Tasmania

Australia's island state. An overnight car ferry journey from Melbourne across Bass Strait to arrive in Devonport Tasmania on the start of a new day. My first time in Tassie. Now I realise what I had been missing all these years.

Fresh air, breathtaking scenery amongst mountains and lakes, waterfalls and lovely beaches. Vibrant colours and interesting features made for many excellent photographic opportunities. I was lucky that during my time there a stationary high pressure zone provided clear blue skies warm to hot weather and gentle breezes which created mirror-like surfaces on water for spectacular reflections.

I took a circular route around the island: Devonport → Strahan → Hobart → Bruny Island → Port Arthur → Bicheno → Deloraine → Cradle Mountain → Devonport. Not only scenery but lots of birds and wildlife were also enjoyed.

 

Goodbye Melbourne, departing on the "Spirit of Tasmania" ex Port Melbourne

A colourful rocky coastline in the early morning sunshine
Taking a turn-off to explore I unexpectedly found a field of daisies with water and mountains in the distance.

A panoramic view of Stanley featuring "The Knob"
Sign of better days past - a ruin overlooking Stanley

School of Mines and Metallurgy, Zeehan. One of the many old buildings in this historic town
Hogarth Falls, Strahan

Early morning breakfast in Strahan
Strahan Harbour, a scene of calm and tranquility

Hell's Gates - the entrance to Macquarie Harbour
Cruising on the Gordon River. No sea-sickness worries travelling on the Captain's deck.

Many people enjoying the Gordon River cruise
The lunar landscape of Queenstown

An interesting juxtaposition of ruined buildings and Cafe sign
Lake St Clair

Eye-catching red lichen-covered rocks on the shore of Lake St Clair
A cottage row in Hobart

Historic properties on Arthur's Circus overlooked by Mt Wellington, Hobart
Accommodation on South Bruny Island

An albino wallaby. A resident of the Sanctuary on Sth Bruny
Bush fires on Bruny Island. Here's a water-bombing helicopter. Some ruins of the historic convict colony at Port Arthur. Here's more.
This is the oldest bridge in Australia, at Richmond. Built in 1823. One of the many fine coastal views enjoyed during the trip. This view is on the way to Bicheno.
There's a very interesting evening ghost walk at Port Arthur. This is the ruined church. The blowhole at Bicheno is a place of scenic interest...but don't get too close.
The Tessellated Pavement found on the Tasman Peninsula The automatic lighthouse on Freycinet Peninsula
Wide panoramas don't capture the full spectacle of Wine Glass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula Coles Bay looking towards the Peninsula
A panoramic view across Honeymoon Bay, Freycinet Peninsula Glacier Rock. Clear evidence of glacier action during the last Ice Age.
The beautiful Cradle Mountain looming over the peaty waters of Dove Lake Early morning reflections in Dove Lake
A panoramic view of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake shoreline Departing Devonport on the way back to Melbourne
Knyvert Falls; one of the many falls in the Cradle Mountain area The end of the last day: goodbye Tassie - the sun sets on a truly memorable holiday in Tasmania

 

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