Tasmania...nothing like anything you've ever seen!

Went off to Tasmania Friday and returned Monday to Sydney. Flew in to Hobart at the southeast and drove up to the northwest to Cradle Mountain. Then drove back via Strahan to Hobart.

Hobart is a very attractive working fishing port village. Close to the size of Portland Maine with 190,000 inhabitants. Also the closest port to Antarctica so alot of vessels (scientific and other) work out of Hobart. The southeast was very dry and arid. The central highlands were also dry but is the highlands lake district. Several large lakes populated with what appear to be fishing shack villages. Spoke with a trout fishing guide and he advised they were in fact fishing and hunting camps. When asked what they hunt he stated birds, deer, and walloughbie. The deer are Fallow deer. Brown trout are in the 1 pond range but at a few secluded spots can reach 12-14lb. Largest he has seen is 24#. January is the best season. To early at present to fish in that area except with spinner bait.
Travelling back thru the southwest appeared to be more the fishing rivers and streams expected for trout fishing. The highland lakes have Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout.

The north central region was populated by dairy farms. Some of the most lush and stunningly beautiful countryside I have ever seen. Large tracts of land with rolling green hills surrounded by rainforest with mountain peaks in the background.

Animals seen to date: kangaroos, walloughbies (of several varieties), wombats (came face to face at 5' with a wombat on one of my hikes. They run very fast and are very humorous to watch), echidnas, opossums, ring tailed bandicoots, pademelons. May try to see koalas Wednesday. Most photos are in my camera on film. These are some from Eddie's camera:






...a walloughby
















...James' Aunt Vanita. Don't let her catch you eating a Rice Crispy Treat!
























Cradle Mountain...