Mark Smalley

Wednesday, 30 Mar - Queenstown
Off at 0915 after a friendly chat with the owners of the huts. It's cloudy but clears up as soon as we leave the mountain area. We're in Strahan (rhimes with 'torn') at 1200.
Pick up our tickets for cruise tomorrow and walk around to other side of harbour. There's a strong smell of freshly cut grass in Strahan, they like to keep their pretty town looking presentable. The walk around the harbour takes us to one of the terminals of the West Coast Wilderness Railway between here and Queenstown.
We do the pleasant rainforest walk to Hogarth Falls from Peoples park in 45 min but fail to see any platypuses.

Off to the mining town Queenstown. It's 45 min, 40 km and 296 bends, or so someone said. We're booked in at the majestic, century-old Empire hotel in the centre of Queenstown. One night at $65 incl. breakfast, which will have to be first thing at 0700 and very quick as we're off to Strahan for a cruise up the Gordon River and boarding is at 0800-0815.

We take a little walk around town and climb up a steep track to Spion Kopf Lookout where there's a very good overview of the town. Warm colours as the sun sets behind the hills.

At 1830 we see the train from Strahan arrive. The station is opposite our hotel.

On advice of a shopkeeper we take a look at the dinner specials at the Mount Lyell Motor Inn, also opposite our hotel. The lamb roast ($8 pp) is quick and good, accompanied by a couple of pints of Boag draft ($5 pp).

836 - 641 = 192 km today, tanking 24 l for $28 at 711 km.

posted by Mark Smalley @ 7:57 PM