Port Arthur & Hobart

We drove down the east coast today through the mountains as usual some beautiful costal towns as well as rainforests. It is raining a bit and the roads are quite slippery. We stopped off at some of places like the Blowhole, Tasman Arch and Eaglehawk neck. This is truly the most spectacular coast line and the ocean colour has changed again. We arrived at Port Arthur and had a bit of drive around. It is not really a town. We drove down to White beach CP only to find out they do not offer powered sites to people who do not have a van or camper. I will not explain this because we don’t understand it ourselves. Back to the Port Arthur CP where a power site was secured. I drizzly day with some relaxing and fishing. No luck here either but I did see a guy return with a good size parrot fish. We didn’t fish long because of the weather.

Up early and off to Port Arthur historic site. The stories of the convicts are a great read but I must say the actual buildings aren’t really as exciting as I had expected. I think they could have rebuilt the odd room to its original state this would give us a much better insight. However the real scary bit is the memorial for the Port Arthur massacre. After this we drove out to Lime Bay to camp the night. No fish here either.

We drove to Hobart today once again taking the dirt road costal route. The landscape changes in Tassie are amazing and over every mountain range there is anew landscape. Hobart is not what I expected and there are traffic jams in the city. I’m a little amazed that Hobart can 4 & 5 lanes highways with a small population but Adelaide can’t even build one main road through the city. No I take that back I have always thought the government in SA to be the most backward I have ever seen. Saying that however I’m not impressed with Hobart it just doesn’t have a friendly feel about it and it is probably the least liked place I have stayed at (well apart form Swansea but that’s another story.)

We did get down to the wharf to see the Steve Irwin and the damage inflicted by the Japanese whaling boat collision. It has been 4 days now since I caught a fish!!! We finally found a place to stay at a caravan park unpowered sites only left but on the banks of the Derwent.

We are up early and keen to get down to the Salamanca Markets. I’m either getting old and cynical or the fact I don’t have a job and that means I don’t have any money to spend but I have lost a lot of interest in markets once a place of unique items and wonders, they have become very predictable in their content and ever increasing price. Not many bargains at these anymore. Now for some excitement the drive up to the top of Mount Wellington surely this will restore my faith in Hobart. But no bloody clouds everywhere up top, and after a little scary drive mouthing words of abuse under my breath for all the idiots to dumb to turn their lights on their cars. It is narrow windy mountain climb with no visibility not sure why you would leave your lights off. Finally at the top the best view in all of Tassie had visibility down to about 5m in wet cloud, are well these things happen.