Let them be kids!!!

Before I start this post I want all to know that I love all my kids to bits and although not all were part of our original plan we definatly wouldn't change things. With that said I do find myself drifting off to a far away place, long ago, a place pre kids. Certain times in our travels I have thought what the alternative might be if we weren't travelling with kids.

We continued on south down the coast of Victoria. Wilsons Promortory on the southern tip of mainland Australia was stunning. Pre kids: Sime would be surfing the crystal clear waves for a few hours and i may be laying on the white sands of Squeaky beach flicking some pages. Instead a quick dip in cool water and game after game of hide'n'seek amongst the boulders.

We passed through so many quaint little towns on route to Melbourne. Pre kids: an uninterrupted coffee and conversation in a cozy cafe. Instead a stop at an old coal mine park (Bottom station) and an out of the way detour just to visit a town called Poowong.

Phillip Island was our next stop. As we got closer I could sense Sime's excitement building. He seemed to be checking the surf report every few minutes and contacted Glyndon, a retired pro surfer as soon as we got there. Again pre kids: Sime would have surfed nearly all day and I quite happily would have strolled the streets of Cowes. Instead Sime watched the endless stream of surfers arrive in the early morning wondering if he dare mention he might go for a surf. He did surf after helping the kids with their school work and still managed to meet us in town to have chips at beach.

We parked our bus at a friends house in Melbourne and packed the 4x4 ready for our 3 1/2 week trip to Tasmania. The kids were so excited about catching the ferry, this lasted about an hour into the 8 hour trip. We finally arrived in Devonport a little more tired and a lot more queasy. My frequent trips to the toilets to vomit was a not so gentle reminder why I don't want to experience morning sickness ever again.

We stayed at a house 25min north of Hobart aptly named 'Inkster Lodge'. From here we explored Hobart arriving on the last day of the Wooden Boat Festival where we managed to run into a familiar clown face from Port Macquarie, Corny. Pre kids: we might have packed a gourmet picnic and laid under one of the beautiful old trees in the botanic gardens. We probably would have taken all morning to cruise the Salamanca markets without needing 4 separate toilet stops. We might have chosen to go out for brunch at any of the trendy cafes along the foreshore.

In reality we did picnic at the botanical gardens and spent the whole afternoon here exploring every part before lounging on the multi coloured beanbags with some kids books. We did visit the Salamanca Markets and struggled to keep track of the hot tired kids, thankfully an acrobat show and some fresh berries did the trick. As for the brunch, the kids would probably have been fine there but if given the option the Cadbury chocolate factory was an obvious choice.

We went on so many drives and saw so many beautiful old buildings. Pre kids we would have spent more time absorbing the history in towns like Richmond, Oatlands, Bothwell, Ross and Campbell Town. Instead we spent a wonderful day in Evandale at the National Penny Farthing Championships. So much to see, puppet shows, knights in costume, steam engines puffing and clowns but the highlight was the penny races and crashes. Ouch it must hurt to fall from such a height.

We also explored lots of Tasmania's natural beauty. A day trip to Bruny Island with a much more sedate ferry ride was a highlight. A brisk swim at South Bruny National park and some raspberry sorbet from a local raspberry farm. We took a trip up to Freycinet National park and managed the 2 hour walk to the lookout above the stunning Wineglass Bay. We cruised south down to the Huon Valley and walked through the massive trees. We spent some time exploring the many white sandy beaches which make up the Bay of Fires. This became Sime's favourite place of Tasmania.

We managed one of the shorter walks in the Cradle Mountain National Park which took us around the edge of beautiful Dove Lake. Pre kids we may have attempted some longer walks and probably camped overnight but with little legs barely managing what we did do we didn't want to push them too much.

Another memorable day we took a drive down the Tasman peninsular to Port Arthur. The place has a certain feel about it and I think the kids felt it too. Even though they didn't really comprehend what life for a convict was like they still walked into the dark cells and old buildings with very cautious steps. It was the drive down through the burnt landscape on the way there which was equally memorable. The fires which burnt there last December left piles of rubble only recognisable as houses because of the lone brick chimneys left standing. Devastating.

After 3 weeks we packed up our house and headed across the island to the west. Strauhn was our next stop, a small port side town. Apparently the wilderness railway is a wonderful experience as is the heritage river cruise, both something we may have done pre kids. We decided not to fork out the near $400 each activity for our family to go. Money a little too tight for that.

Finally we spent our remaining days in Launceston and its surrounds. We walked the willow tree lined banks of the river in Deloraine and took a few drives up into the Tamar Valley countryside. The chairlift across the Cataract Gorge was a hit as was an afternoon swim in the free pool in the basin.

We had picnic lunch followed by picnic tea most days at some of Tasmania's best playgrounds so the kids said. The excitement they expressed as we pulled into the parking lot of yet another playground was priceless and constant. Pre kids we never would have spent so much time at parks. But for those that don't have children you can only look forward to seeing the delight on their faces. This is why all the 'Pre kids' stuff doesn't matter so much. Every parent will tell you that 'when the kids are happy, we are happy'.