We crammed in so much, but it felt like a truly relaxing and soul nourishing break. Especially at a time when our work life is going through some turbulence!
Day 1 - Hobart
We flew overnight from Singapore to Hobart in Tasmania and had a full day wandering around MONA when we arrived. MONA stands for Museum of Old and New Art and is a really quirky and interesting place. Lots of art themed around sex or death, along with live jazz, trippy light installations and stunning restaurants, all hidden along an underground maze. We ate and drank at Faro where the food and views were matched in their brilliance. Who'd have thought plonking a massive sphere in the middle of a room would look so good?
Despite it being a Saturday there wasn't any real nightlife, which came as a bit of a surprise considering Hobart is the main city in Tasmania. We eventually found a couple of jazz musicians and I began what was to become my daily routine of drinking Tassie pinot noir.
Day 2 - Freicynet, Wineglass Bay, Bicheno
A delightful little farmers market was open so we stocked up on Tasmanian pepper, bread, cheese and gin before driving to Freicyenet National Park and the Wineglass Bay area, known for its stunning views of the bay, which as you've probably guessed, looks like a wine glass. We had a lovely little walk taking in the views and, of course, taking terrific selfies.
We tried and failed to see little penguins in Bicheno that evening (pretty sure we were at the wrong part of the beach), then got in an early dinner before the kitchen closed at 7.30pm - something which we came to realise was standard pretty much everywhere in Tassie!
Day 3 - Bay of Fires, Weldborough
We detoured a little to reach the Bay of Fires and I am so glad we did as it was a slice of coastal heaven with white sand and orange hued granite. The Garden was our favourite area, where we stopped to clamber over rocks and take it all in.
On the way back we stopped at a place called Anson Bay and ate lunch on a boat pier looking out at a huge lake with no other visible life but for a few birds (including one mahusive pelican!)
After lunch we drove to Little Blue Lake which looked as though the saturation had been turned up. The brightest blue water, paired with green trees all around and large white rocks. Absolutely stunning, and so different from anything we had seen previously.
If these places were anywhere else, they'd be heaving with tourists. What I love about Tassie is that you can go somewhere incredible and be the only ones there.
We ended the day by going on a dusk to dark walk in a tiny village called Weldborough. Not much to say about Weldbourough as it appeared to consist of a hotel and little else. The walk was stunning though and would be epic for off-road biking.
Day 4 - Mount Victoria Reserve, Launceston, Devenport
We drove through Mount Victoria Reserve, stopping at St Columbia Falls, Ralph Falls and a little cheese factory along the way to Launceston.
We were in Launceston by the late afternoon so walked along Cateract Gorge (lovely name) and took a cable car over the lake at the top as the sun went down. We continued on driving all the way to Devenport, our base for the night.
Day 5 - Sheffield, Cradle Mountain, Tullah
We passed through a tiny village called Sheffield, complete with a marble shop, a few wacky cafes, an antique shop and hundreds of murals covering the walls. I'm so glad we got to see this little gem on the way through.
We then drove up to Cradle Mountain and hiked up to Marions Lookout and back down to Dove Lake. It was exceptional. Hardly anyone along the track. Large plains of bush and grass (and the odd wombat), rocky faces to scramble up, icey snow at the top, and views for miles.
We headed to Tullah and found a pub. We played chess as the sun set over the mirror lake behind us. I reckon I only lost the game because I was distracted by the view...
Day 6 - Strahan
We took the West Coast Wilderness Railway from Strahan which included champagne and brekkie. It was fun chugging along and interesting to hear that the path was all knocked out and built by tools alone (i.e. no explosives). It sounded pretty horrendous to have worked in the wet and cold for so long, but the payoff was large when the trainline eventually started running and transported copper to Queenstown.
After the train we watched a fantastic 2-man play called The Ship That Never Was. It is the longest running play in Australia so it wasn't surprising that it was incredibly well done.
We stayed in a beautiful AirBnb called Stables - the best place we'd stayed so far on the trip with all its wooden panels and large rugs.
Day 7 - The Wall
Most of the day was spent driving or at the airport waiting for our delayed flight. However, The Wall made it a day to remember. A man called Greg Duncan has self-funded a project, carving a sculpture in 100m of wood. It is sculpture like I have never seen, with the veins on hands, or the strands of hair being carved so delicately it is hard to believe it's not real. No pics I'm afraid.
Day 8 & 9 - Daylesford
Saturday marked the wedding of our friends at Quirindi Stables. So much fun, so much champagne, so much pain the next day nursing our hangovers.
Day 10 - Grampians
On the way out of Daylesford we stopped at Lavendula Farm. Imagine a children's book of a farm and that is pretty much what you get - it had everything down to the little chicks, a cafe for scones and tea and a lake. We arrived at Hall's Gap at dinner time and our Aussie dreams came true when we saw about a hundred kangaroos grazing in the field outside our lodge.
Day 11 - Grampians
A kangaroo joined us for breakfast about 2 metres away on our little balcony. Cute when bent over, terrifying when standing up.
We walked up to the Pinnacle Lookout and almost got blown off the cliff. Wind, then rain, then sun, then hail.. the weather was crazy.
After the Pinnacle we drove over to McKenzie Falls and the Balconies for some more spectacular views over the Grampians.
Day 12 - Grampians, Port Fairy
We met some local friends who took us on a walk to Beehive Falls and up to Briggs Bluff. It was only about 13k but a killer going up such steep inclines. The view was out of this world.
We drove to Port Fairy in the evening which looked like a lovely place. However we were just there to eat and sleep before driving onto the Great Ocean Road the next day.
Day 13 - Great Ocean Road, Lorne
We snuck in a quick game of mini golf then drove along the Great Ocean Road. There were helicopters flying overhead so we made a very rash decision to swing in to the office and inquire. Before we knew it we were up in the air looking down on the GOR, the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and the Bay of Islands. The weather was sunny on one side and raining on the other, very cool to look at from up above. A very impulsive but utterly fantastic experience.
We headed on to Lorne as we had been recommended the Eskine Falls hike. As sunset was fast approaching, we drove to the top of the falls then ran/walked all the way down. Jumping across the river, climbing over and under trees, scrambling up rocks. Felt like Lara Croft. Looked like an Adventure Scout.
Day 14 - Melbourne
Phil ran up to Erskine Falls to collect the car then we drove over to Melbourne to meet a friend for lunch. We spotted a seal in the Yarra River which, after googling, learnt was called Salvatore.
We had a night out with some other friends in the evening. Lots of dancing, a bit of singing, and another sore head the next day.
Day 15 - Melbourne
I borrowed a bike from the hotel and rode along the river from Richmond up to the city. I didn't realise rowing was so popular in Melbourne. Every 50 meters there was a boat and a cyclist on a loudspeaker belting them instructions.
I can't believe how much we fitted in to just 2 weeks. The scenery, the wildlife, the people. Everything was even better than I imagined. Australia - you've done it again.
