Category: Uncategorized

Today was a chill day. Strolled down into town to pick up the hire car – RAV4 – and quite nice –

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Then motored down to Hamilton and our motel –

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And the house over the road that resembles a boat –

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Off to one of the islands that has been cleared of all pests and vermin and now is a reserve –

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By a very comfortable bright orange catamaran –

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Photography was difficult as this once bare island is now covered with a very thick canopy. They have put a glass cover over a few of the nocturnal blue penguins –

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This is a dotterel on her nest which has been raised and protected to try and keep her safe from predators and the tide. We think it’s the New Zealand dotterel –

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Big fat New Zealand pigeon. They sometimes eat so much they can hardly fly!!!! –

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This lighthouse is the oldest working one in New Zealand and was brought over from Britain in pieces 150 years ago –

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This is a sunbathing Tui bird –

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A non sunbathing Tui –

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Here’s a little Whitehead in amongst the shrubbery –

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And this was amazing. A Morepork high in the canopy also known as a Ruru. Many thanks to a Korean gentleman who pointed him out to us –

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Down on the shore a variable oystercatcher –

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These Kakariki (parrots) were quite hard to photograph amongst the flax seed heads –

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A good day out and wonderful to see all the work being done to try and save all the endangered species and habitats.

A walk down to the harbour area –

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Where there was a large cruise line in for the day –

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We the got the shuttle –

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To Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater world which showed you how they pioneered the Antarctic. It was pretty grim in the early days –

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This photo shows the highest wind speed at 154.35 mph and the lowest temperature at -89.2*C. Fresh –

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A couple of penguin shots – the King first –

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And a lovely Gentoo. Their enclosure was really good with proper snow and ice for them to walk on –

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The underwater displays were very good and all the creatures looked happy –

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2 lovely seahorses –

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View of the downtown skyline with the Sky Tower central –

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A rather large Father Christmas with a reindeer on one of the buildings –

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Hobart airport for our flight to Auckland. It’s not really very big – this is the lounge –

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A couple of photos from the air. Hobart –

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The north coastline –

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A lovely remote, uninhabited island –

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Golf course in Sydney –

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Sydney Harbour Bridge and the opera house %

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Most of today was spent in the air or at Sydney airport waiting to fly to Auckland.

Today we headed back South to Launceston via an alternative route. Part was a dirt track up to Lake Leake which was a rather desolate place –

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Not really to be recommended –

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We then got back on to a main route and stoped at a small cove for a little walk. The shells were beautiful –

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The shore line quite craggy –

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Overseen by a very happy white faced heron –

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Then we stopped at Triabunna and this is the first time I have seen a squid boat. They fish at night with all the lights turned on to attract the squid to the surface –

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The view –

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This is a very large oyster unopened. Maybe a pearl inside but we didn’t ha a knife –

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Breakfast over looked the sea –

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And part of the Lost Farm course –

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We then played the fabulous Dunes course –

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Rate 11 in the world and everything about it was amazing. Caddy was Bill ( just so we remember his name) a lovely local man who used to be a farmer. He was a great help to both Gordon and I. Thanks Bill.

The signature par 3 –

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The tee markers hand crafted out of black wood –

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A small inlet –

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Stunning flypast from some black swans –

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And a blue tongued lizard but I missed his tongue !!! –

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After a thoroughly enjoyable round of golf we headed off to –

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Where the acres of lavender were beautiful with the mountainous backdrop –

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Lavender in abundance –

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Lavender and blueberry ice cream –

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And an old tractor –

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Back down to Launceston for the night.

Went to visit the –

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Which is just on the edge of the town. It is a magnificent natural ravine that has a cable car across –

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And a suspension bridge to return along –

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The views were lovely –

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This little wallaby popped out to wish us a good morning –

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A tranquil moment

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We then travelled north to the –

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To take a walk through magnificent wetlands for a spot of bird watching. Several harriers ( but no photos). The black swans are abundant in Tasmania –

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A very majestic Great Egret –

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Purple Swamphen –

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Then this beautiful Superb Fairy-wren who appeared just in front of us –

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Arrived late afternoon at Barnbougle on the North coast for golf tomorrow. This was the view from our bedroom –

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Walked down to the Saturday market –

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Very busy, vibrant and full off colour. Lovely fresh flower and fruit and vegetables-

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A SPOT OF TATTOOING –

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Fancy a teapot cosy –

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Or a hat –

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Or maybe a chopping board –

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Cutlery-

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Then my first coffee in 8 days (All the other stuff had been undrinkable rubbish) –

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So enjoyed.

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We then collected the hire car to drive 170Km north to Launceston. Not the most inspiring of journeys. All rather dry –

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A LOT of sheep –

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A couple of emu on the skyline. (They’re not real!!!) –

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Launceston is a mixture of modern architecture along with the colonial style –

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And a busy marina –

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Happy Birthday Gordon. Enjoy your day xxx

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We decided to see the city on one of the hop on hop off buses. The style is very colonial –

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This is where the Sydney to Hobart hatch race ends –

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Cool wash –

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Major industry for a lot of the locals-

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Reflection of the T&G Mutual Life building –

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Then the skies suddenly turn as there was a raging bush fire not far away –

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Try this link – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-04/tasmania-weather-watch-and-act-issued-for-wilderness-fire/10683440

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We then arrived at the Botanical gardens and it’s lovely keep house –

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An amazing conservatory-

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Water flume –

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And water wheel –

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This magnolia flower looks like plastic –

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And then the lily pond –

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Arriving into Hobart airport which is not very big –

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And here’s a sniffer dog on the baggage conveyer belt –

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We arrived for the last day of the Tasmanian Food Festival –

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Nearly all his beer is sold out –

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This gin started as blue then changed to pink when the tonic was added –

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The food hall was well populated with people enjoying themselves –

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The entertainment was quite good as well –

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A walk along the quayside –

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Then finished off the day with fish and chips (shared!!) –

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