No need for words. I will let my pictures tell the story, although they don’t show the sheer beauty of Cradle Mountain as experienced in person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have spent a few days discovering the award-winning pinot noir, riesling and sparkling wines from the cool-climate vineyards of the Tamar Valley. We followed the Tamar Valley Wine Route northward from Launceston on both banks of the Tamar River and eastward to the vineyards of the Pipers River area. We took many a pause to taste the region’s acclaimed Tasmanian wines and sample the best of fresh local Tasmanian produce in the vineyard restaurants along the way and enjoyed the majestic views over the vineyards and across the Tamar River to the mountains beyond.

After leaving the Tamar Valley yesterday, we drove across the top of Tasmania, visiting Burnie and Penguin on the way, and arriving in Stanley for a few days stay. The countryside, like other states in Australia, varies so much from area to area. The paddocks are rolling green here, a huge contrast to the bush and beach area we enjoy at home.

We have had beautiful sunny days after very cool starts. Today is the first day we are experiencing some cooler winds so may take advantage of this and stay cosy in the van and catch up on some work…. earn a bit of money for a change !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a quick post to show you our beautiful view on our way up the Tamar this morning taken at Windermere. The temperature was minus 1. We love everything about the frosts and the fogs, but always rug up including woolly gloves this morning. I am now the proud owner of many boots, gloves and beanies !!!! Mind you, it is now sunny and warmer. Mal is in a T.Shirt !

For those that wish to leave a comment just click on the comment tab below each post and now register. (you should only need to do this once…. it will help me block out the annoying junk comments I receive from those wonderful guys trying to sell watches, Viagra etc…. I don’t think Mal has bought anything yet ???)

 

 

 

We have been camped by the Esk River in Longford for a few days, just south of Launceston. The area is so pretty with the bare deciduous trees, green paddocks and amazing old stone homes everywhere. This morning we had our first frost for our trip, with the temperature  only 1 degrees. Tomorrow is minus 1 so should be interesting. Thank goodness we invested in the new diesel heater for the van, so have been very comfortable, but have to always remember to layer our clothes!! With the frosts, come stunning clear days, so it has been beautiful. Had a delicious lunch at the well known Josef Chromy Vineyard yesterday, after visiting the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania (Mal’s favourite).  We also, amongst many other things, visited the Design Tasmania Centre in Launceston. Murray, look up their website designtasmania.com.au. You would love it. All the stunning furniture is made in Tasmania from beautiful local timber… many of the pieces would look incredible in a home. I will have to start saving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We left home last Monday in the caravan and after saying “go left or right?”, headed up the east coast stopping the first three nights on the beach at Chain of Lagoons just north of Bicheno. It is a beautiful area….the area where we fell in love with Tassie first. The green paddocks meet the ocean. We lit the campfire every night…. and yes we were warm. The beaches are full of shells, in areas at least 30cm deep. Rosie and Creed, I collected some to add to your collection near the swings, back at our bush block. Your shells are still spread out how you left them, although the possums do mess them up occasionally.

The next spot we camped was on the beach at the Bay of Fires east of St Helens. Incredibly clear blue water and very white sand. Today we visited the Pyengana Dairy Company who have been producing English-style cheddar cheese in the Pyengana Valley for three generations and over one-hundred years. We now have a frig of delicious cheeses including some more of the cheese you and Dennis bought us Di !! After that we headed to the Pub in the Paddock for lunch…. very average lunch but a beautiful valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In our last post, we mentioned our visit to the Cadbury Factory in Hobart. I now understand why Mal had such an attachment to the chocolates. There was a large photo of a man by the surname of Fry in the Gallery and I mentioned to Mal that maybe he was a relative of his (his Mum is a Fry). We forgot all about it then, until we were chatting to Mal’s Mum yesterday about Cadburys, and she mentioned that Mal’s Grandfather’s cousin started Fry’s Chocolates in Tassie which was later bought by Cadburys. Small world. Now Mal wants to revisit the factory as a descendant of the original owner….. any excuse.