Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th February 2019 - During our stay in Launceston we:

St Helens Point peninsula Akaroa & Stieglitz that has the best of both worlds with Georges bay on one side and the ocean on the other. We take a short walk through the sand dunes with the surf crashing on the rocky shoreline

Bay of Fires that was breathtaking with its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches with brilliant orange lichen covered granite boulders that lines the bay; absolutely stunning. Binaong Bay a small coastal town, where we walked amongst orange coloured rocky gullies, overlooking small secluded white sandy beaches with shore hugging forests.

The Gardens where we wandered through the orange boulders and sandy beach with its turquoise water still struck by the natural beauty of this amazing place.

Stopped at Cosy Corner North before continuing on to Sloop Rock where we took another walk along the sandy beach and scrambled up on to the orange tinted rocks taking in the view over the bay and rock pool large enough for a swim before dodging the incoming tide and back along the beach.

Drove for a beer at the Pub in the Paddock at Pyengana, located within rolling hills and has been licenced since 1880 making it one of the oldest pubs in Tasmania with Priscilla a beer swilling pig. Bought some very yummy cheese at the Pyengana Cheese Company then continued on through the Weldborough pass with its numerous tree ferns lining the road before making a stop at the Weldborough Hotel in the tiny town of Weldborough to sample the BicroBru beer. We had unexpected surprise of a free meal as the owner had ordered on too many and it was going to go to waste!!

Had a coffee & strudel at the lovely country town of Evandale before travelling to Ben Lomond to drive the winding dangerous ascending narrow track known as the Jacobs Ladder with its numerous hairpin turns up the steep side of the Ben Lomond plateau. We stopped at the top to take in the view over the mountain range and valley below before descending back down Jacobs Ladder.

Drive by the North Esk River a tributary of the Tamar River, through White Hills open country that is surrounded by densely wooded hills making our way back to Launceston.

Stopped at the Cataract Gorge that is a river gorge, just a few minutes from the CBD of Launceston with a basin used as a swimming pool sits below the cliffs. We strolled along the path that runs along the cliff face & crossing over the Alexander suspension bridge with views over the South Esk River.

Drive through White Hills beside the Tamar River in the beautiful Tamar Valley wine region to Beauty Point a small riverside town where we took a tour around the Platypus House; well it was the only way to see a real platypus up close & personal.

Beaconsfield a former mining town located on the banks of the Tamar River that was once Tasmania's richest gold mine.

We had lunch at the Tamar Ridge Winery in the hills where we sat looking out at spectacular views of the Tamar valley & mountains beyond.

Wow! What an amazing time we had touring Tasmania, it is one of the most beautiful places we had visited, with parts of it reminding us of New Zealand and a place that we feel we could settle in and we're sad that we have to leave and that our trip has to an end.

Sunday 17th February 2019 - It's an early start as we drive to Davenport to catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry back to Port Melbourne with another long day at sea.