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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Mar 20, 2009 07:00 PM Gravel roads to St Claire - Tasmania
A night in the Deloraine youth hostel dorm cost me here 22 AUD. Then it was time to go. If you start early by car you will see here a lot of dead wildlife on the road - wallabies, possums, wombats - this is the result of night time collisions with cars. Animals are active at night, and the driver see less. That's why I do not drive at night.
To get to Lake St Claire - the second end of National Park I took a country road via the Highlands Lakes. It is real outback - 50 or 60 km of gravel road along Great Lake (really great view!). Then I reached Lake St Claire, paid again 22 AUD of park entry fee and took some walks through the pristine forest. I will tell you the true: this place is not as nice as Craddle Mt. Maybe from Mt Rufus you will see more, but I did not have enough time (3 hours climb each way). If you still have money ( 28 AUD one way) you can take the the boat to the end of the lake and enjoy the views from the water...
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Mar 19, 2009 07:00 PM Climbing Tasmanian mountains
It will cost you 22 dollars to enter the park for one day by your car. Came early so you will park further in the park - at the Dove Lake. Otherway you will leave the car at visitors center and pay for the park minibus to get to the lake! This area is the most beutiful - walk around the lake took me 2 hours and then there was seepy acsent with chains to the Marions Lookout - great panoramic view from there. Craddle Mountain - the nicest one - is just in front of you. You can proceed to the other lakes and ponds. I returned from this walk in the late afternoon. Sunny weather, nice pictures. It was another great day in Tasmania!
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Mar 18, 2009 07:00 PM To the Craddle Mountain
It took me 11 hours of driving with a photostops to get from Hobart via Queenstown and Strahan to Craddle Mountain NP. Roads are narrow, steep - so it is real challenge. Tasmania is very clean and... very empty. Beautiful countryside, lush forests, clear rivers. In the lodge where I stay (expensive!) they charge 5 AUD per 15 min of slow internet.
But you can sit at the fire and feel to be far from the crowd.
Tomorow I want to explore Nqational Park
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Mar 17, 2009 07:00 PM Port Artur & devils - Tasmania
The best and fastest method to travel around this island is to rent a car. There are competitive companies offering cars from 29 AUD per day. They tempt you - be prepared to pay also some taxes and insurance.
Port Artur is probaply the most important historical monument of Tasmania. It is former British penal colony - there is a lot of remains, museum and romantic ruin of the church.
But you have to pay hefty 28 AUD for entrance...
I was driving about two hours between rolling hills to get there. On the way I stop at the park to see tasmanian devils - little animal known only here. Nice, sunny day...
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Mar 16, 2009 07:00 PM Lord Howe Island to Tasmania
Only 350 people live on Lord Howe. The number of tourists on the island at a time is limited to 400. They are coming mostly buying packages (flights+lodge) - it is cheaper but sill very expensive for the backpacker. Camping on the island is unknown and forbidden. Life goes slowly...
They have one liquor store, one small museum and only two computers in the museum for public internet access - it is expensive / 3 AUD per 20 min/ and they are closing at 3 pm.
It was raining heavily in the morning in this p[aradise so I was sendind my e-mails and worrying about my afternoon flight.
But at 11 it was already clear, my Dash 8 arrived and I flew to Sydney /some passengers travelled without luggage because the overload of the small aircraft (they will check your weight before fligh)
From Sydney I took cheap Virgin Blue flight to Hobart. Welcome to Tasmania!
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Mar 15, 2009 07:00 PM Beautiful Lord Howe Island
It is cloudy today. 25 kms from Lord Howe Is you can see another phenomena - Balls Piramide - sharp rock rising from the sea to the 250 m! They offer boat tours to see this only-in-the world such a place hostin tousands of seabirds. It takes 3,5 hours includind round-the-Howe loop.
Sorry, the wind is too strong, waves are too high. I decided to climb to the higher point of Lord Hove - Mt Gower -rising 870 m from the sea level. It is serious climb, not a walk so you must go with a local guide. it takes 8 hour round trip. We started at 7.30 am. After 1 hour using ropes we reached the cliff. Then rain came. After next hour of climbing I was completly wet. In such a moment You must answer the question: what is the reason to go to the top? To became a wet hero? Clouds are around - visibility almost zero. I decided to wait under the cliff i the shelter. After 1 hour still rain. I returned down. Bad luck!
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Mar 14, 2009 07:00 PM Paradise in the Pacific
Can you see Lord Howe on your map? The Lord Howe Island is only 11 km long, with an airstrip and settlement in the middle. On the north there are little hills covered by lush tropical forest. East side offers high, picturesque cliffs and a beach where hordes of friendly fish long up to 1m (kingfish) are coming to be feeded from your hands. On the south There are two high, steep peaks - rising to 777 and 870 meters. OIn the west side there is beautiful lagoon with corals and color fish - you can go there to snorkel or to see this unique world from glass bottom boat.
I was climbing to one of the lowes peaks - Mt Eliza - 147 m for the great views. National Park covers most of the island and they have well-mainained trails so you can walk all day around assuming that you will have enough power in the tropical heat. Paradise. But very expensive for the backpacker - they charge 40 dollars per 2-hours boat tour!
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Mar 13, 2009 07:00 PM To Lord Howe Island...
This is little, lonely and rocky island in the Pacific some 500 km east of the Australian coast.
They have very short airstrip... Only little Dash 8 turbo-prop plane can land here.
Why I am heading there? It is one of very few islands on the UNESCO world heritage list. They put it there because of beauty of the landscape and the unspoiled nature..
After 2 hours flight I saw a rock rising from the blue ocean - really great view! We made a turn around the island, so I saw beautiful lagoon and we landed in the on the short and narrow runway between the geen hills.
The airfare is high, Dash 8 can take only 30 passengers - but now I know that is was worth - that's very special place!
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Mar 12, 2009 07:00 PM Day on the Great Barrier Reef
I stay in Cairns in Caravella Backpackers - they have easy booking via internet and they provide free transport from the airport.
Many competing companies offer day excursions for the snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I took a catamaran departing at 8 am and retutning at 16.30.
They took me to two places on the reef... I did snorkel here years ago, but these were new sites and what you can see under the water is just wonderful.
They provide snorkeling gear, breakfast and lunch are also included. Snorkeling you have to protect your back from the strong sun... Great day.
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Mar 11, 2009 07:00 PM Micronesia to Australia...
Chuuk - Federated States of Micronesia. On the main island - Weno there is an old Japaneese lighthouse - not in use now but they say it is great view from there. I wanted to go and to see. Sorry - it is on ptrivate property and there are different owners of the access road - the do not agree let you go through! That's Micronesia!
On the hill nearby there is catholic St Francis Xawier High School - they welcome visitors. Nice Father Bill took me to the roof of the building for the great view. The lighthouse is also visible in a distance. Once it was Japaneese military communication center - it survived American bombings and now is is valuable peace institution.
In the afternoon it was the time to say goodbye to Chuuk. I took a flight via Guam to Cairns in Australia - quite ne w route!
It was 11 pm when I landed in Cairns. Customs are screening here in details for food, wood and shells - dont bring them to avoid the talk I had!
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