Tasmanian Trip Day 4

We checked out of Motel early and headed North and turning East on a small country road heading for the town of Deloraine. This bypasses Launceston and the heavy morning traffic. It is always pleasant to drive in the countryside with plenty of fresh air and green sceneries. The ever changing landscape keeps you alive and entertained.

We stopped at Deloraine Visitor Information Center to pick up some maps and tips on where to stop and look see. After a few enquiries, we walked around the town of Deloraine. Then as we headed north to Elizabeth Town, we stopped at the outskirt of Deloraine for some fuel.

So what is there up in Elizabeth Town? There was a Raspberry Farm and Cheese factory along the way. There was nothing much to see at the raspberry farm and there is a little café serving Raspberry muffins, ice cream, jam, milkshake etc. We had raspberry muffins, coffee and milkshake. There was nothing really to shout about, I think I can bake better muffins.

After a full tummy, we drop into the Ashgrove Cheese factory. There we sample their cheese and we love the Wasabi and Red Chilli cheese. At the same time we can see how cheeses were made.

We then backtracked back to Deloraine and turn south east stopping at a Salmon farm. You have to pay an entrance fees, I think it was about $12 a person to see how Salmon are farmed. We gave it a miss. The owner also was experimenting growing Korean Ginseng on his property.

Next stop was the honey place at Chudleigh. There was nothing much to see, so we left and passed the town Mole Creek to see the Marakoopa and King Solomons Cave. We did see the Marakoopa Caves and gave Solomons Cave a miss. Solomons Cave is smaller but more spectacular. If you have seen a cave, I guess all caves will look the same.

It was raining lightly as we headed for Cradle Mountains. It is a must if you are in Tasmania, well that what everyone says. We use the smaller country road to Moina and then to Cradle Mountain.

We stopped at the information centre. It was raining and cold and we decided to stay a night at Cradle Mountain Lodge. It cost a whopping $350 a night to stay at in of the lodge. After some negotiating we got a bulk discount knocking down to $240 a night. It was still expensive and we decided to take it since it was wet and dark.