After a very early flight yesterday morning we arrived in Australia to bright sun and a transfer at Melbourne Airport to Hobart.
A bit classier inside...
First sight of Australia...
On the flight over to Hobart we met a lovely lady named Julie who at the end of our hour long chat, presented us with her address and phone number and told us to not be shy and to plan to stay with her when we return to Hobart this Sunday. I'm always surprised by the kindness of strangers when we travel...very touching and such a wonderful way to meet new people and learn about where they live!
We secured our new pony at the airport and found our way into Hobart to arrange a new SIM card for our phone, purchase supplies and to generally get our domestic chores done. That took the rest of the afternoon and after a very late, but good lunch, we hit the road up to a small town called New Newport where we had learned there was a decent caravan park along the river. I think we were the last to get a spot there and as I'd managed to sleep on the flight from NZ I pointed Annemarie in the direction of the showers while I organized our newest home and made dinner. She was so tired!!
Comes with its own lizard too!
After a chilly, but refreshing sleep, no doubt helped along by a nice Aussie Pinot Gris, we were up early and on our way heading to the west coast...specifically Queenstown. The town was originated to support the copper mining in the area in the late 1800's and was a great lunch stop and place to wander for a while.
The off again along the beautifully winding roads. We stopped to see the "Wall" a place where a fellow has been wall carving for the past 5 years. Quite amazing as he is literally putting together a full size carved wall inside a very long shed. The carving of people, carts, horses, animals and items from the 1800's is amazing in its detail and craft. Unfortunately, no photos permitted, but Gord Smmons, you would be very impressed I'm sure!
We also stopped in the National park at a number of places, but the weather wasn't at its best so we took shore walks and a few photos.
On the highway we were stuck behind a slow truck for a very long way late in the day, but when we caught up at a work stoppage site I was able to snap a photo of his cargo...
He was carting bee hives...with live bees flying all over the place! 
They were all over our caravan when we stopped and he didn't seem too concerned, but then again, bees can fly a great distance to find their hives. We'd noticed hives along the road in many places where there was no agricultural activity and wondered why. Now we have our answer. Each hive weighs close to 45kgs when full of honey, so he must have had quite the load on his truck!
We are now sitting in the lodge at Cradle Valley National Park in front of a huge fire borrowing their internet...paying for it actually! We will stay in the government campsite tonight in the rain and if the weather is good we will go for an amazing walk tomorrow. If not we will press for the northeast coast area and then work our way down towards Hobart. We will do this even if we take a walking day.
Saw lots of critters today, but most of them were unfortunately sleeping on the road. However, we did see a wombat cross in front of us and I snapped his photo...and we saw two wallabies hop across in front of us in the campground...no photo.
You can't go to Tasmania and not see a wombat--or so I'm told.
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