Around the world with 80 gadgets - Around the world with 80 gadgets

Sleeping bag: 60 AUD
1 week car rental: 230 AUD
Freedom to drive wherever and whenever you like: Priceless!

I decided to start my road trip in the southwest - the Hartz Mountains National Park. The road down south from Hobart was scenic (after I got used to the terrifying notion of driving on the left side of the road, that is). The sleeping bag proved to be money well spent as I slept in the car to save money. I found a nice parking spot close to the park with toilet facilities and nice tent neighbours and friendly security guy Jason with very friendly dog. Early the next morning I went up to the Hartz Mountain and did two short walks. At 8.30 am that's just what I needed! Well, I wouldn't say no to a decent cup of coffee and a warm bed to get back to, but ...

View at Hartz Mountains.

I continued further south to the Hastings cave and thermal springs. After a cold visit to the cave I looked forward to the 28 degrees in the pool, but unfortunately it was filled to the brim with noisy, obnoxious kids screaming and splashing around. Their obese redneck parents just stood there drinking beer and ignoring the kids breaking every pool rule. Well, at least I got a short dip and a shower.

Hastings Cave was huge and spectacular, but unfortunately very difficult to photograph for us amateurs ...

This little lizard was heating up in the sun as I walked around the Thermal Spring near Hastings cave.

Next national park was Mount Field. I drove all the way to the top that evening and spent the night under a starry sky with snowy mountains around me. Awoken by the wind shaking the car and freezing a little in the rain, I decided to spend the next night at a lower altitude. I did a short walk in the beautiful forest surrounded by 50-70 meter high gum trees and enjoyed the silence and singing birds.

Some rays at a viewpoint coming down from Mount Field

Lake St. Clair was further to the north and about one hour's drive. The rain only stopped for 4 minutes at a time, but I managed to do a few short walks and moved on to Cradle Mountain. Stopped in the mining town of Queenstown for restocking of chocolate biscuits (TimTams!!), a few minites of Internet and parked for the night outside the police station. A quiet place, but the people seemed friendly.

A quiet beach at Lake St. Clair

Nelson Falls near Lake St. Clair

Comments

Add New

Write comment

Name: Email:  do not notifynotify Website: Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge     Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 4.0 beta1

!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."