Wednesday 13^th June, 2012

After a very lazy morning we drove in the afternoon to a crocodile park. They breed crocodiles to get meat and leather. Beside they have some other animals in the park. They are mainly local animals, but also a lion, a tiger and monkeys. We joined a feeding tour and could hold the meat in front of the crocodile's nose similar to a fishing rod. At the end the keeper showed us a 1.5 year old crocodile which we even could hold by ourselves. It is a special feeling to hold a crocodile.

After we drove to the beach and watched the sunset.

Monday 26^th March, 2012

Punctually at 8:45am we sat at a pelican feeding. Unfortunately only one pelican came. First all children could throw a fish to the animal. Then the ranger asked who else would also like to do it. I wanted and thus held out a fish. It is interesting how fast they can snap. After we drove to the Rainbow Jungle Bird Park. Here we could see many different parrots and cockatoos. There were many beautiful ones. From the bird park we changed to the cliffs of the Kalbarri National Park. First we drove to Red Bluff and got an impression of the cliffs. After we drove to Mushroom Rock, here we hiked down to the sea. The cliffs look here like mushrooms. Further we went to the Island Rock, a rock standing in the sea. Then we continued driving to the Natural Bride which was eroded into the rocks by the sea. With this view we left the National Park and continued southwards. We followed partially the same road as at the beginning our our trip. We left out the minute's silence at the place of the breakdown. In Northhamption we wanted to get some cash, but the ATMs did not want to. The first one did not know about Swiss cards and second one was out of order. So we continued and could withdraw some cash a bit outside of Geraldton. With a few stops to photographically capture the landscape we drove to Eneabba. Our map told that there should be a camping, but that was not true. So we switched on the navi and were looking for the next one. There should be one in Leeman which is 31 km away. As it was already 5:30pm we had to rush as they usually close reception at 6pm. We passed Lake Loque National Park and the Beekeepers Nature Reserve. Here a huge salt lake was sparkling in the evening sun. As we did not have time to stop we will return tomorrow. A bit after 6pm we reached Leeman and found a place to stay. We parked the camper and went to the sea to watch the sunset. In the evening we walked again to the sea and enjoyed an enchanting sky full of stars.

Friday 24^th February, 2012

Punctually at um 8:30am I entered the time machine which brought me to the year 1830. Tasmania was still called Van Diemen's Land and in Port Arthur logger camps were build where convicts had to work. Starting 1833 repeat offenders from all Australia were moved here. At 1840 more than 2000 convicts, soldiers and civil employees lived in Port Arthur. After the transport of convicts to Van Diemen's Land ended in 1853, mainly convicts with psychical or physical illnesses stayed here. 1877 the camp was closed and many building abolished or destroyed by bush fires. A few houses got sold and a small town named Carnarvon developed. The stories told about this place led to the first tourists coming at around 1920 to see the ruins. Hotels and shops opened in the area and the place got renamed again to Port Arthur. End of April 1996 another tragic chapter was added to this historical place. A spree killer shot 35 people and another 19 got hurt. Next to the ruin at the place of the massacre there is a water filled block. I examined the compound in detail and is it was imposing what all happened here. After the visiting all the buildings I drove towards Remarkable Cave. According to two maps there should be a gravel road, but it was paved until the end. What did I learn: do not always believe the map! I wend down to the caves and could see how a bit of water flushed back and forth. It was beautiful, even if it just was low tide. Then I continued to White Beach. Here I made a long walk along the beach and enjoyed the turquoise water. I visited the coal mines as I did not yet have enough Tasmanian history. Here the convicts had to mine coal and also here there were ruins to visit. On the way to the mines I saw an old friend: a black and yellow bird. As I later learned this is a cockatoo. Konrad and I saw already one in the Wilson Promontory National Park. My way led to Taranna. Here is the first animal park in Australia to give the visitors an understanding of the Tasmanian devil. As I reached the park the local birds got introduced. Soon the eastern quolls got fed. Eastern quolls look like cats, but are related to the Tasmanian devil. It was funny how fast they found their hidden food. There was still some time until the feeding of the Tasmanian devils which I was waiting for. The park also has kangaroos and wallabies, but those I did not visit as I like them more outside in the wild. The feeding was rough, they get the meat and fought about their food. That is the reason for their name.

Wednesday 15^th February, 2012

The first stop came very soon. I was a few minutes too early at Tamar Island. A footbridge is leading to the island from which I could observe sea birds. After a few meters it rustled in the reed and something with a tail disappeared below the footbridge. I stopped, looked around and saw two examples of the smallest wallaby species in Tasmania. I was surprised to meet wallabies here as I was expecting for birds and snakes. I went on and saw different birds, which all fled after they heard me. It was a nice walk, but the sun was already burning at 9 o'clock. I went further to the Swiss Village Grindelwald. Yes, that is correct, the village is really called Grindelwald (to the non-Swiss: this is a tourist village in the Swiss Alps). It was founded by a Dutch which was taken with Grindelwald. He constructed here houses in Swiss style and now they are mostly used as tourist accommodations. My next destination is Beauty Point. Here is a platypus and echinda house. I wanted to visit it as I never saw a platypus live. The guide explained a lot over the platypuses and I could watch a few of them. Then the guide changed to the echindas and told us about this animals. There were tree small ones which did not fear humans so I could sit to them. As the tour was over, I went to the nearby sea horse house. Also here I learned a lot about this animals from a guided tour. It was interesting to watch how this small “horses” develop. Then there was also a gold mine in the proximity which I visited. There is an exhibition about the old mine and its miners. They also showed how 2006 the miners were locked in and how they were rescued. Over the Batman Bridge I drove to the other side of Tamar River to Low Head to visit the light house. Along vines, apple and apricot trees the voyage continued without interruption to Bridport. This village is at the sea and I enjoy the beach with a long walk.

Tuesday 14^th February, 2012

A sunny day is awaiting me, thus I decided to explore the surroundings. Launceston is at Tamar River and is the oldest town of Tasmania. First I walked along the other part of the town, as I wanted to go to the Cataract Gorge Reserve. It is a nature reserve around laid a gorge. I walked along the gorge to the First Basin. At the small artificial lake a chairlift goes over the gorge. I preferred to walk around the lake. I saw two wallabies at the path passing the chairlift. I was very astonished that there wallabies also here. One was not shy at all and came very close to me. At the way back I sa in the park of the restaurant a few peacocks with their chicks. Back in the town I walked thorough the reserve an enjoyed a bit the nature. Then I walked along the river to the town. There I marvelled at the many Victorian houses of Launceston. My way lead to Prince's Square which contains a small park. In the City Park I discovered a monkey cage. The rest of the afternoon I was reading in the City Park and enjoying the sun.