Mole Creek

 

We had a lot of ground to cover to get to out final destination for the day, Devonport. We didn't use the boring direct route. We had, instead, a few interesting activities planned in the Mole Creek area.

Deloraine

We stopped in Deloraine to wander up and down the main street checking out the various shops while taking in the views of the Great Western Tiers of the Central Plateau that dominates the southern horizon.

Deloraine has a most odd bike shop (below).

Melita Honey Farm

A little further down the road, we stopped in at the Melita Honey Farm in Chudliegh. We've been to plenty of honey places before but this something on a completely different level. There were no less than 50 different honey's to try & the range of honey products was astonishing!

Launceston

 

We were on the move again today. This time to Devonport, but not without some activities along the way. Before we left Launceston, we took the time to have a look at some of the heritage buildings that are dotted around the downtown area.

We also visited the well manicured, City Park. The park isn't very big but it feels much bigger as you walk around.

City Park also has a random enclosure for a troop of Japanese Macaques that seems very much out of place.

Cataract Gorge Reserve

 

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.

Tamar Valley

 

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.

There were also touch tanks where you can harass the animals.

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!

Lilydale Falls

After a long and windy drive across the range we finally stopped at Lilydale Falls, just outside Launceston. The trail start from under an abandoned railway bridge and follows the valley up past two pretty little waterfalls.

Lower Falls

Upper Falls

Then it was less than half an hour's drive from the falls to our accommodation in Launceston.