- Starting our Tasmanian trip in Launceston
- The Tamar River Valley
- On the road to Freycinet National Park
- Traveling in the steps of convicts — on the road to Port Arthur
- Hobart and the search for lumber!
- The road to Cradle Mountain — Russell Falls, Lake St. Clair, Queenstown, and Strahan
- Cradle Mountain
- The road back to civilization — Woolnorth, Stanley, Table Cape, Sheffield and trip end
Before heading down the coast, we took a detour and headed dup the Tamar River Valley. This is a beautiful area that has been under some controversy because of the growing pulp industry, taking advantage of the plentiful (and fast growing) gum trees. We saw a lot of signs for and against the industry. While in the valley, we visited the Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve that provides habitat for a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs, fish and invertebrates. But the main reason to come here is to go to the Platypus House, a facility that is focused on educating the public on the resident monotremes — the platypus and the echidna. Both of these animals are considered mammals, but they are very different than typical mammals. As an example, they lay eggs but nurse their young with milk. But the other unusual thing about the platypus is that it actually has a barb that can inject a venom that is extremely painful to humans. Weird, weird, weird! The echidna is actually related to the platypus and is similar to it in that it also lays eggs and nurses with milk. The males also have barbs, but no venom. I won’t go into their mating apparatus, but you should look it up — it’s almost like science fiction. Anyway, we got to see a lot of both of these critters up close and personal. Both are so cute! Time to head for the coast!
This entry was posted in Australia, Tasmania, Travel
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
