Aussie Adventures

After spending a week in my hometown of Kandos visiting and being visited by old friends, Lucia and I left with the rest of my family to catch a flight to Tasmania. The reason behind this is that my sister, Sara, lives in Hobart now. After much joking about whether or not we would need our passports, as Tasmania isn't really a part of Australia, we headed off. We flew with a cheaper Australian airline called Jetstar, and the two hour flight was relatively comfortable. However, as anyone who has flown will know, after any length of time you are ready to get off a plane.
Sara and her boyfriend Rob were awaiting our arrival at Hobart International Airport, a tiny place on the outskirts of Hobart city which looks equipped to handle around 500 passangers a day. After waiting for our bags (of which mum watched one bag go past while saying "I dont think that one is ours.... oh yes it is") we emerged into the chilly evening to collect our hire car. As it turned out this car was a eight seater KIA grand carnival, which happily had more legroom in all seats than the whole plane. Bigger windows too.
Day One
The first day of our Tasmanian Travels was spent at Sara's small flat in Berridale, after a late start we had lunch with Rob's family and then in the afternoon headed off to the Royal Botanic Gardens. These were very nice, but sadly lacked any major section worth noting. This was probably because of the winter, and the lack of plants that were flowering.
Day Two
On the second day we headed down to Port Arthur to see the site of Australia's most well known convict settlement. This was an amazing place, which was full of amazing stories, architecture and history. Sadly during our tour it started sleeting so we think we ended up getting a shortened version. The rest of the day was better and we eneded up having a brilliant time walking around the ruins and old buildings and enjoying our trip out onto the small harbour.
Day Three
After getting back to Sara's later than we expected the night before, all of us except for mum overslept. This meant the day had to go into damage control and we spent it just shopping and walking around Hobart City. It was too cold and cloudy to bother going up mount wellington as we had planned. That just had to wait for another day.
Day Four + Day Five
These two days were spent mainly on the road. We drove through some beautiful scenery and small towns. It seems as if the moment you are more than 20kms outside Hobart City then you are in an isolated area. The trip was great, if you discount the fact that having 5 family members pent up in a car for 6 hours travel and the arguements and shouting that happen. We spent the night of Day Four at a lodge just outside Cradle Mountain National Park. A amazing place, the mountain is a beautiful sight but the story behind how the park came about and how lucky Australia is to have it preserved the way it is is something that should not be missed out on. Take the tour, it is worth the hour and a half and the money. Really.
Day Six
The final day saw us spend our time around Hobart again. After having Lunch at the Casino we went to the Baha'i Center to see the new building. An absolutely stunning building that is built in an environmentaly friendly way is such an inspiration. Lucia and I couldnt tear ourselves away and just wanted to spend more time there soaking up the atmosphere and environment. But this was not to be as we had already planned our last adventure. A trip up mount Wellington, the Tallest mountain in Tasmania and one that overlooks the capital city of Hobart. The trip up the mountain seemed endless, constantly passing through snow gates on a very narrow, icy road. The trip up was well worth the effort as we were rewarded with an amazing view and sunset. It was icy cold however and a bitter wind was blowing a gale. After a few minutes fingers were frozen and I needed to jump back into the car. Managed to get some great photos before that and my camera dieing.
Finally after all of this we dragged ourselves back to the Airport, returned the hire car and said our farwells to Sara and Rob before we boarded the plane for the two hour flight back to Sydney.

Added by Lucia:

First few days I thought that Sara lives in a village near Hobart. This was based on everyone making fun of "the village where Sara lives". After a few days they told me its actually part of Hobart... You can never be sure if what they say is true.

I didnt think Sara's apartment was small... Well, small for 7 people but alright for 2.
The National Park of Tasmania is huge and beautiful, they tried really hard to get me lost but I knew their plans and watched out.

On the way back to Hobart we were running out of fuel and still had 50 km to the next service station when we passed a fuel sign pointing left 1km. So we tried our luck and got to a very scary horror-movie village where there were only two streets and all the houses looked completely the same with the same fences and trees in front gardens, and at the very end of the street was one fuel stand in total darkness. No phone reception. Me and Sara already saw ourselves covered in blood somewhere under a tree. Run for your life!

And I saw the beauty of Australian sky. Couldn't stop looking until we entered Hobart.