Tasmania reminded me of how much I love the seasons of Canada and the cool climate. While Brisbane is becoming warmer and more humid by the day (only at 60% humidity right now but heading for 90%?? soon!!) Tasmania is a country where you are never far from an dry ocean breeze. Hobart is the capital....pretty....a bit of a sleepy town....but beautiful wine country and sheep farms all around. Somehow we lost a series of photos showing the thousands of daffodils and tulips blooming throughout the meadows....and even more sheep everywhere we went.
Visiting the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart was truly a special experience.....while I don't always appreciate Modern art as much as I should, this place was totally "cool"!! Opened in 2011, the structure is 5 stories subterranean carved out of lime stone that you see close up as you drop down in a glass elevator. Lots of interactive art that entices young and old! Owned by a winery so lots of opportunity to eat good food and taste good wine on their grounds in funky plastic couches and bean bags. This is a MUST if you visit Tasmania!!!
Minutes away from Hobart is Don's favourite wine ever! Stefano Lubiano Winery just North.....what a lovely couple who moved their 2 children from South Australia (where Stefano was a winemaker) to Tasmania 20 years ago. Today he has well cultured Pinot Noir grapes that are winning International awards....if you like Pinot Noir, pay the extra money and treat yourself to something divine!!
Our trip took us also to the East coast of Tasmania....there were many other amazing spots on the West that we missed.....I guess we will just have to go back!! Freycinet National Park is dramatically beautiful! It was north of the park in Bicheno that we saw the penguins, and very close to the park that we Kayaked with Nathan from "Freycinet Adventures"...eating the best natural oysters ever!! We stayed in a magical cabin North of Bicheno on the ocean front....the waves, sandy beach, and rock formations were literally feet away from our sliding glass door bedroom.....I could stay there forever!! I am pretty sure Don enjoyed his birthday, but I think it was just as special for me!! :-)
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| BICHENO PENGUIN TOUR AFTER SUNSET |
Some call them Fairy penguins, others call them Little Blues! We were not allowed to take photos as they are a "protected" species but the ranger sent me these pics. They started appearing at the shoreline, waddling between the big boulders and making their way up from the sand to the grove. They walked between our legs and waddled to each of their own specific homes: either burrows that were dug out long ago, or cement "igloos" that local elementary school children had made. The males come back every year to the same home where they were born (hatched) with their wife who is their mate for life!!! There was a lot of loving happening when we were there! Lots of "newlyweds" Eggs should be hatching in the next few months (Spring). The penguins swim out 100km off shore, fishing during the day & returning at night to care for their eggs & sleep. The rest of the year they just swim all day and night...they sleep while they float in the ocean. They are so used to people that they simply don't worry about us! It was super cold because of winds from the South Antarctic ocean, but worth every minute of our one hour visit with the penguins!!
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| We did not see baby chicks, but the ranger sent me this photo. |
MONA (Museum of Old & New Art) - opened a couple of years ago
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What is this piece of art saying?!!
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| MONA entrance - pink bean bag chairs on the lawns |
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| Five floors below ground level |
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| MONA's tennis court (not sure why!) |
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| This photo cannot capture the rapid movement of the tiny tiles |
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| A fascinating collection of chairs for the public to enjoy |
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| 3-D bug art - 1000's of bees look like they are flying |
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| A statement about obesity and beauty |
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| Look into the mirror! |
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| A reflection of the hills of Hobart |
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| Freycinet Adventures with our personal guide, Nathan, on "The Oyster Paddle" - 3 hour treck |
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| Mary & Don - the only ones on the tour with Nathan! Awesome! |
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| Low tide |
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| Watch this sequence of photos showing a Pelican catching & eating a fish! |
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| Oyster racks above the surface of the water as it is low tide |
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| Oyster racks |
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| Oyster lesson! |
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| Tern |
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| Nathan's aunt's wharf & beach |
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| Nathan's Aunt's beach....eating some of her oysters....yum! What a great morning! Now for some lunch at Freycinet Lodge..... |
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| A view from Freycinet Lodge |
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| Don's birthday lunch at Freycinet Lodge |
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| Fresh mussels! |
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| Wallaby in the Freycinet Lodge parking lot |
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| He was not impressed that I didn't have something yummy to give him! |
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| Amazing rocks! |
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| Hiking up to Wineglass Bay lookout |
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| Wine Glass Bay - Freycinet National Park |
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| The moon is visible all day long! |
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| White Sands Resort beach - our lodging for 2 days |
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| Shoreline of White Sands Resort at sunset |
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View from our deck at White Sands Resort - Tasman Hwy - Four Mile Creek
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| Our cabin ( lots of bunnies running around the grass but ran away every time I tried to take a photo! ) |
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| Fresh Freycinet oysters and sparkling Tasmanian wine |
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A trip that ended all too soon :-(
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