Mole creek and Ross

We enjoyed a slower start the following morning at our beautiful camp. The boys loved exploring the camp area on their bikes, whilst mum and I enjoyed a refreshing dip :)

Our rough plan was to start making out way east, and check out the natural Great Lake on the Central Plateau. Like all plans though it was a basis for change, and change it did.

Our first diversion was to Devils Gullet and it's mind blowing view:

The valley, some 200 metres sheer drop below the lookout, is mainly eucalypt however there are many little pockets of remainent rainforest clinging to life scattered along the valley floor. 

We then made our way back on the tourist circuit and stopped for a tour at Marakoopa Cave, near Mole Creek.

This cave is the only publicly accessible cave in Australia with resident glow worms, and whilst this is its primary attraction, the cave is full of other unexpected delights and our guide, Allen was a wealth of knowledge about how the cave formed and the history of its discovery and exploration.

Like all caves, the old iPhone camera was woefully inadequate, so you'll have to take my word for it, but this was one of the most amazing caves we have ever visited.

We then drove on and thought we would look for a camp on Great Lake.  Great Lake is on the Central Plateau, and is natural (although its capacity was increased).  A popular fishing lake, we enjoyed the scenic drive along the moors and lakes on the 'roof' of Tassie.

The day was glorious, but the campsites looked decidedly windswept and the water shallow and reedy near the banks. "Drive on" was the order, so we continued, past Great Lake, on past Interlarken and after a few anxious moments rounding hairpins on gravel roads feeling every ounce of the camper trailer's mass trying to push us down the hill, we ended up at Ross after a long day on the road.

Ross is a delightful heritage village in the Midlands, with a rich history, famous bridge and a fantastic bakery.

The Ross bridge is of similar age to Richmond's bridge - although Richmond lays claim to the oldest bridge in Australia, the Ross Bridge is ornately carved, and earned freedom for the two convict stone masons. 

I enjoyed an early morning stroll up to the old cemetery at Ross, and paused to ponder for a moment those buried in the old plots.

It was a very peaceful place, beautiful in the early morning light.

The bakery, still using the old wood fired oven was just opening when we packed up and headed out of town.  The bread was just hitting the racks, so we bought a loaf or two of the finest sourdough I have enjoyed in a while.

It was time to contine our traverse of Tasmania and check out the East Coast and the famous Freycinet Peninsula.