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Tasmania
The Tasmanian Devil. Not quite like the cartoon character, but just as noisy and insane. Described by someone "the most endearingly repulsive mammal in all world", they were entertaining during feeding time.
tas_teas_01		 The historic remains of Port Arthur, the most feared penal settlement in Australia's history. This is where the hardest repeat offenders were sent, much like America's Alcatraz. It was located at the Southern end of the Tasman peninsula, making escape geographically impossible, except for a narrow isthmus of land that was heavily guarded by men and dogs, known as the
tas_teas_02		 WHOA! "The Blowhole" in the ocean-side town of Bicheno was a marvel to watch. water blew up through narrow opening rocks whenever large wave came in.
tas_teas_03		 The echidna, with spines like a porcupine. We got to touch his little leathery hands and feet when the guide held him up here. He was so cute, one of most unique animals've ever seen!
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Beautiful Wineglass Bay, which we encountered on our first hike in Tasmania. We hiked up to this lookout, then down to the bay's beach (where Ken had a very quick swim in the frigid water), then hiked through bushland to Hazards Beach where we continued along beach cliffs and saw a few wallabies (small kangaroos) in the wild. The entire hike took 5 hours and we finished just as the sun was setting.
tas_teas_05		 MMMMMM, CHOCOLATE! After a tour of the Cadbury factory in Hobart (where we had to take off our watches and wear these ridiculous hairnets), Stephanie displays her freebies. They make 600 tons chocolate every week at this factory!
tas_teas_06		 On an early morning drive, we stopped for a short hike just after sunrise, through the rainforest to lovely Nelson Falls. loved way could pull over on long drive and 20 minutes later, voila!
tas_teas_07		 We took a fabulous boat cruise on the Gordon River in Strahan, on the West Coast of Tasmania. It was the most beautiful day, with full sun and an unbelievable stillness of the water. The weather there is normally very wet and volatile, and the guides said they hadn't seen a day that good in a very long time. We cruised in a beautiful large harbour, through Hell's Gates (the narrow opening into the ocean), down the narrow green Gordon River, and toured the old convict area of Sarah Island. A wonderful day.
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Stephanie and the classic "Crocodile Hunter" type Aussie guide with a large koala. So cute! (the koala too).
tas_teas_09		 Cradle Mountain Lodge. We splurged at the end of our tour, and it was well worth it. We stayed in a comfortable cabin with a fireplace and this view of the main lodge. We were treated to buffet breakfasts and a wonderful atmosphere in the lodge, along with hikes and wildlife right out the front door!
tas_teas_10		 With Cradle Mountain in the background, we took a short break on our hike around Dove Lake to enjoy views.
tas_teas_11		 We joined a "learn to fly fish" class at Cradle Mountain Lodge. Stephanie was the only one catch fish... but she also caught three bushes behind her from flinging line too far back! Let's just say that fishing is much harder than it looks.
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Ken making his way across one of the obstacles on Ropes Challenge Course at Cradle Mountain Lodge. He had to swing using loops for foot-holds this portion.
tas_teas_13		 Stephanie tries to hold it together as the kangaroos swarm her for food. One was cute... ten started get scary!
tas_teas_14		 Crater Lake, hidden in the alpine area near Cradle Mountain. After an hour-long hike up, we came to this magnificent lake and had it all to ourselves. We then continued our hike in bushland, past alpine lakes, and finally seeing four adorable wombats grazing by their burrow holes.
tas_teas_15		 And here it is! Have you ever seen anything so adorable? This is a young wombat we saw at an animal park. They are much like a gopher, digging tunnels and living underground during the day. They grow to the size of a small dog, and just look so cuddly and bumbling.
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Tasmanian Devils Videos: Video 1 Video 2