After pouring rain during the night, we had a beautiful view of Strahan at breakfast.

As we headed inland to Queenstown the air was icy.

The big surprise was this:

The air remained cool for our farm visit, but we were distracted by scones and sheep.

Now, back in Hobart, there’s a familiar view:

The clouds in Tasmania are spectacular.

Today we boarded the big red river cruiser at Strahan and headed out to where Macquarie Harbour meets the Indian Ocean, before turning back to cruise the Gordon River.

We disembarked at Sarah Island where our actor guide with admirable voice projection brought to life the miserable existence of the convicts who lived there.

It was not so easy for them to just hop on a boat and head back to comfortable lives.

At Heritage Landing we saw the famous Huon pines and other native species.

An old sawmill was in action on the dock when we disembarked and a nearby gallery features woodcraft using Huon pine.

Late afternoon saw some of us going to see a local theatre group tell the fascinating story of some convict absconders. There was plenty of audience participation and hilarity with clever use of props and the rigging of a ‘ship’.

At Strahan Village for the next two nights, I have a room with a little balcony with chairs and a picket fence.

Today we had gorgeous weather again for views of Cradle Mountain

We visited a rustic retreat and walked in ancient rainforest.

On the way we saw these critters:

We visited a town called Sheffield, renowned for its murals.

There was an international mural festival happening in the square, including a kiwi mural artist at work.

We visited Brickendon Estate this morning. Dating from 1824, this is still a working farm, built with convict labour. There are original buildings:

Animals:

And a heritage garden:

Next, we had a three-tiered lunch at Anvers Chocolate:

Finally, the Maritime Museum in Devonport:

There was a whale out here …

Our morning Tamar River cruise included the Cataract Gorge.

The Edwardian echoes there are evident in the city too.

North, through green farmland is the fabulous Bridestowe Lavender Farm.

I paddled in the warm waters of Bass Strait at Bridport.

An unexpected visit to a Swiss village was like stepping into a scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Beautiful weather again – we can’t believe how lucky we’ve been in this place where the weather is unpredictable. Another convict-built bridge was our first stop.

Our obliging driver also stopped for one of these:

I learned that echidnas and platypuses are monotremes, the only two mammals which lay eggs.

On the beautiful Freycinet Peninsula. Some of our group saw whales in the distance.

In contrast, our hotel in Launceston freaks me out. It’s old and quirky with dead spiders behind the window shade – and a can of fly spray in the cupboard … Spiders at home don’t bother me, but Australian spiders are something else.

I doubt if the convicts would recognise Port Arthur as it is today.

This convict-built bridge is the oldest in Australia.

We explored some coastal landmarks:

Some flora and fauna.

The little blue birds with perky wing feathers and the echidnas were too quick to photograph.

We began the day with Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary where I saw some wombats, kangaroos, lizards, birds – and moving straw in the mouth of a burrow where a Tasmanian Devil was hiding (they are nocturnal).

Next, in the centre of Hobart was the huge Salamanca Market.

I had time to visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum before joining the group at Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum.

Thirsty work, so a quick visit to the Lark Distillery nearby added a finishing touch to the day.

Our bus (on the right) beyond an earlier mode of transport:

What an astounding day! From the heights of Mt Wellington:

To the sad story of the Cascade Female Factory where female convicts were incarcerated:

To the bizarre and fascinating Mona art gallery:

From my window I can see eight yachts out sailing on the Derwent estuary. This morning there was a beautiful sunrise.

From above:

The Derwent River and Tasman Bridge:

Abel Tasman statue:

Lovely sandstone buildings:

And the view from my hotel window, with Australian Pied Oystercatchers.

And, keeping me company: