Sept 26 - Red, Red Wine

We woke up early to leave Bicheno to continue our drive south. We were out of gas completely, so Johannes went straight to the petrol station, but it wasnt open yet. Kim and I went to get snacks at the grocery, but it was open yet. So we walked to the bakery, which was the ONLY thing open at 7:15am apparently. We stacked up on goodies and the gas man came a few minutes early, and we were on the road just after 7:30am. Our first drive was a short one to Freycinet Peninsula to hike to Wineglass Bay. This was a 2.5-3hr return walk and it was all pretty much uphill for the first hour with stone and plank steps which, though helpful to gain your footing, were a real bitch after a while to lift my aching legs up on. We went to the lookout point first and then began traveling down to the beach where my calves had decided to shake uncontrollably as I took off my shoes to put my feet on the pristine sand. We had a nice sit on the beach for a bit before heading back over the mountain (gasping for breath...am TOO old? out of shape? weak? to do this!). By the time we packed up the car and refilled our water bottles it was just near 11 or so. We started to head off and I heard something fall off the top of the car. I got out and realized it was my water bottle which now had a nice crack through the lid and although the nalgene plastic part was intact, it was no longer usable as a water holding device to be thrown in my bag. They (nalgene) should really rethink the breakable lid portion! So bummer... water bottle #2 to be replaced. Anyhow, we got on our way and passed Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea as we headed south some more to Port Arthur, just east of Hobart about 1.5hrs. Port Arthur was a prison town accessible only through the port. It was first established in 1830 as a work camp and later in 1833 as a punishment station for repeat offenders until 1853 when they stopped transporting prisoners in and it finally closed in 1877. It was 2:30 when we arrived and got our tickets. Our tour started with a harbor ferry cruise to see the entrance from the sea, Point Puer (the boys prison where at the age of 7 you could be sent after being tried as an adult), and the Isle of the Dead - the prison/staff cemetary on an island off the cove, and the view of entering the area from the watery entrance. At 4 we did a walking tour. The park closed at 5 so we kinda skipped out after 30 min of the talking in order to explore the ruins ourselves. The grounds were beautiful. Once we all joined up again, we were back in the car and headed to three close points of [some] interest: the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, and Devil's Kitchen. The Blowhole wasnt really blowing since the tide was not in our favor. The arch was ok. The Devil's Kitchen was the final result of what happens to the arch in the end. Basically, the water eats out the stone and leaves a big hollow space and then the ceiling collapses leaving a gulch. So after we had traipsed around seeing those, it was just beginning to get dark. It was off to Hobart where we crossed the Tasman Bridge and checked into our hostel and went to a place called Fish Frenzy for dinner. (I had some yum seared scallops!)


Wineglass Bay lookout



Wineglass Bay from below.


Kate's Berry Farm - novel for the name. We didnt actually go.


The prison from Port Arthur's view

The non-denominational church (ruins) is a popular place for weddings in the Port Arthur area. It would be a beautiful outdoor venue. The Anglican church that still has services is in the foreground.

The grounds at Port Arthur

Tasman Arch


Devil's Kitchen - the best I could do hanging my camera over the edge with it getting dark so my camera was open all the way... hard to keep my hand still!