Category Archives: Tasmania

Ben Lomond National Park in Tasmania — photos

After eating a simple picnic Christmas lunch at Cataract Gorge Reserve in Launceston, we decided to drive to Ben Lomond National Park, which is about 50 kilometres from Launceston and includes the second highest peak in Tasmania — Legges Tor at 1,572 metres. We did not realise that the Tasmanian Government charges a Park Entry Fee to all its national parks. Day-visit National Parks Passes can be purchased on entry to the Ben Lomond National Park, … more »

Cataract Gorge Reserve in Launceston, Tasmania — photos

Being a couple of thousand kilometres from home for Christmas day had certain advantages — we did not need to spend Christmas with family! Instead, we packed a Christmas lunch of turkey sandwiches, fruitcake and some drinks, and made our way to Cataract Gorge Reserve. This is a lovely location and very popular with the locals. The water in First Basin is deep and very cold. However, there is always the heated swimming … more »

Visiting Launceston, Tasmania and Bridgestowe Estate Lavender Farm — photo

After settling in to our accommodation, we went for a walk around the Launceston CBD, including The Quadrant and The Mall. My three year old and six year old easily managed a leisurely stroll around the CBD — Launceston is a small city. A recurring theme in Tasmania is the lack of children’s play equipment in parks. There was a play ground in Queens Park and a few swings in another park, but apart … more »

Crossing Bass Strait from Melbourne to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania

I was looking forward to crossing Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania from Melbourne to Devonport.  Bass Strait has a reputation for being rough. I was disappointed to find that on the day I crossed, Bass Strait was an effective mill pond with tiny one metre swells. Even so, several people became queasy with the slow rocking motion of the boat. The boat had obviously been through some storms over the years … more »