Last Day In Tassie : Wrest Point Casino, Battery Point, Arthur Circus and Sandy Bay Beach

Our last day in Tassie was busy! Lots of packing and sorting and the like...we had a little adventure along the way.

Wrest Point Casino

We decided that since we were within budget, we would go out for lunch in a "nice" place. Poppy decided we should  do a last minuet tour of the Casino (the first in Australia), Battery Point and Sandy Bay Beach. Off we went in convoy and in search of a good meal. The "Coffee Shop" was suggested and it turned out to be a glorified Sizzlers with an open area for buffet and a chocolate fountain. Boy did we STUFF our selves ! The food was gorgeous ! Steaks were tender, spring rolls (we decided they were the equivalent to Chinese pies!), honey chicken wings, scalloped potatoes, steamed veggies, roast pumpkin, soups, salads and of course, roast beef or turkey.MMMMMMMmmm!

The major hit was the desserts bar : pavlova, jellies, chocolate mousse, pastries, cheesecake, chocolate cake, cheese platters, unlimited icecream, chocolate fountain AND  creme brulee` ! Phwoar !! Madi did us proud - with FOUR helpings of dessert ! 

Mmmm....lunch ...all you can eat buffet.



We wandered around the Casino a little and Poppy went snap happy for a bit. There was only a limit to where we could poke our heads into for a look.

Our after lunch tour was very interesting. Sandy Bay beach was in the "ritzy" part of Hobart with real estate in excess of $2million and up. Mostly beautifully restored federation homes.  The beach was in a sheltered bay so it was very quiet. Poppy Fred said that the government has plowed quite a large amount of money into the area to keep the beach from erosion. The largest house in the area was owned by an undertaker! Who said that there isnt money in dying?!

The look out @ Mr Nelson

The signal station @ the top point of Mt Nelson.

Battery Point was where the signals were sent from Mt Nelson before being forwarded to Port Arthur. The area was built like a quaint little village. Lots of lovely restored buildings converted into businesses. Very pretty.

Arthur's Circus was a whole bunch of house built into a circle...thus the name.

We were too full to eat dinner so Poppy Fred made us "special desserts" from a recipe handed down from one generation to another....Poached cherries with ice cream...ohhhh...so DIVINE !

Back at the ranch, frantic cleaning ensued to make sure we havent exceeded baggage amount..?! Eek ! Could be quite close !

Some things I have learnt about Tasmania in the past three weeks :

• 95% of roads in Tasmania are curvy with LOTS of twists
• Some people in Tasmania can be very, very rude (but you can get that any where)
• People in Tasmania are curious about our large family (you have FIVE children?!) It isnt THAT many peoples! Get over it !
• Some people in Tasmania feel sorry for us being such a large family and give very, very generous discounts -THANK YOU : lady at Russell Falls who sold us a Parks Pass for half price, the bus driver who didnt charge us for the four students and then gave us concessions for the three adults, to the man in Avoca who rang up our food purchases twice to make sure that he didnt make a mistake AND THEN gave us a HUGE discount on our food and drinks ! (I dont think he made any profit from our purchases)
• Tasmania has BEAUTIFUL scenery no matter which direction you look in
• There is sadly a lot of road kill on Tasmania roads
• It can get quite warm in the summertime in Tassie
• Poppy and Grannie miss us...and we miss them
• Ladies in Hobart dont wear hats to church...who knew?!
• Salamanca Markets is a great place to wander
• Eating food from the Taste of Tasmania COULD BE dodgy to one's health
• Possums are NOISY critters when they are fighting for territory
• I missed my mum and dad when I am away for Christmas - more than they will ever know
• Watching fireworks for Poppy Fred's balcony sure beats being in the crowds with rude obnoxious drinkers