GUMNUTS.....AND OTHER STUFF: Tassie Trip: Part 4/5: New Norfolk to Triabunna, 2nd

New Norfolk to Triabunna

Still using our base in New Norfolk we thought we might visit the Salamanca Markets, well that didn't work out. The secret parking spot, the owner of The Junction Motel told us about, was full, all the cars doing 3 point turns and reversing up narrow lanes soon had me parking up at Battery Point. That would have been OK if we were both just walking but taking the wheelchair down Kelly's Steps didn't appeal to either of us, so it was take a few photos of some front gardens and head off towards Port Arthur. As we had been to Port Arthur before, and the thought of pushing the 'chair' around the site, we decided to just do some 'close to car' stops around the Tasman Peninsula.

The next day we drove out to the Gordon Dam, an area we hadn't been before. Our first stop was the Kingdom Gallery at Hamiton for morning coffee (and scones). This was our third attempt at getting into here as it had been closed on our first two visits during this trip. There were some spectacular spots on this drive to the dam but it was a bit daunting to see how much country had been burnt earlier in the year. It was also hard to comprehend how dry it must have been for this wet country to burn.

We now head off to Adventure Bay on Bruny Island for three nights. One must do stop on the way was Mount Wellington, the view is always great, if it's clear like it was during our visit.
The weather, during our stay, on Bruny was windy, a bit overcast bust mostly fine, except the only afternoon I was allowed to go to and do some birdwatching, it rained.

The weather on the drive from Bruny to Castle Forbes Bay turned bad when we reached the ferry boarding spot. Because of the strong wind I had to hang onto Lynn so she wasn't blown over when she went to the loo. As soon as we were on the ferry the rain came. Being one of the first on we were up the front and as well as the rain coming in, the front of the ferry is open, there was the occasional spray from waves breaking on the bow of the ferry. It rained on and off (mainly on) all the way to our accommodation at Castle Forbes Bay.

Our host, Don, was most welcoming at Donalea, our accommodation for 2 nights, with a warming fire to dry us out. The muffins we couldn't eat for breakfast, as there was so much, were put into a bag to become our morning tea. Today was spent driving south, as far as one can in Australia, to Cockle Creek.Once a settlement with over 2,000 residents all that is here is a whale statue and some bush camping, it's also the departure point for treks into the South West National Park.

Now on our way back north we thought we might revisit Mount Wellington as we could see that it had snow on the summit. Unfortunately there was too much snow and the road was closed near the top.
We have arranged to meet Barry, a childhood friend of Lynn, and Julie, who now live near Hobart, for 'high tea' at the revolving restaurant in the Wrest Point Casino on our way to Triabunna. It was good to catch up again as it had been some time since we last met. The 'tea' was 'top'notch'. From here we head for our one night at Triabunna.

Why all the church photos?
1. History: usually easy to find the date when built, which then dates the town.

2. Helps me find location in Google when I forget where photo was taken.

Click on photos to enlarge.

(PbL) Photo by Lynn

( click here to go to part 1 )

Saturday 2nd Nov.

The front gardens of Battery Point.

One of the two large gulls found in Tasmania, the Kelp Gull. Pirates Bay.

Tasman Arch

Devil's Kitchen

South from the Maingon Bay Lookout (Remarkable Cave).

North from the Maingon Bay Lookout (Remarkable Cave).

There was a seal, chilling out, in the Denison Canal at Dunalley.

Sunset at New Norfolk.

Sunday 3rd Nov. Our 1st time to lake Pedder and the Gordon Dam.

Garden skinks during morning coffee at the The Kingdom Gallery, Hamilton.

From the Gordon River Road.

Gordon Dam

From the Gordon Dam bungee /observation tower.
I don't like heights, unlike Lynn, and going around that skinny corner I thought I was going to die.

Yes Lynn, it is a long way down.

From the Lake Pedder Lookout.

The sun came out at Ted's Beach, Lake Pedder..........................

................................and then it rains again. PbL

From the Gordon River Road. Well worth the drive.

From the Gordon River Road.

Blackened trees from the February bushfires.

One of my favourite photos of Tasmania, why?............the road.
DON'T DO THIS AT HOME (double lanes).......1st curve, change to right lane, then come back for the 2nd, into the right lane for the 3rd and then come back late for the 4th. And the there's another right-hander going over the rise.........
5000 km's of this, love Tassie roads.

Hop farm.

This Revolving Kiln was built in 1883.
The drying floor rotated, powered by a water wheel (right). The waterwheel
powered a saw mill and also generated electricity for Bushy Park when it
wasn't being used to dry hops.

Hop house, Bushy Park.

St Peter's Catholic Church, New Norfolk, built in 1887.

St Matthews Anglican Church, built in 1823 and is said to be the oldest church in Tasmania.
Extensive additions In 1833 made it a much more impressive building. A tower was added
in 1870 and in 1894 the chancel was added and the windows, roof and transepts were altered.

Monday 4th, off to Bruny Island.

While we were there, an episode of the ABC programme Rosehaven was being filmed.

An episode of the ABC programme Rosehaven being filmed in New Norfolk.

Constitution Dock in Hobart, with Mount Wellington in the background.

A cruise ship in Constitution Dock, Hobart.
PbL

The Bernacchi Tribute Sculptures commemorates the
Tasmanian Antarctic explorer Louis Bernacchi (1878-1942).

Georgian sandstone warehouses that were once filled with grain, fruit,
vegetables, timber, and other materials and produce. Constitution Dock.

View of Hobart and surrounds from the top of Mount Wellington.

Xue Long (Snow Dragon) is a Chinese icebreaking research vessel.
Built in 1993 in Ukraine.
From Mount Wellington.

View of Hobart and surrounds from the top of Mount Wellington.

Looking out towards the Tasman Sea from Mount Wellington.

Lynn in the Pinnacle Observation Shelter.

Bill at the end of the Pinnacle Boardwalk.
PbL

Lynn in the Pinnacle Observation Shelter.

Looking south from Mount Wellington.

A rock scree on Mount Wellington.

From the Neck Lookout, Bruny Island.

Looking across to Fluted Cape from the penguin observation deck on The Neck.

Fluted Cape on Bruny Island.
Many years ago (2002) Lynn and I walked to the top, along the cliff edge, and back
down along the ridge line (oh to be young again).

Tuesday 5th. First to Dennes Point then all the way south to the Lightstation.

Reflections at the caravan park.

Green Rosellas at the caravan park.

Sharing a hammock near Little Hell.

Dennes Point, North Bruny.

Dinner, caught off Dennes Point Jetty.

The square towered Iron Pot Lighthouse, built in 1832, was the first lighthouse
to be built in Tasmania and is the second oldest lighthouse ever built in Australia.

North Bruny 'sculpture'.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse, built 1836, South Bruny.

Jetty Beach turning bay

We had Tassie scallops, from the Hotel Bruny, for dinner with a great view at the Alonnah Boat Ramp.

Back to the Neck Lookout for sunset.

Looking north from The Neck Lookout.

Sunset looking south from The Neck Lookout.............................................

...................................then other colours started to appear.

Then the 'other light show' started in the east.

Antisolar rays, are meteorological optical phenomena that appear opposite of the Sun in the sky.

Antisolar rays

Wednesday 6th. More exporing of the Island. The trip to Cape QE track was me birdwatching, it rained.

Cloudy Bay

Cloudy Bay, looking south.

Cloudy Bay

Cheap accommodation near the Sprokkelwood Art Garden.

One of these isn't a donkey.

Bruny Island white wallaby.

White wallabies are Bennett's Wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) with a rare genetic mutation. Some of the Bruny Island white wallabies are albino, which this one I think is.

A 'normal' Bennett's Wallaby at the same place, sitting in the middle of road.

Just by the side of the road.
The flowers looked like agapanthus but it had a different growing habit.

Looking across to Lighthouse Bay from the Cape Bruny Lightstation.

Rocks below the lighthouse.

Lighthouse Bay and the lightstation from Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

Courts Island, from the lighthouse.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Plants around the lighthouse. 1: Banksia sp. 2: One of the peas. 3: Melaleuca squamea - honeymyrtle. 4: Goodenia ovata - hop goodenia.

Plants around the lighthouse. 1: Leucopogon sp. 2: Leptospermum
4: Bedfordia linearis (slender blanketleaf) 3: ???

One of the locals makes bread and leaves them in this old fridge to be picked up.

It had all gone when I looked.
'Money in slot, thanks. Payment $7.50'

Thursday 7th, off to Castle Forbes Bay.

Adventure Bay, Bruny Island.

This small creek, Resolution Creek, running into Adventure Bay,
is where, in 1777, Capt Cook took water to resupply his ship.

Our car-ferry back to Kettering.

We had rain and waves breaking over the front of the ferry onto the car.

They say there are no foxes in Tasmania but I did see this one in the back of this car.

St Mark's Anglican Church, Cygnet, opened for services in 1875.
Additions were made in 1894 with further additions being made in 1913, in 1968 a new vestry was built.

Donalea Bed & Breakfast.

PbL

The front Garden.

I think this is Sacred Flower of the Andes (Cantua buxifolia).

A welcoming fire.
PbL

The sun rises over Crowthers Bay. From the house.

Friday 8th. A drive to Cockle Creek which is the farthest point south one can drive in Australia.

The Dover Congregational Church was opened in 1877, now called Dover Community Church.

Kombis at a wreckers in Geeveston.

Desserted, Southport.

All that is left, Southport.

The Ida Bay Railway is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Heritage Tramway.
The Tramway was opened in 1919 to transport limestone, in 1975 freight operations ceased.

A bronze sculpture of an infant Southern Right Whale at Cockle Creek.

You can moor your boat in Recherche Bay,‌ camp, fish and walk here, no shops or houses.

This isn't cockle creek at Cockle Creek.

Motts Beach at Cockle Creek.

Timber fishing boat on the Esperance River at Raminea.

Port Esperance from Memorial Park, Dover.

I was positive there was a Hotel here,opposite Memorial Park,
when we were here in 2002 ................

...............so I looked at Google Streetview and here it is,
the Dover Hotel still there in 2009.

Rhododendrons at Geeveston.
PbL

The Heritage Park Bike Track had it all. Stop signs, roundabouts,
service station, street names and........................

...............................working traffic lights, an awesome little setup.

Saturday 9th. We leave Castle Forbes Bay and head for Triabunna.

Back garden, Donalea

Leaving Donalea.

Franklin Tavern artwork by Dimi Mazin.

Franklin Tavern

Franklin Tavern artwork by Dimi Mazin

Snow on the high ranges.

The Wooden Boat Centre, on the banks of the Huon River, Franklin.

'Nancy' at the The Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin.

The Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin.

The Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin. (my photo)

The Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin.

The Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin, with Mount Wellington in the background.

Reflections

We couldn't get to the top of Mt Wellington today as the road was closed by snow.

The view from Mount Nelson.

Truganini Monument at Mount Nelson.
Truganini (c. 1812 – 8 May 1876) was a woman widely considered to have been the last full-blooded Aboriginal Tasmanian, although a further three full-blood Tasmanian Aboriginal women were anecdotally known to be living on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island well into the late 1870s. 'Dedicated to The Tasmaanian Aboriginal People and Their Descendants'.