zuanqing extraordinaire: vacation

Sunday, November 09, 2014

#FAM2906 Day 07: Sheffield, Cradle Mountain @ Tassie

Warning: Image heavy post! Second day at Tassie was spent exploring the murals of Sheffield and trekking at Cradle Mountain! Sheffi...

Warning: Image heavy post!

Second day at Tassie was spent exploring the murals of Sheffield and trekking at Cradle Mountain!

Sheffield is well-known for being the "Town of murals" as it is dotted with murals throughout! The first mural was unveiled back in Dec 1986. Since then, more than 60 murals have been created! So we were off to spot murals but after a while we quickly gave up because… we got tired of it and tbh they aren't as nice as those you find in Penang. Hahaha.

The empty roads of Sheffield early in the morn

Spotted a super cute letter box

spotted a mini-waterfall along our drive and stopped for a photo opp haha

After the murals of Sheffiled, we headed straight for Cradle Mountain, also where Dove Lake is. It was truly magnificent even in the whole fogginess of it all. We opted to do a trek around Dove Lake which took us I think almost 2 hours? The estimated time was supposed to take 1.5 hours but I guess we were walking too slowly… and kept taking breaks along the way haha. Towards the end of the trek, the rainy weather cleared up and there was sun and a double rainbow! FULL rainbow some more. It was truly wondrous and c'est magnifique. Let the photos do the rest of the talking! :)

starting our trek! still foggy and rainy

first time i see people trekking with a brolly - presents Huiyu

sky started clearing up and we could see shades of blue!

that;s cradle mountain behind us!

spot the rainbow :)

bored while waiting for the coach to bring us back down

We were supposed to go see penguins after Cradle Mountain.. but unfortunately we spent too long a time here and were too late to make it for the penguins :(

For me it wasn't so bad cos I've been to Philip Island Penguin Parade but I felt bad for the others who actually wanted to see the penguins quite badly… it's ok friends! If I'm staying on in Melbs you come visit me again ok?? Hahaha we will go see penguins together! :D

Drove to our accommodation for the night - which I have no photos off! But it's like a lodge of 2-storey apartments. Albeit small, was sufficient for the night.

Last day of Tassie in the next post!

Thursday, November 06, 2014

#FAM2906 Day 06: To Launceston, Tassie!

We took an evening flight via Jetstar from Melbourne to Tassie, and arrived at Launceston Airport! Went to collect our rented car… without ...

We took an evening flight via Jetstar from Melbourne to Tassie, and arrived at Launceston Airport! Went to collect our rented car… without a GPS. Jo was supposed to bring her dad's over but before the trip it malfunctioned and so we wound up without a GPS in Tassie as the car rental company were not able to rent us one without pre-booking.

Luckily we had data so could use Google Maps to navigate, just that it will consume unnecessary data! But no choice, need to get to our accommodation right? Lol so just for one night lah. Not so bad. So we drove to our accommodation and only got to spend one night there before we had to check out the next morning. Which was kinda a pity cos the place was quite rustic and nice.

Anyway the roads in Tassie are like pitch dark okay. Like no street lamps at all. Only those light reflectors on/along the road so it was pretty scary driving… like you look in the rearview mirror and it's just DARK. Lol.

Our cozy 2-storey apartment!

Our accommodation compound.

Breakfast!

Made our way to Cataract Gorge after brekkie! That is where the world's longest chair lift is.

(Forever) My partner and I on the chairlift!

Trekking up some hill...

It was quite a workout for us! too weak lol

On the suspension bridge

Too bad the weather was kinda foggy so somehow the Cataract Gorge didn't look so gorgeous… Anyhow, we went to a honey farm from the gorge! They had free honey tastings which were so good but being a poor student I didn't buy anything haha. Just bought some honey roasted macadamia nuts for my landlord and housemate.

Decided to stop by the salmon farm, and met this cute resident dog over there named George! Super tame and adorable.

me and George! :D

We spent too much time eating at the salmon farm and had to rushhhhhh our way for the cave tours. The sightseeing places in Tassie are so far from one another, it takes on average 2 -3 hours to drive from one place to the next. But thanks to Kang who was driving, her chiong skills brought us there just in the nick of time to join the last cave tour for the day.

Because it was winter, sun set at about 4.30 pm so it was turning dark by the time we were done with the caves tour. Set off for our accommodation for that night and it's this trailer cabin which is kinda cool! Lol no photos of it though.