Mawson’s huts Replica Museum, Hobart

Sir Douglas Mawson led an Australasian Antarctic expedition during the great period of Antarctic exploration in the early 1900s.  His ship the SY Aurora left Hobart on 2 Dec 1911 and landed at Cape Denison.  The expedition members built themselves huts and lived in these for two years through constant blizzards and winds up to 320km/hr.  After the expedition left, the huts lay undisturbed until the 1970’s when attempts began to preserve them.  The huts on Hobart’s waterfront are faithful replicas of the originals (probably better as they were built by skilled carpenters).  They are near the wharf from which the SY Aurora sailed.

The gift shop sells knitting patterns so you can knit your own replica Mawson balaclava. I was tempted as it’s been pretty cold so far in Tassie and if it saw Mawson through an Antarctic expedition it must be pretty cosy.

Snug Beach

Snug Beach is an interesting little town south of Hobart.  They are commemorating 50 years since a devastating bushfire killed 11 residents.  The Duke of Edinburgh visited the town a month after the fires and a plaque says “His words of encouragement to those who had lost everything in the fire lifted the spirits of survivors.”  It goes to show he doesn’t always put his foot in it.

The caravan park is right on the beach and the bay is beautiful but when the wind is blowing in the right (or wrong) direction, the smell of the seaweed is quite overpowering.  Seeing the Southern Lights more than made up for the honk though.

 

The Central Highlands

We drove straight down through the centre of Tassie.

Deloraine is a very pretty town on the Meander River.  More platypus swimming about right in front of the van.

Jonathan caught his biggest brown trout to date at 20”, fly fishing at Penstock Lagoon.  It made a very tasty dinner over two nights.

We sat watching this cute little echidna for ages.   Tassie wildlife doesn’t seem at all shy.

Tassie Adventure Day 1

It was freezing cold (literally) in Devonport but the sun was shining.

We visited the Tasmanian Arboretum in the morning …

… and spent the afternoon by the Mersey River.  Jonathan did some fly fishing and caught a brown trout for dinner.  I sat platypus spotting with my new birthday binnies and soon saw one swimming around.   It didn’t seem bothered that Jonathan was standing in the water.

 

Spirit of Tasmania ferry crossing

Some info for travellers (especially dog owners).

We were on a Saturday day sailing, departing Station Pier Melbourne 9am and arriving Devonport Tasmania 6.30pm.  2 x day tickets, a motorhome and a kennel cost $538 return.  Our ticket said there was an $898 rebate from the Federal Government. The night before, we stayed at the Sundowner Caravan Park, Rockbank (the two closest parks don’t allow dogs) but it was a fairly quick run in to the ferry terminal from Rockbank.  We stopped at Port Melbourne Foreshore to give Winston a run before boarding.

It looked as though a few travellers had spent the night parked up there before sailing but it’s not a camping spot and I think they probably risked being moved on.  Dogs have to be wormed within the two weeks prior to sailing and you need to provide proof to quarantine either with a vet’s letter or the receipt of purchase of the tablets.  Quarantine also checked our fridge to make sure we weren’t taking any fresh fruit or vegetables across with us.

At check-in we found out there was the option to let your pet remain in your vehicle for the crossing if you signed a waiver form. One look at the ‘kennels’ on board and we decided Winston would be happier in the van. We fretted about him the whole journey but he was fine.  Some dog owners found their pets quite stressed after being in the cages for over 9 hours.

For being such a good boy, Winston got a new squeaky hippo.

The Black Dog motorcycle ride was heading across to Tasmania on the same ferry, raising awareness of depression and suicide.  Their mascot is Winston the Black Dog, named after Sir Winston Churchill who talked of being hounded by ‘the Black Dog of Depression.’  Our very own Winston, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, had lots of attention from the bikies.