From Cradle Mountain through the Western Wilderness on our way to Hobart

A waterfall in the middle of the little town of Warratah

Spectacular Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain in the background

Beautiful Mr Blue Wren

Charlie the lone fisherman reflecting on the many moods of Lake Mackintosh

Cottages in the pretty village of Strahan

Just about to go through The Entrance into Macquarie Harbour - named Hells Gate by the convicts

Part of the Gordon River - World Heritage Area

Huon Pine trees growing along the Gordon River - second oldest tree in the world

Salmon farm on the Gordon River - No Fish Tucker Chuckers to be seen anywhere

The convict island of Sarah Island - referred to as Hell on Earth by convicts

Ruins on Sarah Island

Western Wilderness Railway steam train operating on the Abt railway

Charlie panning for gold during one of the stops

King River Gorge as seen from the train

Ocean Beach at Macquarie Heads

Fresh fish for dinner - well done boys!!!

Audience participation in Australia's longest running play - The Ship That Never Was

Into Queenstown on a dreary rainy day

One of the old buildings in Queenstown which just happens to be a pub - Funny that!!

Me and 'im outside of the Wall in the Wilderness

Banners advertising the Wall in the Wilderness

Woke up to snow one morning - in December!!!!!

Tasmanian tiger statues in Maydena where the last sighting was

Rainforest trees in the Styx Forest Reserve

"Big Tree" in the Styx Forest Reserve - it was cold and I look like the Michelin Man!!!

Us at Russell Falls Mt Field National Park

Tynewald River running through Styx Forest Reserve

Me and Kathy in a hollow rooted tree - Mt Field National Park

Junee Cave - Styx Forest Reserve

Well we've seen more and more beautiful places in this wonderful State.  We left the North West Coast and travelled down to the famous Cradle Mountain where we did the obligatory walk around Dove Lake and another short walk.  It was a hot day - yes it does get very hot in Tassie - so by the time we got back to the caravan we needed a gallon of wine!!!!  Still it was worth it - it was spectacular. 

We then headed off to a free camping spot which we had been told about at Lake Mackintosh where we stayed for 3 nights.  Didn't have the best weather there and Charlie didn't have a lot of success fishing but it was a time of relaxation for us (we are so stressed normally - ha ha!!).  Anyway it was a good stay because we met a lovely couple who live in Tassie, Don and Miffy, so have struck up a friendship with them and have been invited to park our van on their property in Snug when we are down South.  Ended up inviting them into the caravan to have dinner with us as they were in a tent and it was teeming down with rain and so a friendship began.

After Lake Mackintosh we continued heading down the West Coast into Strahan where we stayed for 4 nights.  We did the Gordon River Cruise in the World Heritage Area and it was breathtaking.  We had a guided tour of the old convict island Sarah Island and saw the salmon farms.  We had the most beautiful lunch of salads, cold meats and plenty of smoked salmon - yum!!!  We met a couple, Rob and Kathy, on the boat who we had previously met in Burnie and ended up travelling with them for the next couple of weeks - another lasting friendship I hope.  We also did the great 35 km Western Wilderness Railway train ride from Queenstown to Strahan which travels on the old Abt railway track which is a cog system and allows the train to climb quite steep mountains.  The scenery was fantastic and the train ride very relaxing.  Back in Strahan just before we left to go to Macquarie Heads to beach camp, we saw the longest running play in Australia called The Ship That Never Was.  It was fun and told the story of the attempted escape from Sarah Island on a ship that had never been registered - hence when the escapees were caught they couldn't be charged with stealing the ship because it was never registered!!  The play is presented by 2 women but there is plenty of audience participation.

We then went on to Macquarie Heads with Kathy and Rob and camped there for a few days and the boys went fishing and had some luck.  It was just a lovely relaxing, peaceful time with beautiful weather.

Then we headed over to Queenstown but the weather had turned cold and rainy - we stocked up on groceries as we were heading up to the Great Lake area but there was a bushfire there so couldn't go as the roads and camping grounds were closed so we headed across the Central Highlands to Derwent Bridge.  Here we visited the amazing Wall in the Wilderness which is a wall of sculptures depicting Tasmania's history.  Greg Duncan the sculptor has been doing this for 10 years and it is expected to be finished in about 3 years.  Well worth the visit but unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos.  Stayed that night at Bronte Lagoon and woke up to snow the next morning - this is after having 31 degrees only 3 days before.

Stayed for a couple of nights in Mt. Field National Park and did some lovely walks through rainforests there and saw waterfalls, wildlife, huge trees, amazing rivers - all the things which make up Tasmania, before heading towards Hobart.

We are having the most fantastic time, meeting the friendliest people but for now its Adieu from The Wandering 2s.