Before leaving Phillip Island, we made a quick stop for Matthias to stick his head in at the famous Phillip Island raceway. We made a longer stop at the excellent State Coal Mine museum in Wonthaggi, a self-guided emergence into a chapter of Australia's history.

Our camp at Rosebud was not unlike the "bible strip" near Busselton. Shaded by peppermint trees and set just behind the dunes of a long golden beach, the ocean reaching millpond flat to the hazy horizon. Ours was one of countless campgrounds along this stretch of coast and it was…

Our return ferry journey to the mainland was a sight different to our outbound crossing. Staff of the ship told us it was the roughest crossing they'd ever experienced. Being a big vessel it held the swell well - I've had Kangaroo Island ferry crossings that felt much worse …

We'd initially been worried that we wouldn't fit in "all of Tassie" in the time we'd allowed ourselves and indeed, there were places that we didn't make it to. But we were pretty content with the ground we did cover. …

It was always going to be a tough act following our week in Sheffield and heading to one of Tasmania's more popular regions over Australia's busiest long weekend didn't help. We stopped in the pretty riverside town of Deloraine, home to a trail of miniature sculptures along the main street…

The day we were due to arrive at our house sit in Sheffield, perfect conditions were forecast for Cradle Mountain. …

Heading towards Queenstown, we stopped in at four designated beauty spots. Two short walks gave us access to the once threatened Franklin River, now secured from damming or other industrial activity as a world heritage wilderness area. It looked like many of the other quietly babbling shallow streams that qualify…

Our departure out of Hobart was delayed getting the trailer bearings checked and taking the car back in again to re-check the oil leak. The kids and Matthias were able to enjoy the botanic gardens while I drew the food shopping card again. …

Unable to set off on our clockwise tour of the island until after the 4th, when our car was booked in to be fixed, we did a short two night stint at Mount Field National Park. What a magical place to have on the doorstep of Hobart. …