Devils and Convicts

As you can see we visited the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, on the Tasman Peninsula.
We thought the $32 entry fee a bit steep, but wow! It was worth every cent. Not only do you see Devils,

 we got to see a mum and 3 babies feeding (what a gory frenzy that was). The babies may be small but in a tug of war with mum (a piece of skin as the 'rope') they held their own, and one of them was winning at one point. You can see how that dreadful, contagious disease spreads as they won't let go and chew right alongside the other Devils. They are also in danger on the roads as they feed almost entirely on carrion and roadkill.

 This centre also has kangaroos and Quolls.

 There was also a really good bird show featuring a Galah, a Corella, a Tawny Frogmouth,
 a Peregrine Falcon

that had had it's left wing amputated because it was very badly broken when it collided with a car.

A Brown Falcon that had been thrown out of the nest for some reason, it was found by 2 boys and had been reared at the Park. It is still a juvenile and a crowd pleaser because it tends to get distracted and at one point wandered off to investigate something that fell out of a tree.
                                         


                                                          We left there feeling very happy.

Our next stop was Port Arthur, the caravan park closest to the Historic Site was full as it is school holidays, they offered to let us camp (for $28 - no power) on their 'overflow area'. This was a steep lawn area already full of tents so we passed on that option and drove another 10kms to the little town of Nubeena and parked up behind the RSL (Returned Servicemens League). There were 2 vans already there and we slid in along side. For $10 we got the key to the toilets and showers so could come and go as needed, with no time limit. No power but that's not a problem.

The next day we were going to go to the Port Arthur site but the weather was miserable, cold and very blustery, so we just sat around and lazed the day away.
Typically Tasmanian the next day was beautiful sunshine so it was off the the Port Arthur Historic Site.

The entry into the Site included an introductory walking tour and a little cruise past the out lying islands of Isle of the Dead and Point Puer Boys' Prison.

 Our guide on the walking tour was excellent, she gave us a thought provoking talk, and made us rethink some preconceptions about the place. Boys did not arrive at Port Arthur just for stealing a loaf of bread, they were habitual criminals. She also pointed out that in those days a handkerchief could cost around 50pounds so was not a cheap throw away item, so the theft of a handkerchief was not considered a petty crime.

The guide on the boat was quite bad, he ummed and aahed and had trouble stringing together a complete sentence. His main job seemed to be to get those on board to buy tickets to tours of the Isle of the Dead and Point Puer.

 Then we had as much time as we liked to explore the site. 

We were fascinated by the 'separate prison'. The prisoners were in total silence and isolation 23hrs out of 24.(so they could think of their sins and ponder the forgiveness of God and the judiciary). Even when they went into the exercise yard they had their faces covered and when they went to church they sat in individual, isolation booths.

As we were directed to a parking area another motorhome caught my eye - and we parked next to it.
It belonged to Werner and Mary, fellow Perth Wanderers. We knew that they were hoping to come to Tassie in January but didn't when or where we might catch up with them, what a coincidence.
It actually took quite a few text messages and missed calls before we actually got to speak to each other and by then they'd left Port Arthur to go to the Devil Conservation Park, anyway they decided they'd come back the short distance and we all met up at Nubeena for the night.

 The RSL did meals that night so along with John & Betty (from NSW, who were also staying behind the club) the 6 of us had a good meal out.

The next day we left Nubeena, and Werner and Mary, and travelling back up the Tasman Peninsula stopped to see some more history of the penal colony  - at Eaglehawk Neck.

 Here, as it's name suggests there is a very narrow strip of land, there was a small garrison and

 'The Dog Line'. 18 dogs chained in a line to prevent any prisoners escaping by land.

In this area on either side of the Neck there are some amazing natural features and we checked these out too.

Tasman Arch

The lookout over Pirates Bay 

There were Dolphins swimming out at sea and on the path to the lookout we saw an echidna.

The Tessellated Pavement - an incredible flat rock formation, and we were lucky enough to be there at low tide and get an excellent view. You can't really get a scale from this photo but they are great building blocks - about half a metre deep and 1 metre by 2 metres.

Then it was farewell to the Tasman Peninsula and back up to Sorell, for lunch at the bakery before heading north up the coast and Midlands towns.