Boog's Blog

April 8

Hotel notes. After the fabulous Henry Jones in Hobart we chose a sister property hoping for the same but different. What we have here is closer to Ventana in seeing and approach with a good standard of service but not in the special league of the Henry.

Here WiFi is $5 for 10 min. More an attitude and approach of charges for all. Henry did it right with included unlimited. Bistro here ok but again not in the league of the outstanding food of Hobart.

The setting on Coles bay is as advertised, rustic beauty. Balcony view of the water and purple tinged granite hills make for a view worth getting up a few minutes early for.

The Lodge itself is gorgeous, air again is pristine and wildlife abundant. Possum at our screen door. Kookaburras evening and morning.

Long and tiring walk up and over wineglass bay lookout climbing and descending feldspar infused granite crystalized after the magma cooled. Purplish. Then through the first path, a forest of many ferns including the hard fern referred in kiwi land as Chinese plastic fern.

Very good path generally with many many many rocks. A few dangerous sections. while ascending and descending steep sections thought of incline plans,normal forces and the bio mechanics that seem to make going uphill easier and safer.

Views from hotel room.

May have finally got to the bottom of coffee naming australia. Long black can be one or two shots, depends upon the establishment. No usual name for what we call a double espresso. Have been given several logical suggested names ending with best to describe. This is very much a coffee culture. It I'd ready to see why Starbucks failed after many years. They exist but at the fring. Too much stronger competition.

Newspapers. Still many large format as well as other format print papers. Most are owned by Murdoch but there are a few independents.

Travel day to this Special park.

Ride up the coast across rolling hills. Few small towns and little traffic of course. Many nice bay views with great oyster bay being the largest with multiple beaches. Some tea places. Swansee has a great general store from 1838.

Most of the towns are reminiscent of mid century USA, especially the architecture. Small sleepy charming with little to do except fish and hike and of course sheep farm.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=3363

About a 3 hour drive (we had to get a car to get there; advised not to get a gps as so few roads). Unlike NZ one has to pay to get into parks. The hotel is inside the boundaries.

Coles bay is near bichino where we hope to see penguins.

Penguins are out to sea. There is a private rookery with only a half dozen hangers on. Typical high priced tour. No pictures permitted. Not much of anything in the town. Very nice walk along oyster bay.

At the park visitor center got advice on walks wildlife and how this is the best park in Tasmania. Another park is also good but…

Hotel has no tv., phone, Or Wi-Fi. If this goes it means the sim card as hotspot happened to function.

Hotel, freycienet lodge is set right on Coles bay. Pictures eventually.

Tried to post via Evernote. Nice idea but it leads to a link. On the blog, probably just today, click on the second https

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s18/sh/07eac08d-163c-4316-89e6-c919ee0b9665/cb569d934cb23c570a520701367c8f7d

BSLDU Sat Hobart Mucus. Has returned a bit. Why mention this? Well in kiwi land there was none, especially in the temperate rain forest. The air was incredibly clean. Here, almost but not quite as goo…

Another glorious morning. First off to the museum.MONA is the number one attractions in all of Tasmania the concierge said to spend a full day there but we don't have enough time to do that and other things.

http://www.mona.net.au/

Excellent ferry ride to the museum. See March 12 Or so blog for article about the Mona. Enormous multistory monument to its collector. Done as the music museum in Phoenix. Very interesting collector and collection.

Website pictures in theory of pieces marked.

Seafood chowder and blue eye trevella pie for lunch. Nice fish I had it for dinner last evening.

Woolworth's is a large good supermarket, we continue to be disappointed by both the variety and quality of the fruits. Often we forget just how good California is for fruits and veggies.

Another near miss as we started to the wrong side of a revolving door, they go clockwise here, and the wrong side of the escalator in the supermarket. Go up on the left side here. Many near misses of collisions.

Early morning travels to Melbourne and then back south to Hobart. Only routing available.

Good travels in nz with a memorable visit. Time to move on and see other wildlife, adventures, and balls of string.

Jetstar started the extraction of money immediately. First hi charges for luggage wanted 320 dollars then even a cup of coffee on the airplane was three dollars.

Arrived in ,rush hour hobart city of about two hundred thousand lore scale city on the way in. City is situated on a big river.

Waterfront address is lovely. Wharfs with many seafood restaurants.

Hotel is outstanding, best we have stayed at in a while.

Rain, heavy at times.

Last day in this lovely resort town. Now time to walk up the mountain.
Got only psrt the way up to steep too dangerous and no polls. Not easy getting down.

Took the over priced gondola ride to the top of the mountain excellent views and a good ball of string. One of the top attractions in new Zealand.

QB finally gets her cream tea.

Found a fourth market, one with some interesting Maori spices. Plants from the forest, sampled in the forest and mentioned previously after a discussion with a Maori at the bird park. Oh, as a way of greeting we touched noses

Based on a conversation with a Fijian seems to be a good place to visit in may June period after the flooding rains. Many small islands to see, especially good treasure island. Might even invited to a village home, say yes.

Iced coffee at starbucks. Got wifi connection but wifi didn't work went to the counter and they said it was not working even though they gave us two wifi vouchers. Very laid back here.

Dinner at a french restaurant called Les Alps. Seafood risotto. KB got the pulpo from QB. Mente Ricard to start.

Finished up with some health food, chocolates and coffee at 27 Zaget rated Patagonia chocolate shop.

Trying out the camera at late dusk.