Tasmania Part 1

 Well, it's time to document it. We spent two weeks in Tasmania to close out 2011 and it was spectacular. Having been told it's a "must-see" here we would readily agree. Beautiful, rustic, friendly, coastal, scenic and delightful. Tasmania sits just off of Australia's southeast border. It's roughly the size of Maine, I figure, and two weeks was perfect to see it all - even had to cut out a few sights when the kids just couldn't drive anymore.

A little geography review for your mental picture: here's a basic map of the Australian states (Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory similar to Washington, D.C., isn't shown but sits in New South Wales) and the overlay shows Australia (and Tasmania) in relation to the United States.

  
We got an early start after some meticulous and expert packing by Dad, and enjoyed stretching our legs at a few stops along the way. 

(Who'da thunk to plop a submarine into a little town center for a fantastic play area?)

  

After a relatively smooth 8hr drive to Melbourne, we boarded this baby. The Spirit of Tasmania was more like a cruise ship than a "ferry." Nine hours of movies, restaurants, cabins... the kids were in heaven. 


Had a relatively comfortable, if not long enough, night's sleep and arrived bright and early just before 6am.

Land ho!

Our first day was spent driving around the northern part of the state for a lay of the land.

Annie had the privilege of holding the first of many BIG things Australians are apparently fond of. Here's the "Giant Spud."

Then we breakfasted at a beautifully quaint raspberry farm. Berry season is where it's AT!

Next we made a lovely drive further east to Launceston, the 2nd largest town in Tasmania, and were graced with rolling hills full of these gorgeous white flowers. We were perplexed until the "illegal use of crop may cause DEATH" sign helped us figure it out: medicinal poppy.

  In Launceston, the main attraction is Cataract Gorge, home of the "world's longest chairlift" (and gorgeous mountain swimming just 5 minutes from city centre.)

The perfect place to spend the day. Between the lift, pool, park, gorge and wild, roaming peacocks, it was a pretty nice way to start a vacation.

  Then onward to the east coast. Without knowing how long we would want to stay at each destination we cleverly opted out of any set itinerary or lodging situation. (You know, "winging it" on a 2 week camping vacation with 4 kids and a prego mom... what could go wrong, right??) After hearing that the most popular camping spot had their Christmas slots filled by lottery last June, we figured we might have to pitch tent on the side of the road. But thanks to a last ditch phone call an hour before we reached it (Freycinet National Park) we lucked out and got a spot right on the beach. Miracle. And this was our view at breakfast next morning:

We enjoyed this set-up for the next 4 days...

 The kids, of course, were massively helpful...

 They unanimously agreed that "camping" topped the favorites list when asked about the trip. (We obviously don't do it enough.) And despite the dirt, sweat and tears (plus nightly marsupial raids and a lice scare) it really was all worth it for their sheer glee.

Sleeping arrangements were comical - you never knew who you'd find in whose bed each morning (or what receptacle Summer would deposit the cereal we'd deliriously throw at her for some quiet at 5:30am.)

Ahhhhhhh, camping.

But seriously, if you're going to camp, doing it on the beach is pretty hard to beat.