Not just a pumpkin purchasing process, tonight's trip to the local Deluca Farm was also a visit to animals, and a first Halloween measure-up for our six week old granddaughter. 

Our first (and probably last) visit to Denny's.

My first beer selection, the Sierra Nevada pale ale, proved a winner.

Relaxing and quarantining in the desert, watching the presidential election debate.

Our sincere thanks to our fantastic hosts, our American brother and sister Chris and Cynde. What a phenomenal first cold-weather Christmas with the extended family. Thanks also to American Airlines for a high-quality service, with a special mention to our hostess Chelsea. 

Well, this was a very interesting day, and Fort Worth provided a fascinating insight into Texas, both past and present. Lunch was excellent, and although we just missed the street cattle drive, we visited the stockyards and saw the longhorn cattle. The town's now very much catering for tourists, and is priced accordingly, but offers something for everyone. The environment is super festive and great fun.
 

A little business, a little grandchild on the way. California here we come.

A sunrise in paradise.

This morning's adventure is brought to you by our other-Coaster neighbour Wayne, who supplied me with cracking local fishing knowledge, tips, and a second loaner beach rod and reel. Best to have at least two lines in the water, and we wanted to test two different rigs (a wire and a nylon variation of the Paternoster rig).

The trick lay, apparently, in wading out through the close-in channel and onto the sandbar, then casting beyond the bar. So here we were, enjoying the incredible sunrise, when I realise it's near dead low tide - my opportunity to cross the channel. The water was very fresh, so on went the full waders. Sammy held one rod whilst I waded out across the sandbank, cast the first line out, waded back, exchanged rods with Sammy, then repeated the process.

On returning to the shore I checked the first reel's drag tension, then looked at Wayne's reel - to find there was no line on the reel....!!!! I looked down the beach to see the last of the line heading towards the surf. I raced down and retrieved the line in time. With Sammy's help I then fed the line back through the rod and tied it to the reel housing, before winding up some slack line. With this excitement behind us, we grabbed our morning coffees and settled into our beach chairs (thanks kids, these and the little table are so often in use).

The end result - no fish..... Care factor very, very low. A fun start to the day.

After a shared generous plate of nachos, my dessert of choice was the chocolate-coated peanut butter ice cream, not so much a delicacy as a three-course meal (once you include the cone). I was literally incapable of eating another thing for the rest of the day.

Lester and Collette are the delights who run this place. Lester was full of great information and advice about travelling destinations, funny as hell, and could not help us enough with our needs whilst visiting overnight.

For travellers, there are plenty of grassy spots for caravans and camper vans, two potable water taps, a skip bin for rubbish, and use of the toilets during cafe trading hours.

What a fantastic town to visit, loaded with history.

The untamed unspoiled wilderness that is southern Bruny Island welcomes you.

Duration
  3 Hours Approximately

Operates
  Daily, except Christmas Day

Departs From
1005 Adventure Bay Road
Adventure Bay
Bruny Island
 View on Map

Prices up to 31 March 2024
Adult $155
Child (3-16 yrs) $95 
Family $490 
(2 adults, 3 children)

Prices from 1 April 2024
Adult $175
Child (3-16 yrs) $105 
Family $540 
(2 adults, 3 children)

It was action aplenty at a very busy Salamanca Markets in Hobart. By mid-morning it was cheek-by-jowl, but cleared significantly after lunch. The significant range of stall offerings meant there was something for everyone. Our chorizo and chicken paella was excellent. I couldn't go past one of the many hat stalls without acquiring a new driving cap. The entertainment was varied and interesting, and most of it was simply terrific.

Following an excellent lunch, we wandered around Hobart's waterfront, from one pier to another along Constitution Dock.

If you're in the area, make a point of visiting Waddamana Power Station, which is now a museum. Allow a couple of hours - it has a fascinating story behind it, and much of it remains untouched since it last operated. Instead of 'Where's Wally' you can play 'Where's Sammy' - hint: last photo....

As part of a day trip from our digs on the shore of Great Lake, we travelled with our friends Pete and Deb to Pine Lake for a fairly short but fascinating wander along the boardwalk. It's worthwhile reading the information boards along the way.

A delightful distillery which has been established in Table Cape, north-west Tasmania by a lovely English couple Matt and Sarah.

Sarah conducted our tasting, and presented some excellent options from which we chose the absolutely sublime Limoncello. The effort they've put into the tasting room and the surrounding buildings and environs is in itself worth the visit.

Check them out at alchymiadistillery.com.

What an amazing, prehistoric, unspoiled, clean-aired environment.

What an incredible day cruising the pristine Arthur River.

We decided some exercise was in order, and off we went to the beach at Green Point. The scenery was spectacular, the gradient challenging, the destination sublime, the company as wonderful as ever. The location boasts a free campground, a cold shower, toilets and a shelter.

An elegant old building complete with numerous outbuildings and facilities.

Frozen in time, this picture-perfect colonial outpost is one of the most charming towns you could visit. Set on a peninsula in Tasmania's north-west, it boast fabulous historic buildings throughout. Apart from the incredible spectacle of The Nut, which we hope to visit by cable-car when the wind subsides, there are numerous quality wining and dining options. Accommodation options are also many and varied. And to top it all off, the penguins arrive at sunset, and we saw our first as we sauntered home last night from the Stanley Wine Bar. We'll be lingering here in Stanley for a while.....

A little poem I wrote of our splendid Day Five:

Day Five

A seamless, orderly, and friendly process, despite the high volume of passengers.

A couple of glorious days aboard our bus Valoury as we travelled from Torquay along the Great Ocean Road.

With no shortage of quality dining and recreation options, the Torquay area, with a number of nearby towns and hamlets, also enjoys an abundance of exceptional beaches, parks, and accommodation.

It was pouring with rain for much of our visit, but the charm of this beautiful village shone through.

A few quality days at Narooma on the New South Wales south coast.

A near perfect winter's day, in the beer garden of one of Sydney's finest pubs, with family and friends. It doesn't get much better than this.

Just fabulous, this little gem in North Hobart/Ryde is warm and inviting, immaculately presented, and well serviced. The food was also excellent and promptly served. One of the tidiest pubs we've ever visited, with dedicated and friendly staff.

The character simply oozes from this old pub, resplendent with roaring open fireplace (with a bowl of self-serve complimentary marshmallows on the mantle). The service from Hayden and the team was friendly and thorough, with an impressive suite of ales and ciders on tap.

There's a cracking story behind the property which now forms The Kempton Distillery. 

This was a case of a generally exceptional experience, including warmth, humour, delight, failure, pathos, and redemption.

Callington Mill delivers a high quality environment, quality decor, exceptional presentation (paper napkins notwithstanding), quality food and beverages, and generally fabulous service.

We were very pleased with our choices of kingfish, cauliflower arancini, and citrus tart, all of which were a delight and ably supported by the Frogmore Creek sparkling cuve and sauvignon blanc.

The distillery's whisky tasting paddle was a treat, and in this lucky instance included a bonus fifth half-shot to invite me to taste one of the more peaty products. The whiskies are mostly international award-winners, and whilst expensive by the bottle are well worth tasting. They are indeed of international standard.

Generally flawless service was marred by us staring at our completed mains plates for nearly half an hour (only resolved by us signalling for attention), however our compensation on noting this to staff was the whisky paddle being immediately comped without any request by me - a most reasonable and gallant response.

All in all, this was a delightful experience, and I would happily return. Congratulations to John Ibrahim (not the Sydney identity) and his team for adding such a high quality establishment to the already delightful town of Oatlands.

In the historic Tasmanian midlands town of Oatlands, The Kentish Hotel stands proud. Built in 1832 in what is now the most in tact Georgian town in Australia, this heritage listed country pub is the beating heart of the community it serves. Boasting a bar, restaurant, cafe and accomodation, The Kentish is the perfect place to grab a drink, dine on deliciously fresh Tassie produce or settle in to a cosy room for the night.

The Albert Pilsner on tap is well worth a try.

Only 30 minutes from central Hobart lies the town of New Norfolk, one feature of which is the delightful historic property of Glen Derwent. Weekends usher in the opportunity for Devonshire Tea or High Tea. Rob and Liz will take excellent care of you. The scones were freshly baked to order, and Sammy declared her gluten-free ones as excellent as I found mine. The jams are to die for, especially the raspberry.

We dined here with friends, then twice we returned for lunch. Each experience was a treat, with funny and attentive staff, high quality food, and a fine selection of beverages. The ambience is perfectly suited to the location, with a modern mountain decor including two roaring fireplaces (when the weather demands) complete with leather lounges.

The menu is upmarket pub, including a terrific seafood chowder and exceptional desserts. The staff were diligent in attending to Sammy's gluten and lactose intolerances.

In addition to the many dining and hospitality options at Great Lake Hotel, Miena Village also offers a general store with fuel, motel style accommodation, both powered and unpowered caravan sites, toilets and showers and potable water, and substantial general car parking. This is a genuine hub.

We're probably visiting a fourth time, should our travel itinerary come to fruition.

Our thanks to James, Nicki, Declan, Shane, Deirdre, and all for your attention and quality service.

This was so much fun in very chilly conditions with our friends John and Annette, and Pete and Debbie. Finger foods, a few drinks, and a dance to a fabulous local band.

This is a delightful stopover as you journey through Tasmania's west.

There are some establishments where you dine on reputation of the chef, or on the local ingredients, or simply on location or brand. Marrawah Inn is where you dine on love - the love injected by Mark and Michelle into their staff, their customers, their community. 
 

We dined here for a few nights, tasting lamb shank with mash and vegetables, garlic prawns on rice, grilled flake with chips, and various desserts including Eaton Mess, and Affogato. Delicious, delightful, generous, and served with the proprietor's warmth and charm. Count us in, we'll never again visit the north-west of this State without visiting the Marrawah Inn.

What a pleasant step into the fully renovated environs of The Sir George hotel, built in 1852 on its current site after the original pub was washed away in the floods.

Apparently the property was purchased and renovated by a Sydney mother-daughter partnership. Additions included an exceptional wedding venue with multi-cabin accommodation. We understand the property was subsequently sold, with the new owners maintaining the grounds impeccably.

What a great day of relaxed and sunny fun.

Mona

What a delightful location to spend a couple of days, so close to Hobart. The historic homestead of Glen Derwent is managed by Liz and Rob, who have operated the property for seven years, and offered the weekend Devonshire and high tea service for most of that time.

The property is awash with free-roaming chooks, sheep, and peacocks, green grass and still waters. Both powered and unpowered sites are available to caravans, camper vans and motorhomes, with potable water included. All campers must be self-contained - own toilets and showers.

We spent a few nights with our friends Pete and Deb, which included a cruise aboard their electric motored runabout - one strike on our trolled lure, but no captures.

This site exemplifies the opportunities which await travellers in Tasmania. Plenty of sites for caravans, camper vans, and buses, with water, bibs, and a dump-point. You need to be self-contained, there are no toilets or showers. Fires are allowed in enclosed BYO units which are off the ground.

If you're in Tasmania's north-west, do yourself a favour and visit Mark and Michelle at Marrawah Inn. You can park your caravan or camper van on a gated level bitumen pad behind the pub. The bathroom is to die for, with a full en-suite including rain head shower ($2 for 4 mins). There's also a separate toilet with external basin.

At the time of writing the nightly tariff was $15.00, which included a beer or glass of wine.

The meals are high quality and generous, but it's the proprietors who make this place special - two nicer people you'll never find.

This paid caravan site is for fully self-contained vehicles. It is essentially waterfront, and has potable water and a dump-point. It is strictly first-in best-dressed, with no bookings, and it does tend to fill up most nights. The cost is $10.00 per night, with a pay five, stay seven option, which you can pay progressively should you so choose.

The site is immediately adjacent to Stanley Golf Club, which welcomes visitors for golf, dining, or a drink at the bar. Friday night is raffle night (with thanks to Mark Hursey for donating the whole snapper we won..!!!). A short walk along the waterfront takes you to Hursey Seafoods and it's Restaurant, which is superb. The entire town is within walking distance, with a multitude of dining, accommodation, and shopping options for a small town.

The town itself is unbelievably pretty, full to the brim with character buildings, all nestled at the base of The Nut, a giant natural rock structure affectionately called Tasmania's Uluru.

Add the chairlift to the top of The Nut, the sunset penguins landing in the shore, and fishing off the jetty, and you have all you need for a multi-day stay.

Available only to fully self-contained vehicles, this free ocean-front campsite has numerous sites but is extremely popular and does fill up. Bookings are not available, it is strictly first-come first-served. There is no water, and only one Council bin. There is a fabulous beach nearby, with access across the train track for walking, swimming, and fishing. The traffic noise is barely noticeable, nor is the sound of the occasional passing train. Sites are predominantly level and well grassed.

What a wonderful start to our trip. Situated a very short drive from the ferry disembarkation, Mersey Bluff offers a perfect welcome to Tasmania.

Luke and Carolyn are excellent hosts, maintaining a very tidy park, a welcome cycle escort to your site, and plenty of advice on the sights to visit and routes to take on your Tassie sojourn. We booked for three nights, extended to four, and could have stayed more.

Firewood can be purchased at reception for $15 per bag.

Whilst there are plenty of free and low-cost accommodation options around the Apple Isle, especially for self-contained vehicles, I consider this caravan park to be a worthy indulgence at either or both ends of your travels.

The initial reason for selecting Molloy's over the two caravan parks in Augusta was the wind - the forecast was for continuing very high winds during our stay in the region. The winds proved a godsend, as we discovered an amazin facility.

A very attractive waterfront hideaway in the south-east of Western Australia.

What a location this is.