Our last day started just like the others - up bright an early. All we really had to do today was get to our hotel in Hobart, but we had plenty of little hikes to do throughout the day and one major stop at Lake St Clair.
The rain the day before had caused all of the creeks, streams, rivers, what-have-you to rise and waterfalls were stronger than normal. We hiked to several and got wet at all of them from the large sprays of water!
The rain the day before had caused all of the creeks, streams, rivers, what-have-you to rise and waterfalls were stronger than normal. We hiked to several and got wet at all of them from the large sprays of water!
One quick hike we did completely spur of the moment (I saw a road sign) was a hike to the top of some dunes that had views of the Great Southern Ocean. It was similar, if a little smaller, than Warren Dunes in Northern Indiana, and incredibly windy.
About midday we made it to Lake St Clair. The Visitor's Center there is the bottom endpoint of the Overland Track - the 4-5 day hiking track that obscenely insane people book months in advance to attempt. We saw many hikers who had made the trek in the rain the last couple of days and we finishing up. They would drop their ragged packs, wipe their rain-wet hair out of their faces, pull off their hoods... and proceed to regale anyone who would listen about how wonderful their trek was and what an awesome experience they just had. Made me want to try it - but not in the rain. We did a couple of tracks in the park including one that led to a spot that supposedly had platypus most evenings. We saw nothing - it was a little after lunch - but had a good time none the less.
Clarice set the goal of being in Hobart by 6:00 so we could walk around the wharf again and go out to dinner. We arrived at the hotel at 5:58. Just admit it... I'm good! We dumped the stuff and headed back out almost immediately (potty stops don't count). What I had not realized when I was booking the hotels was the first week in January is Hobart's "Taste of Hobart Festival" and the conclusion of the 3 major sailboat races - the Sydney to Hobart, the Melbourne to Hobart, and for the less adventurous the Launceston to Hobart. All 3 start on Boxing Day (they day after Christmas for you Americans) and by the time we arrived on Dec. 30 everyone had arrived. We saw lots of sailboats ranging from things that looked like they needed a complete overhaul to the multi-million dollar Wild Oats and Scandia. The Sydney to Hobart is the biggest of the 3 and always sees the most entries. They have "Line Honors" for whichever boat makes it the fastest and "Overall Honors" for the fastest including handicap. Wild Oats won Line Honors for a record 4th consecutive year.
We went for pizza (and you're surprised why?) and wandered around the docks looking at all the boats, comparing which ones we would buy if we had unlimited funds and laughing at all of the drunk sailors - and there were a lot.
We went for pizza (and you're surprised why?) and wandered around the docks looking at all the boats, comparing which ones we would buy if we had unlimited funds and laughing at all of the drunk sailors - and there were a lot.
Nice vibrant rainbow.
Line Honors Winner - Wild Oats
All in all we loved Tasmania - though if we had to do it again we would pick a side and do it more indepth. We just didn't have enough time to do everything we really wanted to do and do it well. Maybe we'll go back!
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