February 28 – Hobart to Cradle Mountain

February 28, 2016 – Hobart to Cradle Mountain
We left the hotel at 8am to head to Cradle Mountain. Troy, our guide, told us that he decided that we would go off schedule and go up Mount Wellington for a beautiful view of Hobart. It was very clear and the bus driver showed us where we had been the last 2 days.
We stopped at the village of Ross where many of us got a sweet to tide us over until lunch. There were craft shops and a wool goods shop. I bought a pair of possum and merino wool socks.
Our next stop was Campbell Town. There are bricks along the side walks with names of convicts and their crimes and punishments. One woman was convicted for stealing a handkerchief and sentenced to 7 years hard labor. It is the hometown of Harold Getty – W iley Posts navigator when he flew around the world.
We etopped again for lunch. I had an hamburger which consisted of lettuce, tomato, beetroot, grated carrots, beef patty, cheese, grilled onions, and BBQ sauce on a bun. It was huge.
Got to Cradle Mountain around 4pm. Did 2 hikes near the main lodge before dinner. The river water looks like tea from the tannin in the trees.  After dinner we went night-spotting on a 4×4 in the park. We saw possums, wombats, wallabies, and a Tasmanian Devil.