As I mentioned a couple of posts back, we went to Tasmania over Xmas, staying in what turned out to be a really not very nice villa in Strahan (although the town itself is a good base for exploring, and has some rather lovely features like Hogarth Falls.)
But! We took our time driving down to Melbourne, where we stayed in Healesville for a couple of nights, then driving through the most glorious national parks and rainforests to Phillip Island, where we stayed for a few days at Cowes (and of course viewing the magical Penguin Parade), before catching the night ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania.
The trip was amazing, with stunning scenery both on the way there and in Tasmania itself. We took a cruise with Heritage World cruises at Strahan out through Macquarie Heads and up part of the gorgeous Franklin River, and travelled between Strahan and Queenstown on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
The villa was so horrible, we left a day early and went to Stanley on the north coast. We stayed in a guesthouse so lovely we’re going back there this Xmas.
We (or rather Doug) took many many pictures, and here are some of them 🙂
At the Australian Fossil Museum in Bathurst
Despite the name, spectacular examples of minerals were a major part of the exhibition
Including some gorgeous opals
There were also dianosaurs
Including this one (and a model velociraptor) 🙂
A peaceful river…somewhere
Fairy wrens, male and female
We stayed at Healesville and Mt Donna Buang was part of our exploring
Female superb fairywren
A swamp wallaby, Phillip Island
Er, plant :), Phillip Island
Australian fur seal, Phillip Island
Beach, Phillip Island
Geology, Phillip Island
Sea Cave, Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Artificial penguin burrow, Phillip Island
Swamp wallaby, Phillip Island
Doug, waiting for the penguin parade, Phillip Island
Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
Pacific gull on nest, Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
Echidna, Penguin Parade Carpark, Phillip Island
Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
At the Penguin Parade centre, you can peek into a penguin burrow because they nest right underneath it and spyholes are provided
Phillip Island
Highland cows, Phillip Island
Purple swamp hen, Phillip Island
Bird, on the road to Wilsons Promontory
Geology, on the road to Wilsons Promontory
On the road to Wilsons Promontory
Wombat, unfortunately suffering badly from mange, on the road to Wilsons Promontory
Wilsons Promontory
Fish Creek Hotel, Fish Creek, Victoria
On the road from Wilsons Promontory
Creek At Hogarth Falls, Strahan
Hogarth Falls, Strahan
Near Strahan, Tasmania
Lighthouse near Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Fishermen near Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Passing through Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Passing through Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Passing through Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Passing through Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Passing through Macquarie Heads, Tasmania
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
The boat we travelled on to Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
From the Franklin river, Tasmania
Harbour at Strahan, Tasmania
Pintail ducks at Strahan, Tasmania
Ocean beach near Strahan, Tasmania
Heathland plant, Strahan, Tasmania
Mining scars, Queenstown, Tasmania
Iron Blow, Queenstown, Tasmania
Iron Blow, Queenstown, Tasmania
Marsh, on the road between Queenstown and Lake Burbury
Echidna at the Wall, Derwent Bridge, Tasmania
Echidna at the Wall, Derwent Bridge, Tasmania
Echidna at the Wall, Derwent Bridge, Tasmania
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Lake Burbury, Tasmania
Unidentified birds, Lake Burbury, Tasmania
Plant, Tasmania 😉
Engine for the West Coast Wilderness Railway, and turntable, at Strahan
Engine for the West Coast Wilderness Railway, and turntable, at Strahan
Carriage ceiling on West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Long Bay near Strahan
Farms along route of West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Rainforest, West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
River, on route of West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Narrow gauge indeed, West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Doug, at station on West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Rack and pinion system used for steep grade, West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Rack and pinion ststem, detail
Gift shop in form of train carriage, Queenstown railway station
Sculpture, Queenstown railway station
Fountain, Queenstown railway station
KIng River, on route of West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Mist over river, West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Marshland, with layers of toxic mine tailings in the soil buried and revegetated, West Coast Wilderness Railway, at Strahan
Er, Tasmania 🙂
Er, Tasmania 🙂
Er, Tasmania 🙂
Er, Tasmania 🙂
Heritage staircase in Empire hotel at Queenstown, made from rare Tasmanian timber
Heritage staircase in Empire hotel at Queenstown, made from rare Tasmanian timber
Trains near Zeehan, Tasmania
North coast, Tasmania
The Nut, Stanley, Tasmania
Blue tongue skink, Stanley, Tasmania
Stanley, Tasmania
Stanley, Tasmania
The Nut and beach, Stanley, Tasmania
Black swans, on beach, Stanley, Tasmania
Stanley, Tasmania
Dip Falls, Tasmania
Dip Falls, Tasmania
Dip Falls, Tasmania, showing columnar basalt
Dip Falls, Tasmania
Dip Falls, Tasmania
Dip Falls, Tasmania
Commercial opium poppy fields, North coast, Tasmania
North coast, Tasmania
Artificial little penguin burrows, North coast, Tasmania
