We call trips like this: spending the kid’s inheritance. Just kidding girls. Leann and I debated where to go for our next big trip. I said New Zealand, Leann said Australia since she wanted to see the animals, Happy wife, happy life: off to Australia we went.
After a very long day we finally got to the rental car. I jumped in and was ready to go, yeah right..wheel is on the other sideThis became comical, I couldn’t help myself and kept turning on the wipers and not the turn signalOn to our first national parks down underYes, we saw a lot of them, never got old.Seven SistersBack to Melbourne for our flight to Hobart on the island of TasmaniaFirst day on Tasmania and we headed to Tasmin NP and Port Arthur.The coast lines so far have been spectacular and no buildings.Port Arthur penal colony, this is where England shipped the worse of the worse.Beautiful salt flat on the way back to HobartWe were headed home from a backpacking trip in Pennsylvania, Leann was looking for trip ideas in Australia. She read the description of the Maria Island walk to me and we agreed, we had to goInteresting way to start a trip, boat ride to the island, take off your shoes and wade to shore dry your feet and put your boots back onWe stayed in bush camps for 2 nightsWe did a day hike to Haunted Bay after dropping stuff at camp.Stuffing my faceNot too bad, appetizers and cocktails when we got back to camp from the hike.Dining hall, great food and cold beer.Bathrooms and shower house.This is the shower, they give you a bucket of hot water. You hang it up, wash and then turn the valve to rinse off. It worked really well but you had to be quick.Hunstman Spider, Grey Goose, Wallaby, Wombat and Tasmanin Devil (the only animal we did not see)Camp 2, more of the sameI never got tired of seeing these in the wildPainted CliffsWe stayed at Darlington Probation Station our last night. Bishop and Clerk peak was our destination for a day hike.Bernacchi House, our lodging for the night. House was built by Angelo Guilio Diego Bernacchi (1853–1925) who planned to make cement on the island. the crash of the 1890’s ended that dream.Leann and I were the only guests that wanted to do the day hike to Bishop. Apparently, if it would have been 1 degree warmer they would have closed the trail. The Whytes plus guide (they have to go with you) were the only one’s on the trail. Our destination is the highest point on the left.At the top.Leann and one of our guides (Danny).View back to our starting pointThis kangaroo was eye to eye with me. Look at the size of those feet.One very fat WombatLong day of hiking, hot shower and dinner by candlelight, not too bad.Saying goodbye to Maria, they were right: 4 days that will last a lifetimeBack to Melbourne and 2 more national parksSilver Crested Cockatoo, these were in the trees behind our hotel and were very loudBack of our hotelThese were awesome, tangy, sweet and saltyWe stopped here to get out of the weather. I had a cup of hot chocolate, tasty.I never got tired of seeing six foot tall birds in the fields.Going off road and camping in the bush are very popular, this guy had a pretty sweet set up.Giant fruit bats
We visited 7 national parks while in Australia
Another great vacation but I don’t think we will be seeing all of the national parks here. I wonder how much it costs to ship a van to Australia?
