Day 4 - Coles Bay

After breakfast we are now bound for the East coast.   This morning we stop at Tasman’s Arch and Devil’s Kitchen for a photo op…..amazing natural features.  Further on we divert to Richmond, Australia's finest Georgian village, with an array of antique and craft shops…very quaint.

The Tasmanian roads are one-laned and quite narrow.  There would be nowhere to pull over if you were in difficulty and the amount of ‘road kill’ we see along the way is really distressing – kangaroos, wallabies, a wombat…the list is extensive.   The scenery however, is stunning.  You are never far from the water and the coastline is breathtaking.  We finally arrive at “Edge of the Bay” where we are booked for the evening and almost immediately are visited by a local.

Day 3 - Port Arthur

A visit to the Salamanca Markets starts our third day then we are off to Avis to pick up our car.  It’s about 98 kilometres to Port Arthur.  We stop at Sorrell for lunch and at other tourist lookouts along the way including Eaglehawk’s Neck.  It’s here we visit Tasman’s Arch and the Blowhole.  There is some stunning views in this part of the world.   As we travel along the road through Dunalley there is just miles of scarred trees and landscape from the dreadful bushfires a few months ago. 

We are staying at the Cascades Colonial accommodation which housed convicts during the 19^th century.  Our room is the “Workshops”  and is a very spacious, self-contained unit.  There is also a small museum housing artifacts and historical documents.   It’s about a 15 minute drive to the Port Arthur Historical site which is huge.  Some cruel and unjust punishment was dealt out over the years for crimes as menial as stealing a handkerchief.  We spend the afternoon walking around this important stage of Australian history, dine at the restaurant “Felons” and then join the ‘Ghost Tour’.  Carrying lanterns we are led around the site and told various stories of ghostly tales.  Not nearly scary enough for GC!

Day 2 - Hobart

We are off to MONA today!  It’s about a five to ten minute walk to the dock.  The MONA Flyer has only been operating for two weeks and from the shades of grey “camo” paint job to the sheep and cow on the back deck, you just know this is just the start of something very quirky!

Thirty minutes later we arrive at MONA where we climb 99 stairs to enter though a reflective entrance before descending three levels to begin this amazing journey.  There are some amazing installations……there are also some that are just plain wrong!  A “poo” making machine…….seriously?   After lunch we head upstairs to the wine tasting room…..a fatal mistake!

Tonight we stay in the hotel for dinner.  Very nice – everybody is very friendly and more than willing to offer any assistance you may want.

The MONA Roma

In the 'bowels' of the gallery

Ego much?  God's Mistress also had a parking spot :)

Nice ride

Lunch!

28th March 2012 - Hobart

Apart from setting the alarm an hour late (that's what you get when you try to concentrate at 12.30am!) I somehow managed to wake up (thanks to hubby) with a half hour to spare.  Who'd have thought I could do shower, hair AND make-up in 30 minutes and still make the 6.00am flight!

Landing in Hobart and venturing down the stairs onto the tarmac, we are confronted with a very quaint, little airport with enough space for one aircraft at a time.  A 30 minute taxi ride into the city ($42) and we arrive at Henry Jones Art Hotel, which is the old IXL jam factory, full of unbelievable history and extraordinary art works. Room not ready so we head over to the Salamanca area and lunch at "Smolt".  Not the seafood restaurant we were promised but very good nevertheless.

Taxi ride to the Cascade Brewery where we meet up with "Louisa's Walk", an interactive, historic walk.  The actors talk us through the journey of 'Louisa" who has been deported to Van Dieman's Land for seven years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her three sons  The tour encompasses the Women's Factory where all the  convict women were sent to serve their time under incredible duress.  A very interesting tour.

Finally back at the hotel we check out our room then head down to the bar.  After work and the place is buzzing!  Lots of conversation with random strangers then we head across to Mures - an iconic seafood restaurant just across from the hotel.

Hobart is lovely......a surprisingly quaint city with a wonderfully relaxed ambience.