After our adventurous night (read about it here), we stopped over at a random bar/restaurant on our way to our accommodation in Richmond. Thankfully they still served hot food when we got there! We were literally driving through a ghost town and this place was the only one with lights on.
It was late and dark when we reached Richmond Barracks! They have a few types of accommodation on their little property.
(Took this picture the next morning.)
We chose Lady Esther, the two-storey, two bedroom house.
Once again, it was a pity we only stayed here for one night. Actually our accommodation choices for this trip were all quite good.
Joel and my room is upstairs. Realised I didn't take any pictures of the room itself. But it had two single beds, and a toilet (without shower).
K and M got the room downstairs with the Queen bed. Their adjoined bathroom has both toilet and shower.
The bed and breakfast owner also left some breakfast for us! It's really a traditional kind of B&B. Nowadays many of the Airbnb homes for rent don't serve breakfast. Makes me want to support these small family-run businesses, instead of those hosts who only wish to earn extra cash and can't be bothered to provide a good experience for their guests.
Richmond bridge was just around the corner from B&B. This bridge is the oldest in Australia!
Off to our activity for the day - Tasman Island cruise!
Here we are in our water-proof jumpsuits. It really also helped to keep us warm. Doesn't look cold but IT WAS. I was wearing a down jacket as well and a few layers of knit and thermal underneath.
They had warned us the weather didn't look too good. That would mean that waves will be choppy, plus we were on open seas connected to Antarctica = winds with major chill factor.
We explored caves and waterfalls that could only be viewed from sea-level. Somehow the weather began to clear up and the sun came out!
Saw a rock formation that looks like a St. Bernard!
Us all bundled up (: I was wearing a beanie + hood of down jacket + hood of jumpsuit!
Shipwreck.
His beanie was borrowed from the cruise office! They have a whole pile of beanies and gloves for you to borrow, if you didn't feel like buying them.
The Totem Pole.
We also spotted a few sealions! Unfortunately it was not whale season so we didn't see any dolphin or whales.
After 3 hours out at sea, we were glad to seek shelter (and ground) at a restaurant near the cruise office.
Joel had the fish & chips while I chose the scallop stew.
They were generous with the juicy scallops!
We made an impromptu decision to stopover nearby at this animal park called Unzoo. Unzoo because it is nothing like a typical zoo! Apparently the promote close encounters with wildlife.
We made it just in time for kangaroo feeding time.
Suddenly, it started drizzling while we were feeding the kangaroos. T.T
First time seeing a Tasmanian Devil! Feisty little creatures with a mean bite. It is eating a wallaby's leg :/ They eat the whole thing even the bones.
The keeper puts the leg through a hook attached to a bungee cord so feeding time become more stimulating for the animal. It has to grab it and pull in order to take a bite. Also, devils are actually blind in the day! So they can't see us even though we were standing right in front of it.
Watching the bird show, and somehow there were only seven people in the audience aha. Out of which, six of us were Singaporeans. We probably went during an off-peak period? But at least we got a "personalized" experience.
J and K both volunteered to have birds feed from their palms, while wearing protective gloves of course!
The last bird looks like an owl, but is actually a tawny frogmouth.
We took turns to pet it! So cuteeeeee.
Someone looks really happy. lol
Next up, we went over to the eastern quoll exhibit where there was a live feeding. They look so cute and small but they are vicious carnivores!
I think there were three or four of them fighting and aggressively peeling meat off a wallaby leg!!! :O
(Why they kill so many wallabies :/ Hopefully it was from roadkill.)
I took this earlier on while the quoll was still sleeping. Stark difference! So cute when you first see it but once you know their mannerism......it's a different story altogether.
One last stop to see the two Tasmanian devil sister before leaving Unzoo.
Anyway, we wanted to visit the natural wonders of Tasman National Park, but due to bad weather (the sky was pouring one minute and the next the rain had been reduced to a drizzle, and then pouring again - really erratic). K & M decided it was not worth the effort to fight with mother nature and chose to stay in the car.
Joel and I managed to catch a quick look at the Blowhole. Didn't see any water being blown out though! Come to think of it maybe this wasn't the Blowhole.
Joel must be thinking, "What are we looking at?"
View from one of the lookouts at Tasman Arch.
At that point in time we decided to call it a day and head to Hobart where our next Airbnb was.
We seemed to not have any luck with National Parks.
Well we did make on final stop at a random convenience store/seafood seller to pick up another tray of oysters - cos K was craving for more! Tassie oysters must have captured his heart.
After a really rainy and quite nerve-wrecking journey (because we were having bad vision in the rain) to Hobart, we finally reached our cosy airbnb. It's a two-storey house and the owner lives upstairs. So the ground level is totally ours!
Our room!
The TV lounge and dining room. The kitchen not pictured.
K & M's room.
Time to crash! A new day ahead exploring Hobart.
xxx
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