We're concluding our exploration of the smallest state...

   Well, world wide web, here goes...

   The account of the rest of Tassie - the travelling Woodleys hit the west coast in a big way! We left Hobart via Campania (to pick up the van from Uncle and Aunt Bean) and finally got on the road by eleven am to start a long haul eight hour trip through the western mountains heading for our next destination of Strahan.

   A stop at the picturesque and peaceful Lake St Claire (and very family and kid friendly information centre - the kids could have a run about without knocking over endless precariously balanced stands of repetitive information brocheres!) sandwiched by high country vistas and rugged sierras...

...brought us into the frontier mining town of Queenstown by six pm, where it was rapidly getting dark, so we opted for a motel (double) room ahead of another hour's travel through Tasmanian mountains - yes, I know, the travelling Woodleys are getting soft!...

...and after an exploring walk around Queenstown, on to Strahan at last where we stayed at Macquarie Heads (complete with more blackberry picking, cooking over the fire, walks and rides to the beach, a visit to a timber mill, and a beautiful 
quasi-semi-tropical campsite)... 

...after a relaxing, restful stay it was on to our last stop in Tasmania: historic Stanley (we free camped at Black River) through more mountainous passes and pastoral villages...

...which we thought was a sleepy little village with nothing to see (sleepy? - yes ... little? - yes ... nothing to see? - no!) - and so accordingly availed ourselves of the lovely little museum where the proprietress was of the opinion that children should be able to touch and handle museum exhibits - 'After all what is the point of a museum otherwise?' - and had a lovely stormy scenic drive 
(can anyone spot the green sheep?)... 

...as well as Nick hike-climbing to the top of 'The Nut'...

...and making a (dare I say) substantial gunyah with the three oldest...

(which stood up to the torrential rain and one hundred kilometre per hour winds we experienced on our last couple of days)

(and here's Miss Trin with her secret club goodies 
and other essential necessities)

...also a visit to Marrawah on the far west coast - with Aravis' first proper slippery dip ride (check out that face!)...

...past more beautiful coastal views on our meandering scenic route...

(no waves at this famed big wave spot... 
no waves caught at all in Tassie, poor Nick)

...then (of course) my obligatory visit to somewhere 
historically interesting - in this case the 
Van Dieman's Land Company-owned Highfield...

(can anyone hear the Pride and Prejudice music in their head?)

...and who would pass up the opportunity to visit Tasmazia and 'The Village of Lower Crackpot' complete with Cubby Town, multiple mazes, the Three Bears Cottage, and 
'Steven, the Keeper of the Drain'...

...then back to the mainland (a tiring but still exciting ferry ride)...

...and so, world wide web, the travelling Woodleys 
disembarked in Melbourne (yes, two months ago...
we will catch-up some month or other!)...




{P.S - here's our lovely next stop 'Lingellen', Chatswood, Sydney - 
thank you in advance for having us, cousins Mr and Mrs E. Woodley}