We’re climbing into
the high country today – following the road past Cradle Mountain.
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| Following the Avan into the high country |
It’s cloudy but the temperature is in the low
twenties. We stop to walk up to a
lookout.
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| The little dots at the bottom of the track are Wok and Wayne heading for the lookout |
The view is fantastic
and we can see Cradle Mountain in the distance.
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| Wok at the lookout - Cradle Mountain in the distance |
Below us the valley
winds its way through the ranges to the North. And even up here at
this remote lookout it is hard to escape civilization.
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| Wayne does the neighbourly thing and helps two bikies with their photo op |
By noon we are
pulling into Waratah. A few months ago
the tiny campground behind the Council Chambers had only three vans. Today it was choc-a-block with two overflow
areas accommodating the excess. We
manage to snaffle a powered site behind the hall for the night and Wayne gets a
site beside us. By running a lead from
our van to his he can also get electricity and is able to run his fridges and
charge batteries. After lunch we take a
look around. The old tin mine at Mount
Bischoff is within walking distance of town and the falls which were once
covered by walkways, waterwheels and sheds is visible once again.
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| Waratah |
We thought this town with
its waterfall right in the middle was one of the prettiest places we had seen
in our travels. This second visit has
not changed our mind.
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| Waratah Falls - Our vans can be seen just behind the hall |
We had told Wayne
about the platypus we had seen in the lake beside the campground and that
afternoon we sat on the bench and hoped it would make an appearance. To our amazement the platypus came paddling
along
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| Wayne videos the platypus (it's that little dot in the water) |
and Wayne saw his first platypus in the wild.
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| Mr or Mrs Platypus paddling in the lake at Waratah |
He even managed to
get some really good video.
In the morning we
said goodbye to the picturesque village of Waratah and the high country and
made our way to a campground at Wings Wildlife Park in the hidden valley of
Gunns Plains. We set up camp, unhitched
Mitzi and drove into Ulverstone to attend to some bank business and then it was
off to Pedro’s for lunch. We reckoned
Pedro’s served the best fish and chips in Tasmania and they didn’t disappoint
this time either.
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| Wayne is eager to get stuck into his fish and chips (with side salad) |
Back at camp we took
a walk through the campground and passed some interesting accommodation options
along the way.
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| These two little wagons (Betty and Joyce) have seen better days |
There were lots of
native animals in the enclosures but the buffalo reminded us of the herds we
had seen in the National Parks in North America. They were definitely out of place here in
Tasmania.
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| Home ... Home ... on the range ... in Gunns Plains |
In the morning we
opened our door and called Wayne for breakfast :-
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| All paths lead to the Avan |
Knock knock ... Wayne!
Knock knock ... Wayne! Knock knock ... Wayne!
Coffee or Tea …?
We sure are going to
miss not having the Avan outside our door when we leave Tassie …
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