Shared by Ceri Brose
It is lovely getting visitors to Tassie from Queensland who come with the idea that Tasmania is wet, gray and cold. What is even better is getting the chance to prove them completely wrong.
Having visitors is also a good excuse to go exploring some of the further away parts of Tassie and on this particular day we chose to take the road to the Gordon Dam.
I think a lot of visitors to Tassie take this road but stop at Mount Field National Park (which of course is very advisable as it is a stunning destination all on its own) and sadly do not continue along this road and never find the wonders that are along it.
In my opinion it is one of the most spectacular drives in Tasmania through wonderful forests and past mountains which sparkle in the sunshine and which photos really do not do justice. Thankfully there are many stopping points along this road to take in the breathtaking vistas and have a cuppa (for those of us who where organised enough to take a flask).
Out first main stop was at Lake Pedder. Lake Pedder is a name that can provoke all sorts of emotional reactions in Tasmania, for good reason. It was originally a glacier lake and I am told it was indescribably beautiful. It was flooded as part of the Upper Gordon River hydro-electric generation scheme. I am very sad that I never got the chance to visit it in its natural state but even so I still find it a place of stunning beauty. The Teatree coloured water looks like a rainbow when seen from the white shores at Tom’s beach. There we stopped for lunch making use of the fantastic facilities on hand which include very handy BBQ plates.
Then onwards to the Gordon Dam – again some of the most spectacular scenery both on the drive there and from the wall itself. The walk (climb) down to the top of the dam wall is not to be tackled by the faint hearted (my sister-in-law who is afraid of heights decided to stay at the top viewing platform) but is so worth the effort. The clamber down about 200 stairs and of course back up again (puff puff wheeze) was rewarded by some of the most awe-inspiring views.
Then the joy that we get to do the drive back to Hobart and witness all the astounding views from a different angle
Open