Songdoc's Tasmanian Honeymoon
Dec 20th, 2014, 05:56 AM
#21
Original Poster
I’m back from working in Los Angeles, and now I get to concentrate on the important work: finishing this trip report -- and planning my next trip! ☺
En route to Lake St. Claire there was horrendous construction. The road was torn up, covered with gravel and rocks, and very slow-going. It was a tense drive—and a small miracle that our windshield didn’t get shattered as trucks kicked up the dust and gravel. We pulled over at the Rinadeena Lookout for a break—and some beautiful views. The views as we approached Queenstown were so beautiful I needed to pull over and photograph the views from the highway. The Mt. Lyell mining area looked like another planet with copper-colored, soaring rock cliffs.
We spontaneously followed signs for the Mt. Blow lookout and were rewarded with OMG/WOW views. I was now glad we’d gone to Strahan – just because it led us to these incredible views. I’d never seen anything like that landscape. It would be a perfect setting for a Sci-Fi movie.
By the time we arrived at the lodge in Lake St. Claire it had started raining. This was the official end of our beautiful weather in Tasmania ☹. Our cottage at the Lake St. Claire Lodge was our most expensive accommodation – and it was surprisingly nice. We were expecting something rustic, but it was quite modern and beautifully furnished for a “wilderness” cottage.
Lake St. Claire was pleasant – but it couldn’t compare to Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain. We did a couple of nice walks when the rain slowed to a drizzle. There are several places where platypuses are regularly spotted. Seeing one in the wild had been high on my list. Unfortunately, the only thing we saw in those spots was another tiger snake!
If we had not been to Cradle Mountain—and if the weather had cooperated—I might have been more impressed with Lake St. Claire. The highlight was having a very sweet wallaby at our cottage breakfast and dinnertime. I do hope that whoever has been feeding it knows to give it only fruits and vegetables.
En route to Hobart we passed a sign that referenced the “sunny East Coast.” But apparently, Hobart didn’t get the memo. It was gray, drizzly, or raining our entire time there—which completely changed our plans. I wasn’t about to drive an hour each way to walk and look at views at Mt. Field National Park or Hartz Mountain in the rain. Instead, our time in Hobart became about museums, shopping, and looking at old homes and their rose gardens. It seemed like a very nice city—but that’s not what we came to Tassie for – and it was disappointing.
We stayed at the Old Woolstore Apts. It was a great location—quite close to the waterfront. We’d booked it expecting a charming, old vintage building, and instead, found a nice, efficient, thoroughly modern apartment hotel.
The Penitentiary Chapel tour was excellent. The guide was terrific and we gained quite a bit of insight into the convict situation that contributed so much to Tasmania. We sat in the judge’s chair; in the chapel; learned about the most infamous convicts; went down below to their cells—and ended the tour at the hangman’s gallows. It was also interesting to see the record books that included photos of the inmates, their crimes and sentences.
We were torn about whether to visit MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)—but several people had insisted it was a “must-see,” and it seemed like a good rainy day activity. We took the ferry—and the ceramic sheep that we sat on were our first indication of what was to come. What can I say? The building itself is incredible.
I thought most of the art installations were “the Emperor’s New Clothes.” Placing wads of what-looked-like aluminum foil atop ancient Egyptian sarcophagi; and live goldfish swimming in a basin with a cleaver doesn’t quite qualify as “art” to me—or at least not as any art I choose to look at. And let’s not even discuss the “Professional Cloaca” that recreates human digestion (complete with the most revolting odor).
There were several installations that I found fascinating and terrific. Unfortunately, they were the slim minority. A power outage eliminated a visit to the gift shop and café—and the “death chamber” was closed for renovation. Am I glad I experienced it? Yes. Would I go again? No!
In summation … parts of Tasmania were absolutely incredible—and we loved the wildlife. Freycinet and Cradle Lake National Parks included some of the most stunning, unusual scenery I’ve ever seen. Truly amazing places. The only problem is that we saw those areas first—and most of the remaining places had too tough an act to follow. I’m curious as to how Mt. Field and Hartz National Parks would have compared to Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. If there’s a next time, I’d love to go further up the east coast.
Pix to follow … very soon!
En route to Lake St. Claire there was horrendous construction. The road was torn up, covered with gravel and rocks, and very slow-going. It was a tense drive—and a small miracle that our windshield didn’t get shattered as trucks kicked up the dust and gravel. We pulled over at the Rinadeena Lookout for a break—and some beautiful views. The views as we approached Queenstown were so beautiful I needed to pull over and photograph the views from the highway. The Mt. Lyell mining area looked like another planet with copper-colored, soaring rock cliffs.
We spontaneously followed signs for the Mt. Blow lookout and were rewarded with OMG/WOW views. I was now glad we’d gone to Strahan – just because it led us to these incredible views. I’d never seen anything like that landscape. It would be a perfect setting for a Sci-Fi movie.
By the time we arrived at the lodge in Lake St. Claire it had started raining. This was the official end of our beautiful weather in Tasmania ☹. Our cottage at the Lake St. Claire Lodge was our most expensive accommodation – and it was surprisingly nice. We were expecting something rustic, but it was quite modern and beautifully furnished for a “wilderness” cottage.
Lake St. Claire was pleasant – but it couldn’t compare to Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain. We did a couple of nice walks when the rain slowed to a drizzle. There are several places where platypuses are regularly spotted. Seeing one in the wild had been high on my list. Unfortunately, the only thing we saw in those spots was another tiger snake!
If we had not been to Cradle Mountain—and if the weather had cooperated—I might have been more impressed with Lake St. Claire. The highlight was having a very sweet wallaby at our cottage breakfast and dinnertime. I do hope that whoever has been feeding it knows to give it only fruits and vegetables.
En route to Hobart we passed a sign that referenced the “sunny East Coast.” But apparently, Hobart didn’t get the memo. It was gray, drizzly, or raining our entire time there—which completely changed our plans. I wasn’t about to drive an hour each way to walk and look at views at Mt. Field National Park or Hartz Mountain in the rain. Instead, our time in Hobart became about museums, shopping, and looking at old homes and their rose gardens. It seemed like a very nice city—but that’s not what we came to Tassie for – and it was disappointing.
We stayed at the Old Woolstore Apts. It was a great location—quite close to the waterfront. We’d booked it expecting a charming, old vintage building, and instead, found a nice, efficient, thoroughly modern apartment hotel.
The Penitentiary Chapel tour was excellent. The guide was terrific and we gained quite a bit of insight into the convict situation that contributed so much to Tasmania. We sat in the judge’s chair; in the chapel; learned about the most infamous convicts; went down below to their cells—and ended the tour at the hangman’s gallows. It was also interesting to see the record books that included photos of the inmates, their crimes and sentences.
We were torn about whether to visit MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)—but several people had insisted it was a “must-see,” and it seemed like a good rainy day activity. We took the ferry—and the ceramic sheep that we sat on were our first indication of what was to come. What can I say? The building itself is incredible.
I thought most of the art installations were “the Emperor’s New Clothes.” Placing wads of what-looked-like aluminum foil atop ancient Egyptian sarcophagi; and live goldfish swimming in a basin with a cleaver doesn’t quite qualify as “art” to me—or at least not as any art I choose to look at. And let’s not even discuss the “Professional Cloaca” that recreates human digestion (complete with the most revolting odor).
There were several installations that I found fascinating and terrific. Unfortunately, they were the slim minority. A power outage eliminated a visit to the gift shop and café—and the “death chamber” was closed for renovation. Am I glad I experienced it? Yes. Would I go again? No!
In summation … parts of Tasmania were absolutely incredible—and we loved the wildlife. Freycinet and Cradle Lake National Parks included some of the most stunning, unusual scenery I’ve ever seen. Truly amazing places. The only problem is that we saw those areas first—and most of the remaining places had too tough an act to follow. I’m curious as to how Mt. Field and Hartz National Parks would have compared to Freycinet and Cradle Mountain. If there’s a next time, I’d love to go further up the east coast.
Pix to follow … very soon!
Dec 20th, 2014, 12:32 PM
#22
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I think we must have been following you around Tasmania. Do hope you visited the Wall in the Wilderness (between Strahan and Hobart). If not, you missed out on some amazing carvings. Put it on your list for next time.
Dec 27th, 2014, 06:44 AM
#24
Original Poster
Finally ...
a link to the photos!
http://tinyurl.com/ovva88m
I'll post them in a separate thread, as well.
FYI, I've made many Shutterfly books, but never realized I could share them digitally. This is NOT an ad -- but I love the way they come out.
Now I have to sort through the New Zealand and mainland Australia pix. I "only" took 3,000 photos this time -- so it's taking a while to narrow them down! AGGHHH!
a link to the photos!
http://tinyurl.com/ovva88m
I'll post them in a separate thread, as well.
FYI, I've made many Shutterfly books, but never realized I could share them digitally. This is NOT an ad -- but I love the way they come out.
Now I have to sort through the New Zealand and mainland Australia pix. I "only" took 3,000 photos this time -- so it's taking a while to narrow them down! AGGHHH!
