traveling0z

Thursday 14th May

We decide to check out the Beaconsfield mine (they do tours ect) we pay $114 for a family pass which allows us into the mine tour, Seahorse world and Platypus world at Beauty Point.  We had a good time at the mine and the girls learn't a lot about yesteryear (the grubb mine is no longer in use, however the mine where Todd Russel and Brant Webb were trapped for 2 weeks is still operational).  We saw the 925m scarf people from all over had knitted (Todd and Brant were down 925m),  it was a  little weird standing not too far from where they emerged 9th May 2006.  They had a mock cage area of where they were trapped - VERY cramped!!!.

Racheal uses some old mine equipment.

Laura has a go at loading apples the old fashion way!!!

Relics of the old Grubb mine

This is the famous entrance/exit the boys came out of back in 2006. As you can see by the red and green board there are miners underground the day we took this picture - the mine is still in operation

This is an extact copy of the cage (area) that Todd and Brant were trapped in for two long weeks!!! Freaky

The Platypus are so playful - there were a few very nervous Yabbies in the tank with them!!!  they also had 3 echidnas walking around an enclosure - you are able to enter this and they walk around your feet!!!! What an experience.

Unfortunately we could not take pic's at Seahorse world as it gives them cataracts - it was an awesome experience and the girls learn't all about these wonderful creatures - like its the male that has the babies!!!! they even saw seahorses that were only 2 days old!!!  We are staying tonight at a C.P. at Beauty Point - it is getting cooler here in Tassie.  They really cater for the "Free Camper" here with HEAPS of spots and most have a dump point and drinking water its just fantastic - this is our 1st night in a CP since last Friday.  All the Go-Lo, Crazy Clarks here in Tassie are called "Chicken Feed".

Wednesday 13th May

We catch up with Troy, Kate and the boys over a looong cuppa - great chat, all the kids got on really well, it was really good to finally meet them.  We decide to leave Deloraine today as we didn't get much sleep last night - other campers were inconsiderate with generators, trains left right and centre and the workmen across the road started REALLY early!!!!.

We decide to head for Westbury and check out another camp (Andy's bakery) although its not free....... we get there and decide we will head onto Launceston - get to Launceston, get really lost and frustrated (its a fairly big town and take the wrong turn you are up windy scary streets - trying to tow a van up these streets is not easy!!!)  so we check out local parks - all rather dodgy and all wanting between $40 - $55 for a crappy powered site, so we head straight for the free camp at Beaconsfield showgrounds - nice spot and the guy at the local Ampol lets us fill the van tanks with water!!!!!.

Tuesday 12th May,

We leave Latrobe just after lunch, drive through to Railton - the town of Topairy - fantastic sculptures of different animals and people also a guitar in the making.  We drive onto Elizabeth town and call into Ashgrove Cheese - very yummy cheese, Matt stocks up on the "Bush Pepper".  We decide to head for Deloraine - we have been free camping for 4 days now and need to catch up on some washing, we find the most expensive laundromat ever!!!  $4/wash machine and $1 for 3 mins in the dryer - well $18 and all the washing done later................ Caroline looks out the window of the laundromat and see's a Nissan Patrol and Jayco Expanda van pull up..... she checks the rego and see's it's Victorian - takes a guess as to who it might be and yells out "Kate" when a woman hops out of the car.................... and it is Kate  - (we have been emailing each other on the Explore oz forum - have never met but hoped to whilst they were here in Tassie)  Troy and Kate are also Travelling Oz with their kids, how strange we are in the same town at the same time!!

We are free camping at Deloraine tonight, we will see what tomorrow brings and to where we will travel next or whether we stay here for a second night.  Another sunny day here in Tassie (after the fog lifted around 10.30am)

Monday 11th May

Today we leave Sheffield (bit sad really, as we quite liked the town and the people we had been free camping with!!).  We arrive in Latrobe and fall in love with this lovely little town!!!!.  We find the free camp area (and register in at the information centre) we drop the van off and walk up and down the main street, people are so friendly here - they smile and chat with you (Tassie is like 25yrs ago).  We decide to treat ourselves to lunch at the local pub as they have a $6.95 special - "Chicken or Fish"  both with either Chips and salad or Vege's  we decide on the Fish and are all served the chicken.....................Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

We continue on after eating our "Chicken" and come across a store that EVERYONE has told us to visit - its called "Reliquaire" well this is the most interesting, amazing store we have EVER been in - they sell everything from door handles, coffee, antiques, jewelery, wine, cheese, games, dolls, toys, costumes - you name it they have it - you could spend hours in there its like a massive maze of different rooms - they even give you a map (you need it) just to get around the store!!  http://reliquaire.com check out the website.

The beautiful colours of autumn as you drive into Latrobe:

Sunday 10th May

Mothers day and we wake up to grey skies filled with clouds........................Mmmmmmm we decide to go to Cradle anyway as the weather up there can change at any time.   It was all that and more - just sensational!!!! can't say enough about it, the pic's will tell the story.

We also went on a few great rain forest walks in the Cradle Mtn NP

Saturday 9th May,

We make our way to Sheffield today via Devonport, Penguin and Ulverstone. Once again the weather is just amazing, Sheffield is a lovely town known for its murals, they are just amazing........................

This guy was taking his alpaca for a walk - as you do.......................................

We are Free camping again tonight at the local Sheffield sports ground (in camps 5)  this is the view from the van......................... Yep lifes tough!!  This is Mount Roland at dusk, tomorrow is Cradle Mountain, what a great way to spend mothers day!!  "Happy Mothers Day" to all the mums out there

Wednesday 6th May

We leave Somerset Beach CP and travel to Greenpoint (free camp 243 - camps 5) its slightly overcast, the free camp is a little disappointing as its not as big as it used to be and its no longer "ocean front" (yes we are getting spoilt) its still nice and "free" there is a local dog who has made friends with Laura (she is turing into a regular "Bindi Iriwin" all the animals flock to her) the dog sits at the rear wheels of the caravan for hours after we call Laura in as its cold and wet!!!!.

Well Caroline is having issues with working dates out................................. you will notice that the bloggs are a little out of date order!!!!!!!

Anyway..............:)  We know you are enjoying!!!!'

Friday 8th May

We arrive back at Somerset CP (really nice place) to catch up on washing ect.  Tomorrow we are headed to Launceston via Penguin.

Until next post........................:cool:  We are lovin Tassie

Thursday 7th May

We get up early and head for Stanley and visit the Sea Aquarium - the girls had a great time learning about our friends in the ocean!!! including giant crabs (It took a lot of self control to stop Matt wanting to boil these babies - they were HUGE!!!) we saw the cutest baby octopus.

Laura and Dad holding a huge hermit crab!!!

Dad can I hold it myself?????

Racheal makes friends with a pirate!!!!

After a great day at the Sea Aquarium, we head to Free camp no: 182 (camps 5) Hellyer Gorge NP - just amazing the most beautiful place with a running river!!! and a magical forest with Fairies - can you spot them????

Tuesday 5th May,

Today is a beautiful day, the sun is shining and the skies are blue.

In the morning we catch up with washing (I know how boring.......) the we drive to Creative paper this place was great the girls learn't how paper is made (and did you know they are now adding apples and denim jeans in the process!!!!) they have paper mache statues of full grown adults and animals (each one takes over 200hrs to create).  We then drive onto Fernglade to go platypus spotting!!! this place is just awesome and right up Caroline's alley (being a greenie and all) we didn't spot any platypus this time, however we learn't lots about these wonderful creatures during the walk along the river (did you know they hunt their prey with their eyes and ears closed? and their bills are soft and very sensitive to touch and electrical signals, they only lay 1 -3 eggs at a time and if they were the size of human adults they would need  to eat 24 pizza's a day!!!)

After Fernglade we head to Cheese tasting (this company makes Aussie Gold, Tasmanian Heritage amoungst others) We buy 1 x wheel of Tasmania Heritage Brie for only $2.00 and 2 wheels of Camembert for only $1.00!!!!! when we get home we deep fry the camembert and enjoy them with cranberry sauce!!!!  Yes life on the road is hard sometimes!!!