Day 12

Day 12
Sunday
September 18
Hobart to Bruny Island to Cygnet to Tahuna Airwalk to Hobart
299km
Sunny and beautiful 7 to 16 degrees

Feeling at home in Salamanca but really dry and sunburnt from exposure to cold and wind over the last week.

Big, big day!

As we decided to stay another night in our home away from home in Hobart we planned on combining 2 trips into one day trip with Bruny Island and the Huon valley. Well that was the plan anyway.

Up bright and early and on the road for the 9.30 Bruny Ferry. A two level ferry leaving from Kettering, ($28 return). We arrived around 8.30 and were second in the queue, so were hanging around the marina and enjoying the atmosphere.

Guess what??? Saw the Gourmet Farmer, Matthew Evans SBS, drive off the incoming ferry in his ute waving to a guy with a ute full of sheep.

We noticed that the ferry is being nudged and shadowed by a cute little tug boat. It is only later that we found out that it is because the ferry keeps breaking down!!!!

Once on the island there is this snake of cars (the ferry takes 66 cars) all heading along the one road. All the locals seem to drive beaten up utes with one sheep in the back??? First stop was the narrow neck of land between the north and south island.

Massive staircase to the top of the dune for a great view. So glad it is such a beautiful day. This is a penguin watching spot.

Time for a cuppa at Resolution Creek at Two Tree Point. A beautiful spot and we were in good company as Cook and Bligh landed here in 1777 to replenish their water supply for their ship. I reckon they had a cuppa as well.

Next to Adventure Bay where there is a memorial to Captain Cook.

On the return journey we call into Bruny Island Cheese factory where the guy was name dropping saying that he had some fondue thing with amazing wine with the Gourmet Farmer the previous night. (I have just been having some Bruny Raw Milk cheese with my red as I am writing this). He wasn’t impressed when no one seemed to know who the Gourmet Farmer was and we didn’t say anything because he was just ‘big noting’. So that is why the GF wasn’t at Salamanca Markets. We also called into the Bruny Island chocolate and fudge shop for a tasting. She told us about the tug and we were a little concerned that we may get stuck on the island. I have an unanswered question. If Tasmanians call the rest of Oz the mainland, what do Bruny Islanders call Tasmania? It is an island off the island. A 40 minute wait for the return 12.35 ferry.

Straight over the mountain from Kettering to Cygnet. Just for the record the Gourmet Farmer has a farm in the Cygnet area. It was so beautiful. I have liked a lot of Tasmania but this is the first time that I have felt I would really liked to live in this area. 4 picturesque valley acres for $115,000. We stopped at Cygnet for the Sunday markets and a scallop pie from the take away cafe at the pub. The pie was great but .... after we ordered it she said she would have to heat it up, and we were in a hurry, and it took ages! Some beautiful old cars and motorbikes.

I have observed two interesting things about Tassie.
There are some amazing old cars here used for general use. Apart from old fords and holdens and numerous MGs, today, just at Cygnet, saw an old Cortina. E-type Jag, Austen Healy (with a Mota-Lita wheel just like I have on the Mini) and a Norton 850 Commando all in immaculate condition.
Also there are so many new homes that are obviously architect designed and expensive to build sprinkled throughout the country side.

Ate the pie on the banks of the Huon River at Huonville.

Starting to panic now as we were planning to spend the afternoon at the Tahune Forest Reserve and Skywalk which closes at 4pm and it was already 2.30. Made it just after 3 and we bought tickets, ($25) after being told that we could stay as long as we like. The skywalk is a walkway that extends 37m in the air through the forest. Fantastic country with massive, old growth, tall trees and the convergence of the Huon and Picton rivers. This is the edge of the South Western Wilderness forests.

The end of the skywalk is cantilevered out over the river and there is a lot of movement on the platform. Pat was just a little nervous.

Stopped at Huonville Woolies to stock up and back to Hobart for Lamb Shanks in the oven.

Although it was a great day today I was a bit frustrated by some of the waiting. The ferry took up so much time that I would only go to Bruny again if we were staying over and did some walking or went on the tour boat (which is really expensive), etc.

We are now ready for the next phase of our trip – The Great North West Area.