The Spirit of Tasmania

Our ferry/cruise ship for an all night trip from Melbourne to Devonport, Tasmania

We disembarked for Tasmania at 6:30 pm on a 9 deck ferry boat that looked like and was indeed a cruise ship also. 

We arrived at 6:00 am the next morning in Devenport. We stopped for breakfast at a raspberry farm - raspberry waffles, smoothies, and raspberries and cream - Yum! 

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We also saw some elaborate wooden carvings at Campbell Town. 

The Midlands of Tasmania is mainly agriculture with a look of Nebraska but with a few more rolling hills.

We arrived in Hobart in time to attend the famous Salamanca Market - too famous judging by the crowd of humanity we had to contend with. Our visit also coincided with a major tourist event - The Taste of Tasmania.  

Our favorite cafe in Hobart

We drove to our new oceanfront lodgings in Primrose Sands near a lovely beach by the same name. We have enjoyed an afternoon at the beach during our visit. 

Overlook of Primrose Sands  - a nearly deserted beach 2 km from our rented home outside of Hobart.

The next morning we attended church with the Latter-Day Saints in Hobart. 

                          Unbelievable views of Hobart

We were able to enjoy the view of Hobart from the peak at Mt. Wellington (we drove to the top). 

We had a lovely afternoon drive through the Huon River Valley and saw some quirky things, an Paul Bunyan-type axe, a cheese farm, factory and store/restaurant with cheese made from sheep's milk, a stationary train filled with shops and curiosities.

Woodcutter's axe near Huonville, Tasmania

The train's final stop at Maygate

A New Year - Down Under

City Bath House - Melbourne

A New Year - Down Under

We left for Melbourne on Dec. 30 to get ready for our trip to Tasmania on Jan. 1. En route we stopped at an 1860s gold rush town, Castlemaine, which has been turned into an art and writers' village.  

The visitor's center at Castlemaine

From Castlemaine we went to Hanging Rock, a steep climb to a view point overlooking the surrounding countryside. 

Hanging Rock - featured in the movie - Picnic at Hanging Rock

Looks a lot like the Needles in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Who knew the dementors were waiting for us at the top

Countryside in north of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia

The next day we went to Queen Victoria's Market, out to a Vietnamese restaurant and to a fireworks program to celebrate the new year.

Louisa checking out the wares at the Queen Victoria Market

Noodle soup at its most exquisite! 

Farmers waiting for the family-friendly 9:30 pm fireworks show

Many others joined us

Gideon loved his new hair right up until this picture was taken

On our last day in Melbourne we spent touring the Shrine of Remembrance, the Royale Botonical Gardens, and various sites in downtown Melbourne before boarding our ferry for an all night trip to Tasmania.  Here are the highlight of our stay in Melbourne: 

Australia came together as a country with so many soldiers fighting and dying during World War I

Impressive words to inspire and remember

Oriental tourists love to photograph Gideon - his father is amused

The Royale Botonical Gardens - a national treasure

The Queensland Bottle Tree - our favorite

As we waited for our ferry ride to Tasmania, we explored downtown Melbourne much to our delight.

Even the Graffitti has class

The architects are not afraid to mix the old with the new

A big Chinatown - vestige of the Gold Rush days of the 1860s

St. Paul's Cathedral

Lincoln's contemplative moment

Flinders Street Train and Metro Station

Christmas in Australia

                                 Christmas in Australia

Matching pj's and a kangaroo

We are spending the holidays with our son Tyler, April and their family. We are fitting in with their Christmas traditions and enjoying the excitement of the grandchildren during this time of year. 

Christmas Eve stories - Louisa is hidden from view

Christmas pajamas

Christmas morning breakfast

Opening gifts Christmas morning

Christmas morning fun

Preston being dramatic

Louisa singing with her backup Gideon

Gideon in red

After Christmas we went on a tour of the Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo. It was an operational mine until 1954 and was the largest gold mine in Australia. The city of Bendigo purchased the mine in the 1990's and converted into a tourist attraction. 

Lincoln getting equipped for going underground

This was our tour guide - an authentic miner explaining everything

This drill made a terrible racket and he exploded simulated explosives in demonstrating mining techniques.

Poor miner children looking glum

Preston striking it rich in Australia

Post script: The Great Open Road was closed the week after Christmas because of a Christmas Day fire that destroyed 116 homes between Lorne and Apollo Bay at a place called Wye River. Here are three photos taken professionally by a news organization.