Touring the West & East Tamer Valley

Dotterel Lighthouse - Low Head - 1833

Our Walk To The Lighthouse

We have enjoyed our days in north-eastern Tasmania.  Our home in Low Head has proved to be a great jumping-off spot for touring the region. 

As you might have noticed from the pictures, Tasmanian weather is not what folks usually associate with summer in Australia.  Its southern latitudes make for a much more moderate climate.  We have had days of 25 degrees but many on 20 to 21.  There has been some rain but the squalls usually last less than 15 to 20 minutes.  Our Low Head visit has provided some of the sunniest days on the trip so far.  I can certainly see why many mainland Australians move or holiday here.

We spent the first day enjoying the local sights.  The walk from Low Head to George Town covered about 6 km and included both residential and tidewater trail.  George Town has its own historic sights and a fine restaurant, 1069, on the main street.

George Town Pub For Lunch

A Freighter Slipping Past Our Front Door Bound For George Town

Headed Up To The Lookout

View to Low Head

The second day was a driving tour back down to Launceston before turning west to explore the West Tamer Valley with stops in Hagley, Deloraine, Sheffield, Latrobe and a quick pass through the northern ferry port of Devonport.  Just before we left Randall was bitten by a Tasmanian Jack Jumper Ant.  We checked with the local neighbour and when we found out only 2% die from the bite, we decided to roll the dice and carried on.

The Launceston stop was at my request to visit the National Automobile Museum.  It houses a large collection of vintage cars and motorcycles and is well worth the visit.  I have included an inordinate number of pictures because I like them and well ... I can.

1971 Honda 750 - My Teen Years Dream Bike

1928 Morris Minor - My Highschool Car Was 1959

A Classic Delahaye

Hagley, Deloraine, Railton, and Sheffield are historic towns originally established as farm service centers but now sport arts and craft shops in addition.  Our clear favourite was Deloraine with its main street of buildings dating back to the middle 1800s.  The drive itself was well worth it as we meandered through the Meander Valley.  I almost bought a great looking cycling shirt commemorating the Valleys Scenic ride but once again confirmed that older bodies require extra-large shirts.

Railton Topiary

Topiary Starter Kit

Deloraine Shops & Hotel

Sheffield Murals

Sheffield Lunch - Twisted Shrimp In Pastry

Latrobe was home to the Anvers chocolate factory.  Since it was Valentine's Day we sampled and bought chocolates along with our ice cream cones.

Ready For Easter

Day three saw us drive back down to Launceston to drop Randall and Doreen for further city touring just before we drove the wine route east to Lilydale.  There are many wineries on the route and stopped at the Leaning Church Winery.  We planned a break in Scotsdale but discovered Tasmania’s country towns close up shop on Saturdays.  This region is cattle country.  The scenery was dramatic with large farms stretched across rolling hills. 

Leaning Church Winery - Great View, So So Wine

Just when I was beginning to think I would never see a Tiger snake in the wild, one appeared for a photo shoot.  He was trapped in the middle of the road with cars whizzing by on both sides.  The poor guy was striking his fangs at the passing cars without success.  It was all we could do to keep Deborah in the car as her zeal to get the perfect shot took over.  Margo got this shot from safely inside the car.

A Good Size 4 Footer About to Strike Our Car

We finished the day with a twilight walk among the Fairy Penguins just down the road from our house.  Our group was escorted through the dunes as the little guys returned to their burrows after a day of dining at sea.  The Fairys are among the shyest and are the smallest of the 18 subspecies of penguins.

You Can Only See Fairys At Night

Our last day involved a foursome tennis match with Gord and Margo before heading off to Beauty Point in West Tamer to see the platypuses and echidnas at Platypus House.  The platypus and echidnas are the only two mammals that lay eggs and suckle their young.

Deborah Finally Got Her Game In

Echidna - Don't Pet Him Backwards

We are off on an 8:45 flight to Melbourne for the start of our next leg.  In hindsight, one could spend much more than 10 days exploring Tasmania.  It is like a vast nature reserve punctuated with historical gems populated by very welcoming down to earth folks.  Well worth the visit!