Off to New Zealand from tomorrow

We'll give you an update on Tasmania in the next day or two as we have been out of wifi range for the past week. In the next day we will be moving onto New Zealand via  Melbourne. 

In the mean time here's a picture of Marrions Lookout at sunset by the side of Cradle Mountain in the Tazi highlands. 

Everything needs washing- St. Helens, Tasmania

Nearly all our stuff needs a wash including us so we have parked up in St. Helens, Bay of Fires, Taz to get rid of the dirt. Also, taken the opportunity to see some great scenery, as ordered. Red rocks and the deep blue, turquoise Pacific Ocean. Late in the afternoon we wandered inland to St. Columba Falls. 

Arrived back late to find our washing had blown off the line but thankfully it is dry!

Do you recognise St. Helens?

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Around 150 years ago repeat offenders from home were shipped to this then solitary outpost in Tasmania. Even now it's on the distant end of the Tasmamian Peninsula. Interesting to see and hear the stories of convicts. Apparently it was only  habitual and serious criminals that were placed here. An Irish guy had requested info on his ancestor who he said had been sent here for stealing a piece of rope. When they investigated it in the records he had stolen rope but it had a prize race horse attached to it. 

There was a story of an aboriginal man who escaped for 10hours only to be recaptured, however, he had managed to  get back onto the mainland of Tasmania without crossing the thin connecting land strip that's guarded by the Dog Wall. When asked how he had done it he said that within the first hour of escape he had constructed s bark canoe and paddled across the bay so avoiding sight and the dogs. The commandant didn't believe him and challenged him to repeat the task within an hour and he would reduce his punishment. This the aboriginal did and paddled off out and around a distant island. 

Unfortunately he appears to have returned and taken the rest of his sentence. We were hoping he rowed off and escaped, I guess he didn't read the script well enough!

Port Arthur's main prison block. It was a mill initially, inmates were housed elsewhere. Crops didn't grow well enough in the sandy soil. 

One of the cells. Just enough room for me to lie down. 

If you misbehaved while in prison you were sent to this newer section for 23hours a day complete deprivation were you only had a number and could not speak. If you still misbehaved there was a further cell where it was absolute dark, no sound for between 1 and thirty days. Needless to say many went mad and the mad house is right next door!

We did a search on our family names by the way but didn't find anyone!

Warrington connection

Orford Tasmania, much different from Orford Warrington. 

Slept in a coal mine

Thursday night we found a lovely spot in an old coal mine, or at least in the ruins of the convict blocks. Surrounded by rabbits, wallabies and the odd ghost. Perfectly secluded down a dirt track on the other end of the Tasmamian Peninsula. 

Freycinet National Park

Just spent the last three days out walking on the Freycinet Peninsula great views, highly changeable weather and dirty dishwater to drink. Oh, and I forgot to mention the possums. 

Scenery was stunning we camped on two beautiful beaches and had a hard climb up Mt. Graham. 

Had to stand guard duty on the first night after returning from the toilet to find a possum IN the tent tearing open our food bag. Dried milk powder and Beroca all over. Finally we went to sleep only for Sarah to wake up at 3am to find him in again digging through our backpacks. He didn't even have the decency to run away just sat there and stared back at the two of us. He snuck in via the side of the tent where we have a vent, cheeky bugger. 

The next night, different location we were prepared and bars added the edges of the tent but they were out early and I had to escort him away about 5 times. Then his friend a wallaby came calling. Thankfully he was less persisten. 

Heavy rain in the morning so very wet. Later in the day after finishing the walk I tried to dry the tent in a force ten gale and it blew away so had to chase it down a beach. 

All great fun!

Melbourne

Some quick pictures of our two days in Melbourne. Sightseeing and wandering around the city. It has an attractive mixture of old colonial 1800's buildings and very modern architecture. All mix together in an attractive way. 

We made use of the  MYKI travel pass as our hotel was out of the city centre. Transport was very busy as Monday was the first day of the Australian Tennis Open. Lots of people crowding the streets with big green tennis balls. The arenas are in the city centre so a short walk from the tram and train stops. 

We even visited Costco for a cheap hot dog and coke, sad ha!

Melbourne City Train Station, a grand old building

 

The Anglican cathedral (St. Pauls we think)

Whole streets full of graffiti. Lots of graffiti in Melbourne but all seems to be encouraged even up high buildings. 

See if you can spot me and Sarah in the building photo!