Snug, Southport, Bruny Island, Hobart

Found this little treasure of a caravan park in Snug.  A discovery park that had a gorgeous outlook of the river and close to Hobart and Bruny Island for day trips.

View from our campsite of the Derwent River

We headed off to Southport for a few days to do a walk to the most southern point of Australia.  

It takes about 5 hours to walk there and the return track and some of the track is rough with large rocks but it is so really worth the time and energy.  When you get to that southern end it is the most amazing view.

Most Southern Road of Australia

Most Southern Point of Australia

We headed back to Snug for a few more days in that park and ventured into Hobart 

First we spent a day at the spectacular Hobart Botanical Gardens

Day Trip to Bruny Island and Jet Boated to the Great Southern Ocean

Salamanca Markets Hobart

For anyone that is into markets this is great to see.  We found the best Italian restaurant to have lunch in right near where the Markets were set up. 

Salamanca Market Hobart

Mona Art Gallery

This art gallery is not for everyone.  It is ultra modern and we found it to be vulgar. Each to his/her own I will let you decide.  We did love the structure of the building and the outdoor gardens of grapes and olive trees but the art was just too too extreme for me to be able to recommend it.

The Wall Created by Artist Greg Duncan

The Wall Tasmania

This is an amazing attraction to visit.  It is a gallery that houses the most amazing carved timber works that I have ever seen.  It is a work in progress.  

Greg Duncan was born in Belgrave, in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. In 1982, he decided to take up sculpting as a full-time career. Greg moved to Derwent Bridge in Tasmania's high country with his wife Marg in 2003.

There is an entry fee (I think around $15 from memory but please check on this) that you will forget long before you forget this attraction  

Click the link below to see the location on the map.

Map: Where is The Wall

15352 Lyell Hwy, Derwent Bridge TAS 7140

Pictures from The Wall website below

I totally recommend that you don't miss this amazing display of workmanship on your travels around Tasmania

Arthur River Tasmania to Strahan to Lake St Claire and Russell Falls Mt Field

Our next adventure was to take us to Cradle Mountain but on arrival the weather was bad and as our main plan was to walk Dove Lake we decided to continue on South to Stahan and return to Cradle Mountain later in our trip hoping to catch good weather.
Just a tip if you do this trip to pre-book accommodation for Stahan.  Even the caravan sites with power along with their many cabins were all booked out and we were lucky to manage to get the last tent site for our Trayon but no power sites available, in the long run this turned out to be a blessing as it encouraged us to try more free camping using our solar panels and pop up shower.

Strahan

The main tourist attraction at Stahan was the river cruise on the Gordon River.  Due to bad weather, we decided not to do this cruise but the people we spoke to that did it said it was so scenic and fun.
This is a link to book if you plan to take the cruise.

Gordon River Cruise


We opted instead to go to the Theatre and see 'The Ship That Never Was' a play that has a cast of 2 plus people selected from the audience to take part in the play.  It was great and has playing since 1993.Runs from Sept to May each year.

The Ship That Never Was

Lake St Claire 

On the South Side of Cradle Mountain

Camped at Lake St Claire it was cold and damp but we stayed nice and warm and dry in

our Trayon.

We stayed 3 nights and did some really good walks here.

Russel Falls Mt Field

More walking tracks to keep us happy :-) 

This was a great walk and challenging with a lot of stairs through the walk.  Check out the first pic for Russell Falls to see the track.

The link below has good information on this area.

Russell Falls Mt Field National Park

Bright Victoria to Melbourne/Melbourne to Davenport to West Coast Arthur River Tasmania

Travelled South to Melbourne to stay overnight in the Big 4 Caravan Park It was so crowded in the Caravan Park with people camped so close you could hardly get out your door, it was not enjoyable at all and we were pleased to move on the next morning.for an early Ferry,
.

The Spirit of Tasmania

The Spirit of Tasmania

Boarded the Spirit of Tasmania.  We chose to have a sit up seat and not a cabin as the trip was through the day to arrive Davenport around 5pm.
We stayed for 2 nights at a lovely park and were able to get an ensuite site which made it all the more convenient. More on Davenport on the way home.
chttp://www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/tas/om.au/tas/north_west_coast/devonport

Davenport Tasmania

Took a day trip down the centre of Tassie to lovely little towns Railton - known for its topiary and Sheffield known for its murals. 

Railton

Sheffield

We headed across the top of Tasmania through Penguin, Bernie and The Nut

Penguin

Burnie Tasmania Australia

Unfortunately it was raining by the time we got to The Nut so no pics of that :-(

We found a beautiful free camp at Smithton  called Tall Timbers. Attached to a Hotel that you can pay to use amenities if you are not self contained or have a meal while stopping over.  They also run Wilderness Tours that you will find online if that is what you are looking for.

This was so lovely to stay here.  We filled up with groceries and water before heading off to Arthur River and doubled back after Arthur River so had 2 blissful nights here.

Tall Timbers Smithton

Tall Timbers Smithton

With a plan to travel to the north west corner and then Arthur river.  Stayed overnight in a National Park at Arthur River ($20 a night). There is plenty of free camping there (if you prefer it) in and around all the sand hills and tracks....it is beautiful and natural.  Little bright eyes looking at you everywhere after dark - Pademelons galore!

Tasmanian Pademelon

Take the time to call in at the rangers office as they are so willing to share information and make suggestions on where to go and what to see.
I have to say our 3 months in Tasmania was so fantastic and we saw many beautiful places but for me this untamed West Coast and magnificent forests where definitely my favourite of the whole trip. These pics don't do it justice.  We took a boat trip that is run by a family that has handed the business down through the generations, It was informative and fun, the beautiful Arthur River so so wonderful!

Green Point Nth West Corner of Tasmania

Arthur River

Arthur River

They call this 'THE EDGE OF THE WORLD' and that is exactly how it feels!

Edge of the World

Edge of the World - Wild and Untamed

Sydney to Yass/Yass NSW to Bright Victoria

SYDNEY TO YASS

Day 2:

Sydney was our first stopover as we wanted to spend time with our daughter and her family before heading off on our adventure.
Next we headed West to catch up with some old friends and spend a couple of nights on their sheep property just west of Yass.

On the way to Yass we called into the Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures.   What a view!

You can fly on cable spans up to 35 metres above the forest floor with experienced guides.  Looks fantastic!

Dropped in on our good friends at Bookham just outside of Yass NSW.  This is a lovely sheep property that we really enjoy visiting.

Next we drove  just a little west of Yass to stay for a couple of nights with friends on a Sheep property.

We slept in a guest room for 2 nights - not camping.  It was great to catch up with them and their children.  Thanks 

Day 3, 4 & 5

Headed down through Albury to Freeburgh caravan park just outside of Bright, Victoria. 

http://www.brightvictoria.com.au/see-do/cycling-mountaing-biking.aspx

http://www.brightvictoria.com.au/district-map.aspx

This is an excellent area for biking as they have converted the old railroad tracks to bike paths so you can ride safely for miles.  I have included these links above to give a bit more information on the area.

There is a lot to see in this area Mount Beauty and Falls Creek plus many more.

Falls Creek 

NSW, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia - Getting ready

Our Travels to Tasmania 

2015

It took quite a while to plan and organise.
We decided to make it a camping holiday and try not to use caravan parks all the time. That meant setting ourselves up with the right vehicle and camper and camping equipment.
We decided on a Holden Colorado dual cab with a tray back and a Trayon Camper.  This meant we didn't have to tow anything (The Trayon just slid on the tray back) so we weren't restricted to where we could go. We know this vehicle and equipment will get plenty of use as we have several other camping trips planned for over the next 5 years.  The vehicle doubles as the family car at home and the tray is useful for picking up and carrying garden soil or anything else that needs space and to be transported.  It is a handy all rounder and being able to be used for multi-purpose was essential for us.  We just didn't want a mobile home sitting in the garage/driveway for most of the year not being used.
While we agreed that the Trayon camper is not for everyone it certainly met all our needs and was extremely comfortable- we love the convenience and easy set-up.
It includes an outdoor shower on the side of the camper and shower tent that folds flat.
We set ourselves up to be as self-sufficient as possible.

List of equipment

• Battery
• Solar Panel
• Gas Bottle
• Diesel Heater
• 1000 watt Inverter
• Portable toilet
• Dish and TV
• Fridge
• Coffee Maker (little comforts)
• Blender (Smoothies for breakfast)
• Gas Stove
• Fry Pan
• Saucepan
• Cooking utensils, plates, cups etc.
• Waterproof and warm clothes
• Comfortable bedding
• Walking Poles/Boots and Back-pack

Day 1:

We drove from Coffs Harbour to Sydney to visit our daughter and her family and then set off from there the following day.