Homeward bound

Saturday, January 06, 2024
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
We had almost a full day to explore and we stil had the car to do it. Breakfast was included in our booking and it was a really good á la carte offering, including a decent coffee. We packed up, i managed to close my suitcase without the extender this time, and I let Ken take my suitcase down the stairs. Tony fetched the car and we piled everything in.
We were still keen to see a platypus. While at the caves, a man had told us he had seen one at the Rivulet in Hobart. It was on the way to Mt Wellington, so we went to explore. It took a bit of driving and interpreting the maps to work out just where the rivulet we were looking for was. We settled on the bit behind the Cascade Brewery. We followed the path up the hill for quite a while before we realised we were getting further away from the creek. So we recalibrated and went to the water directly below the brewery. It seemed to be the most prominent part of the rivelut on the map. Ken, Tony and I clambered down, Tony went in one direction and we went in the other. It was a tricky walk along the bank, scampering on rocks and branches until we reached a deeper area - surely perfect platypus habitat. We searched and wished, but nothing was coming to see us. We made our way back, somehow more trick and ended up with damp shoes. Tony hadn’t had any luck with his search either. We looked from the vantage point at the top, where we saw the do not enter sign, but couldn’t see any action below. 
Defeated, we continued on the road to Mt Wellington, along with many other people. It was the warmest day we had had in Tasmania and the sky was clear. Perfect for views from the top. The summit is about an half hour from the city. As we climbed up the winding road we could see the vast views below. As we drew closer, the cars slowed with the confusion of where to park. There was actually heaps of parking right at the top.
The views were spectacular - we could see Bruny Island and the city and waterways below. It was not too cold up there so it was enjoyable to take it all in. We climbed to the top of the peak then down the rocks and into the enclosed viewing area before following the timber path to the platform overlooking the city. It really is worth the drive and apparently the most visited attraction in Tasmania.
We still had a few hours before we needed to drop the car so we made our way into the city. I got changed in the car, I was very muddy from my platypus hunt. We decided to visit the museum and art gallery, a free attraction right in the centre. Clare quickly changed out of her walking gear and we were all ready.
The museum is really interesting and well-curated.  The art and museum floors are all connected and give an insight into the history of the state. The botanical and maritime history is covered well and i found some of the indigenous history heart breaking. 
We had lunch in the cafe. Not my favourite meal of the trip, an insipid cauliflower soup.
It was time to go. One final jam into the suitcase with my dirty clothes, Ken got changed in the carpark as if he was at the beach and we were good to go. We drove back towards the airport, crossing the Tasman Bridge and the city below. We were soon at the car hire place, where we were quickly shuttled to the airport.
Hobart Airport was chockers. We found a spot to wait it out, all wandering off here and there. Finally we were on the tarmac and into the plane. It was a very short hop and we were soon in Melbourne. With only a short stopover, we quickly made our way the entire length of the terminal. The little Tasmanian flight had landed at the end the airport.
However, our flight was delayed. It was lat coming in from NZ, and needed to be towed from the international terminal, cleaned and re-stocked. That took some time and then they called us to board. We were all standing when we got another announcement. They needed an engineer to come on and change some seat covers (which are velcroed on). We finally got onboard and settled in for the flight back to Perth.
A great holiday 

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