Thursday 24th January. Leaving Tassie

The must see attraction in Launceston is the Cataract Gorge and since we had run out of time to see it yesterday evening, we decided to view this morning before leaving for Hobart  Airport. Some very steep streets out of town to reach the car park near the gorge but after that it was easy going and the area is very scenic with attractive, but natural looking planting surrounding the river and a pleasant path all the way round for exercise.    There is a fairly shaky suspension bridge over the gorge which we crossed and a small chair lift which runs horizontally across the gorge (which we did not use). Some brave soles were swimming in the pool which is part of the river (which I'm sure was very cold) rather than using the excellent swimming pool located on the lawns just below the cafe. Since we had skipped breakfast we had a coffee and croissant with a fantastic view across the gorge.

Time to move on and we set off on the main road to Hobart which was fairly flat and straight. Everywhere we looked the countryside was parched and either a brown or very sandy colour. Clearly no significant rain for some time and listening to the local radio station yesterday we heard that the drought is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future.

Before returning to Hobart airport we planned to visit seven mile beach and this require a detour along a B road via Richmond. As soon as we started on this road there were more wallabies dead on the road. Apparently this happens at night and the authorities are running a campaign to limit speed at night time.

Richmond was a very pleasant small town and we stopped for a quick snack. Obviously it is a popular day trip with all of the usual shops plus it is in the centre of the Coal Valley wine area and featured a number of wine shops and vineyards. 

Seven mile beach was truly vast and also very, very windy. Not suitable for swimming but very good for blowing someone's inflatable miles along the beach (via the sea). You can just about see them retrieving it in the photo.

Off to the airport, left the Kia Sportage at Hertz and checked in reasonably early for our flight. Who should be on out flight but "Punter" Ponting that well known Tasmanian. If you don't know who Punter is ask your cricketing friends!