Mawbanna, Tasmania Tigers, Dip Falls and The Big Tree

Having found out about Dip Falls from the tourist information in the shop at the foot of Stanley’s The Nut, I drove in search of a waterfall, not expecting anything good. Considering nobody else had ever mentioned Dip Falls to me, I hardly expected to be blown away by it. I was pleasantly surprised to Read more about Mawbanna, Tasmania Tigers, Dip Falls and The Big Tree[…]

“Here’s A Truck Stop Instead Of St. Peter’s – Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah”

“Here’s a truck stop instead of St. Peter’s Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah”, I have to admit that I don’t have a clue what that means. I am often confused by lyrics, and especially some of those REM lyrics from the early 90s. This particular lyric could easily have applied to my overnight stay at St. Read more about “Here’s A Truck Stop Instead Of St. Peter’s – Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah”[…]

West Coast Wilderness Railway Part Three – Searching For Gold at Lynchford

WEST COAST WILDERNESS RAILWAY PART THREE – SEARCHING FOR GOLD AT LYNCHFORD   The journey from Queenstown to Lynchford is probably around 12 kilometres. The magic had already begun as soon as we left Queenstown. We were travelling on a track through the middle of nowhere. A work of engineering genius, which had taken years Read more about West Coast Wilderness Railway Part Three – Searching For Gold at Lynchford[…]

Jonny Blair's travel blog

West Coast Wilderness Railway Part Two – Queenstown

    I had only 40 minutes in Queenstown, and although it was small, I quickly looked at what I wanted to see. In the end, just walking round the town for 30 minutes was enough time to “see” it all, if not experience an overnight stay in this quite remarkable little enclave.   I Read more about West Coast Wilderness Railway Part Two – Queenstown[…]

strahan to queenstown

West Coast Wilderness Railway Part One – Leaving Strahan

  I have always enjoyed railways and train journeys. As a kid it was spotting the different stations on the Bangor – Belfast train line. My home country of Northern Ireland is hardly blessed with a lot of train lines. I grew up about 5 miles from the nearest station, and my birthtown of Newtownards Read more about West Coast Wilderness Railway Part One – Leaving Strahan[…]

Architectural Charm In “Lonny”: Launceston, Tasmania

Launceston, or “Lonny” (maybe even “Launy”) as it’s known to the locals is actually Tasmania’s second biggest city. I’ve spent a bit of time there in my four months in Tasmania this far. I worked nearby at a few different farms in Cressy, Poatina, Longford and Bishopsbourne. I’ve grown to like Launceston. It’s a nice Read more about Architectural Charm In “Lonny”: Launceston, Tasmania[…]

Broccoli Harvest: East Sassafras

Depending on your knowledge in life, Sassafras is either a type of tree, a type of tea, a type of soap or a village in Northern Tasmania. So where does that leave East Sassafras? And why? About 20 kilometres outside Devonport is where it leaves it. Broccoli farming being the reason why. So East Sassafras Read more about Broccoli Harvest: East Sassafras[…]

“There a Bottle-O in Wesley Vale?”

It was a question by my co-worker Cameron after another long long tough day on a broccoli field at Wesley Vale, just over 3 months ago during my farming work in Tasmania. “Bottle-O” in case you’re wondering, is a brand name for off licences here in Tasmania, as is the “Thirsty Camel.” The Australians call Read more about “There a Bottle-O in Wesley Vale?”[…]