Ozmobile Odyssey

What a fascinating place, which was as much about expansion of Empire as punishment and reform of  the worst of the worst of British society. Established initially as a timber camp in 1830, it’s a beautiful place to explore on a warm summer day. In contrast to bitterly cold winters and harsh mtreatment of around 11,000 criminals until the penal settlement finally closed in 1877. In a time of poverty and political upheaval in Europe, many men were broken but some left Port Arthur rehabilitated and skilled.

These amazing layered sedimentary rocks near Port Arthur look like Inca paving stones, having eroded over millennia into oblong blocks about 40cm high. Australian geology/geography is really interesting and varied.

We’ve been enjoying Devils Corner wines for some months (delectable Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio) and had a delicious seafood lunch at the vineyard and cafe near Bicheno, on the north east coast. Haven’t seen any Tasmanian Devils though, ugly black little carnivorous marsupials with a nasty temper that are now an endangered species.

Opened in 1838, two years before the Treaty of Waitangi, the Kings Bridge at Campbell Town just south of Launceston was built by convict labourers using over 1 million hand-made bricks.

Fields of purple rolling to the sky and a wafting scent of  lavender...just as I remembered from 25 years ago when Don’s sister Sher and I visited Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Our overnight ferry trip to Tasmania went smoothly and we motored through to Launceston, picking up an afternoon tour to the largest and oldest lavender farm in Australasia.

As recommended by Julia, we were impressed by Montalto vineyard at Mornington Peninsula and its stylish Piazza restaurant. The art walk through the vines included many interesting works such as this timber sculpture titled Crossed Fingers. (Also refers to hoping for a smooth trip on the 9-hour ferry trip to Tasmania tonight.)

Appalled at the prospect of naked female flesh, the city fathers built hundreds of these, now colourful, changing rooms along coastal Mornington Peninsular. The brightly painted sheds looked wonderful against a stunning blue clouded sky, on a cooler 22 degree day, after the 42 degree ‘blast furnace’ a couple of days ago.