Day 34 - The Great Lake and the Central Highlands

We dined out last night with a second cousin and even the Pinot Noir was not sufficient to assuage the sleep interruptions last night resulting from a rock and roll caravan, as it resisted the strong SW wind which lashed the city of Hobart.

The wind persisted into the morning and we arose to both wind and rain and a temperature of around 9 degrees.  As in the past, undaunted, we headed out to see some more of Tasmania, this time heading north to the Great Lake in the Central Highlands.

As we ascended progressively we noticed the temperature declining and for the time we were in the Highlands, the temperature oscillated between three and seven degrees.  The sun poked its head through the clouds occasionally until by mid afternoon we had sunshine for a fair portion of the way home.  The temperature was 13 degrees when we arrived back in Hobart.

The drive from Hobart was on an excellent road.  In fact it was portion of the main road to Launceston.  Firstly we went through farmlands and then rocky countryside which supported poorly developed trees and shrubs. We deviated towards Bothwell which was a lovely village with a main street full of claret ash trees some of which were changing colour. Oak trees along the roadside and poplars along the creek side were turning a bright yellow too.

020415 Claret Ash in Bothwell's main street

020415 More colour in Bothwell's main street

020415 A barn in Bothwell

We saw some unmarked sculptures, the Steppes Sculptures just in from the roadside.  They were of Australian animals and birds predominantly, and were in bronze and attached to large rocks.

020415 The plaque at the Steppe Sculptures

020415 One of the Steppe Sculptures

020415 A Steppe Sculpture up close

020415 The Steppe Stones with the sculptures attached

We eventually arrived at the Great Lake which was dammed at one point.  Shortly after we stopped at the end of the bitumen road at Miena.  It had a couple of pubs but was memorable because of the many fishing shacks that have been built near to the lake.  Some were verging on palatial.  New blocks were for sale starting from $37,500, which we assume would have been for the smaller blocks of 2000 square metres.

020415 The wind was creating waves at the Great Lake

020415 The dam wall at the Great Lake

020415 A view of the Great Lake

020415 The other side of the dam wall at the Great Lake.
The water level is extremely low

020415 Fishing shacks on the Great Lake

020415 The Great Lake looking over Hadden's Bay

We returned home via a different route which took us past Arthurs Lake and Mount Blackwood.  The mountain heralded the descent down to a beautiful wide valley, full of autumn colours, sheep and cattle.  The mountain was interesting in itself, being heavily weathered with the rocks that have broken off sliding down the mountainside and collecting in the small creases in the mountainside.

020415 Mt Blackwood (we think)

020415 Weathered rock on the mountainside

020415 One view of the valley below the escarpment

020415 Another view of the valley from the escarpment

Once again we saw evidence of hydro electricity generation at Arthurs Lake and also as we came down the escarpment.

020415 Power Station at Arthurs Lake

020415 Pipe taking water to the power station at Arthurs Lake

The drive down the escarpment was pretty exciting and it was good to look back, once we reached the valley.  Eventually we joined the main Hobart - Launceston road and headed off home to Hobart. 

020415 Looking back from whence we came.  Could not see the road
but we passed that pipeline on the way down

020415 Another mountain lording over the valley

020415 Our road home, with sun, at least in the foreground

We thought as we left this morning we were nuts going out on a day like this but we were delighted with what we saw and experienced.