!

Daddy goes in first...

...then with a little coaxing, the brothers follow.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down...
we hiked back to the Lodge and enjoyed games in the gardens until Hamish served us with another fabulous dinner.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY!