Launceston – Ferry

You will all probably be relieved to know that this is the last posting for our Tasmanian holiday.

Well, our party split up again. Lew dropped me off at the Launceston Airport, and I caught a plane to Melbourne where I bunked down at the Missy/Myles hotel before being picked up the next morning by Linda and Chuck after their overnight ferry ride across Bass Strait.

We then hit the road to Canberra, safely arriving about 8 hours later.

Anyway, this gives you a little notion of Linda and Chuck’s ferry ride.

Linda and Chuck drive west to Devonport for about an hour to board the Spirit of Tasmania

vehicles boarding

You can’t be too careful.

The ferry has pulled away.

Leaving Devonport behind

Linda and Chuck played cards after dinner in the restaurant area until it was time to go to bed. Very surprisingly, when Linda asked her Dad what he most liked about our Tasmanian visit, he said he really enjoyed playing the board games we often played at night.

FINI!!

Launceston – Mt. Elephant Pancakes

Lew Bretz was my old debating partner back at Ruston High. He had the gift of gab, and I was good at the research. Together we managed to make a good showing in most of our debates. Anyway, he met his lovely wife, Pam, while trekking in the Himalayas. They were both English teachers, so they ended up teaching English in Pam’s hometown, Launceston. Eventually, they got into the bed and breakfast game: they originally owned two restaurants, both called Mt Elephant Pancakes. They sold the one in St. Marys, and the other is in Launceston.

Lew fed us that evening at the restaurant and then invited us to lunch the next day. We were having such a good time together catching up that our picture taking was pretty sparse. Anyway, the pancakes weren’t pancakes: they were crepes, and they were delicious.

pointing the way to the restaurant in the Quadrant

Here’s the fountain, so we know we are on the right track.

Here are a couple of shots of the interior. Then we got to talking.

Launceston – Sights around the CBD

After a meal at Lew's restaurant and a good night's rest at the motel, we arranged to meet my old high school debating partner, Lew Bretz, and his wife, Pam, in the afternoon for a meal at their restaurant. In the meantime, we decided to have a random walking tour of the Launceston CBD.

There seemed to be a pub on every corner.

even opposite the Holy Trinity Anglican Church

This is where they used to handle some of the primary products in the Launceston region.

There are two main breweries in Tasmania, Boags (northern) and Cascade (southern). It apparently is a matter of religion as to which one you drink if you are a Tasmanian.

This brewery in Launceston has been around for a while.

Here is some street art.

This wall art was done on the inside wall of a garage.

This wall art was one on the outside wall of the parking lot of the garage.

Here are a few old buildings:

Sculpture of a family of Tasmanian Tigers. A Tasmanian Tiger is on both the Tasmanian and Launceston coat of arms.

Sculpture of a wedge-tailed eagle. It is on the Launceston coat of arms.

Sculpture of pied currawongs

Wooden sculpture called the Rain Forest

Living statue of a workman

Launceston - Cataract Gorge & First Basin

Well, it was finally time to leave the New Norfolk, Hobart area. We made the fairly easy drive to Launceston in a couple of hours. Our first stop in Launceston was the Cataract Gorge & First Basin, a bit of wilderness/park only 15 minutes from the Launceston CBD.

 Linda and Chuck decided to take a ride on the world’s largest single span chairlift in the world. My stomach doesn’t go for such things.

 There they go.

 

 a nice aerial view of Alexander Suspension Bridge

 Now there is a jumble of rocks.

 Aerial view of cafe

 top view of First Basin

  bird’s eye view of lower cataract park and swimming pool area

 Linda encountered this wallaby on the trail.

 There were a few peacocks about the place.

 the gorge and upper cataracts

 Alexandra Suspension Bridge. This bridge was first built in 1904. Please don’t rock the bridge.

 Chuck is pondering which path to take.

  He decides to cross the bridge.

 Linda has climbed up to the lookout

  Good view of the bridge from the lookout

 Music Pavilion

 lower cataract from ground level

end of the loop walk is in sight

Hobart – Queen’s Domain

At her last day in the Hobart area, Chuck and I decided to have a bit of a hike while Linda had a wander around the Hobart CBD. We decided to hike up to the Queen’s Domain, which was sited on a hill overlooking central Hobart. It was a moderately tough uphill walk.

 We started our walk from the CBD.

 There was a very pleasant flower garden in front of Government house.

 

 Aquatic Centre

 view of Hobart CBD from Queen’s Domain

 Mt. Wellington forms a close scenic backdrop Hobart. Even in the middle of summer, the weather can be quite fierce up there.

 Part of the Domain’s Athletic Centre

 Soldiers Memorial Avenue. This is a memorial tribute with tree plantings and plaques to many of the fallen in WWI.

  An example plaque

A view of the bridge over the Derwent

 

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