6^th May 2022 – The Drought Has Broken (dripping with sarcasm)

Last night the rain POURED down, and poured, and poured some more. Granted, it was not a Queensland style deluge, but it was nonstop. We were nicely tucked up in our warm and comfortable cottage, but every time I woke up, I could hear the rain hitting the roof and the water rushing down the creek, it was a creek now its more like a river.

We have a bit of a sleep in, it’s so nice to not rush anywhere. I open the bedroom blinds and there is a massive peacock staring in the window (important to note the windows nearly go all the way to the floor – the peacock is giant, but not that giant). He is standing very still and staring in the window. Creepy little bastard.

Today we are heading to Hastings Caves and thermal springs! Sounds amazing, yet another wonderful tip supplied by the lovely Kim de Chavez.

According to their website:

The magical underground world of Hastings Caves will open your eyes to what lies beneath the picturesque Tasmanian landscape. The mystery of these Tasmanian c​aves is revealed beneath a dense green forest and ferny glades. The spacious dolomite cave system is a labyrinth of chambers, richly decorated and cleverly lit to highlight ancient subterranean formations.

Newdegate Cave is the largest dolomite tourist cave in Australia. Its vast chambers began to form more than 40 million years ago.

Back on the surface, you can relax in the swimming pool, which is fed by mineral-rich thermal springs. Experience warm thermal pool water that remains 28 degrees, year-round.

Ummm, 28 degrees, I think I will be hard pressed to get Jason into water that is ONLY 28 degrees. Its bordering freezing for him by that stage!

We were booked in for the tour in the afternoon, so we had the morning to do whatever we wanted. And we pretty much wanted to do nothing, so I wrote the blog whilst Jason stoked the fire and watched some terrible movies on TV. One was called The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, ok, it wasn’t terrible but it was NOT good. Tommy Lee Jones stared and directed, so I feel obliged to like it – because, you know, it’s TOMMY LEE!

As the rain continued, we kept a close eye on the creek outside, making sure it was not getting too close. According to our hosts, who popped over to check on our wellbeing, it never gets near the cottage, so we are safe and sound.

I am also keeping an on the peeping tom peacock I have affectionately named Pedro the Pervy Peacock who is now standing at the lounge window and staring in. It’s quite unnerving and very funny.

Midday we jump in our trusty Toyota and start heading towards the caves. They have told us they are open and operating, the rain is not so bad there. It is about a 40-minute drive from the cottage.

About 15 minutes into the drive, we hit the first bit of flooding, water running across the road at a great rate of knots. Its not deep, you can still see the road, but it is moving fast. We keep going and hit the next lot, bigger, deeper, and faster (like the title of that porn you watched last night). Then we hit the third lot and decide this is fucking dumb. We are in a little front wheel drive Toyota Corolla, on roads we do not know, with flooding and shit weather WHAT ARE WE THINKING!

It is time to abandon this plan and come up with another. The caves will have to wait until next time. We cannot reschedule until tomorrow because we fly out tomorrow, so bugger, but alive, suck it up buttercup and move on.

Plan B, lets go and have a pub lunch, a couple of drinks, watch the rain. No problem, I Google (yes Google, I am fully aware of where I work, but no one Bings, no one!), “pubs near me” and we find one! Franklin Tavern! Lock it in Google Maps, 15 minutes’ drive, excellent.

Well, fuck. Franklin Tavern is not open. All doors are securely locked and the place does not look that inviting.

Plan C, Google has indicated there is a place in Geeveston, The Bears Went Over the Mountain (aka The Bears), boutique accommodation with craft beer and wine. Sorted, off to The Bears we go. It is 20 minutes back to where we started, but no biggie, we have driven further for beer and wine 😊

We drive past a restaurant on the way back to Geeveston called The Kermandie, it looks nice, and open, but we decide we like the sound of The Bears and we keep driving.

AND, it is closed. Apparently winter started on the 2^nd May so no daytime drinks and food. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

Plan D? Really people, fucking really?

SO! You guessed it, return to the car and we drive to The Kermandie, another 10 minutes back towards Hobart. This is feeling a little farcical, we just need the Benny Hill music in the background. As we pull into the parking lot Jason is sure it is closed, I am SURE it is not, I mean the world would not be that cruel! And, indeed, the world is not that cruel! The bar is open, they are serving food, they are welcoming.

After nearly an hour of yoyo driving around the area we finally sit down, a well-deserved drink in hand, and order our meals.

Did it really need to be that hard?

Anyway, the view is lovely, the food is delicious, the drinks are cold. Unfortunately so is the bar. So we eat but do not linger. Kermandie, if you want people to stay and drink, turn up the heat!

We head back to the cottage! The last few days of our trip were focused around hiking and exploring, but sadly we have been unable to do most of our planned activities, all we can do is enjoy our accommodation, stoke the fire, feed the animals, and watch TV. There are worst ways to spend the last few days.

If anything it is fate telling us to calm the fuck down and relax before we head back to Brisbane, reality, and work.

Consider the hint well and truly taken!

Another early night to the sound of rain and gushing water. Tomorrow we leave.

THE END

We loved our trip to Tasmania, we saw so many beautiful places and amazing animals. The people we met were accommodating and friendly, the food delicious and the wine AMAZING. Apparently even the beer was good, but I cannot comment on that.

We climbed mountains, walked hills, drank wine, ate scallop pies, gobbled cheese, scoffed oysters, and stayed up late. It was wonderful.

The selection of what to do in Tasmania is endless, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Is it just like New Zealand? Yes and no. There are definite similarities, but Tasmania is beautifully unique and well worth the time to get there and the cold 😊 we cannot wait to go back again and have already mapped out our next trip.

Thanks Tasmania.

Cheers.