This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Author Archives: wendyviney


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2000 Travels January 24

MONDAY 24 JANUARY     HOBART

We slept in until about 9.30, after the tiring day yesterday. R slept even later. We were rather slow to get ready for our day out.

We drove up Mt Wellington. R did not like the winding road and steep drops to the sides. I had opted to travel in the back seat while R is visiting, because in the Defender the back seat is high up so it is not all that easy to see well out of the side windows. One can see much more from the front. Being in the back seat on the winding road was not something I enjoyed either!

Up the top, R walked around the circle road at the top, seeming very interested in the remnants of snow and ice in sheltered spots. John and I admired the views over Hobart, again.

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Southern Hobart from Mt Wellington

We then drove back down the mountain, and south, down the so picturesque Huon Valley, to Geeveston

At the Forest Centre at Geeveston, John stayed in Truck. R did not want to pay money to go into the wood display and museum sections, so just looked around the shop. She bought a Huon pine bread knife to go with the board she’d bought at the Salamanca Markets.

We then drove up the Arve Road, behind Geeveston, into the forest and wilderness country, to the upper reaches of the Huon River.

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The upper Huon River

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Arve Forest Lookout and swamp gum

At the Tahune Reserve, we did the Huon Pine Walk. We all enjoyed the forest lookouts and the walk.

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A Huon Pine growing by the river

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Leatherwood flowers – the source of the best honey!

01-24-2000 the Arve forest

The Tahune wilderness forest, from lookout

We followed the Arve Loop Road back to Geeveston and then headed back for Hobart. Apparently, there was a jam factory and shop at Grove that R wanted to visit, but she only told us this when we were past it on the way back, and it was too late because the place was shut by then.

Tea was chicken dijonnaise, potato, zucchini, then strawberries. I thought it was a nice meal.

We drove 240kms today.


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2000 Travels January 23

SUNDAY 23 JANUARY     HOBART

We did manage to all get up early, and left camp about 7am.

There was a light dusting of snow on Mt Wellington, which explained why last night felt so cold! Today was chilly, with rain showers.

We drove first to the Coal Mines site at Saltwater River, thinking the contrast between this un-restored area and Port Arthur would be of interest. R enjoyed the area.

I left her and John to wander about together, whilst I went off looking for photo opportunities. There were some interesting light effects on Norfolk Bay, caused by the rain and storm clouds.

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Storm light over Norfolk Bay from the Coal Mines site

Then we drove to Port Arthur, through Nubeena. The entry fee to the Port Arthur site and the tour to the Isle of the Dead cost me $78 for the three of us. I also bought a Tasmanian Wilderness collared top, which was on sale at a heavily reduced price; my wardrobe needs something just a little dressy!

R seemed to want to see everything at Port Arthur, at a great speed. She found our pace too slow, when we lingered at the Model Prison, and went off ahead. We just kept on at a comfortable pace for us and met up with her at the boat entry point. She was worried that she would miss out on what she wanted to do, if we didn’t keep up with her.

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Port Arthur church

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The Model Prison

The Isle of the Dead tour was excellent and we all enjoyed that.

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On the Isle of the Dead – the burial place for Port Arthur in convict times

After that tour we had lunch. I bought us all pies and quiches. After eating, we agreed to follow her around, as  she did not like the alternative idea of going off alone and then rendezvousing at an agreed place. So, we trekked around the lot, partly in rain. It was tiring.

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Display board showing Port Arthur as it was when in use

R really liked Smith O’Brien’s Cottage. He was an Irish nationalist, transported for treason for his political activities. Despite the cottage having his name, he only spent less than a year living there, before gaining a ticket of leave. I remember it was a YHA youth hostel in the 1960’s, and supposedly haunted. A very practical, unimaginative friend of mine spent a night alone there, around 1961 and he swore there was “something” terrifying there!

I can understand the impact that the Port Arthur site has on the first-time visitor, but a this was my fourth visit to the place, I really did feel that there were some parts I did not need to see again.

01-23-2000 so beautiful, so ugly

So beautiful, so ugly….

It was getting late by the time we finished at Port Arthur, and headed off to look at some of the “natural” features of the area.

We visited Remarkable Cave, the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, the Devils Kitchen, and Waterfall Bay. R did not seem impressed by the first two, but seemed more interested in the other places.

At Waterfall Bay we were really lucky and privileged to be able to watch some large seals herding schools of little fish together, and then charging into the mass to eat them. That was fascinating.

It seemed a long drive back to Hobart. We drove 314kms today. John did a really good job on what was a really demanding day on his legs.

I had intended to buy pizza for tea, as it was so late, but R said she does not eat that sort of thing. So, back at the van, I cooked up a tin of tomato soup, then made baked beans on toast for R, and toasted cheese and sardines on toast for John and me. R did not like the smell of the sardines and went and sat outside.

We did not stay up long after tea – it had been a long and tiring day.


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2000 Travels January 22

 SATURDAY 22 JANUARY     HOBART

We were up fairly early. John drove off to get the papers, plus some yoghurt, which R wanted for breakfast, rather than our staples of grapefruit and weetbix. After John came back with the yoghurt, she decided to have a toasted tomato and cheese sandwich, instead.

Breakfast over, we drove into Hobart, to go to the major attraction of the Salamanca Place Markets. Salamanca Place is in the docks part of Hobart and the old stone buildings that line one side of it were once warehouses, dating from the early 1800’s. Every Saturday, there is a large open air market held there – fresh produce, food, crafts.

We trudged around the markets for several hours, basically just following R from stall to stall. I bought some cherries – we seem to get through a lot of these, lately! R bought some wood products, and an enamel picture of irises – we gave her the $50 for this, as an early birthday present.

R and J had bratwurst hot dogs for lunch; I bought a loaf of bread and ate some of that.

Overall, we had a comprehensive exposure to the market stalls, I thought. I’d have liked to explore some of the really interesting exhibition centres and galleries that occupy some of the former warehouses, but the others were not interested.

We suggested doing the two hour Derwent River – Iron Pot Light boat trip and R was keen on that idea.

We had a wander around the Constitution Dock area, whilst waiting for the cruise time. The former IXL Jam Factory and warehouse buildings by the Dock are superb. I think I read somewhere that they are to be restored and developed, possibly as some type of accommodation complex – what a great location!

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The old IXL Jam Factory at the Constitution Dock area

There was a beautiful Huon pine sailing boat moored at the dock.

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Huon Pine sailing ship

The boat trip went from 2pm till 4pm. We thought it was good value, even though the sea was rather rough. R went to sleep part-way through the trip, so missed much of what there was to see. It really was scenic.

01-22-2000 rough day

Stormy weather on the Derwent

The Iron Pot is a lighthouse on a small rocky islet at the entrance of the Derwent River, from Storm Bay. It is a significant feature because it is an unusual square shape; it was the first lighthouse built in Tasmania, in 1832, and the second in Australia. The name may have come from an earlier beacon here – a fire lit in an iron whaling pot. Once there was, as well, a two storeyed lighthouse keeper’s house and an assistant keeper’s house, on this small bit of rock!

01-22-2000 Iron Pot from boat

The iron Pot Lighthouse

Back on land, we did a short walk around the core of historic Battery Point. As the name suggests, there was a gun battery here – probably due to fears of French invasion. The area that grew behind it was home for the garrison officers and for sailors.

We explored Kelly’s Steps – built by a sea captain to reach his cottage, Hampden Road, Arthurs Circus – little cottages built around a central garden area, that once would have had the flagpole for the morning assembly. My best friend, whilst at uni in Hobart in the 60’s, rented one of these cottages. It is a fascinating area.

Today was a full one, marred a little by poor weather and rain. John did well to manage as much walking and standing about as he did.

Refuelled Truck on the way back to the van – 76cpl.

Tea was gazpacho, pork with garlic and mushrooms, and strawberries. R did not like the idea of cold soup when I told her what we were having, and asked that hers be heated up.

We did not stay up very late, because we had planned an early get away for tomorrow, for a big day out, to Port Arthur area. As R only has five days here, we would be busy every day.


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2000 Travels January 21

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was still windy and definitely colder. Heatwave over!

We put the sides onto the annexe, to make a “room” for R’s coming visit, and rearranged the storage inside Truck, to free up the back seat for a passenger. Set up the banana lounge bed, complete with the two sleeping bags, since it is getting colder.

We drove to Glenorchy and did a food shop. At the library there, John had booked an hour on the internet. I’d planned to try to do some research on mum’s family, while he was doing that. However, I needed CDRom access to the Pioneers Register. I was able to apply for a full birth certificate for mum, to start the backtrack process. That cost $25. It was a pity I didn’t start this process earlier, as I could have gotten a booking for the CDRom at the library.

We went back to the van, unloaded the shopping, then John went to bowls practice at the local club.

Tea was gazpacho, bread, cheese. John also had some little skinless franks. I had coleslaw. Stewed apricots to finish.

After tea we chatted for a while with a 14 year old who was camped near us. He told us his dad had been killed by falling logs, eight years ago. John tried to persuade him not to leave school too early.

We drove out to the airport, to collect R from her flight, arriving at 10.35pm. Then it was 15 minutes late. It was dark by then, and R seemed very impressed with the city lights and their reflections in the river, as we drove back across the Derwent. It really was very pretty.

Back at the van, we talked for a while, so it was 1am before we all retired to bed. R said she was satisfied with the annexe arrangements.


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2000 Travels January 20

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY     HOBART

It was an extremely windy day.

We needed a quiet day, as John was kept awake through the night by pain in the hip.

The Australian Open tennis was on TV, for entertainment.

I made gazpacho soup – always very time consuming and fiddly.

For tea we had some of the gazpacho, then a creamy vegetable and chickpea curry, followed by stewed apricots. John stated categorically that he does not like vegetarian curries!

We phoned K and left a message to send mail. John phoned sister H and talked with her for a while.

The night was really windy. Much flapping of the awning edges, and rocking of the van, but everything held together.


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2000 Travels January 19

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY     HOBART

After breakfast, drove into central Hobart. We went first to Myers, where I bought some wool, John  a new shirt, and I got a pair of navy blue Dunlop Volley sneakers, that were on special.

Checked out A&R and were told that my ordered book was still not in.

At Glenorchy Target, we bought a new pillow, a mattress protector and a blue pillowcase – the latter so that John can use the old pillow on his seat in the van. He is finding that the foam seat base is too hard for his hips.

For some reason, John’s hip was hurting a lot after the walk from the car park to the shops.

Back at the van, I read. John played computer games.

Tea was cold chook, coleslaw followed by stewed apricots.


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2000 Travels January 18

TUESDAY 18 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was somewhat cooler, but very humid.

It was to be another driving day, targeting the Huon and D’Entrecasteaux  Channel areas.

We refuelled at Claremont first. Diesel has gone up to 78cpl.

We drove, via Kingston, to Kettering and checked out the departure times of the ferry across to Bruny Island; for future reference the ferry leaves at 9.30 and 11 am. We are not sure at this stage if we will go over and stay on Bruny Island, or maybe even do a day trip there. Have been over there before.

Backtracked a little to the township of Snug, then took the Snug Tiers Road, then the Snug Falls road. This latter one was unsealed, narrow, winding and became quite high up a hillside – quite tricky. We were able to park beside the track, and walk down to the Falls, which were still flowing.

It was a pleasant downhill walk for about a km. We ate our lunch down there – surrounded by a group from a youth camp, so it was not exactly quiet and idyllic!

Of course, what goes down….. the walk back to Truck was steadily uphill.

We then returned to Snug, and continued the drive down the Channel, with great views out to sea, followed the coast around through Cygnet to Huonville, and thus back to Hobart. Drove 142kms. It was another enjoyable day out around the superb Tasmanian coastline.

We bought two lots of cherries from roadside stalls. After I’d bought the first lot, decided we needed more, so we stopped at a second place. It is hard to have too many cherries!

Tea was the trophy chook, roasted, with vegies, followed by berries.


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2000 Travels January 17

MONDAY 17 JANUARY     HOBART

After breakfast, we went to Glenorchy shops to get some food for dinner tonight with friends V and A. I also picked up my photos – pleasing enough.

John went to bowls after lunch.

Then V phoned to say that A was sick with some bug he’d caught as soon as they arrived in Tasmania, and was getting worse, so they would not be coming to tea, after all. Although I am sorry to miss seeing them – it has been several years since we last met up – I am very glad not to be exposed to the bug!

That does not pose any food problems – everything I have will keep for our eating.

John returned from bowls with a chook prize.

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John with edible trophy

Tea was scotch fillet, mushrooms, jacket potatoes, then strawberries and raspberries.


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2000 Travels January 16

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY     HOBART

Today was hot and windy. I think Tasmania is having a heat wave.

I did the washing. No issues about it getting dry today.

While I did that, John went off for a drive up Myrtle Gully way to try to find a branch that he could make into a walking stick for R. Then he watched the One Day cricket on TV.

I pottered about in the usual ways.

The duck family is down to four.

Tea was roast lamb and vegies.


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2000 Travels January 15

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY     HOBART

This was a driving day, and another hot one, despite some cloud.  Finally, it seems, southern Tasmania is having a run of summer days!

We set out with a broad idea of exploring some of the southern Central Plateau area.

Drove up the Midland Highway again, as far as Melton Mowbray, then turned north west for Bothwell. From there, we decided to take a dirt road to the north east, to Interlaken, which is located on a narrow section of land. between Lake Sorell and Crescent Lake.

It was a pleasant route, climbing to the upland, cooler, plateau country.

We ate our picnic lunch by the lake side, at Interlaken, which was not particularly scenic, in itself. It is a place I’ve long hankered to visit, but I’m not sure why. Probably heard my cousin and his mate talk about fishing trips up there, and it stuck in my imagination. Anyway, have seen it now – and there is no reason to go back!

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Lake Sorell at Interlaken

We then drove west, to Steppes, encountering some traffic on this unsealed road, which was unexpected, as we’d met no-one else on the leg from Bothwell.

As we came close to Steppes, saw that there were hundreds of cars parked by the roadside – amazing, in the middle of nowhere! Then we discovered that it was the Steppes Rodeo! There were cars and people everywhere.

Just after we turned south onto the sealed Lakes Highway, saw a sign to the Steppes Sculptures, which we stopped to investigate. These were quite impressive bronzes  of Australian wildlife, by a Stephen Walker.

John got talking to a Tasmanian lady who was also there. He told her that I was of Tasmanian descent too, and had the scar on my neck to prove it. Facetious man! (I have a scar across my neck from a thyroid operation). Quick as a flash, she answered: “No, it’s not in the right place – has to be on the side of the neck”!  For once, John was outdone.

Then, just down the highway from the Sculptures, there was a breathalyser station! John registered zero. We decided the presence of this probably explained the traffic we’d met on the Interlaken road. Revellers from the rodeo taking the back way home.

The highway took us back to Bothwell. From there, we continued roughly south, to the Lyell Highway, near Hamilton. We wanted the more scenic route back to Hobart, along the Derwent valley. However, we found the country in the upper Derwent to be very dry – rather bare grazing country, clearly drought affected.

Today’s was a most enjoyable and varied day of driving. We covered 326kms – a huge day out in Tasmania! We bought apricots and cherries from roadside stalls, too.

Tea was fish and chips – edible but nothing special.