On leaving Seven Mile Beach we cruised on to Richmond, stopping for morning tea and a walk around the town area and including the famous bridge of course. We went on to Hamilton for lunch. We wrote of our stay in Hamilton on a previous visit. We were really trying to reach our west coast destination without delay, so went on to the old Hydro Electricity town of Tarraleah and camped the night there. There is not a lot of the town remaining but some of the old workers homes have been restored as accommodation cottages and there is a large lodge complex but it doesn't look like it is used now. There are a few good walks to do and the scenery is pretty good. The next day it was onwards to Derwent Bridge. There is very little of Derwent Bridge other than a few houses and a roadhouse and the "Wall in the Wilderness". The Wall in the Wilderness is a privately funded complex just out of town. A wood carver is creating a record of the history of the area in a relief carving in Huon Pine. The wall that is double sided and consists of panels 1m wide and 3m high will reach a total length of 100m when completed. The life like resolution of the figures is outstanding. No photos are allowed in the complex so we cannot show you anything on this blog. You can see some of the work at http://www.thewalltasmania.com We camped at Lake St Clair NP that night and we were totally disappointed with the facilities provided. You have to have a Parks Pass to get in, this costs $24, on top of that the camp fee was $35 with power and then you still had to put $1 in the slot for a shower. The facilities had a terrible smell about them and needed an urgent update. There where signs everywhere spelling out what was NOT ALLOWED. Grey water was not to be released or dumped anywhere but no suggestions where made as to how to dispose of it, consequently every camper ignored that rule and let it run onto the ground. An employee was driving around in a $130,000 John Deere Tractor to patch pot holes in the tracks, they don't know how to spend money wisely here. The next day was driving on some very windy and hilly roads but the surface condition was excellent. The average speed along here with a van is probably about 60 to 70 KPH. The views are out of this world if you have time to look at them, the driver doesn't get to see much. We made camp at Lake Burbury in a camp with a $5 fee paid by honour system. There are toilets that don't stink but no showers. We had a great 'Happy Hour' with some other campers, the afternoon was sunny and perfect and we sat around until about 7 PM until we had to seek some shelter and warmth. We were close to Queenstown by this stage and only had a short run into town. But the road was a beauty, steep and windy, very exciting indeed. Stayed in Queenstown long enough for a good look around and lunch then continued on to Strahan.
The famous Richmond Bridge.
Adjacent to the bridge is the Richmond Flour Mill.
Part of the Main Street of Richmond.
Outside the Bakery, Jude wouldn't let me go in and buy a pie.
The Cafe and camp Reception at Tarraleah.
A large lodge that seems to be unused.
The feeder pipes to the power station far below. There is actually a second power station around the bend in the river to the left. The feeder pipes come from another lake to feed that generator.
We are on a hike to a waterfall and come across this burnt out elevated board walk.
It took 45 minutes walking to get to see this waterfall.
The 6 water feed pipes you saw previously are fed from two pipes of this diameter, the other pipe is directly behind this one.
The view from our camp site. The air is crisp and clean in these parts.
Rugging up to go to the toilet at night. We had the electric heater going all through the night. Our camp neighbours told us that on an earlier morning they woke to ice on the windows.
Before leaving next morning we went on another walk, this one called 'The Quoll Trail'. The vegetation varied considerably along the trail, it was tall timber here. We couldn't photograph any quolls but we heard them and caught glimpses of them.
Another general view of the forest on the walk, more open and ferny at this point.
The ranger station and information centre at Lake St Clair NP. Looks impressive doesn't it, well the looks are only a facade, when you get into the camp the looks change dramatically.
A view across Lake St Clair from the camp area.
Yet another view across the lake, it sure is beautiful.
Every where you point the camera it looks beautiful.
Jude on the rocky shore of Lake Burbury. The water level is down considerably.
Two fishermen coming back to the ramp with their catches.
Many of the rocks are coloured with this red lichen.
If it is not red lichen it is this green moss.
We are surrounded by high mountains.
On the day we arrived the hills were capped with misty clouds. We didn't receive any rain here though.
The next morning dawned crisp and clear. This is the view we received as we stepped from the van.
Lake Burbury is really like two lakes joined by a fairly narrow channel. This is the other part of the lake.
Another view of the southern section of the lake from the road.
The first view of Queenstown approaching from the east.
The beginning of the steep spirally descent into Queenstown.
The elaborate railway station at Queenstown. This is where the West Coast Wilderness Railway ends it's run from Strahan
The outside of the railway station.
The town is surrounded by high, rocky hills.
The main street looking up the hill.
The main street looking down the hill. That smoke in the background is 'burning off' along the road to Strahan, the road we have to take in a few minutes.
The Empire Hotel, a building from a much earlier era.
Some fancy dude lives up here, probably the mine manager.
The creek running through town. They obviously don't worry about pollution in this town.
In the centre of town is this park dedicated to the mining industry. Each of the bronze shields capping the boulders provides a story recording a time line of the the history of mining in the area.
Part of the display is a drilling rig used in the mines.
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