Day 22

Heading Home

During our final night we were visited by some baby Devils and what we were hoping for all holidays, a quoll.
In the morning we did a bit of geocaching on the way to the Spirit and then home

   

Day 21

Loongarna

The cabin we are staying in is set on 10 hectares zoned as private reserve. Sadly no TV so we couldn't watch the footy or listen to it as there was also no radio reception. Michelle showed her skills keeping the room warm with the log fire and all the cooking . (my job was to let Michelle know when the fire required attention)

Once Michelle had finished the dishes we did a few walks around Leven Canyon , some of these were hard work but still enjoyable. Gunns Plains was for experienced bushwalkers so we did most of that track but it became slippery as it had been raining and we had to head back.

When we arrived back the owner took us caving where it got a bit wet crawling through the small openings.

After dark we sat back and watched the 
possums, padymelons, tassie devals and qualls on the front verandah.

Day 20

Cradle Mountain

These photo's were taken through our back window at Cradle Mountain Chateau. The Wallaby had its baby with it and sat quietly feeding it while we had a cuppa.

At Cradle we took the Shutle Bus up to Dove Lake and did the circuit walk around

the Lake. Although it drizzled when we 

started the walk it soon stopped and was one of the best for the holiday.

It is getting harder to concentrate on typing, as you can see the Tassie Devil is getting cross as he just started a fight with another one. (or it could be the constant flash from the camera next to me)

Day 19

Cradle Mountain

On the way to Cradle Mountain we stopped in at the paper making factory where we did a tour and then made some paper.
As we were the only people doing the tour and they were also shooting a story for the TV they filmed us making the paper and looking interested on the tour.
 

As always the wildlife kept coming up to the car to thank us for driving a prius.

        

Cradle Mountain is a top spot. The photo on the left is from our back window.
We booked onto a night spotting tour which was all done from the vehicle. Although we would have preferred to spotlight on a hike this was OK as it was pretty cold and we will be spotlighting on our own for the next couple of nights.

Day 18

Stanley

After a sleep in until 8 we headed down to the jetty to go on a seal tour

The trip was about 1km off shore to a small rocky outcrop which served as a resting place for about 200 seals.

Michelle seemed to enjoy it as she took over 400 photo's

After lunch we decided to climb up the nut. (giant mountain) and do a couple of caches. The views were terrific and the walk well worth it

Day 17

Arthur River

  

Today was spent a lot more relaxed with a 5hr cruise up the Arthur river. It started well for Michelle as in the first few kilometres we came accross a fight between 2 sea eagles and 4 Wedgetail eagles.

After that we continued on for about an hour to a small clearing in the rainforest where we stopped and cooked us a BBQ lunch.

The only access to this rainforest is by boat and therefore relatively untouched by humans.

After lunch we headed back along the river where they stopped the boat and fed one of the Seaeagles.

After the cruise we headed for Stanley and the big Nut, which is what they call the Mountain next to the town.

Day 16

Arthur River

As this would be a long drive to Arthur River we took a couple of stops on the way. First stop was another of the Great Tassie Short Walk which was along the Franklin River which thankfully wasn't damed because if it was this oldgrowth rainforest would not be here.









We then stopped off at Lake Plimsoll to do a geocache. Thats me climbing up the hill. Michelle told me she would love to have climbed up there to but she had to stay behind to take the photo!







On the way the police told us we couldn't keep going on the road we were on as it was closed for the Targa rally. As we turned around we became surrounded be the race cars and were in the race !!!
As it would be unfair to the other drivers that a Prius was in the race (and would dominate so easily) we decided to take the next turnoff and take an alterative to Arthur River.

Day 15

Lake St Clair

Today we stayed around Lake St Clair and did one of the famous hikes from Echo Point back to the camp ground. This took about 6 hours and was a great walk. It starts with a ferry trip from the camp grounds out to Echo point where the track begins.It then follows the lake for about 11 kms.

We arrived back at the cabin at about 6pm and after dinner I remembered I had left my Pack outside the front door. When I opened the door the 2 possums from last night had unzipped the top of my Pack and removed biscuits and a box of Jilla's (peppermints) and somehow filled the pockets with possum drool !!!!