The numbers, the planning, and the highlights behind the diary
We didn't post to Facebook every day on this trip — there are a lot more photos in the album. If this link does not work, please ask Kayleen or I to share the Album with you.
Actual GPS route from Paul's phone — drag to pan, scroll/pinch to zoom, click a dot for the place name. The Brisbane flights are left off so the map stays on Tasmania.
| Place | Dates | Nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | 11–13 Apr | 2 | Flew down from Brisbane and picked up the hire cars. Two days on foot around town — Cataract Gorge and the Penny Royal, Kings Park, the Seaport and the city centre. Two nights at Waratah On York. |
| Scottsdale | 13–14 Apr | 1 | Out of Launceston and over the Sideling to the north-east. Stayed at Anabel’s of Scottsdale. |
| Scamander | 14–16 Apr | 2 | In along the Tasman Highway through Derby and St Helens, then up to Binalong Bay and The Gardens for the Bay of Fires. On the 15th a 154 km run south through Bicheno to Coles Bay — the Wineglass Bay lookout walk on the Freycinet Peninsula, and Sleepy Bay on the way back. Stayed at Pelican Sands Scamander; my review says “Great location but the buildings were old and tired”. |
| Rossarden (Fingal Valley) | 16–18 Apr | 2 | Inland off the coast via St Marys. A 6 km walk straight from the door on the 17th, and a run back over to St Marys that afternoon. Stayed at Craggy Peaks. |
| West Launceston | 18–19 Apr | 1 | Back to town the long way, down through Avoca and Perth. Stayed at the Dragonfly Inn. |
| Sheffield | 19–23 Apr | 4 | Our base under Mount Roland, and where we met the children. Deloraine and Trowunna Wildlife Park at Mole Creek on the 20th; 37 km on the Wild Mersey trails out to Railton and back on the 21st; and Cradle Mountain on the 22nd — Dove Lake and a stretch of the Overland Track, 12 km on foot for the day. |
| Launceston | 23–24 Apr | 1 | Back across from Sheffield, with an afternoon walk around the city. Stayed at the Mantra Charles Hotel. |
| Epping Forest | 24–25 Apr | 1 | South the scenic way through Bracknell, Liffey and Cressy. |
| Burnie | 25–26 Apr | 1 | Across the north via Hagley, Deloraine and Devonport. Stayed at the Ikon Hotel. |
| Smithton | 26–27 Apr | 1 | The north-west tip — Boat Harbour and Cowrie Point, then Stanley and a two hour stop to climb The Nut, and on out to Arthur River on the west coast. Stayed at Tall Timbers Smithton. |
| Burnie | 27–28 Apr | 1 | A full day in the Tarkine first — Sumac Road, Lake Chisholm and Trowutta — before the run back east. Home to Brisbane out of Launceston on the 28th. |
My memory is that this trip was planned by Ben and Kayleen. One of the key targets was to succeed in climbing Marions Lookout, something Kayleen and I had been forced to abandon due to bad weather on a previous trip. The base in Sheffield was great (Airbnb). The individual (small) hire cars worked well. Kayleen and I loved Craggy Peaks, we had our own small cabin in the woods, though there were a lot of leeches. There was some drama with flying out, 2 of our 3 separate Jetstar flights were delayed.
I loved the Bay of Fires and the whole east coast. Cradle Mountain was a very special day; without the physical strength of our boys I doubt we would have made it. Hiring mountain bikes and riding the trails for a day was a treat.
[Kayleen's best memory from this trip]