New Norfolk to Strahan

April 29th
Chilly but sunny morning.  Had hoped to get away reasonably early but had very chatty neighbours and sometimes you just have to stop and have a chat.  Drove up to the Central Highlands and the temperature plummeted as we went.  This cold weather is giving us serious cases of 'puppy dog nose'.  We are in awe of the task and the engineering that is Tasmanian Hydro.  The system of power stations and pipes that links and uses the river systems to generate Tassie's power is amazing.   They say the water is used eight times before it reaches Hobart.

Looking down from the Power Station at Tarraleah

Drove on to "The Wall in the Wilderness" just outside Derwent Bridge.  A fantastic wood sculpture project in progress depicting Central Highlands history.  No photos allowed here, but we were so impressed we bought the book for our coffee table.  The detail in the wood carving is incredible.

As we drove back onto the main road we could see the snow dusting the mountain peaks in front of us and Mike announced 'he did not do canvas and snow'!!  We were going to Lake St Clair (deepest freshwater lake in Australia) and were experiencing the sort of cold that makes you sting.  Went into the Visitors Centre to find out they had a minimum of 0.8 last night!!  Our beautiful sunny day had also now turned very wet and miserable and the overnight temperature was predicted to be close to zero.  Best move ever, we optioned up to a cabin.  As we were now meant to be immersed in all that is the wilderness it did not come with a TV or maybe we just didn't pay enough??  Anyway, you know Mike, we took all the technology inside, turned on the heater, lay on the king size bed and watched "Skyfall".

April 30th
I really wanted to do a Lake St Clair walk, but walking takes time and our days were running away from us.  Another very crisp sunny morning (maximum of 8 degrees forecast for today).  No time for breakfast, we packed up and walked the longest of the short walks (6.4 km) to Platypus Bay.  Then back in the car to do three other short walks on our way to Queenstown.  The Franklin River nature trail, Donaghys Hill lookout and Nelson Falls.  The Franklin River and Nelson Falls are absolutely beautiful and majestic rainforest walks while Donaghys Hill gave us the opportunity to gain a little altitude and eye ball the mountains surrounding us.

Lake St Clair

The bridge at Watersmeet (Lake St Clair)

Rainforest walk

From Donaghys Hill Lookout

Panorama from Donaghys Hill Lookout




Nelson Falls

Mike the camera man has developed a Fungi fettish.  Just a small snap shot of what I mean!




From Queenstown to Strahan and we managed to set up camp just before the rain started.

May 1st
Rained and rained last night.  Quite a storm actually, and with a huge clap of thunder at about 3am all the power went out in town.  The positive - we had our own power supply and were booked on the Lady Franklin II to do the Gordon River cruise into the World Heritage area.  The best place to be since nowhere in town had power.  The negative - without the help of our tropical roof the canvas had a few leaks.  Must be Murphy's Law, as the worst was directly above my head in bed.

Strahan

The cruise was fantastic and despite the very ordinary weather for the majority of the time, at every important point or stop along the way the sun came out.  Here are some panoramas Mike put together.

Macquarie Heads "Hells Gate"

Gordon River

Gordon River

Sarah Island

Once back in Strahan we went to check the camper to see what damage the weather had done.  Hhhhm, my side of the bed was not in good shape.  The canvas was not coping with the continual showers.  Put bedding in the dryer and used the hair dryer to dry the mattress.  (Yes, of course that is why I take a hair dryer camping)!!!  Once all dry we put protective plastic over the bed, turned on the space heater and prayed for the rain to stop.  Prayers were almost answered as it did ease.  These not so happy campers then decided to go back down town and share a pizza and have a drink at the Hotel.  What a great move that was as something amazing and fantastic happened.  I was looking into the dining room as we left the Hotel to walk back to the car and low and behold there were Kathy and Kim Heys (from Halls Head) having dinner.  Well we crashed their romantic dinner for two, Kim bought us coffees and I shared Kathy's dessert and we talked for about an hour and a half.  Been wanting to catch up with Kathy for a while, just didn't know I had to come to Strahan to do it!!!!