Across Australia
in 80 days
November 2000 to January 2001

Australia Tour - Part 7 - Tasmania ~ Sydney
Launched, January 29, 2001 - Links update, January 21, 2005
Ronald Langereis - Amsterdam

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Survivor Game SE Australia Flags & Facts Botanic Gardens Wildlife Parks Tas wine trail Port Arthur Melbourne Venues City of Sydney Sydney NY's Eve ANZwers

SURVIVOR - Australian Outback - Outwit - Outplay - Outlast Map Australia SE: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania Flags & Facts on Australia - and on every country in the world Australian National Botanic Gardens - Links to Australia's Flora Wildlife Parks & Sanctuaries in Australia - Links to the Fauna Tasmanian Wine Trail - Vineyards, vinification and beauty spots Tasmania - Port Arthur - Webshots Community Worldwide Galleries Melbourne Venues and Attractions - Lists of Links and Galleries City of Sydney - Official site - A to Z Sydney New Year's Eve site - Events and Celebrations A very apt search engine for Australia and New-Zealand

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Petra's report

Port Arthur Hobart yacht races bush Lake St. Clair Franklin river Cradle Mountain wilderness kayaking Strahan Zeehan Sheffield Zeehan mining moonscape Asbestos diseased children uranium mines Kakadu Territory uranium transport Tasmanian devil Tasmanian devil wildlife resort platypus monotreme Devonport George Town Melbourne Melbourne Australia city centre Melbourne Sydney aquarium sharks ray fish green sea turtle cell phone sharks zoo nature sounds wildlife

From Port Arthur I continue to Hobart, renowned for its yacht races. And after this it's the bush again. Lake St. Clair, Franklin river and Cradle Mountain. All this, preferably, for hiking through the wilderness, mountain climbing and kayaking. But also for visiting townships like Strahan and Zeehan and Sheffield. In Zeehan the main activity is mining (tin, silver and lead). The whole area is suffering from serious pollution of the soil and in several places mining has turned the surface into a very moonscape. Somewhere up, there also exists a place called Asbestos. There's no need guessing what they're producing there. Not quite healthy, after all. As yet, proof of this is in the occurrence of congenital diseases in small children. This again, reminds me of the uranium mines in Kakadu in the Territory. Transports of uranium ore are still by public road across the very rainforest, a World Heritage area! Hardly imaginable. Sadly enough for me, the Tasmanian devil doesn't show in its natural habitat. I've to visit a wildlife resort to watch it. Nor will the platypus (monotreme) appear from its burrow. Eventually, I leave the island by way of Devonport and George Town. But not with a Godspeed, this time. Two engines of the Devil Cat are out of order. They're lucky to get one fixed at last, but the other one is to remain idle. By this fault, we're cruising at quite a lower speed, and I arrive in Melbourne four hours late. Besides, heavy seas are coming in part of the way and the craft is rolling like mad. Every now and then cups and plates are swept from the tables, crashing to the floor with a terrible din. And then I'm back in Melbourne, for the third time. In the few remaining hours I'm visiting one of the major banks of Australia and I'm dining out with one of my former travel companions. In the meanwhile I keep running into several people I know in the city centre. I'm beginning to like Melbourne more and more, but in the evening I still have to take my leave. On my way to Sydney to prepare myself for my return. Pity. I would rather not have to go back to our winter. I have still two days left and I try putting them to full use. I visit the aquarium where you can walk amidst gigantic sharks and ray fish and green sea turtles. And then my cell phone goes off .... another job offer .... which seems a bit surrealistic, indeed, when in the meantime sharks are circling around you. The next morning I'll probably visit the zoo and then it'll be definitely over. I really feel sorry about this, but still I'm happy of what I've been able to do. I'll always remember with delight the beautiful nature and wildlife, but particularly the phantastic people I've met. And of course, I'm also looking forward to seeing you back again, all of you. See you soon Petra

Across Australia - next pages
Part 1 - The South-West   |   Part 2 - The North-West   |   Part 3 - The Red Centre
Part 4 - The South-East   |   Part 5 - Brisbane ~ Fraser Island   |   Part 6 - Noosa ~ Tasmania

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