Burnie

We thought we'd spend a day discovering Burnie. First stop Makers Workshop. We booked into a paper making display.....$40 for a family ticket (2adults & 2 children) BUT in Tasmanian style they didn't charge us anything for the extra kiddies. We have found this quite often in Tasmania. They are very family friendly. 

The kids with some paper mâché characters. They were very cool.

Keira trying her hand at making paper.

Isaacs turn...

Tenae...

Although their creations would need to remain behind to dry, we were able to take a dried piece each :-)

We had a look around & the girls bought a souvenir from the glass beading lady. Lovely pendants & we grabbed a great coffee.

We had a surprise for the kiddies & it was a secret till the last second.

Cinderella at the movies .....a huge hit!!!

Burnie

We left Montagu to go back to Stanley to attempt the Nut climb (the track had been closed for maintenance the previous day). The kids made it up. There was a lot more on top than I expected....a lovely circuit walk with numerous lookouts.

Finished our evening with a trip to Fernglade where I saw my first platypus :-) we thought we'd try our luck for a little penguin (even though it's the very last week of the season)....score for us. We saw about 15 cute little penguins drag themselves from the cold water. We probably would have seen more but 9pm & Charlotte was DONE! a lovely afternoon :-)

Arthur River

We took a lovely cruise on Arthur River today. It was a small operation....the MV George Robinson. What a lovely day!!! It was like being invited over for lunch at a mates house.  So warm & friendly. It was a 14km river cruise. Tea & coff reserved on board..Keira even helped clear the coffee cups. Stop & a small walk for lunch...a BBQ deep in the Tasmanian Wilderness. 

Isaac helping to dock for lunch.

A walk before lunch!

A friendly visitor looking for lunch scraps...

Arthur River...one of Tasmania's last untouched rivers.

Greg taught the kids how to make paintbrushes out of river reed & then paint their faces with ochre.

Charley even painted my face. 

Tenae at The Edge of the World. The winds coming directly from the Southern Ocean. Charlotte could hardly stand up.

Hold on nan!!!

Stanley

What a lovely little town. Beautiful beach that you would never be able to swim at. We did, however, lash out on a fresh lobster for dinner.

We visited the Knut although the walking path was closed for maintenance & the chairlift was a little pricey...$70 for a family. 

Beautifully restored buildings...

Only in Tasmania....a penguin warning sign :-)

We found a cute little aquarium at the back of a lobster farm. The kids got to see all sorts of fish, lobsters, sharks. Dad handled a hermit crab...strange things they are.

We stopped in Smithton for a little retail therapy & a coffee. We found an awesome little bakery where Tenae tasted some Anvers Tasmanian chocolate & the kids had a bakery treat. Michael & I watched them eat whilst we enjoyed a coffee :-)

Cradle Mountain

The kids did so well walking yesterday that we thought we'd attempt Dove Lake Circuit as a family. Michael & I were in need of a bit of fast paced exercise so we decided that I would walk up to Dove Lake...approx 9km...he would shuttle the kids up & then he would do the return whilst I shuttled with the kids. It was fabulous. 

Poppy joined me. I planned to run but the path was still frozen. This is ice...it sounded like cracking glass as we walked over it. 

What an awesome Boardwalk. We even saw more wombats in the middle of the day :-)

This was the view that awaited us. We met Michael & the kids in the carpark & did the 3hr loop walk. 

What a fab tree for a photo!!!

Now that's a huge slab of rock!

On top of the world !

Charley quit so close to home. I mentioned icecream & she was off daddy's shoulders in a flash.

What a fab day :-))) the kids did so well. Poppy walked back with Michael. I think he covered about 24kms today. He'll be sore tomorrow.

Cradle Mountain

You know when you see a picture of a place in a postcard & think...."it must be touched up"...well Cradle Mountain is more beautiful than I imagined. 

We woke to torrential rain so we headed to the camp kitchen & had brekky. Then we set up to do some schoolwork while daddy did his work...by the huge log fire...tough start to the day.

The rain eased so we thought we'd venture out for some adventuring. We did The Enchanted Walk which was a 20mkn walk perfect for the kids. They thought it was fabulous...just like a real life fairy garden. 

We headed back to the visitor centre for a treat of hot chips & s real coffee whilst we waited for our fortnightly skype call with our teachers. Daddy had to duck off to help some customers. Nanny & Poppy helped out while we chatted. 

We then headed off to Dove Lake which sits at the base of Cradle Mountain. Even in the dreary weather it looks beautiful. The Overland Track is definately on our bucket list. We thought we'd just do a short walk to Glacier Rock & then reversed around to the boat shed. It started to pour with rain again so we headed back to camp. We are going to attempt a 6km walk in the morning with fresh legs. 

Strahan

We had a well needed chill out day while everyone else headed back into town. We fished, swam (well I didn't), collected wood, drove Roger on the beach for the first time. A much needed rest day!

Sunset at Macquarie Heads...

Journey to Cradle Mountain

A huge bucket list moment..we arrived at Cradle Mountain! It is so much more beautiful than I ever imagined.

We arrived at the caravan park expecting to pay $180 for an unpowered site for 2 nights. We the park manager was checking us in (whilst training a new staff member) saw the fee. Mum & dad were checking in at the same time ....$76.00. She said that was ridiculous & changed the booking to 2adults, 2kids & 2infants ....changing our booking to $120...it pays to be nice to people....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! I think we'll have to stay an extra night:-)

It is probably one of the nicest van parks we've stayed at. Each site is surrounded by trees. The kids have moss covered trees all around us...perfect for a fairy garden. 

Our fabulous table centrepiece...made by Keira...

One of the local residents....they are very used to people.

We went for a drive into the park. The start of the Overland Track...not with the kids :-(

The park ranger told us the wombats come out at dusk...she was right! A short walk & we came across 13...abc they are very used to people.

Bye for now...see you in the morning :-)

Strahan

Found a fabulous campsite....miles from everyone!!! We travelled from Gordon yesterday. We planned to stop halfway but the rain was torrential so we pushed through. 

Our campsite....macquarie Heads right on the beach...no swimming this time though

Hogarth falls at Strahan