Finally some SUNSHINE!
We sent Angus outside in the cold to take photos of the house and the view of the Tamar Vally from the house. It doesn't look that bright in the photos but believe me it's the brightest morning we've had so far.
Tamar River looking downstream
Glimpses of Launceston from the balcony
House from the street
Then it was off to Ben Lomond to find some snow. Tasmania's only ski field is sbout an hour's drive away from Launceston but at just over 1500m above sea level there's not a lot of snow around. In fact we discovered that the road to the village (at the summit) was closed during weekdays for roadworks! We still had fun at a deserted scout campsite on the northern face of the mountain where we discovered :-
some tiny pockets of melting snow!
more snow!
wallabies!
a snowman!
a wombat!
and more snow!
The views of the dolarite rock formation were pretty spectacular as well!
View from the west approaching the mountain road
North face from the campsite
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Day 3 - Launceston Rocks!
Today was a quieter day in downtown Launceston. A chance to take in some of the local architecture and the city's shopping area. The girls decided to pamper themselves at the local Spa and Beauty Centre called Aquarius Roman Baths
The main activy of the day was a visit to J Boag & Son Brewery where we joined a brewery tour (a full circuit of our brewery from the brewhouse to the packaging line) and tasting back at the Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers (just across the street and housed in the historic Tamar Hotel which dates from the 1830’s).
Now that I've done the tour I'd like to be able to enlighten you as to just who is James Boag.
unfortunately . . . . I am none the wiser
Interesting architecture on the trip into town on the West Tamar Highway
Current Brew House Building and the original Brewery Facade
Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers - historic Tamar Hotel
Launceston's Albert Hall
Japanese Macaque Monkeys in City Park
Lucas @ Dinner Time
The main activy of the day was a visit to J Boag & Son Brewery where we joined a brewery tour (a full circuit of our brewery from the brewhouse to the packaging line) and tasting back at the Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers (just across the street and housed in the historic Tamar Hotel which dates from the 1830’s).
Now that I've done the tour I'd like to be able to enlighten you as to just who is James Boag.
unfortunately . . . . I am none the wiser
Interesting architecture on the trip into town on the West Tamar Highway
Current Brew House Building and the original Brewery Facade
Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers - historic Tamar Hotel
Launceston's Albert Hall
Japanese Macaque Monkeys in City Park
Lucas @ Dinner Time
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Day 2 - Snowy Hobart Town
Today we visited Hobart for the day. The trip was prompted by Heather’s decision to play AFL at Bellerive Oval.
It’s just 2 hours down the Midland Highway past historic villages, Symmons Plains Raceway and lots and lots of sheep. Unfortunately the day was a tad cold (didn’t get past 10 degrees) and pretty grey as you can see from the photos.
It was great to finally get to see the highlights of this city that I’ve only seen in pictures until now.
After a quick look at the outside of Bellerive Oval (there was a 1st grade game following Heather‘s so they were charging an entry fee at the gate), we drove over to the gun battery at Kangaroo Bluff for the best view of Hobart CBD and Mt. Wellington.
Hobart and Mt Wellington
Tasman Bridge
Then over to Salamanca Place and Sullivans Cove in the city. Angus and I braved the very cool conditions and explored the waterfront.
Aurora Australis - multi purpose Antarctic supply expedition vessel
"L'Astrolabe" - French Antarctic Territories support vessel
We saw the Lady Nelson, a full size replica of the original Deptford Built Brig. It was built at Margate Tasmania in 1988.
Lady Nelson replica in full sail (click to expand)
The original Lady Nelson was selected for exploration services in the Colony of New South Wales and sailed for Port Jackson on 18 March 1800 under the command of Lieutenant James Grant. At daybreak on 3rd December 1800 in latitude 38ยบ south, the crew first sighted the land of New Holland (near the present Mount Gambier). A few days later she sailed through Bass Strait, becoming the first ship to sail from west to east through the strait, charting the then unknown coastline. She entered the Heads at Port Jackson at six in the evening of December 16th after a passage of seventy-one days from Cape Town.
Lady Nelson berthed at Elizbeth Wharf
We were surprised to find that Constitution Dock is normally isolated from the Derwent River and Sullivans Cove by a Bascule lift bridge and sitting on the dock next to the bridge was a genuine steam powered crane.
Antique Steam Crane - Constitution Dock
Constitution Dock and snow capped Mount Wellington
We discovered sculptures of Bernacchi and fellow explorers at Sullivan's Cove.
Bernacchi (a Belgium born Tasmanian) was the first Australian to winter in Antarctica in 1898. He was physicist on the Discovery expedition led by Robert Scott (1901-1904) where he was the only man on this expedition who had previously been to the Antarctic. He was invited to participate in Scott’s ill-fated second expedition but declined.
Bernacchi Sculptures
Constitution Dock Swing Bridge
It’s just 2 hours down the Midland Highway past historic villages, Symmons Plains Raceway and lots and lots of sheep. Unfortunately the day was a tad cold (didn’t get past 10 degrees) and pretty grey as you can see from the photos.
It was great to finally get to see the highlights of this city that I’ve only seen in pictures until now.
After a quick look at the outside of Bellerive Oval (there was a 1st grade game following Heather‘s so they were charging an entry fee at the gate), we drove over to the gun battery at Kangaroo Bluff for the best view of Hobart CBD and Mt. Wellington.
Hobart and Mt Wellington
Tasman Bridge
Then over to Salamanca Place and Sullivans Cove in the city. Angus and I braved the very cool conditions and explored the waterfront.
Aurora Australis - multi purpose Antarctic supply expedition vessel
"L'Astrolabe" - French Antarctic Territories support vessel
We saw the Lady Nelson, a full size replica of the original Deptford Built Brig. It was built at Margate Tasmania in 1988.
Lady Nelson replica in full sail (click to expand)
The original Lady Nelson was selected for exploration services in the Colony of New South Wales and sailed for Port Jackson on 18 March 1800 under the command of Lieutenant James Grant. At daybreak on 3rd December 1800 in latitude 38ยบ south, the crew first sighted the land of New Holland (near the present Mount Gambier). A few days later she sailed through Bass Strait, becoming the first ship to sail from west to east through the strait, charting the then unknown coastline. She entered the Heads at Port Jackson at six in the evening of December 16th after a passage of seventy-one days from Cape Town.
Lady Nelson berthed at Elizbeth Wharf
We were surprised to find that Constitution Dock is normally isolated from the Derwent River and Sullivans Cove by a Bascule lift bridge and sitting on the dock next to the bridge was a genuine steam powered crane.
Antique Steam Crane - Constitution Dock
Constitution Dock and snow capped Mount Wellington
We discovered sculptures of Bernacchi and fellow explorers at Sullivan's Cove.
Bernacchi (a Belgium born Tasmanian) was the first Australian to winter in Antarctica in 1898. He was physicist on the Discovery expedition led by Robert Scott (1901-1904) where he was the only man on this expedition who had previously been to the Antarctic. He was invited to participate in Scott’s ill-fated second expedition but declined.
Bernacchi Sculptures
Constitution Dock Swing Bridge
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Day 1 - Cataract Gorge
We took a 15 minute walk from central Launceston along the banks of the Tamar River into the Cateract Gorge.
The round trip involves a steep bush track high above gorge on one side and a very civilised pathway, originally built in the 1890s, along the cliff face, looking down onto the South Esk River.
The First Basin, on the southern side, has a cafe, swimming pool and an open area surrounded by bushland; it is Launceston’s beach.
In contrast, the shady northern side, named the Cliff Grounds, is a Victorian garden where wilderness is created with ferns and exotic plants.
The round trip involves a steep bush track high above gorge on one side and a very civilised pathway, originally built in the 1890s, along the cliff face, looking down onto the South Esk River.
The First Basin, on the southern side, has a cafe, swimming pool and an open area surrounded by bushland; it is Launceston’s beach.
In contrast, the shady northern side, named the Cliff Grounds, is a Victorian garden where wilderness is created with ferns and exotic plants.
Start of the West Tamar Highway
Confluence of South Esk and North Esk Rivers
Helen, Phil and Heather above the Gorge
Angus, Phil & Lukas (asleep) crossing the First Basin Causeway
Helen, Emma and Luke Bird Spotting?
The First Basin and Suspenson Bridge
Historic Kings Bridge over the South Esk River
____________________________
Friday, July 4, 2008
Departure
We got away from Glendale @ 1:45pm and had a wet but uneventful trip straight through to Mascot. We drove straight to the Parking Station and were taken across to Terminal 2. Plenty of time for something to eat and a coffee before the flight to Melbourne and then Launceston.
To entertain themselves, Emma and Luke found a vending machine (chocolates) with a $2 coin stuck in the slot. Others followed trying to stuff more coins in the same slot. Same result . . . .
The Virgin Blue 767 had video screens in the backs of the seats (first time experience for all of us). Unfortuntately the company wants people to pay to use it so shortly after we had taken off the multiple Pay TV channels were switched off leaving us with Virgin Blue advertising and a map channel for us to watch the flight's progress as we approached Melbourne.
A short stop at Tullamarine and we were off again (this time in a much smaller 737) and were across Bass Straight and landed in Launceston in under an hour.
Phil was there to meet us with two cars (this piece of magic has yet to be explained. We finally arrived in Riverside a bit after 10.30pm.
To entertain themselves, Emma and Luke found a vending machine (chocolates) with a $2 coin stuck in the slot. Others followed trying to stuff more coins in the same slot. Same result . . . .
The Virgin Blue 767 had video screens in the backs of the seats (first time experience for all of us). Unfortuntately the company wants people to pay to use it so shortly after we had taken off the multiple Pay TV channels were switched off leaving us with Virgin Blue advertising and a map channel for us to watch the flight's progress as we approached Melbourne.
A short stop at Tullamarine and we were off again (this time in a much smaller 737) and were across Bass Straight and landed in Launceston in under an hour.
Phil was there to meet us with two cars (this piece of magic has yet to be explained. We finally arrived in Riverside a bit after 10.30pm.
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