TASMANIA TRIP {Hobart}

We were suitably cold when we arrived in Tasmania.
It felt nice and fresh from where we'd come.
I mean it felt freezing.

Hobart is very beautiful and we were very surprised by the harbour and all the hills.
Views from everywhere you look! The houses looked old, felt foreign and yards small.

We drove straight into the city, couldn't find anywhere to park the massive rental van.

Got lost driving through gorgeous original houses probably hundreds of years old.

Decided to drive straight up the mountain while promising very hungry children that we would stop at the first food place we find { we didnt find - hmmm an on going problem we encounted!}

Half way up Mt Wellington it started to rain. It was freezing cold.

We see a cute revamped caravan turned into a food van and make a stop.

In the freezing wind and cold and not yet wearing socks we dashed out and got pies and hot chocolate.

Near by was a picnic hut. I turned a corner to see it filled with people it seemed were having a private function. I apologised an went to turn back into the rain and they said 'no, no come on in...'

Inside was a roaring FIRE! I couldn't believe it. It was so cozy and comforting.

Inside were a group of disabled people out with their carers for the day.
They offered us marshmallows to toast and ushered us to the fire and we had a nice chat.

I asked who lit the fire? Did you? No they answered - the department of forestry {or whomever} often light the fires for those that may be cold.

I thought it was the cutest thing ever!
No roaring fires or people lighting them for the general public incase they are stuck up the mountain or cold, where I am from.

A roaring fire within an hour or so of arriving was exactly what we needed!

^^The view from on top Mt Wellington

The clouds were going in and out. A slight rain started to fall. Immediately I knew it felt different.
I wasn't getting wet and it just had a different feeling.
I looked and looked and put my hand out. My dark jacket was getting white flakes on it.
I started screaming ITS SNOWING! ITS SNOWING!
The girls were so excited. They have never seen snow, and here on the first days of summer on the first day of our holidays it was snowing on us! It is such a treasured memory.

^^ Her favourite food in the world. Freddo Frogs.


Our next stop was the cadbury factory. As a child I went to visit the Cadbury Factory in Tasmania only to discover when we got there, that it closes down for the WHOLE of January. We were devastated and its been a funny family story ever since. However since that time they sadly had to stop the real tours of the factory due to work place health and safety {makes it even more sad that we never got to see it!} Even more sad is that the week we were in Tasmania was the LAST week ever of the small informational video  and chocolate shop tour. Even though it wasn't the real thing like when I was a kid, we still got to go in and see the end of an era. The lady doing the tour seemed a little sad about it.

Also did you know that Kraft owns Cadbury? And that it was an aggressive takeover.
Never let your shares in your own company slip below 51%!! or you could LOSE it!


Then finally on to our Motel. Finding affordable accomodation for 6 was tricky in Tasmania.
Many Hotels wanted us to book two suites pushing the price to crazy $500-700night.  No Way.

So functional but dated Motel it was for us. We were so spoilt to have friends in Hobart feed us dinner the first night which was so wonderful and such a relief, and I was so hungry!
Such a tender blessing and so nice to catch up with them.

^^View from the Tower Motel.


Sadly we didn't really get to see much of Hobart. The next day we had to be up early.
A big drive ahead of us. We needed to get to Strahan. We had 5 days to circumnavigate Tassie.

Next stop Russel Falls.

Stay tuned for next installment :)

This was our childrens first time in a plane. It was pretty exciting to be with people who veiwed all aspects of flying as special. The airport, the security, pulling your luggage, the flight attendants, looking out the window, taking off and landing {two felt woosy}. They were good travellers.


Whole Trip Here:


Hobart to Strahan
Strahan, Gordon River, Henty Dunes
Strahan to Launceston
Launceston to Port Arthur


This was basically the route we took for reference.