Cataract gorge

A couple of days ago I walked along the cataract gorge with a friend. It takes about an hour there and back .The path climbs up along the river which turns into a little gorge. There were lots of people as it was a beautiful day. This is probably a good as it gets around Launceston.

Launceston

I've spent a couple of days drifting around Launceston. This is an old industrial area that was turned I into a big museum. The sort of traditional museum you find in a medium small town; natural history with stuffed animals, dinosaurs and stones, local history and war history. Like the rest of Australia not much about the aboriginals. But hey, I get it, if I were a white aussie I would also like to deny and forget about it. 

 I also visited a park. Really nice one. Tonight there's gonna be a symphony concert there. But now I'm in a hostel way outside Launceston. So I won't even be able to stand on the other side of the fence and sneak-listen.

Lilydale falls

Yesterday was a warm day. So I ventured out into the bush and spent a night at the campground by the Lilydale falls. The falls was a pathetic little trickle after a dry summer. But it was nice to sit in the shade of the trees and dip my feet in the water. 

Bruny Island

As I left Hobart I went south and took the ferry to Bruny Island.

 
I stayed two nights at a campsite by the neck, the narrow piece of land in between South and North Bruny.

I went for a long walk on the beach. 

Through the sand dunes and up a hill. Where I met a man who caught a blue tounged lizard. 

The next day I was offered a seat in a big four wheel vehicle with half a family on vacation in Tasmania. They drove further south out to the light house and across a beach. It was a great opportunity to see more of a peaceful and beautiful island. 

Salamanca market

Today was my last day in Hobart. I did a return to Salamanca market which I really enjoy.

Here is some more of Hobart's street art:

Mount Wellington

Yesterday I went up Mount Wellington. 

The top:

 First I passed two small waterfalls.

 Then a cave that's named after a murderer, Rocky Whelan, who hid from the authorities there.

 I walked through the bush.... and as I got higher the scrub.

 Strarted getting glimpses of the view...

. ..and the top.

 Kept going. ...

... and going ...

. ..until I got over the edge and almost was blown off my feet. I had been on the sheltered side and even though I was prepared for the wind the force of it surprised me.

 I hurried into the shelter and had a short rest.

 Then I went down again :-)

 I spotted two wallabies just below the peak.

Mount Nelson

This afternoon I went up Mount Nelson and was rewarded with a view of the bay.

 And in the other direction Hobart from above.

 I decended through the bush on a small path. I took care where I put my feet, but I didn't see a single snake.

 On the way back I paddled through the water in Sandy Bay where the wealthy people of Hobart live.

 But who wouldn't want to live by the sea in such a sunny and warm place?

MONA

A couple of days ago I visited Museum Of New and Modern Art just outside Hobart. It was big and left me feeling confused more than anything else.

Echidna

These buggers are hard to photograph as they curl up to a ball when you get too close.