(This is part of a trip report to NZ/AU, where I flew business class on Qantas to NZ using 125,000 AA miles and costing $131 and returning on Hawaiian Air, with a stop in Honolulu.)

We spent our last few nights in Launceston (pronounced lawn-ches-tun). Although we didn’t really visit the city, we were on the go to experience more of that beautiful Tasmanian, Australian scenery! On our two hour drive to Cradle Mountain, we just happened upon this lovely hill-top restaurant and garden.

Perfect setting for a wedding, and they do rent the facilities for that purpose!

We dined al fresco…

On the BEST fish and chips!

This lovely dessert was an airy type sugar waffle cone, with cream and strawberries, YUM!

 

We stopped at Sheffield, the town of murals. Because of an economic downturn thirty years ago, they came up with a plan to have an “outdoor art gallery of heroic proportions, depicting the history of its’ district and people.”

 

 

 

 

 

And on the road again…

Cradle Mountain is a national park, and the mountain was named in the early 1800’s by an explorer because of its’ similarity to a baby’s cradle.

It was beautiful weather for a hike…we took the loop to Glacier Rock and to the Boat Shed. This photo shows a bit more of the “rock.”

 

Dove Lake…

 

 

 

The Tasmanian Devil lives only in Tasmania, and of course, we wanted to see it before we left this island! The species is endangered and was threatened with extinction, so they are raising “devils” in captivity, trying to build up the population.

They are the size of a small dog…

Next will be one of the most beautiful cities in the world ~ Sydney, Australia!