Based in Hobart for a week

I am turning the blog over to Lorna for almost all of this page, I am just editing and adding a few photos.

Over to Lorna.  

I have been challenged that "Ní leor teanga amháin,"

Céad míle fáilte, an bhfuil Gaeilge agaibh?  It took research to translate Monty Python from the original Hungarian into "Tá m'árthach foluaineach lán d'eascanna".  

Roger planned ahead for our first dinner in Hobart.  He researched using TripAdvisor, found somewhere with good reviews and booked dinner at the nearest local eatery for our first night in Hobart at 'The Drunken Admiral'.  The best thing that can be said about his choice is that it was downstairs and it had a good name.  Turns out the only way any Admiral would eat there is if he was drunk.  Roger says, "When I logged to post our review on TripAdvisor I found the reviews that had been posted recently were far less positive.  Lesson check again nearer the time to your booking, hostelries sometime quickly lose their way."

Saturday dawned, cold but at least no early rain so I took the opportunity to visit the Salamanca Markets.  Wandering around the stalls selling craftwork is not  Roger's thing, he stuck with me through the food section of the market and then returned to the apartment and his book after our early walk.  It was a great arrangement, markets like this are  right up my street, I perused at leisure, dithered about purchases, dismissed anything that was not Tasmanian and generally had a ball.  

We dined well this night at Peacock and Jones – a much better choice.

Sunday – it rained and we read our books.  Rained was not sufficient to describe it – I went to the farm gate markets and got thoroughly soaked before I saw sense.

Monday was Mona or the Museum of Old and New Art in Berriedale.  We could have spent all day here but didn’t.    By lunchtime we were on overload and had sore feet.  If you have been here you know what I mean, if you haven’t then nothing I put here will describe it adequately.

Tuesday and it must be Bruny Island, the forecast for the next few days was dry so we drove to Kettering and took the ferry over to the Island.  My research said that you could do some mad speed boating trip to look at the coastline or tours that covered all the various eateries.  We chose the latter but did it under our own steam.  After the ferry crossing we went off the main drag to Dennes Point and were rewarded with some spectacular views and the bonus of being out of the main tourist route.  Bruny Island is helpfully set up as a travelling lunch destination.  First place you encounter is the Oyster farm (starter), next we came to the cheese company (cheese platter with the trimmings) and then you have to make the decision to turn Right (berry farm) or left (chocolate factory) for dessert.  On the way back to the ferry we stopped at Truganini Lookout, walking up about 250 steps (yes I counted) in gale force winds for the spectacular views of the Neck and both islands worked off some of those epicurean calories.

Wednesday, an early start and headed for Port Arthur.  This is one of those places with something for everyone, the start of the day in the visitors centre where you follow your “criminal or guards fate” to the old penitentiary and historic buildings and ruins that look like them came out of a film set. 

On the way back to Hobart we stopped at Eagle Hawk Neck and had a look at Pirate Bay Lookout.  We are becoming blasé about views.  A stopover at Dunalley Fish market on the way home had Roger reliving his youth, we bought a piece of fresh but not wild salmon that according to the owner had been swimming that morning. We were a bit surprised when we heard at Strahan that the farmed salmon are fed grey pellets and have to be dosed to get to be the right colour.  It is obviously true; our dinner was from a tiny fish farm that hasn't  quite got the amount of carrot based dye  right but it turns out really fresh grey salmon is absolutely delicious despite its unnatural appearance.

Thursday, Melaleuca or bust.  The early start and the promise of flying in a small plane meant we went light on breakfast.  A good decision as it turns out.  The crowd of 13 on the tour filled the two small aircraft.  On the way out we were lucky and got the best seats on the plane  (other than the pilots) up front.  The flight was along the southern coastline following the south coast walking track.  Brilliant sunshine, windy and fabulous all at the same time.

Melaleuca has a couple of huts, a bird watching facility which is focused on the orange bellied parrot and an airstrip.  We were lucky enough to see some of the wild parrots land and eat at their feeding station, there are only about 36 pairs left in the wild.

On to the boating adventure, up the Melaleuca Inlet to Bathurst Harbour.  It was too rough to venture further and go onto Port Davey.  

Lunch was at Clyde Clayton's cottage – a picturesque sounding place but in reality, a settlers cottage which had been abandoned decades ago and now maintained in its original condition by Parks and Wildlife. There were some good but challenging walks and a long drop toilet (without a door).

On return to Melaleuca we did the Needwonnee Walk.

Then back to the plane for the exciting return journey to Cambridge Airport across the National Park and over Mount Wellington.  

For this journey we had been usurped in our prime seats and delegated to the back of the plane – probably fair in the scheme of things but an uncomfortable trip in the bouncy seats.  It was made more exciting by the wind which bumped us around ceiling to floor. However we got back wiunused sick bags and considered the day well worth the discomfort.

Friday was another day spent doing tourist things in Hobart, walk to Battery Point, enjoying the heritage architecture, a couple of stops around Salamanca Place, to buy a very nice cardigan and then to the WurstHaus where Roger bought bilton, sausison sec and other delicacies.  Then time to supermarket shop for supplies for the next few days back in the wilderness.