Around Hobart

It is getting warmer. Mid 30's today and our last day before we say goodbye to our noisy inner city room.  We drove up Mount Wellington. I was keen to walk but Harry suggested that the 22 km 1200 meter climb might be a bit much in 30 degree heat. I reluctantly gave in.  Amazing place looking over the river, sea and city. A bit hazy from the large forest fire in Gordontown but still worth the visit.

Then onto Mona (Museum of old and new art). We weren't sure about this place but since it was one of the few places that had a brochure at the airport and visitors centre we decided to try it. Some interesting art but the dark hallways and continual back tracking required to get to exhibits did my head in. Some interesting ones included plastic bags full of water and a black pathway that made you feel you were very high up rather than six centimeters. I liked the outdoor exhibits best particularly the concrete mixer and trampoline with bells underneath. Enough to drive any parent mad.

And then the highlight of Tasmania so far. A 2.5 hour walk in the Mount Fields natural reserve. Wandered to three waterfalls Russell, Horseshoe and Lady Barron.  Great paths, scenery and lots of steps. Reminded us once again that Tassie seems a bit of a hybrid as pongas grow beside eucalyptus trees.

Boat trip and Port Arthur

We drove down to Port Arthur today. On the way we visited the Tessalated Pavement.  Lucky it was low tide because we saw them at their best.  Caused by erosion we were reminded of the giant causeway in Ireland. Whoever said nature doesn't come in straight lines? Hundervasser? Well he was wrong.

Then on to Port Arthur. We didn't realise that the historical village was gated and you needed to pay to enter. We would have but didn't have enough time to wander around before the boat trip. Some locals have since said we have missed something special but after seeing New Caledonia and Norfolk Island we thought we would give it a miss.  The bus driver who took us to the boat implied that this was a great place to be a convict but I think history tells us a different story.  Certainly the model village in Richmond told the story of murdered aboriginal people and poorly treated convicts. But back to the boat trip where we saw amazing cliffs (dolomites like the pinnacles and more), dolphins, seals. Brown petals, albatrosses. The guide and helmsman was so excited at seeing these even after 20 years of taking tourist around.  It really wasn't like any boat trip we had had before. We were given long red gowns to keep dry and warm and there were seat belts fitted. Here is a few photos, more to come if Harry ever loads them from his camera.

Hobart here we come

After a early morning coffee with Mike we went to the airport in good time only to find the plane was delayed 90 mins. So we had breakfast, twiddled our thumbs, did some quizzes and wandered around. Sharon rang which was nice and we said hello to a sleeping Lucas. Hired car bought us to Hobart where we had envisioned our little Airbnb to be a little cottage where we could enjoy sitting on the deck and enjoy the sun. Not so. Its above a pub ie the burger haus in an old part of town - it is very clean so that is a plus.  We had to regroup a bit after feeling deflated but once we worked out we hadn't really eaten since breakfast and it was now 4 we decided food might make things look a bit brighter. We wandered down to the wharves feeling quite underwhelmed after blocks of closed shops. A bit like Lambton Quay late on a Sunday afternoon.  The wharves and piers were a hive of activity with music, food, theatre and food. A little Italian restaurant with rather good local ginger beer and even better gnocchi made us smile. We looked through brochures made a vague list of what we might do in the next couple of days and wandered back past the yachts (Sydney to Hobart). There was a great series of statues commemorating the Antarctic explorations and a moving one to remember the 13000 woman  and their 2000 children who were transported to the convict colony. A time to reflect on the sad history of the Pacific.

Question for the day. Why do car rental places always ask for info like email and phone numbers when you collect the keys rather than at time of booking.  Tired passengers off late planes wouldn't have to wait in long queues with a tad more thought.

Feeling more positive about our location if digs. Close to lots of ethnic restaurants. Car is parked in a little street with quaint old cottages - only a couple of streets away cos close by costs and that will add up quickly.

Here are some photos of our first day in Tassie.

Last few days in and around Sydney

Erina valley probably has a nickname. Cicada valley.  After a while you get used to the idyllic countryside with a backdrop of cicada drone. We made a couple of trips to the Entrance. Wandered the promenade, took Connie on side shows, sat and ate. We said goodbye to Adam, Judy and Don.  Then there were 5.

We also took a drive to the Somersby waterfall. Rather pretty and unique with lots of pools for cooling down. Wonder what it would be like after torrential rain.

The next morning Becks, Mike and Connie drove to Sydney. We decided to take the scenic route. More walking in nature reserves where snakes make there homes (we didn't see any), and then off to church point (home of boats, sea and reminders of the sounds and $10 an hour parking fees).

It was new years eve and we met Mike and Becks friends for dinner. Sad to say we saw the 9 pm fireworks but missed the new years eve ones. They kept us awake tho and I do rather regret we didn't make the effort.

Now there are two of us sitting at the airport waiting for our flight to Hobart.

A family Christmas in Australia

We are sitting in Erina valley. Locusts are loud, rabbits are playing on the lawn with the dogs and chooks. Mostly happy until a doggy visitor bounds along and everyone scampers for their homes. We arrived here today from McMasters beach. And so we will go back there ie the start of our holiday. Picture a deck overlooking a lagoon. Cockatoos and kookaburras sitting in gum trees. Parakeets, ducks and pelicans flying by. Dogs trotting to the golden sands with their owners laden with towels and everything beachy. Barbeques, reading, swimming with the occasional walk at Bouddi national park or along the beach in either direction. Everyday felt the same but had something slightly unique. Sometimes there was a slight breeze and sometimes high tide bought pounding waves.  Sometimes the sand was burning hot while at other times sank underfoot. Christmas day was similar to others except Santa came overnight and there was pavlova after the barbecue and crackers during. It is the first time all the Keats have been together at Christmas for 15 years. Now there is a new son law, grand daughter and soon to be born grandson and us to join the party. Connie sang the Aussie jingle bells. "Dashing through the Bush, in a rusty holden ute, kelpie by my side, eski in the back ...". Then we said goodbye to Matt and then there were 8.

Then we moved on ....

Today we swam at Avoca lakes and wandered around the Entrance (reminded us all of the UK beaches as we wandered along the promenade).

Sydney

It is school holiday time and Haz and I have just finished a fun filled week with Connie. We must have visited a new park everyday. Connie seems to be able to sniff them out way before we can see them. Darling harbour park was too busy with kids fighting to get up the slide. But inside the mall Connie found another one where she played happily with 5 boys for almost an hour.  Grandparents on duty sat watching on. I think, like me, they were glad of a rest. We went on the Ferris wheel (my treat) and then caught the train back.  On other days Haz drove us to an animal farm and Watson's Bay. The former was reasonably busy and ok but the latter saw us wandering along the coast line with a pod of dolphins and wandering through a forest of laughing trees. I  kid you not. The theme for the week was trees. Hiding behind branches at the botanical gardens and anywhere else we can find them. We started a gumboot garden, fixed lots of things like squeaky beds and lights, and went to new places like Berry island,  a fair and Botany Bay with the whole family.

Joke of the week.  What do you call a navigator who uses a GPS? An unemployed front seat passenger. I only thought of that because one day we took Connie to the Wilde Creatures show. Connie saw a clown with a mike and kids could go up and tell jokes. Lots of Why did the chicken cross the road and knock knock jokes. The show was based on Oscar Wilde's fairy tales.  Quite good.

On our last night we went to the panto Sleeping Beauty. Exceptionally good. Connie did the red carpet with Tim and Steph. The theatre was a beautiful building built in the late 1880's.

We also caught up with Brian and Lynn at an Indian restaurant. Great company and food. Amazing way to do cauli so will look up the recipe. Haz and Brian went sailing for a day.

Last observation - there must be a 100 ways to do a baby chino. The only thing they seem to have in common is milk and chocolate.

We are planning our next Sydney holiday already.