Tasmania - Hobart, Kettering, Port Arthur...

We’ve been in TAS since December 1^st. After the Overland Track my cousin called me and we’ve been staying there pretty much ever since. Mark & Esther took us to Bruny Island one day, and we drove to Port Arthur on Tasman Peninsula and spent a few days around there. Tasmania is beautiful. It’s quiet. People don’t care too much about making money. Everyone is friendly. You can park 5 minutes walk from the main street without having to feed the meter. Everyone knows everyone. We ran into some people we met on the overland track. We did all our xmas shopping in one day at Salamanca markets! Staying with my cousin & his family has been awesome. We met Kealy who lives in Sandy Bay (the oldest) then Grace who comes home to do her washing (just finished school) and Ben who is a nonstop talking machine who loves music! Esther has been teaching Anthea about growing vegetables & cooking and me and Mark have had time to catch up since there wasn’t much time last time we saw him at the wedding. We also did a 3 day walk with his son Ben in Douglas Apsley National Park.

Mark & Esther live on a hill above the bay at Kettering. 9 acres. Dogs, cat, ducks, sheds, wood chopping and all that. Spectacular view of Bruny. Unpredictable weather. We got hailed on yesterday, and it was sunny! But not cold. Haven’t had to get out the thermals. Sun light from 5.30am to 9.30pm.

Tomorrow (23^rd) we’re flying in a little Cessna with Tasair to Melaleuca – Australia’s most southern point (besides Antarctic territory) to walk the South Coast Track. It’s a 7 day stroll back to civilization weather pending to Cockle Creek where we’ll be picked up on 29^th December. We’ve just spent most of today shopping, preparing and packing. We’ve got pancake mix and lemon & sugar for Christmas day somewhere on the track.

Merry Christmas & we’ll update you not too long after we get back!

Photos:

1. Cooking lesson from Esther

2. Port Arthur

3. Lime Bay coal mine for Port Arthur prisoners

4. Maingon Bay

5, 6, 7. Port Arthur.

8. Esther & Mark doing the Toyota jump (my dad started it)

9. Anthea at Salamanca Markets

10. A chocolate moment at Douglas Apsley Park with Ben

11. One-Man Tent

12. Ben & Mark on Nichols Cap with Nichols Needles in the background

13. Ben jumping into the pool at Heritage Falls (it was freezing)

14. Us doing the Toyota jump!