Central Highlands, Low Head, Forth

 Had a lovely drive on a sunny day around the Great Lake in the central Highlands. Very good road except for the 20 km of gravel north of Miena.

I left the caravan at Quamby Corner CP - delightful place and only $16 p/n single for power & water. Very good new amenities.

The road winds up past the Quamby Bluff  walk entrance and some spectacular rocky mountains. There are several places where you can pull over and admire the view down to the plains towards Launceston.

When you come out of the bush to the alpine area you find Pine Lake with the very rare Pencil Pines. A very good boardwalk meanders through these trees to the head of the lake. Bitterly cold wind when I was there!

There is an Info board at a rest area when the Great Lake first comes in to view. The water level is down quite a bit at the moment.

All along the lake shore there are bachs tucked into the bush.

Stopped at Miena briefly. There is a free camp behind the hotel - a large carpark basically, with toilets and a playground. the cafe also has fuel.

Carried on across the bottom of the dam and then turned towards Poatina. Once again a very good road all the way. Stopped in to see Pumphouse Bay camp beside Lake Arthur  - looks good also, and only $2 p/n plus $2 for a shower. Onsite caretaker, and self registration. 

At the end of the lake the road winds down to Poatina. Many 15, 25 & 35 km corners. I think I would rather drag a van up than wear the brakes out going down. Spectacular views out across the central plains. For some reason the lookout has a gate across the road now so you can only go to a large turnaround area half way up.

Had a delicious lunch at Poatina cafe - even home-made butter!

On via Cressy and Bracknell back to Quamby across the flat fertile farmland. Sheep, cattle crops, massive wheeled irrigation lines.

Had a couple of extra days at Quamby - too wet and cold to be bothered moving. Then up to Beaconsfield for a night before crossing the Bateman bridge and stopping for a couple of nights at Low Head.
Love the apple orchards with their trees covered in fruit. All very regimented in places - but never can find a place to stop for a photo.

Back over the bridge and up a very winding steep road to Gindelwald. What a stunningly lovely 'Swiss' town. Immaculate. Stopped for coffee and chocolates before winding back down to Launceston and on to Evandale for a night.

Was heading to Gunns Cave but stopped at Railton instead. Wet and cold. On to forth to a beautiful recreation reserve beside the river. Dropped the van and did a round trip to Gunns, Penguin & Ulverstone. So pleased I didnt have the van - a winding narrow road with one very nasty sharp corner. Beautiful valley though, with dairy farms, pretty river and lots of bush.
The drive from Penguin takes you along the coast - very pretty, especially when the tide is in.

Only 2 more days in Tasmania. I think I will have to come back one day. Could very easily do it all again now I have the 'over-view'. A place where you can do very short trips and stay for a long time at each stop. Loved the east coast with its pure white sand, felt very at home in the west with the mountains, lakes and bush.
North west - green, farms, market gardens.... or maybe it is just so like NZ...... clean, green, fertile, 'proper' cattle, farms, fences, bumble bees, wasps, agapathus, fox gloves, pongas, clean flowing rivers, deep lakes, beautiful bush, deciduous trees ( = autumn colour!), great seafood and a gentle way of life it seems. Ahhhh...

Back to Melbourne and a big decision to trade in the Jayco for a newer Ranger - 2011 Panorama with twin beds. Just have to wait until it is ready to pick up then on the road again heading north.
May not do much on the blog any more as will be covering 'old' ground again, but will post interesting photos and check for comments at times.

Tas North West

After considering routes decided to go north via the west again as I had missed The Wall at Derwent Bridge. Headed off from Sorell to Richmond then along what felt like back roads to Bothwell. Another interesting little village with tartan road signs. Has the oldest golf club in Sth hemisphere they say. From there over rolling farmland to Hamilton with the intention of having dinner at the tavern. The camp was full and the council in their 'wisdom' have stopped the tavern from letting people camp in their paddock over the road which was so disappointing! I was tempted to park on the roadside to see if I would be moved on but..... Had lunch then on to Wayatinah CP - a long day but at least I have power and water. This park is run by a couple of Kiwis. Stayed 2 peaceful days as it was rather wet.

On to Derwent Bridge to see  The Wall. What an amazing place. For some reason I thought it was out in the bush rather than in a huge barn. Stunning! For someone to be able to carve wood in such fine detail - and to polish some things to look like leather etc. WOW. Unfortunately no cameras allowed.

 On to Lake Bunbury. Managed to find the camp this time on the old road. Only 3 spots to camp so had one to myself. Sealed road in but some nasty patches of potholes! Woke the next day so see 4 blokes in a boat fishing down below me. 

 Checked out Queenstown - fuel and bread. Went 13 km north and turned right onto Anthony Road. Love these Tas hydro roads. Very well made to cope with all the trucks using it to supply the dam builds. Nowhere to camp with the van. Had hoped to find somewhere along Lake Plimsoll - only one gravel dump area at the boat ramp - so carried on to Tullah and my favourite spot on the wall at lake Macintosh for a couple of nights.

Lots of new roading north of Tullah to the Cradle Mountain turn off. The drive to Waratah took me through lots of gum and some pine forestry. Called in to Waratah  which is a very tidy small town with a camp beside a pond. There is a quarry - or mine digging in to the hillside.

Next stop was the Hellyer Gorge camp but didn't feel like parking in close damp bush. Had enough of rain! The gorge road is fine. A much more gentle decline than the Fitzroy River one. Very pretty bush - into mountain beech maybe?

Drove through Wynyard and out to Boat Harbour Beach camp. A steep narrow road down to the beach. The camp is a couple of wide strips of grass along a rocky cove. Had a very nice seafood chowder for lunch at the surf club cafe. Toilets here are 'electronic' - push button to lock, and they lock automatically from 11 pm to 7 am. Hope they never have a power
failure while someone in there.

Raining the next day so out of there early! Had the clutch slip trying to get up the wet road in 1st gear - scary! Drove 20 km to Rocky Cape Tavern and got power & water for $13 p/n. Went for a 'damp' day trip to Smithton and Stanley which is a lovely old town but very touristy now with cafes. Had a crayfish lunch at Hurseys - really nice. They sell fresh crays out of a holding tank for $105 live, or $125 cooked which makes the $78 ones at Triabunna look cheap! Was raining again by the time I had finished lunch so didnt do the chairlift to the top of The Nut.
Stayed a night at Riana - lovely camp with power & water for $12. Cold at night still. then back up to the Bass Highway and down towards Deloraine - stayed at Chudleigh showgrounds. Entertained by locals playing cricket before they all went off to a 30th somewhere. Did King solomon Cave - stunning. Excellent guide although he did rather take it as his classroom!

Great food at the general store in Chudleigh, and handmade fudge over the road. Also honey and a museum.

Tas North East

Finally dragged myself away from Cosy Corner North. Off up over Weldborough Pass. Thought about camping behind the pub but kept going. Beautiful myrtle bush here with masses of pongas (tree ferns).

Good to see dairy farming with rotational grazing, and forest plantations that have been looked after. Certainly more logging trucks and mild tankers on the road now. 

Stopped at Branxholm CP for a couple of nights. Thunderstorm one night. Quiet catchup on power!

Called in to Legerwood to see the Remembrance tree carvings. What a great idea and so well done.

Stopped at Scottsdale - another goodcamp spot with water, no power. Lovely lake with picnic tables, walks etc. and very good amenities. Then decided to take the long way round to Launceston via Bridport and Georgetown. Really good roads around here. Wanted fish for lunch but the best looking place at Bridport was shut so on to George town where I had the best fish n chips ever from the fish factory. George Town has such a tidy highway - wide mown areas either side of the road. Looked so tempting as camping spots but they have a bit of a gutter to dissuade us I think.

On down to Launceston to 'Old Macs Farm' camp at Norwood. Once again I feel a village has become a city but no-one thought to widen roads. Keeps the old 'character' no doubt but not easy towing a caravan. The camp is down around a lake and about 30 lots there. $10 p/n. Went to RC caravans to get the awning arm clamps replaced. Only had black so did both and no charge for labour. Also called in to Beta Electric to see about the fridge - freezer box getting ice on the outside. Once again - told not to worry. Love these Tas people who dont do a job just for the money!

Evendale - what a lovely old town and so little traffic! Camped there at a hall which was being painted ready for the Glover Art awards this weekend. Lights put into the hedges as well so very bright outside the van one night when they were left on all night.

 Has breakfast at the bakery in the old Municipal Building/Art gallery.
Then decided to go up Ben Lomond. Nice 54km drive then up the mountain for 12 km. Almost gave up – seemed to take for ages winding up through very tall trees. Stopped at a small camp for a photo then on to Jacobs Ladder. Wow! Got up to the second hairpin and almost chickened out but decided turning around was not the easier option. Thank goodness no one was coming down as I would have had to make room for them and with NO barrier, and no passing places I guess it would mean backing down to a hairpin! Only one other car up there. Was pretty shaky but did manage to creep out on to the lookout platform and take a few photos before I got blown away! Man – is that high up. Hugely relieved when I got down again but the knot in my stomach didn’t go until back on the sealed road! Hard to believe that this is the access to the ski field!  Stunning mountain though and lots of glacial scree/rocks. Quite amazing. A light dusting of snow on it the next day so glad I went up when I did.

From Launceston down through the Midland Highway then east to Fingal. What a lovely drive and so nice to see that Tas has a bit of flat land!!!!! So pretty.

Fingal has a camp in town - 2 power points in a park so managed to get one. Chimney in the park for burning sawdust from the mill - before the anti pollution days.

Lovely old town of Ross - with the famous bridge, lovely old buildings and a beautiful church.

Then on to Oatland to camp behind the flour mill. Very popular place it seems.

Lovely wide valleys all down the Midland Highway. "Real' fences - post and battens! Very dry although the dams seem to have plenty of water.

Headed down Mudwall road and back to Sorell. Hundreds parked along the road there - long weekend and a big market. Fortunately the camp was not full. Met several who had been here last time and others that I met up the east coast.
Now have a new Cerac crown 'free' - well - my health fund paid for it as they needed patients to practice on. Very happy with it. Fascinating seeing the tooth being lathed - all in 5 minutes.