electricspells

peregrination :: camper van trip around Tasmania – September 2022

Wednesday, 7 September

Pyengana

I didn’t rush out of the Tasman Holiday Park. I had coffee in the restaurant (they don’t do breakfast).

I drove out to Pyengana on recommendation from the park staff to visit the falls and cheese factory.

Definitely worth the visit. The falls were spectacular.

The falls from the closest car park
The falls from the closest car park
The forest path to the falls
The forest path to the falls
The forest path to the falls
The forest path to the falls
The forest path to the falls
The forest path to the falls
The top of the falls from the observation point
The top of the falls from the observation point
The foot of the falls
The foot of the falls
The river flowing away from the foot of the falls
The river flowing away from the foot of the falls

The cheese factory was interesting. The dairy is fully automatic – the cows milk themselves!

The automated dairy at the cheese factory
The automated dairy at the cheese factory

And you can watch the cheesemakers at work, which is less interesting than you might think.

Scottsdale

Then on through the notoriously winding highway to Dover, then Scottsdale, where I had lunch in a cafe.

They offered Roast of the Day and it did not disappoint!

Roast Lamb slow-cooked to falling apart stage, thick gravy, and mint jelly as a side!

The vegetables, of which there were 6, were all over-cooked exactly like “Mum used to make” – I loved it!

More winding highway through to the upper Tamar valley wine district. I drove past several quite famous Tassie wineries but decided I didn’t need to stop at the famous ones.

I would have stopped if I’d found the Notley Gorge winery, as I very favourably remember their wines from my Tassie trip 30 years ago.

I later googled the winery and discovered that Notley Gorge was on the other side of the Tamar River than I was driving on and the winery no longer exists.

Launceston

I drove into Launceston and straight into the Big4 Launceston caravan park. Got a site, then walked into town to see what sights were to be seen.

“Launnie” is a funny place; deep history (buildings dating back to the mid-19th century) and modern stuff cheek-by-jowl.

Inner suburban Launceston
Inner suburban Launceston
The view back across the valley to the outer suburbs of Launceston
The view back across the valley to the outer suburbs of Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston
Street scenes of central Launceston

The pedestrian-only areas of the main shopping district are quiet and seem to be in decline while the surrounding areas that still allow (slow) vehicular traffic are active and vibrant.

The pedestrian plaza in Launceston
The pedestrian plaza in Launceston
The pedestrian plaza in Launceston
The pedestrian plaza in Launceston

I stopped for a beer in Saint John’s Craft Beer tavern, thinking that I’d try a local craft beer. But they onlly curate craft beers, not make them.

So, I had a witbeir from Victoria!

The tavern had a great aesthetic.

Me in the Saint John's Craft Beer tavern
Me in the Saint John’s Craft Beer tavern

Back to the van to finish up the food that I’d bought for meals during the trip.

I didn’t want to waste the food when I left Tasmania the next day.

A gorgeous park in the heart of Launceston
A gorgeous park in the heart of Launceston
A sign seen on my walk, for the Eye Hospital
A sign seen on my walk, for the Eye Hospital
Is that the Eye of Osiris?

Actually, it’s the Wedjat-eye, or the Eye of Horus (in reverse), so the Ancient Egypt exhibition told me in Jan 2024.

It was a powerful symbol of protection and good health, apparently.

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