Just A Quick Getaway

"Hobart, Slowbart.  It's time for an adventure!"

The purpose of this blog is to recap a few short trips that Rob, Maggie and I took over the past three months.  Maggie looks so bored in this picture so we felt our first trip should include our girl.  The three of us packed up the car and drove north to Tasmania's second largest city (after Hobart, of course), which is Launceston.  Just to give you an idea of where we were for three days:

We drove up the middle of the state.  Then on the way home, we drove along the coast.  The car trip took roughly 2.5 hours.

We took a leisurely drive up the state and saw signs along the way advertising "Australia's Biggest Log" in Campbell Town.  So, of course, we had to stop and let Maggie have a sniff.  Australia has this fun tourist idea of advertising "Big Things".  For example: biggest log, biggest pie, biggest banana, biggest koala...etc.  These are all novelty structures (with exception to the log, which is in fact, a log) and there are estimated over 150 such objects through out AUS.  If you needed another reason to visit the country...! 

This was kind of a wacky statue that I felt needed Maggie & I's imitation.  Right behind us, Australia's Biggest Log!

WOW.

Rob for scale

We noticed this sign only after we were ready to walk away from the log.  Maggie must have known since she is watching my back for the doggie police.
One thing we have not enjoyed about living here is the restrictions on dogs.  These signs are really common in public areas.  It's a bummer because we enjoy taking Maggie with us.

Leaving Campbell Town, we continued on our way to Lauceston and a dog friendly accommodation.  We arrived in the early evening, took Maggie for a short walk, settled into our cottage then dashed out for a quick bite to eat in town.

Our tour book recommended this pub and we had a coupon!  The food was really good!  And we got a chuckle out of their slogan.

Local musicians had a jam session while we ate dinner.

This picture is a little blurry but we had nice service on a barrel.

Back with Maggie and cupcake.
Our accommodation was a small cottage complete with a log fire that kept us all comfortable.

Lauceston is known for it's wine, the Cataract Gorge, the Tamar river and it's history.  We spent the next day doing a nature walk along the Tamar river, sneaking Maggie into the Cataract Gorge (no dogs allowed) and tasting fine wines in the afternoon.

This beautiful flower was on a tree outside our cottage. It was fall at the time of this trip but flowers seem to bloom year around in Australia.

The Tamar River looking very mysterious!

Part of our walking track included walking on planked walkways within the river marsh.  We had to prevent Maggie from launching herself off the side (to chase birds) into the muddy river water.

Serene

Cattails growing out of low water

We are about to enter Cataract Gorge - where dogs are not welcome.  We accepted the chance that we'd be stopped, ticketed and fined.  Twice we pushed Maggie into the brush to hide her while official park vehicles passed us.  In the end, we got away with it!  Lucky for all of us!!  

Walking into "The Gorge"

The Gorge is gorgeous!!

Rob and Mags wait while I snap 500 pictures

It's fall in Tasmania!

The playground looking very autumn-ish

Crossing a suspension bridge to the other side of the gorge

The bridge did bounce and sway while we crossed it

Afternoon wine tasting at one of our favorite wine makers.  Maggie waited in the car while we sampled the fine wines.

Josef's vineyard

Another cellar door that we visited and really enjoyed.

We could have spent more time in Lauceston but two nights was all that we had booked.  We missed out on a few wineries being in town only Sunday and Monday, most businesses are closed on these days.  We have an excuse to come back :)  Our coastal drive home took us past the Bay of Fires.  This area along the shore has rocks covered in a bright, red algae that makes the rocks appear to be on fire from afar.  Really beautiful stuff!

Good news, Maggie!

Bay of Fires

Bay of Fires

No matter where you go, Maggie finds a stick to fetch

Action shot!

Shortly after this photo, a wave splashed up and got me!

I love the contrast of colors

Maggie was a bit disappointed to leave; she could stay at the beach all day.

The next short trip was taken by myself and I flew to Coffs Harbor (mainland Australia).  Several months ago, Rob introduced me to a nurse, Naomi, who was working with him.  Naomi has been an emergency nurse for several years but has decided to go back to school to study law.  She is very smart, sweet and a fun person to be around.  We hit if off instantly!  Unfortunately, Naomi and her boyfriend needed to move from Hobart to Coffs Harbor for work and they left several weeks after Naomi and I became friends.  Wanting to spend more time with my new friend, I left Rob at home to work (hehe) and I spent three days talking, shopping and walking around Coffs Harbor and Dorrigo (Naomi's new hometown).

You know you're in a beach town when you see signs like these!
Coffs Harbor is north of Sydney and it sits on the coast.

This is Ellie!
She belongs to Naomi's mom and step father.
She is a big sweetheart... do you ever feel like this blog is all about dogs?

Views in and around Coffs Harbor

It's early winter in Coffs but being so far north, the air is warm and it's super sunny

While walking on this island, we looked out to sea and saw three whales! It was mating season and one whale breached for us (came completely out of the water)!

Coffs Harbor

The whales appeared behind me...

Reminder, no dogs or CATS! NO CATS allowed!!

Oh no!  Look what's shown up again!  Something big!
Coffs is known for it's Big Banana!  Inside, Naomi and I each had a chocolate covered frozen banana.  Coffs Harbor is a big producer of bananas.

My guest room at Naomi's house.  She and her boyfriend are renting a farm house at the moment.  They live on all this land with rolling hills, wide open spaces and cows!  I woke up to the quiet and beauty here each morning.

Their farm house has a wrap-around porch

Wide open spaces from their side porch

Home sweet home for Naomi and Ryan

They have a housemate who sits a few feet outside from their porch.  This is "Cocky"!  He's really good at saying, "See ya later!"

Naomi has indoor plumbing but this outhouse still stands on the property.

Chopping block for their furnace

Dorrigo National Park
Home to awesome views, waterfalls and natural rain forest

Walking amongst the trees

Wild turkeys!

We were able to walk behind a waterfall - this is the view from inside!

Driving along the road, back to Naomi's house

Naomi and Ryan are renting the house and their propriety comes complete with cows.  Going up the driveway can be time-consuming as they must be careful of their neighbors.  Note the cow in the side mirror!

Moving slow and steady with the occasional "beep" to move them along...

Driving up to the farm house

Naomi!!
Here she is introducing me to the "TimTam Slam".  You take a TimTam biscuit, bite off each end, submerge it into warm Milo (hot chocolate) or coffee, and slurp up the fluid as quickly as you can before the biscuit disintegrates.  Trust me, it's gooooood!

Iconic red tractor on the farm

My husband was so sweet to have flowers delivered shortly after I returned from my girl's trip.  He's so thoughtful!

Maggie was happy to see me home as well!

And finally, Rob and I took one more short trip here in Tasmania to Cradle Mountain (located on the map above).  We only had two nights to enjoy the mountainous region of the state, but the getaway was well worth it.  The weather had us stay in our cabin more than what we expected... it did a rain/snow mixture both days that made us pretty wet and cold while out.  However indoors, with a warm fire, books to read and crossword puzzles - we enjoyed each other's company.

On our way to Cradle Mountain!

Behind me is Peppers Resort in Cradle Mountain.  We stayed in a cabin not far from the main lodge.

We did this short but pretty Enchanted Walk

Note the black bird, sitting on the back of the porch chair.  As soon as Rob opened a bag of trail mix, this bird appeared with it's yellow eyes.  No pressure to feed the birds.  It'll just sit there and watch you eat.

Behold! Australia's Biggest Tasmanian Devil!!
Not really sure if this one is on the "Biggest" list but we took a picture with it anyway.

That wraps up our short trips but there is more to come regarding the remainder of our time in Tasmania... including a visit from our dear friend, Ruthie.