Central Highlands Tasmania

Today unintentionally turned into a driving day. It happens every now and again. We didn’t feel like sitting around for the day, so we took off back through that gorgeous and diverse landscape.We stopped at the Creepy Crawly Nature Trail which did not disappoint. As we ventured along the board walk we had to duck and weave through trees that leaned over in all directions. It was truly an enchanted forest with moss covering everything! 

Further along we were lucky to be able to find a park at the Twisted Sister trail. Again we were blown away with the beauty of the forest, this time including big stringy bark eucalyptus trees.

Our destination is now north, so we drive through Hamilton. A lovely old town with a great pub. 

Old train stations

Raspberry fields 

Over into the highlands… a little dryer here

Then we head to Bothwell. Its history is steeped in the Scottish settlers taking up land grants from 1817. In 1820, a 7 hole golf course, Ratho, was built and likely Australia’s first.The information centre had a walking map and some history displays of the town.

As we strolled around and admired some of the old architecture.

The first Angus cattle were imported from Scotland to here. 

St.Micheal’s church is an impressive building.

St. Luke’s Uniting also has a tower.

Council Office 1856

The old post office 1890.

Castle Hotel (1829) one of Australia’s oldest continuously licensed.

The window of good weather at Ben Lomond motivates us to move on. We take the advice of the lady at the info centre and avoid the N1 and take the highlands road A5.

We stop to have a look at the sculpture park at Steppes. 

As well as the old homestead.

We take in the views at the Headrace Poatina lookout.

Then we descended down into the valley below, settling in at Cressy for the night. 

255km today…