Before I forget to put this in... as I was dozing off last night there was lots of scuffling to be heard close to the tent. I assumed it was the pademelons messing around so I ignored it. But the noise was close and persistent. I saw a shadow of an animal right by my tent so I shone my torch to frighten it. Instead I just found myself face to face with a possum! Initially it went but kept coming back and sticking its head under the fly sheet. I eventually realised it could smell food on my pans from the evenings meal, so I double wrapped them in plastic bags and them into a big stuff sack. The noises stopped. That will teach me to go to sleep without washing the dishes! This evening everything is washed and the rubbish is safely stashed in the car!

What a day! After yesterday's chilled vibes I made up for it today. My car was let out of the campsite (it should never have been in it but no one had asked me to move it so I kept quiet!) and I headed north to work my way down the coast to look at various interesting things, mainly related to natural things or convicts!

1. The Tessellated Pavement
Pretty rock formation, looks like paving slabs!

2. Eaglehawk Neck
A narrow piece of land (isthmus) making the southern section of land a natural prison.

3. The Dog Line
The previous site of a line of vicious tethered dogs to stop the escaped convicts, proving that 2 didn't quite work

4. The Officers Quarters
Thought to be the oldest timber military building in Australia, housed officers who looked after the dogs and dealt with aberrant prisoners.

5. Doo Town
A small village of mainly holiday homes all wittingly involving the name 'Doo' in their titles. My faves include Love me Doo, Wee Doo (very rarely!), Make Doo and Dr Doolittle.

6. Blowhole
Should have been impressive but no where near as good as the ones at Pancake Rocks in NZ.

7. Tasman Arch
Big natural arch in rocks. BIG!

8. Devils Kitchen
Big cave thing in rocks. No photo will do this justice!

9. Look out at Devils Kitchen/ Tasman Arch
AMEZZIN! So pleased to see the Candlestick and Totem pole as I had imagined them, albeit a long way away. It also saved me a visit to Pirates Bay Lookout to see the same. As a bonus I also saw two white bellied sea eagles, pointed out to me by a chap walking with his very elderly but very spritely father!

10. Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Taranna
I needed a break from rock formations! This place was very quiet but great fun. Started with 'Kings of the wild' bird show where I saw a frog mouth for the first time. One called Kermit and another called Frank, who I held and got to stroke.
Then I saw some Tassie Devils and spent ages laughing. The noises, their aggressive interactions were just amusing. I went to see and hear two girl devils been fed and learnt all about the devil facial tumour disease, which is gradually wiping out the population. It's a lymphosarcoma but malignant cells are transferred into open wounds through fighting etc. fortunately there are large protected communities of them to allow repopulation once they are declared extinct in the wild. We were also encouraged to move road kill off the road so that the devils don't also get squished when feeding on it, a message Kangaroo Dundee also strongly promotes throughout his book.
I also saw the quolls being fed, saw birds of prey, a kookaburra close up, danced with a parrot whilst I whistled la cucuracha to it and saw loads of wallabies and roos. The work they are doing is amazing and if any one is ever in Tassie I would urge you to part with $33 to visit.

11. Lunch
Out of the back of the car, well it's been a busy day! Oh, and cloudy and cool. I've been snug as a bug in a rug with my lovely fleece Gaz gave me and probably a bit too warm at times this avo when the sun came out!

12. Port Arthur Historic Site
Despite the fact that Port Arthur played a significant role in the settlement of Tassie, has UNESCO status and is one of the top attractions here I was not too keen on visiting. In retrospect I had been put off by the LPs write up that says you will leave feeling sad. Who wants to feel sad on holiday?! Anyhoo, I went because it is an important part of history. I had read up on the bizzare ticketing but was totally baffled at the entry desk when I was given a playing card (the 5❤️) among other things. I followed everyone else downstairs and at least the card made sense. You matched it to a convict and followed their story. Mine was a Joseph Johnson! The site was mainly used as a prison for repeat offenders within the Australian colonies. We went on a 40min walking tour and a 25min boat tour to learn about various aspects of this settlement. Realistically I would have liked one or even two days there, there was so much to see. I particularly enjoyed (not sure enjoyed is the correct word, may be I should say, was m most interested in)
• The Separate Prison, which formed the basis for prisons today
• The Penitentiary, unfortunately the building is also currently behind bars as the walls move when the wind blows!
• The Hospital, also a rabbit warren, like most modern ones!
• The Junior Medical Officers House, not too shabby
• The Isle of the Dead, an island in the harbour forming the cemetery. Important people up north with grave stones, tombs etc. Convicts and ex-cons down south with a marker if you are lucky.
• The Memorial Garden, a tribute to the 35 people who were killed by a random gunman on this site in 1996. Very tranquil and a lovely memorial.
Phew! See why I wanted more time? This is a must see and at least one day.
NB. I liked that on the ferry ride back they asked us to remember all those who died on this day in the history of Port Arthur. She listed 4 people, from 14 days old to 64 years old.

13. Maingon Bay
Amazing views down to the Dolerite rock columns/ sea stacks of Cape Raoul. BIG waves crashing into the shore, my guess is about 20ft.

14. Remarkable Cave
Yup, it got its name legitimately. Watching those big waves crashing through a small hole in the rocks = pretty cool!

15. Drive back to Fortescue Bay
Followed instructions and dragged two recent road kill wallabies off the road, both males :(

16. Sleep
Imminent!