Cataract Gorge is right on the doorstep of downtown Launceston. It's a great resource for tourist & local alike. You can swim in the pool or the lake for the waterways in the gorge itself. Regrettably, we weren't smart enough to bring swimming gear so we rode on the chair lift & walked along the gorge instead.
Today we explored the Tamar Valley from Launceston via a circuit that runs up & down the river Tamar.
Beaconsfield Mine Museum
We started the day with a visit to the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre. We had estimated that we would be there around 1-1/2 hrs and then we'd move on. How wrong we were. There was so much to see & do that it took more than double that.
There was a museum area with a stack of antique machinery, including relics from mining operations spanning from the late 1800s up until when the mine was closed in 2012.
The model of the old mine shaft was very interesting. It had moving parts demonstrating how the elevators work.
The was also a memorial/information area for the trapped miners, who were rescued from a mine collapse in 2006. It was quiet dark so we don't have any photos of it. The hand knitted scarfs above were part of a support program for those who were impacted by the collapse.
Outside we checked out the top of the century plus old mine shaft. along with more old machinery.
All smiles for some more modern mining equipment.
The modern elevator shaft is set up within a stone's through of the old mine building where the new winch is located.
By the time we were done, it was lunchtime. We set off for Beauty Point where we hoped the local fish & chip shop had some decent fresh produce.
We were in luck! The fish & chips were awesome and also had a nice view despite the overcast conditions.
Also at Beauty Point was Seahorse World. Kerri sat it out but the rest of us went in for a look. Incredibly, they had lots of seahorses. They breed them for the aquarium industry which takes the pressure off the wild populations that have been decimated by over collecting.
Other animals included an octopus and a king crab called Barry.
The stars of the show were the weedy sea dragons.
We drove back the Launceston via the Batman bridge. It isn't that spectacular, but... it's Batman's bridge!