We headed off from St Helen's this morning to explore some places in NE Tasmania I hadn't been to before, in a 200 km round trip. First stop was Eddystone Point with its lighthouse and coastal views, on the east coast north of St Helen's. Then to Tomahawk on the north coast, a veritable holiday shack heaven. Lunch was at the pub in Gladstone, not the Qld one. Afternoon tea was at the Tin Museum and Cafe in Derby, a quaint picturesque old town, struggling to re...

Went to the Australian National Zoo and Aquarium today. It's at the downstream end of Lake Burley Griffin and features streamflows through many of the exhibits. There are plenty of big cats, African animals, some bears, primates and Australian wildlife. Some of the animals were a surprise, such as the snow leopard and the red panda. The penguins were entertainingly hyperactive and the cutest of all was the little marmoset. The aquarium was not extensive, but did...

I haven't been to the Memorial for some years. It's always a great way to spend the day. The Vietnam and Korean exhibits have been updated and more recent conflicts are now represented. The highlight for me was the Lost Diggers of Vignacourt exhibition. This featured a collection of great photographs taken of diggers on the Western Front during WW1 for postcards home at the time. The faces of these blokes speak volumes; it's very poignant knowing that many of...

Last day in paradise, so I continued my exploring, this time trudging south along the beaches towards Diamond Head. First stop was the Aquarium, small but with nice tank displays of various local habitats, estuarine and reef. The most interesting attraction was the 2 Monk Seals. These are quite rare with only a thousand or so left in the local area. Next stop was the Zoo, a much more extensive attraction, covering 16 acres. There were quite a few monkeys and ap...

Went for a long walk today heading off in a northerly direction. The US Army Museum in Waikiki was developed over the former Battery Randolph, a coastal defense battery with two huge 14inch guns, which were originally test fired in 1914, rattling windows and generally terrifying the local inhabitants for miles around. Pearl Harbour is featured of course, as is the workings of the original defense facility. Also featured is the role of Japanese Americans who vol...