Tasmania, the hidden jewel of Australia 2010/08/01-15 day14-15 end of trip

We drove to somewhere near Devonport and tried to a campsite or a creek to camp anywhere. In the end, we found one.

Woke up very early because we were supposed to be at the ferry terminal at 7.30am to queue in the car loading section. Got a bit of breakfast. Luckily we managed to find our way without much fuss to the ferry terminal with a map.

Somehow even though we boarded early, the ferry didn’t depart until like 9am???

Guessed what? This is a 9-11hrs ferry ride!!! It’s my maiden longest ferry voyage!!! LOL. Well, luckily i’m not boarding it alone, lol.

From the time i boarded the ferry, i have been exploring the ship as you will see with the pics below.


How much is it for an hour internet usage?? lol…


I’m on board the ship called Spirit of Tasmania. We only bought the day ride ticket, with no seat allocation, no cabins for zzzz, no ocean recliners on the ship deck. Still, there are ways around it, people sleep on the benches…etc.

Tasmania, the hidden jewel of Australia 2010/08/01-15 day 13

We woke up as soon as the first day light hits.

Guessed who’s the unexpected guest that came and visit us last night? It’s a fat possum, lol. Someone mentioned it in the log book and we were aware of its presence as soon as we heard scratching noise over the roof, and it will come into the hut through the opening on top of the door which is apparently big enough for a fat possum to squeeze and came in to steal food and poo, lol.

We had fun playing with the possum, we even saw its head peeping through the opening. Alex even waited for the possum to peep through the opening again with a wooden baseball bat, lol. Though in the end, we didn’t hit it, but we managed to kinda scare it away up onto the pine tree next to the hut. To be cautious, we blocked the opening with a piece of wood which is what you saw on the upper left pic :)


The hut still under shade as the sun rises…

 
Dixon’s kingdom in clear skies…yeah!!! Click to view enlarge photo!!!

Tasmania, the hidden jewel of Australia 2010/08/01-15 day12

The next morning, we had a better day with a bit of sun light.


The trapper’s hut and the creek next to the hut.


Today’s aim was to get to Dixon’s kingdom!!! SOund somewhat fantasy right??!! That’s how the different features in this small national park are named!!! When i first saw all these names while reading on the net, it make me anticipate and looking forward to it so much because i like fantasy stuff!!! LOL. The walk/hike wasn’t really hard all the way, it’s kinda undulating but the weather wasn’t great and it’s pretty wet from the rain yesterday.

Tasmania, the hidden jewel of Australia 2010/08/01-15 day 11

The next morning, we headed for our final destination of this Tasie trip – Walls of Jerusalem National park. Walls of Jerusalem is another World heritage area of Tasmania linked with the greater world heritage area. This national park is a small one compared to the others, but full of of backcountry unspoilt alpine wilderness. Tell you what??!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH!!!! You’ll see why when you read on!!!

It was a bit of a drive to the car park of the national park, and it was raining, LOL. There’s no car there other than ours. And there’s a sign there saying park at your own risk, LOL. Alex was cursing why put that sign up?? Now he don’t feel so at ease of leaving his car there. Apparently, because this car park is not guarded and so isolated, hence there’s been a few car break in that occurred here.

Nonetheless, despite the weather and the sign, LOL, we are GOING IN!!!! Yeah!!!


The first bit of walking wasn’t so bad, it’s pretty flat.


Alex registering the group at the information and registration shelter.

Tasmania, the hidden jewel of Australia 2010/08/01-15 day 10

Today we left the beautiful Lake.St Clair National park for a 3 hours ish ride back to Cradle mountain National park to retrieve Alex’s frozen car, lol. As there’s no transport available during this season, we have to arrange our own charter and it cost all AUD$400-500??!! for the 3 of us for that ride. Can’t complain even though it’s a lot, it’s the only way of getting out and around, other charters or taxi offer higher or similiar price.

It’s good for us especially Alex since he can have 3 hours of rest and worried not bout driving.

Above is the backpacker lodge we stayed the night and lake st.clair jetty on the right hand side picture.

It’s a calm morning…as we left.


Rolling mountains along the ride


The Frenchman cap!!! Can you see it?? it’s the white pointed sharp peak in the middle. The driver said it might not be snow but the way the rock already is. The Frenchman cap was named so because of the way the peak looks like a frenchman cap when they saw it. The route up and a circuit takes 3 days??? and it’s pretty hard.