The observation deck on Mount Wellington.
I rolled out of bed about 0600, got dressed and tossed the second load of laundry into the dryer, and folding the first batch. In the meantime Jonathan bestirred himself and we went to breakfast. Returning to the room, I finished the second laundry load, and we repacked for the next leg of our journey, a series of three day tours with John Lovell of Discover Tasmania Tours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
John was waiting for us when we came down to check out and immediately transferred our bags to his SUV. Our first destination was the top of the local peak, Mt. Wellington with its wonderfully broad vistas of Hobart and environs. The temperature at the top was 14°C/58°F, about 10°C/18°F cooler than the city below, and it was windy! I made a point to steady myself against the railing while attempting photography from the exposed wood deck several flights of stairs below the stone and glass enclosed viewing area - which we entered shortly thereafter.
The observation deck on Mount Wellington.
Looking up the river - the bridge we crossed in/out of Hobart.
Downtown Hobart.
The observation deck (from an open-air deck down slope).
Dolerite columns.
Our transportation for the next three days.
After descending the mountain, we left Hobart heading north towards Launceston. At my suggestion we stopped at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary - a sister organization to Tarkine Trails, our hosts for the Rainforest Walk/Photography Workshop. As a result of our patronage of Tarkine Trails, the admission fee was waived for us. You might subtitle the refuge, “the kangaroo lounge” for all the Forester kangaroos lying about at their leisure. You receive a small paper bag of food and instructions on how to feed the kangaroos, which we did resulting in getting kangaroo slobber all over that hand. Instructions on where and where not to scratch and rub them were also given. We wandered around the enclosure stopping at various other pens and aviaries where other critters resided. We spotted quoll, devils, koala and an assortment of birds. I did not see a wombat - I’m feeling a bit deprived on that front.
Jonathan and kangaroo - in his right hand is a bag of kangaroo kibble that you can feed them.
Tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a/k/a spotted quoll.
Quoll are nocturnal, so he's trying to nap.
The kangaroo lounge.
A joey peering out of his momma's pouch.
This joey has his feet hanging out, and he's sound asleep.
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); they aren't native to Tasmania.
Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) in the wild.
Statuary of the star attraction.
From the sanctuary, we continued north on the Midlands Highway, turning off into the village of Oatlands with its large collection of yellow sandstone buildings. We stopped into the TKO Bakery and Café for lunch and were pleased to find they had a local dish, curried scallop pie, on the menu. Jonathan and I both ordered the dish which resembles a typical pot pie with the yellow curried scallops within. It was quite tasty! From there we checked out the Callington Mill nearby - a windmill driven grain mill still in operation.
Continuing northward, the village of Ross was the next stop to see the scenic stone bridge. We also visited the local church built with yellow sandstone and pews of eucalyptus. A couple doors down the street is the Tasmanian Wool Centre - a museum and store of all things wool, especially of the Merino variety. We swung by the “Female Factory” a women’s prison complex, but didn’t go inside. With one other short stop, we were on our way to Launceston, where we have checked into the Leisure Inn/Penny Royal. After dropping our bags in our room, we walked across the driveway to the Kings Bridge Bar and Restaurant to journal with a glass of wine. Our dinner reservations are at Mudbar tonight at 2000.
Black swans (Cygnus atratus) - parents and cygnets.
Callington Mill - a wind-driven grain mill.
Inside the mill.
Some of the gearwork driving the mill - nothing was in motion when we visited.
Inside the mill.
I couldn't resist a snap of this vigourous stand of irises.
Variegated iris.
Looking up the mill - I found the stone work texture interesting, it's called 'pecked sandstone'.
Looking up the mill.
Geranium.
Ross Bridge was constructed with the local sandstone.
Closer view showing the carvings.
St John's Anglican Church, also made of sandstone.
Inside the church.
Oil lamp with reflector.
The stained glass windows.
The pews are made from eucalyptus.
This three-branched mark indicated that the object was 'owned' by the crown/government.
This sculpture is in the Wool Centre - I found it rather amusing.
Our accommodations in Launceston.
Working on the travelogue in the bar of the Kings Bridge Bar and Restaurant.
Mudbar was an excellent restaurant at the confluence of the North Esk River and the South Esk River to form the Tamar River. The short walk to/from the restaurant took us along a boardwalk along the riverfront on a pleasantly mild evening. I ordered - successfully for the first time in Tassie - a perfect Manhattan, and they even had Makers 46. Jonathan got his gin Gibson with a local gin he expressed pleasure over. For dinner I started with tempura scallops and had the soy-roasted duckling as my main. Both dishes excellent!
At last! A bar capable of a gin Gibson and a perfect Manhattan!
JDL's appetizer: yellowfin tuna, blue eye Trevalla, yuzu-seared beef, warm ponzu/sake, somen noodle.
My appetizer: Tempura scallops, yuzu custard, shaved turnip, lime segments, crisp onion.
My main: Soy-roasted duckling, Thai basil, tamarind miso, roasted parsnip, greens, Shaoxing dressing.
Jonathan's main: sesame-seared salmon, bok choy, oyster mushroom, ponzu, sherry/onion purée, scallops.
Pedestrian bridge over the river.
Sail boats docked at the marina, with the lights of a hillside Launceston neighborhood behind.
