Day 13

Day 13
Monday
September 19
Hobart to Mt Field NP to Lake St Clair NP
219km
Sunny then really cold and windy 7 to 18 degrees (but it is freezing and blowing a gale at Lake SCNP)

Feeling a bit sad to be leaving Hobart.

A quick walk down to Salamanca Waterfront to buy bread and there, having breakfast, is the other guy from the ‘Collectors’ show. This is the Woolloomooloo of Hobart where the famous people – being ABC presenters – must gather to be seen and have their photo taken for the Sunday paper social pages.
First stop the Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and a visit to Peter Cundall’s famous ABC Gardening Show Vegie Patch.

Just along the river we stopped at Cornelian Bay to see the boat houses.

These birds were nesting in the hollow of the tree just in the parking area.

A quick stop at the Cadbury factory in Claremont but they want $7.50 each to go into the shop and they don’t conduct tours anymore. We politely moved on.

On the road into the beautiful Derwent Valley. We are almost numb to the picturesque scenery that we keep having to drive through. After checking out some very expensive antique shops in New Norfolk headed inland to Mt Fields NP for our morning cuppa by a lovely little stream. Great camping area here and we are tempted but it is a little too early in our day.

Set off on a short walk through ‘Tall Timber’ forests to Russell Falls. Amazing moss covered forest floor. The falls are so spectacular but I can’t really capture it with still or video photography. Seems to come down 3 or 4 giant steps.

On the trek back, old super eyes Pat saw some movement in the stream and spotted a platypus diving. This is the first time for both of us to see one in the wild like this. I think there were two but it was hard because they spent most of the time under the water. We had to wait patiently to get a shot.

Next stop, Tarraleah Hydro Power station.

One of these absolute immaculate ‘Dam’ towns with no one around. Completely deserted and nothing out of place. All the grass mown and gardens in place. Pat camped here 35 years ago with Ma & Pa. The scenery now has changed to fairly scrubby eucalypt and there are a lot of massive logging trucks.

At this stage we start thinking about where we should stay for the night and I am always wary of being trapped in a place where they know they have got you and can charge what they like. Bingo! We push on to Derwent Bridge which I was expecting to be a decent sized town ... it wasn’t. The accommodation was limited and very expensive for what it was. Hotel room with shared facilities, $120. We drove in to St Claire NP where I knew there was a nice camp ground – guess what? Closed. However they did offer a ‘chalet’ for $240 a night. We are considering pushing on for another hour to Queenstown but opt for the very basic backpackers for $40 each which uses the same amenities block as the camp ground???? So not really sure why the camp ground is out. The shower is a ‘no adjustment’ coin operated treat! At least the common kitchen has a good heater and we will be sleeping in our sleeping bags tonight.

It also has a bit of a view of the lake. Lake does look beautiful, surrounded by snow capped mountains.

No internet connection or phone coverage tonight so I will have to post Day 13 pictures later on.

Next, a taste of wilderness