Day 12 – Hobart to Lake St Clair

I’d like to make the most of our one night at Lake St Clair, so we want to be on the road by 9, alarm off at 7, and surprisingly we driving out at 8:30.   It’s be drizzling all morning, during the packup, and as we leave.

There is the main road way up through New Norfolk and Tarraleah, or it seems the distance is about the same to go via the central highlands and through Miena.  Given I wanted to camp up that way after we left Launceston, the next best thing is a drive though.  It only looks to be about 10mins longer.

The clouds are really low as we drive east of the Derwent.  We hit the Launceston highway for a bit then head towards Bothwell.   A slightly larger town than we expected, but on an Easter Monday morning, there is nothing open.

As we’re driving, Justine notices just up ahead the Steppes Sculpture.  I did recall seeing it.   It’s just a bunch of large rocks, with a metal sculpture/plaque things on each.   It’s no stone henge, but it’s a good excuse to get out of the car, after a hour and a half of driving.   It also reminds us how cold it is out there.

Soon after we reach 1080m which is as high as we get.

We drive into the main, you can’t call it a town, but maybe region up here of Miena.  We stop at the dam wall of the Great Lake, and it surprising to see such a large dam behind such a small wall.   I enjoy it, the kids, less so.

We pull into the Miena General store, which is surprisingly busy.  It’s here we’ve turn off the main Alpine highway??? And hit the dirt road down to Lake St Clair.  Quite a few 4x4s drive in from that direction and they are all covered in mud, mmm.   We should be fine.

It’s only 30km of dirt, in the end it’s a pretty good road, but it is wet and soon we can see mud coming up the side of the car and on the van (front, sides and rear!).   On the road we pass about 5 vans, so we’re not the only nutters on this road (I remind Justine!).

We drive into Derwent Bridge and take the turn off to Lake St Clair.  As we arrive there are signs for just about everything except for vans. After checking in, we realise, it’s not really a caravan park, but the lodge has 10 van parking sites.  I use the term “site” generously, as they are damn small, at least half of them would fit nothing more than a small Hiace campervan.   As we drive in, the road is so narrow and with all the trees I need to make a 15point turn to reverse the van in.  Fortunately, as we arrive only one of the vans is here so I can use the other sites for manoeuvring.

After setting up and calming the nerves and a bit of lunch, we take a walk.  First down to the jetty, and then into the main lodge area.  Here we see there are a few short walks.  The best one for us is to Platypus Bay, about 4km return, we’ve not really geared up for walking, but it’s not really worth going back to the van so we head off.   We’re hoping to see a platypus, but on such a well trotten track, it doesn’t happen.  But it was a nice walk, the lake is so calm, and it might be good practice for the 6km Dove lake walk in a few days time.

Oddly we’ve not had a dinner out as yet on this trip. Either everything’s been closed, or just not suitable for us.  So tonight, we decide to drive back into Derwent River to the pub and have dinner there.   Justine calls to make a reservation, which they seem a little hesitant in taking, as they say they are not busy at 6. 

We get ready and take the 5km drive back to the main highway where the pub is located.  As we drive in, we notice 5-6 or more vans lined up and I recall you can free camp here (the ideas is you at least have a drink or a meal at the pub).   Given how crappy the sites are at the lodge, is this not the as bad an option as I thought it might have been when planning.   Anyway.  We arrive in the old pub, they’ve got a good fire going on the restaurant side of the pub, then we see the reservation for “Justin”, god she hates that.  We all have a laugh.

A good dinner all round, and Liam to his credit, has a Sri Lankan beef curry and has a good stab at finishing it.

On the drive back we’re going pretty slow, there is a car behind, but he is keeping he’s distance at least. About halfway along I see a possum on the opposite side of the road, and have enough time to stop before it runs in front of us.   Not long before the lodge, an oncoming car won’t dip his high beam, and just as he does so, I see two brushtailed possums, a mum and a big baby? Right in front.  I hit the anchors and swerve as much as I dare.   I think we missed them, god I hope so.  

Given there should be some wildlife around, we grab the torches and take a walk.  We start walking away from the campground.   We walk for ages and end up seeing one ringtail possum.  I think I saw some reflective eyes hop off in the far distance, but that was it.  Seem the only way to see wild life is to attempt to run it over…..

We get ready for a cold night.