After picking up our hire car, we made our way to Cataract Gorge for the first taste of Tasmania’s panoramic beauty. It was a lovely place to spend a few hours despite the pretty constant rain.

We wandered along the edge of the gorge to the gently swaying Alexandra Bridge, suspended high above the gushing waters and jagged rocks of the South Esk river far below. It was certainly not the peaceful scene of the tourist brochures but perhaps more spectacular as due to the recent rains the water torrents were powerful. Even the walkway that would usually take you across the river was completely flooded and closed.

We marvelled at the landscape of boulders that somehow allowed plants and trees to not only grow but flourish in utterly inhospitable ground.

We discovered the Victorian garden created with ferns and exotic plants and abundant with wildlife.

Multi-coloured peacocks strutted their way through the cool gardens…

and the abundance of daffodils delighted us no end.

Overall, the perfect way to start our little Tassie adventure.

We then made our way to our accommodations for the next couple of nights- the beautiful Windarra on High, owned by friends of ours.

Windarra is the original name of this beautiful heritage listed home built in 1880 by a prominent Launceston family. The Indigenous name means west winds, which is the prevailing wind direction here.

Had a huge and interesting dinner of Venison, wallaby and berry sausages and my first glass (or was it two?) of Tassie Chardy before heading home to the comfort of the fire.