Around Hobart and surrounds Day 7

Today was an action packed day starting with a trip 1200 meters up Mount Wellington. Views were obscured due to rain but still impressive but cold.

Next we visited the Pit farm (Australia's second oldest farm) on the way to the Cadbury chocolate factory.

The factory gift shop and chocolate shop got work over. We didn't do the tour as had done one in New Zealand in September 2010.

Finally we head to the Richmond Zoo Zoodoo to see Tasmanian Devils. It was an excellent experience.

At night we enjoyed a German Christmas dinner at Peter's and Anja's followed present opening. Overall a busy but enjoyable day.

Port Arthur visit Day 6

Today we drove to Port Arthur. A historic landmark for Tasmania and Australia. We followed Elessa, James, Dad and Mum on a tour of natural landmarks on the way.

Port Arthur was very interesting experience, the tour guides were generally most talented. They indicated that the punishments were designed to reform "hard men" into useful and productive citizens. The ruins were well kept, and lawns well tended. Our visit included a boat tour of the harbour, and we decided to visit the 'Isle of the Dead' as well. We were the only folks visiting the isle at that time, so we had very personal tour of the graves.

After the 'Isle of Dead' we continued our tour of the ruins. The commandant's residence was a typical Georgian era house of the 1830-40s. It was lovely home sited on the highest ground overlooking the settlement and harbour.

We would have liked to do the "Ghost tour" but it started way too late for the girls, so we headed back to Hobart.

Our return trip went quickly back to Hobart. We decided to visit the docklands again to find food. Eventually we decided to eat at Pizza place called "Cargo" which is obviously popular with singles scene.

PS Jacqueline has a blog as well at http://jacqadventureblog.blogspot.com.au/ and Charlotte's can be found at: http://charlottesblogspace.blogspot.com.au/





Blow Hole

Port Arthur

View from Hotel

View of Commandants House

Port Arthur

Pirate Bay

For the mad

Gardens at port Arthur



Devils arch

Graves at Isle of Dead

Melbourne to Hobart day 5 airline fun and games

We woke this morning by the sound of jetstar text message announcing that our flight is cancelled. A quick call and we found ourselves on much earlier flight. Luckily we had 80% packed the night before. Don't fly Jetstar unless you are flexible around times.

The trip to airport was generally painless. Traffic was polite and road well signed. We avoided the dreaded hook turn as well.

Melbourne airport is well organized and easy to get around. Our flight went on time and arrived on time. Staff were friendly and professional.

Hire car end up being a AWD KIA, a legacy of an early flight. Hotel very pleasant and staff friendly.

We walked down into CBD and then caught up with Elessa and James for dinner on the docklands. Very nice.

We met up at a historic square for supper and caught up with Mum, Dad, Peter, Anja, and Catherine as well as Elessa and James. Witnessed a naked fountain swimmer who than became a streaker who did the swim dare for a measly pie. The pies at the Salamanca Bake House must be extra special in Hobart!

Last full day in Melbourne Day 4

Today was a cool and pleasant day. We ventured out to do some shopping and then took a tram  to the old Melbourne goal.

Very interesting and very sobering experience walking round the old goal. Some 175 poor souls were executed at goal including some women and of course Ned Kelly. Many of the doomed had death masks made, so it is chilling looking at the face of the hanged. After the goal we took a tour to the 1909-1994 watch house we were processed and locked up by a member "?" of Victorian Police force. A interesting experience.

The girls then returned to Harbour Town to shop till they dropped. A quick tram back to CBD then more shopping. Prices are remarkable in that there is nothing in Toowoomba or Brisbane that can match them. The sheer variety of stock is amazing. One bookstore equalled all bookstores in Toowoomba put together, then multiple by three in size.





View from room of city hall



Ned Kelly's pistol




Monster Bookshop



Melbourne Goal 1840

Ned Kelly's death mask





Exercise Room 1990's



Ground floor old Melbourne Goal

Melbourne Day 3 Victoria Markets

This morning we managed to use up half of our pre-paid bandwidth (1Gb/$40/30days) in just 15 minutes! The rest had been used last night in similar time period. So, purchased 12Gb/$180/12months block, that in 3 minutes we used $4 credit. I noticed that data was being charged at highest rate instead of the discounted rate for a large data block purchase. Obviously something wasnot right, so we visited Telstra for a please explain or help. Telstra acknowledged that this is a feat, but couldn’t or wouldn’t assist. Typical Telstra, such a caring corporation and they wonder why the public look for alternatives.

The girls did well this morning as they trolled the dress, beauty, and associated teen jewellery shops. Unfortunately the overcast sky and pending rain put paid to a zoo visit so we caught a tram to Victoria Markets. The first retailer we encountered was an all year round Christmas shop. Many beautiful decorations greeted us, and we gave in to our Christmas spirit. J

The Markets proved to be a bargain hunters dream. The girls, especially Charlotte enjoyed the huge variety of goods on offer.  Quiet a multicultural crowd mingled at the Markets, with languages other than English freely mixing with exotic English speaking accents. The food we sampled was world class and very cheap and plentiful, if you looked carefully. We enjoyed!

Later we caught a tram back to CDB to attack the shops one more time. A quick visit to China town was interesting, but not as colourful and as varied as Sydney’s version. A highlight was the Myers Christmas Window displays, where a line-up of families snaked down Burke Street to wait their turn in front of the dynamitic dancing sheep, reindeer, elves and of course Santa. We viewed from behind the lineup and had an excellent view.

Finally we sought dinner, which we found at the Indian Café called “Flora”. A feast for a small charge, and the food was as good as any we have consumed in Toowoomba. It was well supported by the local Indian community, and we were the only non-Indians in the Café. Our desert was completed by the enjoying $1 mangos and strawberries we purchased at the Markets.

In the end it remained overcast all day, but didn’t rain as expected, so we could have gone to the zoo. Next time perhaps we will visit the zoo?   A good day all round.

PS Jacqueline has a blog as well at http://jacqadventureblog.blogspot.com.au/ and Charlotte's can be found at: http://charlottesblogspace.blogspot.com.au/ 

http://charlottesblogspace.blogspot.com.au/

Forbes to Melbourne Day 2

Today we set out from Forbes for Melbourne (7 am local ), but not before visiting a memorial to the Bush Ranger Ben Hall at an old railway station.

Our travel took us quickly down the Newell Highway over the great Murray and into the great state of Victoria. Along the way we enjoyed overcast skies with an occasional down pour of biblical standards.

We arrived in Melbourne at 3:30 pm local time (2:30 pm EST). This time over path lead directly to Flindersgate Car park not far from "Darling on Collins", our new home until Tuesday. The city was decked out for Christmas with decorations on most public buildings and streets.

The girls were keen for shopping so we rode the free tram to Harbour Town for shopping. At the end of day, we found Italian meals at "Medici" (docklands).   A Tram back to CBD, and we purchased food for breakfast and snacks.  Finally we watched a building come to life with laser light while eating real French Crepes from a street cart. 

 

Toowoomba to Forbes Day 1

Today we set off on a trip to Melbourne. As a family we don't mind road trips, as we regularly travel to Townsville each year, so a trip to Melbourne is much the same, except interesting.

Our departure today was early by our standards - 7am. Amazing! We farewelled Howard and Rose our ever faith hounds and guard dogs, (thankyou Chris, George and Kym), and headed to Goondiwindi. Outside of Toowoomba heading to Millerran we encountered three sets of roadworks which delayed us 20-30 minutes. At Goondiwindi we where delayed again by a house being transported, sadly another 15 minutes. From Goondiwindi we headed down the Newell highway until we arrived in Forbes.

Overall we made good time on the road. We settled for Forbes' Town and Country motel Inn, which is comfortable and reasonably priced. For dinner we dined at Golden Dragon, which was very good.