From Sydney to Melbourne and over to Tasmania

It’s a 900 km drive from Sydney to Melbourne and we used two days for that distance. Quite coincidentally we spent the night in Gundagai, a small town 390 km southwest of Sydney. The old town was built on the Murrumbidgee flats and therefore often flooded. In 1852 it was destroyed by a flood 4 to 5 metres deep across the flats. After an even bigger flood the year after, the whole town was rebuilt higher up. The historic buildings along the main road might be a little shabby, but we loved its colours and architectural details.

Just outside the town centre we went to see two old bridges over the flood plains, the first one from 1865, the second (railway) from 1903. The construction made of timber and cast iron is beautiful and I hope they manage to fund the sorely needed renovation.

After stopping at the old train station nearby, we drove southwards direction Melbourne.

The second night we spent in Seymour where a massive storm passed just as we were shopping at Coles. The roof started leaking after a few minutes, water flooded inn everywhere and the shop had to close soon after. Parts of the town were also under water, which wasn’t a problem for our car. But setting up our tent and swag wasn’t tempting, so we rented a cabin for the night.

Only 100 km away from Melbourne, we arrived there early the next day, parked our car at the ferry terminal and took the tram to the centre. The rest of the afternoon we spent strolling around through central Melbourne, visiting some of the famous street art sights and walking along the Murray river.

We took the overnight ferry (sleeping well despite stormy weather) arriving Devonport in the North of Tasmania early next morning. After a great breakfast at Laneway Café we drove west along the coast to Stanley, stopping here and there at viewpoints and small villages. The landscape in Tasmania’s northwest is wild and remote, the beaches white and the water turquoise at places. One could almost forget where you are, hadn’t it been for the weather. One minute the sun is shining, the next it drizzles. And strong wind is blowing constantly.

Stanley is as small sleepy town with many brightly painted cottages, sheltering in the lee of an ancient volcano, the Nut. I can recommend the movie The Light Between Oceans, which was filmed here in 2014.

We settled down at the local campsite, celebrated New Year’s Eve with a great dinner at Xander’s restaurant and are now enjoying a quiet day doing as little as possible.

Happy New Year everybody!

Author: cobaroblog

Travelling architect View all posts by cobaroblog