05.02 Tas: Strahan
Our trip from Tarraleah to Strahan took us through the mining town of Queenstown. As we were approaching Queenstown the we noticed that the scrub changed from bush to bare rock! This was caused by trees on the surrounding hills being cut down to fuel smelters and then the topsoil was washed away by heavy rains, leaving the bare, coloured rocks and the odd lunar landscape! We finally made it to Strahan! We arrived early evening to find that there were no free campsites! After a bit of a drive around we noticed that there was some tents errected out the back of the Strahan Backpackers YHA. However, when we got to the office it was closed! So we just put ourselves in the corner and set up for the night! The facilities were very good, with an excellent kitchen (standard YHA) and shower/toilets!   Labels: big_trips, joanna, piners_punt, stahan, tas_day_5, tasmania, west
05.02 Tas: Tarraleah
We had a quick picnic stop at the Tarraleah Hydro Powerstation, yes I know all the good places!! Tarraleah is a small town built to house the builders of the powerstation, however the town is now completely owned by a single family. A drive through the brightly coloured town reminded me a bit of the houses in Edward Scissorhands, and even the Truman Show!     Labels: big_trips, derwent_valley, hydro_powerstation, photos, tarraleah, tas_day_5, tasmania
05.02 Tas: Bushy Park Hop Fields
05.02 Tas: New Norfolk Hop Museum
Our trip from Hobart to Strahan took us through the Derwent Valley, which is famous for hop growing. Tasmania is unique as the hops are grown without the use of pesticides, as they have no pests! In New Norfolk they have a Hop Museum, so we just had to go and have a look!!   Links to home! The press (that you couldn't see) apparently came from Maidstone. There wasn't any more specific information than this unfortunately.   Labels: big_trips, derwent_valley, hops, museum, new_norfolk, oasthouse, photos, tas_day_5, tasmania
05.02 Tas: Hobart City
We parked the car up on the quay side and decided to have a bit of a wander. We had seen earlier on the tv while having breakfast that the Greenpeace ship Esperanza was in port after chasing the Japanese whaling fleet in the southern ocean. It wasn't open when we got there though. So we went and had a little something to eat at Battery Point, and Joanna also had a little time to play on the swings in Arthur's Circus!! While we were eating we were passed by an old London bus being used as the City Tour Bus! Hobart was a very pretty place, situated on the water and nestled in the surrounding hills.           Labels: arthurs_circus, battery_point, big_trips, city_tour_bus, esperanza, h_jones_building, hobart, ixl_building, photos, scalamanca_arts_centre, tas_day_5, tasmania
05.02 Tas: Margate
All aboard the last passenger train to run in Tasmania!! Yes they don't have any domestic rail services, yet, obviously with our Deloraine experience they do run freight train services! This train at Margate houses the 'i' or information centre and a pancake place amongst other things! Ingenious!   Labels: big_trips, joanna, margate, margate_train, photos, southeast, tas_day_5, tasmania
05.02 Tas: Snug Beach
We stayed at the Snug Beach Cabin and Caravan Park, which was situated next to the beach! The camp kicthen here was very basic, it didn't have a stove or oven but two electric barbeques, which you had to pay for!! Anyway, it was the perfect spot to head into Hobart.  Labels: big_trips, camping, magna, photos, snug_beach, southeast, tas_day_5, tasmania
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