Richard's 2007 Australian Trip

Tasmania - Devonport to Kingston via Launceston
19 September 2007

Landscape Driving to Kingston, Tasmania was my first experience in driving a right-hand-drive vehicle on the left-hand side of the road.  All in all it didn't go that badly.  The only thing that took some getting used to was remembering that the indicator switch was on the right-hand side.  I spent most of the trip turning my windshield wipers on and off until I started to get used to it.

The country out side of Devonport, where the ferry arrives, was fairly flat, but in the distance you can see the beginnings of the central highlands.  Going to Kingston, I didn't go through the Highlands (I did on the way back), but rather through Launceston and the Midlands, which made the trip about 300 km.  While posted speed limits are usually 110 km/h (except through towns) I found that much of the trip was on two-lane, undivided highways so I often didn't go that fast.
Landscape It was a cloudy and rainy day so most of the pictures are rather dull.  The country was lush and green, especially compared with what I had seen of New South Wales and Victoria where, even though it was early spring, fields were showing signs of the multi-year drought the mainland was experiencing (or "the big island" as the Tassies refer to continental Australia).
Perth Memorial

In Perth (just south of Launceston) I passed their war memorial as I was entering town.  The grounds around it were meticulously manicured, groomed, and cleaned.  The little park where the memorial stood was fenced off.
The Grange

I stopped in Cambell Town (about the half way point) for lunch.  Just on the eastern edge of the central park stood this little building.  Called The Grange, it is a conference facility.  The steep pitch of the roof and all the chimneys made it stand out from the rest of the buildings in the town.
Main Street

The main street in Cambell Town really looked like it could have been in the middle of small town Ontario.

I had lunch, well actually brunch, at Zep's restaurant, cafe and pizzeria.
Main Street
Main Street Some of the more typical small town Australian architecture.  This was a local leather goods store.
Landscape Outside of Campbell Town the landscape started to get more rugged, but farming was still quite prevalent.  There seemed to be more grazing fields for sheep and cattle than fields growing crops like I had seen in the north of the island.
Rest Stop

Driving along the highway there were wonderful vistas from the top of ridges, etc, but all the rest stops seemed to be placed in gullies so there wasn't much to see in the rocky landscape.  The clouds were starting to break a little, as I got further south.

I didn't have my customary GPS with electronic maps with me so I had to navigate the old fashioned way with a paper map.  This wasn't too difficult since everything was well signed.  It did mean, however, that I had to concentrate much more on driving (especially on the wrong side of the road).