Tasmania: Port Arthur, Hobart, Launceston and Devenport

Friday, 14/02/2020: From Triabunna we drive to Port Arthur. There is the ruins of a former penal colony (Port Arthur Historic Site), designated as a World Heritage Site. Everything commercialized and overcrowded, we decide not to go in. On the way we visit Eaglehawk Neck, where we see a blowhole, where the sea has drilled a channel through the rocks, it seems more spectacular when there is high tide. Then the Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen.

Saturday, 15/02/2020: Hobart, our first stop is the Salamanca Market, a giant market with over 300 stalls, selling Tasmanian products, ranging from fruits and vegetables to jewelry and beautiful wood and metal works. This market takes place every Saturday. We hear there should be a stand with very rare honey, which the bees collect from the flowers of the leatherwood trees. We buy a jar and have a short chat with the beekeeper, who used to work in Germany near Bielefeld and Bad Salzuflen. After a short walk through the city, we decide to drive to Mount Wellington, the house mountain. The road is very curvy and narrow and it seems that many people have the same idea. When we reach the top, the fog has just rolled in, so the view of the city and the surroundings is only clear in spots. It reminds us of Table Mountain in Cape Town. We decide to go down a bit further and stop at the parking lot of The Spring. From here, a short hike starts to the Sphinx Rock Lookout. Here we are rewarded with a very beautiful view over Hobart. Before we are down again, we stop briefly at the Cascade Brewery, which has already closed. Now it's back to the campsite. The days are just too short.

Sunday, 16/02/2020: This morning we visit the farmers market and afterwards the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). Then we head north over the Tasman Highlands until shortly before Launceston. Here we are looking for a specific campsite. The navigation leads us straight into the bush, there is no further way. So we turn around and take an unpaved road, which is also called a tourist route. Shortly before dark we find the campsite.

Monday, 17/02/2020: We visit Launceston, a beautiful little city with many older Victorian houses. It reminds us a lot of England. In the afternoon we hike along the Cataract Gorge, across the Alexandra Suspension Bridge to the Sentinel Lookout. A very beautiful tour. We drive a bit further along the Tamar River to our parking spot in Gravelly Beach, right by the river. The weather is sunny at 25 degrees during the day. However, it already gets relatively cold at night with 15 degrees, so it's important to wrap up and cuddle together.

Tuesday, 18/02/2020: Our last day in Tasmania. A short hike to the lighthouse, then we visit Devenport. Our ferry is already waiting. Tonight we are going back to the mainland Australia.