Sunday 31 March 2013

7. Day 3: Up-a-daisy in New Norfolk

Well, "up-a-daisy, no time to waste", I kept telling myself... as I sluggishly got out of bed!  Day Three had arrived....



I looked out from the window.... and it was a superb day!



Breakfast was superb at the Explorer's Lodge in New Norfolk.... even got a shot with the ole springbok scarf.... haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


I  took a bit of a scout around the front and back of the lodge. 


And finally me peeking out here and there.....



It was time to belt up and do a bit of a looky round town.... popped into Woolworths, then took a ride up round Back River Road.... and checked out the local golf course as well.  Lovely view over New Norfolk district.



It was 10.00am and time to head off towards the West Coast of Tassie.... Day 3: New Norfolk to Zeehan.

 
 






Saturday 30 March 2013

6. Day 2 - Hobart to New Norfolk

So I was off on Day 2 headed for New Norfolk as per the map below.... can you see the wee arrows?


We went up the A1 from Hobart, then left towards Bothwell...  left again and popped into Hamilton,  then back along the B10 to New Norfolk....

Here is how the day unfolded.....

At the Kempton Junction was a silhouette of a horse and cartsmen.... pretty cool I thought!
The surrounding land was pretty dry too.  It had been a very dry summer.
 
 
We got to Bothwell, a small town with cafe and supermarket and had a peek at the cemetery... almost the dead centre of town - heee heeee......
 


 
 
There were some very old headstones too....
 
 

The Golf Museum was already closed so we motored on towards Hamilton, and on the way found an old house at "Hollow Tree". 


 
I even saw two peacocks cross the road.... and lots of dead wallabies too.
 
Eventually I got to Hamilton - here I am in front of the pub!  It was pretty awesome, because they had some antiques for sale and the ole piano there was good for a tune too.
 
 
 
Then we turned back to go on the A10 back to New Norfolk....... there were heaps of sheep on the way.....
 
 
 
Heaps of scorched, burnt land just before New Norfolk....
 

We finally arrived in New Norfolk a little before dark.... so we headed off to the accommodation - Explorers Lodge, which was a Bed and Breakfast place......


We went up Pulpit Rock Lookout in New Norfolk and what a view!  To the right you could see the river....


.... and to the left you could see the river as well!


This panorama shot tells all.....


We then took a walk following the Derwent River.... I must say.... there were lots of people and dogs being taken for a walk....  even some more sheep!


There was a posie to sit on the rocks.....


Later on I had a rest at a picnic table...


I got a bit lazy, so was good to be carted around in the pack....



Then it was off to get Chinese Takeaway at around 8.30pm before returning back to the accommodation....


Yummo.... it was delicious!

After a bit of tv, it was beddy byes time... and so to my second night's sleep....








 
 
 




Thursday 28 March 2013

5. Day 2 - Rise and shine in Hobart!

Day 2 - Sunday morning.....

I managed to wake my sleepy eyes.....a very good night's sleep I must say


After having breakfast (home made salad rolls) I managed to sit back and reflect...


Looking out the window.... the sun was up, but the there was some cloud sitting over Mount Wellington.....

These cameras are amazing!


I had a looky around the grounds of Lenna of Hobart.... lovely gardens I must say!



And some ivy stuff or something like it.... growing up the walls of the building!


Well, it was bye bye to Lenna of Hobart as everything was packed into the car....


Sunday was another market day.... there were two I wanted to go to, but only managed to get to the Hobart Showground Sunday Market. 


Well, here I am being carted around to save my legs from walking all that way!   I met a nice young boy at the markets.... but I have to wait to get permission to put the photo on here.  The markets were pretty cool.... good ole bargains, old and new, antiquey and such friendly people too.

After the markets, we made our way to the Northgate Shopping Centre in Glenorchy before leaving Hobart.

And so to the start of our Day 2 trip to New Norfolk (via Bothwell & Hamilton).....






4. Day 1 in Hobart

Having stored our luggage and parked our car at the Lenna of Hobart, I was now officially on Day 1 of my holiday.

It was 12 o'clock and the Salamanca Markets was the obvious choice.  It was like tent city!


All sorts of things were for sale!  And there were heaps of humans trailing up and down the alleys.   Lots of places to have a feed... pancakes, fudge, kebab thingees, icecream, spuds, drinks and heaps more.  There were lots of fresh fruit and vegetables too!


After doing one alley, we took a walk to the Information Centre to grab a Parks Pass so we could go to any National Parks during our holiday.

The roads were quite busy and there were some pretty old buildings.

 
Then back to the markets to do "the other side" of the alley before heading back to check in at our accommodation.


Well, around 2pm we finally checked in and I gathered my scattered wits.  We were right up on the 4th floor, so I saved lots of energy and took the lift to the 4th floor.   Here I am looking down to the bottom floor!


... and a bit closer up!



And here I am looking out the window, but you can hardly see me!

 
 


We had a "mountain side view" room....  and there was a  mountain all right!


It was Mount Wellington!



The next event would take us grocery shopping - seemed like a good idea.....  then a bite to eat for an easy tea from maccas, followed by a trip up Mount Nelson which showed views all around Hobart....

 
 
 
Then off over the bridge to find another shopping centre before it good too dark.... it was good though.... daylight saving meant the sun didn't set until after 8pm!
 
 
Back to our accommodation and boy was I pooped!
 

After a bit of a rest and some tv I had a peeky out the window and what a beaut sight out there!


And so ended Day 1, my first day in Hobart, Tasmania!

 

Saturday 23 March 2013

3. Stan has landed

Yep, all belted up and landing in Hobart was easy as pie... having already landed earlier in Perth and then in Melbourne...... arriving around 10.30am in the morning... late, but nevertheless in Hobart....
the wing things on the plane did their thing to ensure we actually came to a halt.....


........ all before spotting the "Welcome" sign which actually confirmed I was really and truly in Tassie.... Hobart to be exact!



And there goeth the ramp for all the luggage to come out of the plane... with the luggage trailers all set to carry them into the terminal.


Oh gee...(yawn).... if only I could have some more sleep...  but now to hop off the plane and grab all the luggage....

A hire car was organised to be picked up from the city.... so we taxied in - as you do....

No sense in rushing these things.... at the car hire place I mean.... Bargain Car Rentals.... excellent.... allowed to drive on unsealed roads as well, all signed and terms explained clearly and to take the keys of our baby blue car and load her up!


First port of call, aside from reading the map, was to navigate to our first place of accommodation... carefully selected right on site near the Salamanca Markets - being Lenna of Hobart.   This place allowed us to stash our luggage early at noon before eventually being able to formally check in after 1.00pm - plus - the car was safely parked in their secure car park!

And so starts our DAY 1 of my Tassie holiday!