Launceston,

Day 8

Tasmania is without doubt something that I will never, ever forget! The one day I´ve been here (plenty more to go!) has been truly amazing, and the ever so small portion of the land I´ve seen is absolutely astonishing! So far (I came here yesterday morning) I´ve explored devonport -were the spirit of Tasmania made port- and Launceston, were I´ve again pre-booked a hostel bed for two nights (324kr). There are a couple of rapids just outside Launceston called Cataracts Gorges that I paid a visit yesterday, and it was great! The nature around was pristine and untouched, and the rapids themselves are one of the few were man hasn´t interacted in any way. Today was even better though, since I hired (with a couple of Ozzy friends) some kayaks (271kr per kayak) and went sea kayaking -wich sounds quite uninteresting until you´ve seen the sights.... Tasmania has truly an extremely varied landscape, with dramatic, towering limestone cliffs one moment to ancient moss draped forests the next (mangroves included on the east side!). Truly worth a revisit some day!

Anyway, There is still so much to see but my key destinations are all part of Tasmania´s incredible and untouched nature, so I´ll have to keep my hiking boots on ; ) Tomorrow I will be taking the bus to Mole creek outside the "Central Plateu Conservation area", wich is open to tourists and is reconed to be one of the worlds most beautiful areas and also just about the only temperate area with completely untouched forest that has stood pristine for centuries upon centuries. A huge portion of Tasmania is firmly listed on the world heritage list and the conservation area is sen as one of the most dramatic with exemples like Cradle Mountain and Reynolds falls. I will be staying in the area for several days, my food and sight fees (even though few of them charge anything) going for a hefty 1200kr. At least the brilliant website Booking.com/au has done it again and found me another hostel for a good price (370kr). I´ve still got lots to see so`I´ll be going now; the I can reach any time, but not Tasmania. So long!