Apple of my Isle

Eastern Tasmania and

 home to Narromine for Christmas

December 7 to 27, 2016

Apple of my Isle: A corny headline but we did love Tassie. The weather was mostly kind to us, the scenery amazing and the food fantabulous. 

Where did we leave off? Heading from the west coast to the east.

We had visited Hobart before so skipped Port Arthur, Mt Wellington and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) this time around. The Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise was top of the agenda. Many photos of rugged coastline and cavorting seals to follow.

It was a stunning day - calm seas and little wind. Most unusual.

Lining up to pass through the pinnacles ...

... and we're through. 

How did I do that? Haha. It's the boat behind us; we had performed the same feat a minute before.

Captain Cook's image carved into rock.

This is as good as the blowhole got this day ....

... and this is why. Becalmed on the Southern Ocean.

The Australian fur seals were having a riotous time.

Well, most of them!

Look at me, look at me.

While we were waiting for the ferry we spotted this little eastern quoll. 

Very cute, very shy. I had to be quick.

We set up camp in the endearing town of Snug, just south of Hobart. Gorgeous spot on the water. 

We spent a rather wet, cold day exploring the Huon Valley. 

 Cygnet, where Bob Brown now lives, was very pretty.

Garry stopping to smell the roses.

Hobart is a beautiful city. We tramped around the picturesque streets, toured Parliament House and indulged at Salamanca Markets.

A modest Parliament House which started life as Customs House.

Salamanca Markets. Loads of fresh produce, hand-made/home-made stuff and a great atmosphere.

Unfortunately, we had to keep going as there was a boat to catch back to the mainland; time was running out. We didn't give ourselves enough time on the Apple Isle but we made the most of every day, rain, hail or shine - and it did all of that!

Camping at Freycinet National Park. The weather turned a tad chilly.

Out with the spotty pink bed socks. Thanks Auntie JuJu.

A delightful Mum and Bub were constant visitors.

When we last visited Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay it poured cats and kangas. It turned on the charm this time.

Wineglass Bay. Aaaahhhh

On the beach by the bay.

Fabulous knuckles of granite rock.

My Hercules. 

Honeymoon Bay ...

.... with thousands of teeny-weeny mussels clinging to the rocks.

Opportunistic seagull.

Freycinet! What a day!

The weather was quite different in Bicheno, just north of Freycinet. I sat in the car, made some  phone calls and watched the sea while Garry inspected a motorcycle museum. Not a good one (museum). Shouldn't have mentioned it.

Moving right along ... Bay of Fires was the next stop. 

Surprisingly, the orange lichen-covered granite boulders strewn around the bay have nothing to do with its name. It was so named by explorer Captain Furneaux in 1773 after he observed the fires of the Aboriginal people on the beaches.

Garry making rude hand gestures.

I was disappointed I hadn't gathered my courage and leapt into Wineglass Bay a few days earlier.  

I felt compelled to at least wade in to the  blue seas of Bay of Fires.

It was 25 degrees out of the water, 15 degrees in the water.

Oh, you can do better than that Jennifer ....

...  a quick strip and I took the plunge.  Undies on.
I didn't last long in the cold wet stuff but it was beautiful.

From St Helens we cut through the centre of northern Tasmania. First stop was a gorgeous spot called Pyengana, where you can camp at the recreation grounds for a donation. Fabulous.

Myrtle taking in the scenery all alone.

Love the dairy cows oblivious of the full moon rising above them.

Pyengana consists of the rec ground, three houses, the Holy Cow Cafe and Cheese Factory, and the Pub in the Paddock. 

Princess of the Paddock.

For $1 you can buy a bottle of (RSPCA-approved) beer and feed Priscilla.
Whatever the contents, she loves her bottle.

Gone in two seconds flat.

Pub in the Paddock

Contented cows: Dairy cows getting a massage after milking.
 The dairy is totally automated. The cows amble in, their electronic necklaces register when they arrive, gates open, gates close, teat cups attach, milk is deposited, gates open, gates close, and they get a treat and a massage at the end. Great stuff. 

Pyengana is also close to some beautiful waterfalls. "Not another waterfall, Jen," cries Garry. "But these are special," she says confidently. 

The circuit walk to Ralphs Falls. Lots of moss and tea trees and ferns.

Ribbon effect: Ralphs Falls, Tasmania's highest single drop waterfall.
Impressed? The rock structure was impressive.

On our way to St Columba Falls. 

Aaaahhhhh. That's more like it. 

We spotted an echidna on the way back.

If I can't see you, you can't see me.

Grumble, grumble. I'm not playing any more.

Garry taking his chances with the opium poppy crop.  Do you know this farmer Ian Carter?
A bit of trivia: Tasmania provides 50 per cent of the world's licit poppy straw that is used in morphine and codeine.

We "poppyed" into Bridport on the north coast for lunch ... 

... and were rewarded with fresh King Island scallops. They were so fresh they hadn't even made it into the fridge. Remind us to tell you about dry and wet scallops one day. These were dry, no moisture pumped into them. Superb.

Shucking scallops in Bridport.

 We couldn't go through the Tamar Valley without buying wine to accompany our fresh scallops. Oh Tasmania, your produce is extraordinary. We couldn't get enough of it.

Pipers Brook: Vineyards to the horizon. 

While in Launceston, Garry joined a tour of James Boag's Brewery. He's planning to do some home brewing in Kingy so picked their brains - as only Garry can :)

Beaconsfield's Mine and Heritage Centre was instructive. It also tells the story of the mine collapse 10 years ago and the incredible 14-day rescue of two men.  

The mines are still collapsing.
This headframe and shaft are part of the museum but are now off limits after a collapse a few months ago. 

We had a few hours to spare one afternoon so I decided we should visit Leven Canyon not far from Cradle Mountain. What was I thinking? We arrived in sleeting rain. Garry was unimpressed. "Wait five minutes, Gazman, and the sun will come out."

I was (sort of) right, but it was freezing and it snowed that night.

One more waterfall on the way home Gazman. Preston Falls. 

The next day our lovely friends Colin and Glenda suggested we take a sailing trip on the restored fishing ketch, Julie Burgess, out of Devonport. She's a glorious old boat.

Sails going up ... 

A photo of a photo. Julie Burgess in all her glory.

Hmmm, looks a bit cold for these sea dogs.

And this is why. Snow on Black Bluff, close to where we had been the previous afternoon at Leven Canyon.
Late December and it's snowing in Tassie! Photo taken from the Julie Burgess.

Sadly, we had to leave the Apple of my Isle and head back to the mainland. 

We went from 12 degrees in Devonport to 30 degrees in Melbourne. Crazy southern weather. 

We meandered back to Narromine via central Victoria and NSW. A few random photos from that trip.

Gazman at home with Black Caviar in Nagambie.

Christmas cows in Shepparton.

Non-Christmas Cod in Tocumwal where we crossed the mighty Murray yet again.

Farmer Garry checking out the wheat harvest. Plastic bulk grain bags are replacing silos in many areas. 

Utes in the Paddock near Condobolin. Twenty Holden utilities that have been painted by various Australian artists. Fun and fanciful.

Clean Running Backed by Ned

Ute-Opia.

Ute Up In Arms

An icon inside an icon on an icon

A favourite watering hole for Gazman when he lived out west.

Christmas was in Narromine in the bosom of the Wall family.

Guess who was the centre of attention?

The beautiful Daisy.

Slipping into party mode ... 

... winding up ...

... go girl go ...

... Ha ha. Funny bunny.