Launceston to Hobart...

A nice frosty morning to leave our accommodation in Launceston for Hobart. We'd stayed at the Village Family Motor Inn and enjoyed our brief stop there. Breakfast included, Playground which Sonia didn't want to leave, Games room for older kids, Heated pool which we didn't get time to test out, and about the only downside for us was the lack of a bath for Kaden. The room did have a big handbasin though which worked perfectly fine for the job.

The drive from Launceston to Hobart along the number one or Midlands Highway, otherwise known as the Heritage Highway, travels though large tracts of pasture and farmland with many historical towns to visit. The ones we visited were Campbell Town, Ross, and Oatlands. Everyone's colds were still going strong, so it was both good and bad that every time we started driving again, the kids would almost immediately fall asleep. Good, in that it made for a peaceful drive and they needed the sleep. Bad, as the stops at towns were relatively frequent and woke them up.

It also seemed to be the day for stuff to fall off vehicles! Between Launceston and Hobart, we saw one truck lose a strap off the machinery he was carrying, one truck lose a right angle plastic guard thing that prevents the fraying of straps going over his load of 1000L water/chemical tank containers, and dodged two small square hay bales before passing the driver of a ute re-tying his load of hay beside the highway.

• Campbell Town

We stopped to look at the 'Red Bridge' that convicts built in 1838. Sonia and Kaden enjoyed the swings and chasing the ducks, while I managed a closer look at the amazing tree stump woodcarvings near the bridge.

Campbell Town Ducks

Red Bridge, Campbell Town

Tree Stump Wood Carving, Campbell Town

• Ross

The town of Ross had numerous old buildings to look at, but we mainly stopped to look at the 'Ross Bridge' that convicts had completed in 1836 over the Macquarie River. Well worth the stop to look at. We passed a film in the making on the way through town to get to the information centre and Tasmanian Wool Centre which we all had a quick look through. Rather interesting information and history on things pertaining to that area and Tasmania, and wool in general. I enjoyed it a bit more than what Clancy or the kids did though as I'm more interested in that sort of thing, having grown up and enjoyed working with merino sheep.

I would have liked to have been able to walk out to look at the Female Factory Site, but Clancy and the kids reckoned it was time to keep moving after a detour to have a play on the playground coming back from looking at the bridge.

View from hill in Ross

Old Church in Ross

Ross Bridge Sign

Ross Bridge

Ross Bridge

Macquarie River, Ross

• Oatlands

There was no way we could go past Oatlands without stopping in to look at the Callington Mill. We all enjoyed a tasty lunch there, and I stayed in the warmth of the cafe to breastfeed Kaden while Clancy and Sonia went to play on the awesome playground behind the mill. We then had enough time to walk down to look at Lake Dulverton where we saw a pair of Swans and numerous other birds on the lake, but didn't have time to do any of the walks available. So it was back up to the mill, where Sonia and I went on a tour of the mill while Clancy and Kaden wandered around town, seeing what could be found.

Callington Mill

Sonia and Wombat, Oatlands

Playground near Callington Mill

Lake Dulverton, Oatlands

Sonia and I really enjoyed the Callington Mill tour. Me with all the information, history, and seeing how it all worked (I'd grown up grinding our own wheat with a home made electric stone grinder), and Sonia with all the climbing up and down steps to get to each floor. She also enjoyed having her own special hard hat to wear! No camera's were allowed inside the mill though, just in case they accidentally fell in, and there was no touching of the grain allowed either. I purposely had to remember this one, as I knew that both Sonia and I would each want to grab a handful when we saw it! (I'm so used to doing this to look at the grain and eat/chew some when at my parents farm!).

Sonia's Hard Hat!

We finished the tour and Sonia amused herself jumping in and out of triangle shadows made by a wooden gate, while I looked at some more information on the entrance sign. It was then a round about route following Sonia's lead (which she thoroughly enjoyed being able to freely do) through the mill gardens to find Clancy and Kaden.

Triangle Shadows

Callington Mill

This town was also full of old buildings and interesting shops that I would've happily spent more time wandering amongst like Clancy had been able to do. But it was time to move on and enjoy the numerous different topiary along the main street, and silhouette signs beside the highway heading south. Sonia enjoyed looking out for the different silhouette pictures, before once again falling asleep.

Old Woolpress, Oatlands

We eventually got to Hobart, where our first stop was to the neighbours of one of my school friends who lived there. My friend and her family had flown out for a trip back to WA to see family the same time that we'd left for Tasmania. They'd left a bundle of winter gear for us and the kids, plus other things (toys, books, crayons, paper etc.), with their neighbours for us to pick up if we wanted it. We enjoyed a nice quick visit with them, then on towards the centre of Hobart to find our accommodation for the next seven nights.

• Woolmers Inn, Sandy Bay

Two bedroom apartment which we'd picked up on a special deal through Ezy Flights.
Were able to save money and cook our own meals in the apartment kitchen.
Shopping centre 2 blocks away, and numerous other shops and restaurants very close.
Relatively close for walking to Hobarts central sights/highlights.
Good heating.