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Here is our Newsletter #21!
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More than two months exploring Australia have already passed. It is a huge continent, and we have seen only a tiny little bit of it, so far. At least, one state got all our attention during the last weeks. Read all about that part of our trip in this newsletter.
As usual, you will find one of our favorite photos from Tasmania as a full resolution download at the end.
Have fun!
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Under Down Under
Tasmania (or better said "Tassie") is one small state, a small island south of the mainland. Most tourists come here for two or three weeks. The distances are quite short. You can drive to the state capital Hobart from literally everywhere on the island within a couple of hours. A big part in the Southwest is not reachable by car or public transport. You can fly to some small airstrips, or you walk into this wilderness area. Besides that, the roads are in good condition, the highways are paved and there is not a lot of traffic. Most of the cars are hired campervans, or Australians from the mainland.
You can either fly from any city on the mainland to Hobart (or Launceston, the second biggest city on the island). Or you take the ferry across the Bass Strait. Of course, we chose this option. The Spirit of Tasmania starts in Melbourne and can take up to 1400 passengers and 1000 cars. You can take the ferry by night, and during high season by day, as well. We started at 9 am from Melbourne after a short night (we had visited the Australian Open the day before...). On the ferry, we ran into a fellow overlander. We had been in contact with him, already: Franz from Renningen. Renningen is a small town just next to our hometown. Anna's dad was born there. Her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and her cousin with her family still live there. So it was really nice to spend the day on the ferry with Franz, sharing stories from home and from our trips. The nine hours on the calm sea flew by, and we arrived at the port of Devonport in Tasmania.
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For the following week, we explored the Northeastern part of the island. We drove along the east coast and found some beautiful camp spots right next to the beach in the beautiful Bay of Fires. On some days, it was very windy, some days were just perfect. Pretty hot and sunny, with a blue sea on a white beach. We agreed that we can get used to this kind of weather. But some locals told us, that it was unusually hot for the season.
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We had visitors again!
After a couple of days, we arrived in Hobart. The first stop in the area was at the airport. We picked up our visitors! Heiner's mum Bärbel and her husband Helmut came over from Germany to travel Tasmania together with us for three weeks. With their rental campervan, we drove down to the southernmost road on the Australian continent. In Cockle Creek, we camped for two nights. Unfortunately, the weather had changed completely and we spent one full day inside the van, playing games and talking, with pouring rain outside. But we all enjoyed that time a lot.
For the following weeks, we explored the Tasmanian Midland with its historic towns, very good cafes and slightly better weather. One of the highlights within these weeks was definitely the hike to Cradle Mountain. It is probably the most famous (day)hike on the island. So there were many other tourists with us that day. We were very lucky with the weather. It was warm but not hot, and the sun was shining without one single cloud in the sky. Although it was one of the most touristy places we had gone to, the hike was surprisingly tough. The first hours were easy but to reach the summit, you literally have to climb over huge stones, using both hands and all your body strength. But we made it! The view from the top was amazing and well worth the sweat. You can download one picture of Anna and the great surroundings on the summit in high resolution at the end of this newsletter.
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For the next days, we enjoyed some more relaxed time. Camping next to the sea, drinking coffee, eating Fish'n'Chips, observing baby penguins on the beach and visiting Launceston. It was time to head down south again. We took the road along the east coast. We stopped at Freycinet National Park for one more day hike before we went to Port Arthur. This area was one of the biggest prisons in Australia during the 19th century. The convicts usually got transported here for second or very severe crime. It was very interesting exploring the former jail and all the other remaining buildings, hearing the stories about the place and taking a boat trip to a small island where the boys were imprisoned. But that was not all. After dusk, we went onto the site again. We had booked a ghost tour. For 1.5 hours, the guide showed us places where other people had seen or experienced ghosts and told us the stories from the dead. Only enlightened by three small lanterns, the site was pretty spooky - the former church, the empty resident's buildings, and the single cell (isolation) jail. During that evening, no ghost appeared, though. At least Anna was scared enough after the tour anyway.
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Actually, we had planned to drive to Bruny Island together at the end of Bärbel and Helmut's visit. But the weather had changed again and we expected to get rain. So we skipped that plan and headed towards Hobart. We visited the fantastic art museum MONA while it was raining outside. The last trip went to the Russel Falls in Mount Field National Park.
Then, it was time to say goodbye. We had three really great weeks together. Thanks a lot for visiting, Bärbel and Helmut!
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Even smaller than Tassie
The two of us took the ferry to Bruny Island the next day. The weather was better again but still pretty cold. The locals told us, that it was unusually cold for the season...
We had already experienced the saying "Welcome to Tasmania" while talking about the weather. In Tasmania, you can really get all four seasons in one day. It can rain for an hour, then the sun is shining and it's hot. Only to be followed by strong winds and rain again.
On Bruny Island, a small island west of the main island, we spent three days. The sun was shining again (and no rain!) and we could enjoy the nature there. From grass lands to white beaches to forest it is all there. Although, it is a really small island. It is so small, that we were successful in finding a man only by knowing his first name. We had met him 1.5 years ago in Iran where we had talked to him for five minutes. He had invited us to visit him whenever we are in Australia. We would find him on Bruny Island. And we did! We had a great evening together. You can read a little bit more about that story on our Facebook page.
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Our last week in Tasmania has almost started now. We are back on the main island and ready to explore the (North)western part. Beginning of March, we take the Spirit of Tasmania back to Melbourne. We will head towards Western Australia probably. But so far, we have to plan the next days first, as we expect to get some rain again. :)
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FOR YOU
Here it is! Our regular gift! The best picture, made by us, for you! We made it to the summit of Cradle Mountain. The weather was perfect, the view amazing. Just click HERE for a picture of Anna at the edge!
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See you on the road!
Anna and Heiner
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