Summer snow in Hobart

We started this morning very optimistic, layered up again against the cold and wind, and looking forward to our Botanic Gardens and Mt Wellington tour.

The gardens were sunny, and are the second oldest in Australia, which made them also quite historic and interesting.

The drive up to Mt Wellington was pleasant and we could see the top all the way. As we were ready to get off the bus the clouds moved in, the rain came down, and then snow came down, the wind got up, and the blizzard started.  It was awesome! No view of the city below, but lots of  snow.

Left over snow on the ground

The view on the way back down

The view from our cabin, as we set sail back for Sydney. We are sailing out along the Derwent River, the sun is shining, it is very cool with our balcony door open, but we are enjoying the scenery and our last few sights of Hobart. Pointing to Mt Wellington.  I love it when they sound the ships horn, just did it three times as we head to the mouth of the river and say goodbye to Hobart.

Port Arthur

It is our first visit to Tasmania and was quite a moving visit to historic Port Arthur. There are many layers to it’s history and our tour guide did an excellent job explaining all the details and bringing it all to life.  After lunch, we headed back out for a few photo opportunities with less crowds, climbed up to the lookout, dodged showers (glad we dressed in many layers for the cold and had our rain jackets) and enjoyed a few hours exploring on our own. The change in weather was rapid from sunny to rainy and back to sunny was only about 8 degrees, not a typical summer day!

A day in Eden

Eden is a small but picturesque fishing village on the southern coast of NSW.  It was lovely to get off the ship and spend 1/2 day walking up and down the very hilly and windy main street and coast line. It has great historic interpretive signs, and many tributes to its past whaling industry.  

Also collected another couple of geocaches along the coast line. The box was covered in sea shells.

We are enjoying the onboard ship activities such as the Rock through the Ages musical concert last night, boy those singers and dancers pumped it out for a full hour! Our cabin and ship have had a recent refurb, and we are taking it easy as far as food goes, it is so tempting to over eat. 

 

So a whole day at sea tomorrow, which means a day of catching up with a book lent to me called “A man called Ove”, a gym work out, a movie, another  show, dinner at the Chinese Restaurant, and who knows what else we may get up to.

Taste of Tasmania

We are off tomorrow on a P&O Cruise for a short trip to Tasmania.  We have never been, and would love to take our caravan over and go for a few months.  So this is just a “taste”, to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Sydney to Sydney, 6 nights on the P&O Pacific Explorer.

0

Our newest little Australian

Ayla Grace Hovell, now 2 1/2 months old

All things Australian

Iconic “Dog on the Tucker Box”. Gundagai. Errected 1932 to honour pioneers.

(Road trip Finley to Sydney today)

Seriously? #5

Australia Day celebrations at Everton bus stop, country Victoria on the Bright Wangaratta road.

Bright and Beautiful

A quick turn around and we were all packed up with camping gear and took the 2 oldest to Bright in Victoria for 4 days camping on the Ovens River.  

Bright is at the foot of the Victorian Alpine district, and our usual stopping off point when we head up the Alps to Mt Hotham for skiing.  The kids wanted a camping experience, but we ruled out bush camping because we wanted the security of a Holiday Park, so we could have a day out on nearby Mt Buffallo and climbed to the summit -Mt Horn, without worrying about leaving all our gear.

We also walked the 3.6 km Bright Canyon walk in high 30’s temp. Kids couldn’t resist getting soaked , fully clothed on the way back in the river.  The Ovens has a huge gold history, so there were lots of interpretive boards along the way, plus a swing bridge and our 4th geocache of the trip.

The holiday park had a pool, mini golf 18 holes, was very picturesque, over run with kids (but it was still school holidays), had a river running through the middle which was great for cooling off, and very central to the town centre. We kept meals quick and easy and the Kids had a fabulous time.

Bright is even more spectacular in autumn, we will have to go back again.

As fun as it was for a change, we are looking forward to our first trip out with our caravan.  Probably March!

Melbourne Beaches

Two things were about to happen on Friday and Saturday,  Finley was going to be in the mid 40’s again and we were to mind the kids whilst J&J went to Melbourne for their wedding anniversary. We weren’t keen to be stuck indoors with 4 kids arguing over whose turn it was on the Wii, computer, Tv and ipad. We had just finished 2 weeks of daily swimming lessons for each one of the kids, so felt it was time to find a beach.  Not the sandy banks of the Murray River aka Finley Beach, but a real beach.

So 3 hours and 20 minutes away we arrived at Altona beach on Melbourne’s west side.  It was fabulous, nice calm clear cooling water, a sea breeze, fish and chips, and then on to a Big 4 caravan park, with an equally inviting pool, and a huge 3 bedroom airconditioned cabin. Kids loved the tv in each bedroom.

On Saturday we drove 20 minutes to Williamstown, also a beach and marina.  The HMAS Castlemaine a WW2 mine sweeper is anchored and restored, and we all had lots of fun exploring it.  We had time for a geocache, lunch and a “palm tree” pose.  See earlier post.

Overall we had a great time minding the kids, as Princess Whingy Pants (aka Jaydes alter ego) stayed home in Finley.  Hope camping in Bright Vic. Next week will be just as exciting.

.

Travelling in Style

In November when we were in Cairns we spotted a great Off Road caravan in Melbourne. (just our luck, we were not in Finley - 3 hours away) Derek flew down, fell in love with it and it was ours. It is 15 foot, ensuited and fully capable for bush camping including corregated roads.

We decided that the weather is too cold in southern Australia for far too much of the year - 9 months, and we needed (yes needed not wanted) a camper in which we could cook and eat in warmth.  Our hiace is fabulous for Qld weather, nice warm mornings and evenings sitting outside under the side awning, but was not working for us in Victoria. There are so many pros and cons for having a campervan or a caravan, but in the end I don't think we will be keeping both.

Jenna and Jordan wanted to join in on our little adventure, so they came with us to Shepparton to get modifications done to the Landcruiser including the very necessary tow bar fitted. We stayed overnight, and with much excitement we drove to Melbourne to get the van and back to ARB in Shepparton to complete the modifications with the van attached.  Another over nighter this time in a cabin at a Big 4 Caravan Park so they could have some fun in the pool, games room and playing cricket and on the jumping pillow, and then another whole day in Shep, before we could bring "her" home. She is such a little cutie - but very decieving. So spacious and robust.  It was a great 3 days hanging out with Jenna and Jordan, they are tons of fun, always making us laugh.

Outside ARB

Back home - not much bigger than my car.

Thank you for following.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our family and friends.

We have come to realise that we are not goal setters, meaning we do not seem to set goals, instead we have wish lists which takes care of our travelling about and to do lists to take care of all the other things.

To achieve this, we are planners  -  always putting our lists into action - so this down time in January back in Finley  is a perfect time for us to spend time with family, and start filling in our "yearly planner", and making our to do lists happen - although not everything is set in concrete, and we do allow ourselves some flexibility.