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Leaving Launceston

Bridport Travel Blog | Travelogue | Travel Journal

This started out as a blog for a holiday I took in 1998, and has turned into a running commentary of my new life in the beautiful little Australian state of Tasmania. I hope you enjoy.
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Leaving Launceston

May 11, 1998
Cataract Gorge

We bid our lovely hosts at Highfield House farewell after our wonderful breakfast, and headed into town for me to show Shane this gorgeous city. I also wanted to find a little gold apple for my charm bracelet, and then Shane and I were heading out for a cruise on the Tamar River on a little old paddle steamer that would take us into Cataract Gorge.  I had been to Cataract Gorge many times before but had always walked to the pretty park area with the chairlift and stunning peacocks, however, this time I thought it might be nice to see it from a different perspective. We enjoyed our cruise, and then were dropped off at the pier near the Penny Royal World.

We did the tourist thing and went to have a look around The Mole Hill Fantasy.

The lazy days of Summer, of fruits and berries ripe, Sweet rosehip tea and hazelnuts are every mole's delight. The hedgerow birds are singing in Summer's golden haze, Oh! How moles love the Summer. Oh lovely, lovely days.
This cute little place “takes you through a fascinating journey through the four seasons of the English countryside. Where you peep into an underground world of moles going about their daily chores, through a labyrinth of tunnels, caves, waterfalls and lakes lit by miniature lanterns”. It took fifteen months for the creator to construct Mole Hill and I loved it. We then hopped on the historic number 16 tram over to Penny Royal World, which is situated in an old quarry site. It comprises the only complete set of working gunpowder mills in the world. The mills cannon foundry and fort are set amidst gardens, waterfalls and  a lake on which sail the 10-gun sloop Sandpiper, 6-gun privateer Pelican and the cutter Kittiwake.

After leaving Penny Royal World, we drove north along the East side of the Tamar River to the Low Head Lighthouse past the Batman Bridge, the first cable-stayed bridge in Australia.

The Batman Bridge
Then off to the northeast and into the Bridestowe Lavender Farm in Nabowla, which is among the world’s largest producers of flower oil to European and American perfumeries. Unfortunately, the flowers weren’t in bloom but it was still fascinating to see.

Our destination tonight was the TasVillas Bridport Resort in Bridport. This little seaside town is another town that fills to overflowing in the summertime but as it was autumn there were not many tourists around and again we pretty much had the place to ourselves, heated spa and all. There was no roaring fire tonight but after dinner, we spent the night relaxing in the spa and swimming in the pool before heading to bed.

Cataract Gorge
The lazy days of Summer, of frui...
The Batman Bridge
The lighthouse at Low Head
A rundown old house on the road ...
Bridestowe Lavender Farm
The imposing 'A' frame suspensio...
The windmill at Penny Royal World
1,311 km (815 miles) traveled
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