Strahan to Lindifarne 11 Feb 2017

This morning we were at breakfast before eight and had left the Lodge by 0830. Our route today took us through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and the edge of Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. Some of the wildest areas accessible by road in SW Tasmania.

First, we headed back to Queenstown before climbing up a spectacularly windy road up the hills behind the town. Just past the top of the pass near Mt Owen (1192m) we stopped at the Iron Blow lookout. The whole area between Queenstown and Gormaston is riddled with mining remains, the area was hugely rich in copper and iron. Iron Blow was just one pit, now flooded, stained with minerals waste and rather lonely these days. 

We continued on through absolutely beautiful remote scenery reminiscent of the Highlands of Scotland. Traffic was extremely light too. In Derwent Bridge, we stopped for a drink at a great cafe cum fuel station called the Hungry Wombat. Quirky, but friendly!

From here the road continued through forested undulating countryside dominated by tall, mist-covered mountains. The Lyell Highway is certainly a beautiful, if somewhat slow, road.

After Hamilton, the road improved and we were able to pick up speed and after a brief stop to eat fruit and a hot cross bun for lunch in the car, we arrived at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hobart around 1330. The gardens are free and nicely laid out and easy to walk around too. We covered most of it, but missed the Japanese Garden as a wedding was taking place there.

After a couple of hours there, we headed over the Hobart bridge to the town of Lindisfarne where we found our B&B Orana House. It's a beautiful colonial bungalow with a view across the Derwent River to Hobart and Mt Wellington. Our family room has 3 single beds and a double spread across a suite of 3 rooms!

At around 1730, we headed into Hobart and the waterfront area. The Wooden Boat Festival is taking place there this weekend. As the name suggests, there are hundreds if wooden boats gathered here. Some of the largest are huge three masted schooners, one from the Jubilee Sailing Trust from Southampton. There are lots of smaller boats too. Moored right at the back is an enormous cruise ship. It looks out of place with all the other small craft here.

It's rather nice being back in civilisation and having internet access! At least we can book some accommodation in Adelaide now!