Tasmania Day 3, 22/2/26. Mt Wellington

 Off to the Mt, suitably prepared for inclement weather with a cold front forecast with chance of a thunderstorm. Warmed up by walking into central Hobart, then caught our bus to the top. Tony our bus driver gave us the spiel, suitably interlaced with jokes. Naarah and caught them , but international visitors didn't seem to, and would go home saying that "Tasmania is banning round bales of hay because cattle weren't getting a square feed of hay".

Was blowing a gale on top, gusts to 70 km, but we still decided to walk all the way down as figured once we were in the trees we would be more protected,  which proved correct. At least we got the views as beautiful and sunny until clouds came after 30 minutes. Stopped in the Snowgums for our morning tea, then at the chalet for remaining flask tea, and to give our creaky knees a break from all thd downhills!! Walked the organ pipe track as we descended,  watching climbers risking life and limb, not for this girl!!! 







Then down to The Springs where the coffee van does a roaring trade, the only place on the Mt to sell drinks/food. We found the only undercover picnic table,  enjoying our lunch immensely as the rain started to fall. Rain coats on, hot chocolate to sustain us,  we resolutely walked on to get to Fern Tree via Fern Glade Track, where we could catch the bus back. 












The only building in Fern Tree to survive the 1967 bushfires, appropriately its the church!


Caught the bus back with Tony, but did the whole loop up the mt again, to see it in a different light!! Driving rain, even stronger winds and of course, colder. We put on raincoats??  nearly parachutes! And went to check it out. Could only go to the enclosed lookout as could hang onto a railing to prevent being blown over, no toilet stop, that meant crossing exposed ground! Wild and wet, but exhilarating. 

Where photo of us taken in AM, big change.



Felt we'd earnt a 'square meal' ourselves do google helped us find the oldest pub in Hobart, which Tony our driver dropped us off at the door, very obliging to his slightly bedraggled passengers. Lovely dinner, and gave dinner recommendations, steak, chips and salad, to a pair of Japanese girls who shared our table.





Uber to the rescue we were home to tuck ourselves in and rub our aching knees and calvs with pain cream, going downhill for 15 or so kms certainly worked out muscles we don't use in where we normally walk in Logan. 


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