Tasmania Day 5

As day 4 was a rest day, our adventure continues on Day 5 - with a trip down the Peninsula south of Hobart, and a visit to the Tahune Airwalk (Facebook).

The view from Peppermint Bay

Wow what a beautiful part of the world, like all of Tasmania it is stunning, but with small bays, great roads and stunning vistas it is well worth a visit!

A quick Coffee at Peppermint Bay!

After criss-crossing the peninsula and enjoying some great roads we headed south again, down the Huon Highway to Tahune, Airwalk. An amazing tree level walk way, along the mighty Huon River. Well worth a visit if you are in the area!

Say Cheese on the Tahune Airwalk! The whole crew!

Our lovely guide let us park our MINI's on the Huon Bridge for a quick Photo shoot!

 We had a lovely guide, Tim, who showed us round and told us about the area. The Bridge above has barriers that can be removed quickly so when large volumes of water come down, the debris doesn't get caught in the bridge and damage it. You can see the level of the river in the bottom right hand corner and it gets well above the road level you can see here!

 

Tasmania Day 3

Binalong Bay - Bay of Fires, East Coast Tas

So after staying the night in St Helens, some of us got up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise in the Bay of Fires. Well Andy & Ruth did....

After a hearty breakfast it was back on the road heading towards Hobart in traditional clubMINI Style. 

The day was stunning, with beautiful clear skies and empty roads to boot! 

Between St Helens & Elephant Pass

 On leaving St Helens the plan was to head down the coast and up the Elephant Pass, to the pancake house. Instead our leader of the day missed the turning and took us up St Mary's Pass, to St Marys, so instead of missing out, we went back down the most amazing stretch of tarmac and onto another! 

St Mary's Pass - TAS

After an amazing elevenses at the Elephant Pass Pancake house we headed West and to Rossarden and some more fantastic roads, sweeping bends, plenty of visability, no traffic and an amazing vista!

All was going great until the last few Km's of the road heading back to the Esk Highway when we hit..........gravel! OMG....who was our fearless leader for the day, the one that missed the turn earlier on and ensured our U-turn was one of the biggest ever???

Whats worse than gravel for CWORKS? Following a 4X4 on gravel!

After lunching in Campbell Town, we headed south for a bit before we came to another halt, Cracked Windscreen #1, repaired with a plaster and a bit of a prayer to the MINI gods!


With the help of the MINI in black and an Iphone, a windscreen was sourced for later in the week and onwards we went.




Heading out into the sticks, we aimed for Bothwell, when the call for a toilet stop and petrol went out............Bothwell...."you remember Bothwell, don't you??" So no toilet stop and no petrol there, we went on. 

Resting

Room with a view & a Queue

"So how far to Hobart"......"more than the petrol gauge says we have"...."Oh"....."what do we do?" "Keep going"....."Ok".


So onwards we went.....


"Should we take this back road into Hobart? Or stay on the main road where there might be a petrol station?"


"Where is the fun in that! Backroad!"


"What does the gauge say now?"


"Zero k's left"


"How much further?"


"Dunno"


"I told you we should have stayed on the main road, we are going to get stuck on this little road now!"


"Oh, the car seems to have less power and is spluttering a little, this hill isn't helping!"


"now what you going to do, this is all your fault!"


"Wait, we are at the top now, we can cruise down! This road goes straight to the accommodation!"


"Humph"


"Told you we would make it!"

When all was good in the world at the Elephant Pass Pancake House! - The BMW is particularly appropriate!

Tasmania - ClubMINI in the Apple Isle - Day 1/2

Waiting......

So March saw clubMINI Vic take the derry accross the straight to Tasmania, a trip the club enjoyed so much 2 years ago, we decided to return as soon as we could. With 10 MINI's on the trip it was destined to be great!

A pre-departure dinner was had at The Local in port Melbourne, before heading to the ferry inspection area and the queue to board the boat!  

After a few precursory drinks, a sing song and a bit of football we finally made our way to our cabins to rest for the week ahead!



Arrival......so Sunday morning bright and early we awoke to a beautiful sunny day! We made the most of the information sending us to the local hotel for breakfast before heading into the wild blue yonder!

Always time for a little dumpster investigation!

The rolling hills, the blue sky and the empty roads called.....as did the call of nature and that of the Melburnian Coffee bean.......


To answer the call.....well we found the first Coles shop in Australia......the Coffee, well....

Anyhow, onwards towards well, more glorious scenery, more rollings hills....more empty roads and fog! Beautiful misty fog!

After taking a detour to Launceston to collect the MacDonalds, and to visit the new home of the Herberts, we headed to the East and the coast! We stayed at the lovely Big4 Holiday Park St Helens.


Dinner consisted of everything we had the cars, which as usual on a clubMINI adventure....was a lot! 

Enjoying the Sunshine in Launceston!

The "GREAT" Ocean Rd

Travelling down the Highway

Well the weather forecast promised sunshine and showers....well it was more like showers and sunshine! A 6:30am start in a wet Point Cook, did not damped spirits for the annual GOR. Even if our fearless leader was a bit confused on the start time and even forgot his early morning coffee.....

After a quick trip round Geelong and a pick up at Warne Ponds, we headed on our way to the entry to the Great Ocean Rd.

A quick trip to Bunnings!

As the weather cleared we hit the GOR! 15 MINI's taking on Victoria's greatest driving road! Buzzing through towns and round corners, we made the most of a somewhat bumpy and potholey surface! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking in the sights!

 After finally finding a venue for breakfast large enough for our group late on Friday, thanks Peter, we headed to Chris's at Skene's Creek, for a lovely breakfast and view. 

Breakfast!

A slight miscommunication in directions meant a trip along the twisty and dirty Beech-Forrest Road. However much fun was had through the rainforest.

I wasn't late! You were early! :P

It was clean, honestly!

A bit of colour on a dark day!

 A great day was had by all with some going on to the 12 Apostles or staying in Apollo Bay! Till next year!

Kinglake Early Morning Run in the Hills!

Heading out of Eltham

February's run saw clubMINI take on the hills around Kinglake before heading down to Yarra Glen for breakfast! We had a great turnout at McDonalds in Eltham, taking 13 MINI's along some great roads and enjoying a beautiful February morning. It wasn't just us enjoying the sunshine with numerous cyclists out and about. 

Heading down the hill

Taking the corner.....

 Shame the wait for breakfast was longer than the drive! Nevermind it gave us a chance to do what we do best! Talk about MINI's! Great Ocean Road next....March 4th.....check out the facebook page for more info!

clubMINI Picnic in Ballarat - January Fun!

What started as a grey day ended with a lovely drive, beautiful hot sunshine and a picnic by lake Wendouree, Ballarat. 9 MINI's made their way to Werribee South for breakfast at Wyndham Cache, who coped wonderfully with 15 people turning up unannounced! The cars looked great parked next to the lake with our new banners on display!

clubMINI at Lake Wendouree