Mon, 12th Jan, 2015 Wrest Point Casino car park (sightseeing)

Met up with Mum & Dad after their breakfast and headed off to explore the other side of the Derwent River. Drove across the Tasman Bridge to show Mum & Dad the view from Rosny Lookout. Mt Wellington with a layer of cloud. Mum remembers Dad driving them up that range through cloud like that. She can’t believe they did that then. 

Zoomed in on the flag pole and tower at Mt Nelson too.

Around to Kangaroo Bluff Historical Site and Battery. Dad enjoyed all the information. Through Bellerive to Blundstone Arena where the 20/20 cricket is being played.

Stopped at Banjos Bakery in Howrah for a cuppa. Great big cup and it was very nice coffee. They had interesting facts on the wall.

A Huon Pine tree estimated at up to 10,000 years old can be found at Mount Read.

Tasmania is the 26^th largest island in the world.

Tassie grows the majority of Australia’s potatoes and apples.

Australia’s oldest bridge was built in Richmond in 1823.

Tasmanian Mountain Berries can be used as a substitute for pepper.

The oldest brewery in Australia can be found in South Hobart.

Tassie’s lush pastures produce more than 500 million litres of milk a year.

95% of Australia’s cool temperate rainforests are found in Tasmania.

The cleanest air in the world can be found at Cape Grim.

No-one in Tasmania lives more than 2 hours drive from the sea.

Drove through open farming area inland from the coast back to the A3 highway then up the Meehan Range to Mount Rumney. The National Parks chap we noticed at Kangaroo Bluff who was on the phone in his car is up here too – and on the phone again!!!

Great views over Pitt Water and the highway heading to Tasman Peninsula.

Seven Mile Beach.

Zoomed into the airport.

The two bridges over Pitt Water to Tasman Peninsula.

Around the other side looking over Ralph Bay to the narrow arm at South Arm.

All the lookouts have narrow dirt roads.

On the way down another good area to look up towards Richmond.

 Then back around to the bridges again and then Seven Mile Beach peninsula.

The houses up here have amazing steep driveways. They have great views though. Looking over green farm land to River Derwent.

Lovely yellow flowers.

Back on the A3 and heading back to Tasman Bridge.

But turned off to Rose Bay and Lindisfarne. Saw a street sign I thought was Lena Street but it was Lenna. Got Mum out any case to pose for a photo under the sign.

These are very popular flowers – Dad told me the name but I didn’t write it down!!!

Dad picked this daisy for Mum – so perfect.

Further along there are white versions of those flowers.

Followed along the edge of the River to cross over the Bowen Bridge. Such a perfect day for a drive.

Dad worked at the Zinc works when he was in Uni. He had lots of stories to tell us. It is now called Ziniflex Hobart Smelter.

Ship yard making big catamarans.

Another angle of Mt Wellington and zoomed on the dolerite rocks below.

Headed towards Mt Wellington to find Tolosa  Park. The big powerlines coming down from the Highlands power stations.

Tolosa Park is a lovely area (though under the power lines) with a big lake, plenty of grassy area, huge skate park, amphitheatre and lots of BBQ areas. Shame they lock the gate at 8pm, it would be a great overnight camp.

The lake is covered in seagulls (silver gulls).

Back down the road trying to find Lenah Valley and Lady Franklins Garden. Found this artwork for Fauna, Flora and Foray. Best artwork yet.

The New Town Riverlet and information board.

Found Lady Franklin’s Garden – which was just dry grass area that I could see. The building looks like a huge grave shrine that the Italian’s have in cemeteries. It is called Lady Franklin Museum ‘Ancanthe’ which is Greek for ‘vale of flowers’. Lady Jane Franklin named it that in 1841 and the building was opened in 1843 as a museum of fine art. The property was transferred to the Council in 1938 and since 1949 the building has been leased to the Art Society of Tasmanian. Unfortunately it is only open Saturday and Sundays.

Back into Hobart for lunch by the docks. Great sea horse beside the Mures Lower & Upper Deck Restaurant.

Looking back to Grand Chancellor Hotel where Mum & Dad will be staying after they come back to Hobart after their coach tour.

Having a great time with Mum and Dad – so glad they came down, I do miss them so much.

Fish and chips for lunch – it was Blue-eye Trevalla.

They had posters on the wall so found the Scallop shells and Abalone. The ones we saw at Bruny would have been black-lipped.

We all got a yummy icecream. Mum rested in the shade and we wandered down the wharf. Found where the cruise boats dock. Not sure where this one is from.

On the other side is all the old warehouses – this one is IXL Jams. Found this info in a tourist magazine – Henry Jones was an industrialist who died in 1926 after building a business empire. From humble beginnings, he rose to fame as an entrepreneur spanning five continents with interests in jam, fruit, timber, mining and shipping. This is his factory on the waterfront that has been refurbished as the upmarket Henry Jones Art Hotel. The site dates back to 1804. Henry Jones & Co’s company motto IXL dates from about 1895. It is said that the brand IXL came from Jones’ own quite: “I excel, in all the products I make.”

All our walks nearly always find something special. This special one is bronze casts of explorer, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) and his huskies. He was born in Belgium to an Italian father and Flemish mother. He voyaged from Plymouth to Hobart as a 7 year old. He left from this spot on the “Southern Cross” ship in 1898 to explore Antarctica. Very interesting.

The penguins and seals looked real the way they are situated on the rocks.

On the edge of the pier is a Memorial to commercial fisherman and women who have lost their lives undertaking fishing activities in Tasmanian waters, opened in 2013.  There were a lot of names.

The seaplane was heading out. I went on one when I was 17 to Green Island. Great fun.

Mum commented about a couple have a very public kiss and cuddle so we all started cuddling. Love my parents so much.

Just for something different I got another shot of Mt Wellington as we drove up to Queens Domain Summit Lookout.

Stopped to read the info about the Coastal Wireless Station. It was established by the Commonwealth in 1912 and was an integral part of the early twentieth century communications network, linking the first Antarctic expeditions with the rest of the world. It is now used by Coastal Radio Hobart and serves an important role in ensuring the safety of life and property at sea.

On the way down we stopped at the reservoirs. We could walk onto them and the view was fantastic.

There are heaps of sporting areas on the Queens Domain. Soccer, football, netballs, tennis and aquatic centre.

Top view over the Tasman Bridge.

This is Government House. I think if the flag is up the Governor is at home.

Zoomed back to Bellerive and Blundstone Arena. It is a great capital city to live in as there is so much happening but it is easy to get to all the activities.

Kangaroo Bluff – we can just make out the fort on the top.

Mum loves the tennis so we offered to drop her off here. Today is quite hot so she passed as everyone is sitting in the sun. There is a big tennis tournament on now.

On the other side of the main road are the Cenotaph and the Regatta grounds. The circus is set up in the grounds.

At the Cenotaph is a sign about why kids can’t skate here. “The Cenotaph was built in 1925 to honour the citizens of Hobart killed in the 1^st World War. Since then it has become a memorial to all the Australian Men and Women who have died in active service. The stone steps are made of local bluestone, 175 million years old. Grinding on skateboards or rollerblades will mark, chip and damage the surface of the rock. This is a sacred site – so please treat it with respect.”

Certainly is an inspiring spot for a memorial. The tree-lined avenue has the two sail statues. When we walked towards them they started a recording of stories from the wars. One was stories of the Boer War and the other World War One.

One end had a plaque “Valour” and it said that the earth walls are layered with soil from the birthplaces and battlefields of Tasmanian Victoria Cross recipients and was dedicated in 2003.

The other explained the Victoria Cross. It is the highest decoration awarded for conspicuous bravery to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. The award was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 and cast from the metal of guns captured at Sebastopol during the Crimeam War 1854 to 1856. Thirteen Tasmanians have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Their names are engraved in the glass.

For the centenary of Anzac this year they are creating the Hobart Flame of Remembrance.

Drove down to the water where they hold the Regattas. There is one to be held on Australia Day so we might come down and watch it. Plenty of room to sit.

Interesting tower on this house.

Back to Wrest Point and the cruise boat is going past.

Relaxed in Mum & Dad’s room with a drink again. I worked on my blog while they watched the tennis. Back into the Casino bistro for dinner. Not a good night on the pokies.