Tasmania, Australia.

After only an hours flight from Melbourne we arrived in Hobart picked up our Campervan and headed north east towards Mount Field National Park. Though the places look fairly close on map, most roads are horrendously windy and up and down mountains making even the shortest journey a long nightmare. Anyway we arrived at the national park and went for a walk to the apparently famous Russell Falls, I may never of heard of them but they were none the less very impressive. We spent a few hours walking around taking in other water falls along the way and some beautiful scenery, also seeing plenty of Wallabies and Possums hiding in the bushes. Having been up since 5am to get our flight, we were starting to flag, so having picked out a camp site in our camp book which had only opened in jan'06 we thought we were on a safe bet of a good nights sleep, WE WERE WRONG!! When we got there we were told it was actually shut. Not only that, the whole town of Tarraleah was closed, they did say we could stay, so we pitched up for the night only to find we were the only ones there, there was no reception on our phones, no phone in town and the nearest town was an hour away (Memories of Wolfcreek coming back again). With only the Wombats, Wallabies and Possums for company we had a nervous nights sleep, and for good measure it was absolutely freezing.
The next morning, again thanking my lucky stars I made it through alive (anyone thinking i'm being a bit of a drama queen, please go watch Wolfcreek. I'm scarred for life) We drove to Lake St Clair/Cradle Mountain National Park (South, it takes about 5 days to walk from one side to the other) so we decided to just see the lake and then drive to Cradle Mountain. Took the 6km walk around the lake and through various rainforests then back into the campervan up to cradle mountain. On our way we past several mountains and lakes which reminded us a lot of new zealand. When we got the cradle mountain it was already late so decided to hit the hay for the night. Luckily on this campsite it had a recreation room with a huge roaring fire and civilisation so we felt much happier but still needed to use my hairdryer as a heater once back in the camper van as it was bloody freezing. Up early the next morning to Cradle mountain national park. The views were amazing but couldn't quite see the top of it due to fog and the ranger had told us that they were expecting snow so we decided on the 6km walk around the mountain and decided not to venture up it as we were so not equipped! Eventually at the end of the walk the fog had lifted and we got the spectacular view that we hoped for. From cradle mountain it was onto launceston the main city of the north of Tasmania. Didn't really do much here as the heavens decided to open and it remained bloody freezing. So just spent the night cuddled up playing round after round of shithead (card game) then off to bed! Again another early morning driving to wineglass bay on the east coast took the big climb up the hill to see the impressive views they did not disappoint. Then off to Swansea our stay for the night and we actually found a pub with live music and good food so of course we indulged. Then it was off to Port Arthur, along the way we stopped off at numerous historic attractions and rock formations, some interesting some boring but the highlight was being interviewed and filmed for Tasmanian tourism documentary, so you may get to see Dumb and Dumber on your screens soon (Hope not). We also stopped at the tasmainian devil sanctuary park where we got to see loads of the cute devils and got to hand feed kangeroos and wallabies which was cool. Did see two of the kangeroos having a bit of a disagreement resulting in a boxing match. By the time we arrived at Port Arthur it was getting late so headed straight for the camp site. After trying and failing miserably to get log fire going we had dinner and went to bed. The following day we went to the Port Arthur Historic Site which back in the 1800's was a convict built Penal settlement for those that continued to break the law after transportation here and was supposed to be a grinding system to grind the bad out of you, not a very nice place to have stayed. It was also the place where only 10 years ago the Tasmanian massacre happened, when Martin Bryant shot dead 35 innocent victims in the Broad Arrow Cafe and injured many more. The cafe is now just an empty shell and a memorial to those who died. It was very hard to not get emotional standing in that empty windswept building imagining what happened only 10 years back, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The whole Port Arthur site despite being interesting to look at and read about was quite a dark place.
After Port Arthur we headed to Hobart, again it was late when arrived so did the usual and had an early night ready for the celebrations for the next day of Lee becoming 30 years old!!! old git!! Woke the next morning with cards, pressies and birthday cakes for Lee after celebrating it was off into Hobart for shopping and the cinema wow what a way to spend a 30th birthday. Decided to celebrate properly when we get back to Melbourne. But did make him wear his "i am 30" badges around Hobart much to Lee's dislike oh well!!! The following day we toured the cadbury factory and got loads of free chocolates and then got the plane back to melbourne.
All in all had a fab time in Tasi but think will only come back when the sun is shining and its a lot warmer!!

Lee and Sonya xx