Day 9 - The Gorge & the %$#& Boat

Day 9 - Saturday 2nd April

Our last day. We checked out of Fiona's a little early and headed to Cataract Gorge - Lonny's best known attraction. This is worthy of its reputation. The South Esk river, having come through the gorge, forms a serene basin, surrounded by Tasmanian green beauty.

We came in at the wrong car park, with several hundred steps to the basin. Fine coming down, but Steve was dreading going back up :-(

There is a chairlift across the basin - with the longest single span in the word (They have been making that claim for decades now). Happy in the knowledge that risk averse Ged would never get on board, Big Brave Steve suggested a crossing.

Ged said OK.

Steve was shitting himself.

He hated these things.

Luckily, it was another perfectly calm day, so we transversed without incident (just spectacular) Needless to say, we came back via the suspension bridge.

Hello Tourists

The longest span in the world (?)

The view from the chairlift. 

A view from half way up the gorge

The suspension bridge

Another view from the chair

We took a short walk up the Gorge before crossing back. The view looking back was just as good.

We climbed UP the several hundred steps back to the carpark and got moving.

We had tasted some really nice wines at Cool Wines in Hobart and planned to stop by and buy some. First stop was Beautiful Isle wines for their 2015 Riesling, via Tony & Michelle's place in Gravelly Beach. Alas - they weren't home. We should have rung.

Google found the address to the winery and led the way. We arrived at a house on the coast (not a vine in sight) and knocked on the door. The Winemaker answered the door and explained that this address was the registered office and the winery was unattended that day.

We thanked her and headed to her Mum's (another recommendation from Cool Wines) - Marion's. This is one of the oldest wineries in Tasmania. Marion and her husband (the mad American) have been there for over 40 years. Marion was more than generous with some tastings and we left with a few bottles in hand.

It was time to head to Devonport and to our favourite boat.

Stopped for another boot picnic amongst some rolling green hills (at last!).  Not quite as plentiful as yesterday's but yummy just the same.

Some rolling green hills

Got to Devonport waaaay too early. To be honest, Devonport is a bit scary. As soon as we got into town, some guy started following/playing funny buggers our car. We turned off and lost him. We popped into the local K-Mart / Supermarket and were astounded by the number off nuff nuffs in the place. It looked like a town that's doing it tough.

With an hour or two to kill, we headed to a pub across the river from the ferry and had a couple of beers. A quirky place with old speakers and TVs lying around, a graffiti room, suitcases sticking out of the wall and a library suspended from the roof.

We headed to the boat queue. The boarding was much easier this time and we were soon settled in the lounge with yet another B.o.R. or two. Both had our last National pie (you meet the meat first bite in a National pie) and headed for the chairs about 10. Ged fell alseep quickly, but Steve gave up and tried sleeping on the floor. Nice Mr security guard moved him along around midnight, so Steve headed down to the lounge and grabbed some hours on the couch. Ged woke every hour.

Bye Tassie

We arrived in Melbourne around 5:30 in the morning and were home by 7. (well in time for Sinead's birthday). Holiday done.






Post Script

We had a great time. We loved what we saw, enjoyed everything we did and are both well rested. There's a lot more to see, so next time will be a bit different.

The trusty chariot