This place is great!

We've been in Tassie since the end of August and we're having a ball! Despite the predictions of our friends and relos in Qld who said, "Yer mad! You'll freeze in Tasmania at this time of year", we're surviving very well and the weather has generally been much milder than we expected. But it's certainly variable: one day it's blowing hot northerly gales, whipping up wild bushfires - and a few days later there are snow falls in the high country, severe frosts and hail in the farming districts!

So far we've just 'scratched the surface' with a bit of exploring along the north coast and north-east. On the way over on the last voyage of "Spirit III", we bought the book "4wd Tasmania" and it's been a brilliant guide to the many great 4WD tracks around the various regions. The highlight so far would have to be the brilliant drive through the dunes and beaches of St. Albans Bay, west of Bridport.

We've also enjoyed many drives along forest roads and tracks in the north-east. So refreshing to be able to explore down forestry tracks with encountering endless "Restricted Access" signs like we see in Queensland - and the hassle of having to get the increasingly difficult to obtain "Permit to Traverse" just to enjoy 'our' State Forests.

Twelve years ago we sampled Tassie via a ten day blast around the island on a motorcycle, in company with a dozen other bikes, enjoying many of the best biking roads in the country. Little did we realise that this gem of a place also offers so much brilliant, accessible off-bitumen touring too. And the scenery is just astonishing - over just about every crest in the road or highway is another picture postcard vista. Do we sound impressed - you betcha! We can't wait to get amongst the tracks and trails of the wild west and far south.