Tasmania: Australia's Hidden Jewel

Thursday 28th May

Wooden Boat Centre, Franklin.. I just wanted to mention this location which sits right on the banks of the Huon River in Franklin. Here you can view a good display all about wooden boat building and also see students involved in building boats. Recently a lovely 36foot motor cruiser 'Harvest Moon' was launched from the yard. She was built for owners from NSW who were regular visitors to Franklin while she was being built. The picture is of 'Harvest Moon' which I didnt see launched. This shot was taken 2 weeks before.

Tahune Airwalk and Tarkine news

Wonderful news and a great incentive for people to visit tow Forestry tourist attractions.

www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/visitor-sites/south/tahune-airwalk

www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/visitor-sites/north-west/dismal-swamp

These two sites will tell you about the attractions where from June 09 the entry price for children has been abolished and greatly reduced for adults.

The Airwalk is southern Tasmania and you reach it by travelling the Huon Highway through Huonville and Franklin to Geeveston. In Geevston visit the Heritage centre and purchase your tickets. It is good to have a look round the centre first before heading into the forest to reach the Airwalk. As it says, the Airwalk allows you to walk in the tree tops. An amazing experience walking through the tops of the trees. This is just one of the many experiences for the family at the Airwalk.

Geeveston is a place full of amazing wooden sculptures. Stroll around the town check out the sculptures and learn some of the history of Geeveston.

TARKINE:- I have not visited the Tarkine yet so do not have any photos in stock. But I can say that the NW of Tasmania is wonderful to visit. Stanley is a great place to stay when in the NW.

2010 Regional Tasmanian Calendars

I am producing regional calendars of Tasmania. By regional I mean
Franklin.....Huonville.....Richmond......Salamanca Markets. At present you can view the shots of the locations by going to www.flickr.com/photos/gillistasmania/ look for the calendar set.

I am working at present on Tasmanian churches and Geeveston. I will announce then they can be viewd.

The calendars will be $15.00 plus postage....50c from each sale will be donated to F5M www.F5m.org.au or MS Research .. I am attempting to raise $10,000.

Please leave me a message if you are interested in purchasing any calendars.

My meeting with the 'dowser'

I had a good day yeasterday [Wed], heading off for the Huon Valley the eather was great and I had it in my mind to stop and take a photo before reaching Franklin. During the first part of my journey I did notice many cars coming towards me with their headlights on. I did wonder why. The drive up the winding Huon Highway was in glorious sunshine and when I reached Vince's Saddle 376m asl I was full of anticipation on seeing the Huon Valley laid out before me as I descended the road to Grove, But my hopes for a beautiful panorama were quickly dashed and the question about the car headlights answered when suddenly I was confronted with the sky stretching out below me full of cloud with just peaks stretching into the sky. As I drove down into the valley I found myself entering another world, no longer was I aware of the sun shining and a clear blue sky. Now I was driving through cloud, the whole atmosphere rather like a scarey movie. Cars would appear out of the gloom then just as quickly disappear. The rest of my journey to Franklin continued like this.

Upon arriving I saw rowers out for a practice on the river almost being 'swallowed' by the cloud. After a while the sun broke through and the situation changed to match that I had started the day in. I had a very interesting meeting with the dowser and learnt heaps. I spent so much time talking that I didn't get a chance to take any photos BUT I am going back tomorrow and will do so then. Have to do it soon because a bad weather front looks like it is moving down onto Tasmania. Having said that, today [Thursday] has once again been beautiful. OK so first thing in the morning it is a little chilly but then I have seen a clear sky and the sun all day.

Below is a copy of the email sent out by the expert I spoke with yesterday. I am sure there will be a permanent display in Franklin in the near future. I will update on this as I find out more. So this will be yet another thing for the eager tourist to investigate when visiting Franklin. Tomorrow I will ask the dowser for permission to reproduce an article he has written on the Stone Circles found in Franklin, Tasmania.

'Hi Everyone,

I am contacting you to let you know of a national event in Tasmania, that is celebrating the above event. Here in Franklin we have discovered what could well be the greatest archaeology find in the history of Australia, a settlement that lasted some 5000 years, ending when the French arrived bringing Smallpox that wiped out the whole community.

How have we learn't about this? By the use of advanced Archaeological Dowsing. I have been working on this site for four years and are still making new discoveries every day, but feel it is now time to publicies my findings to date, and N.A Week must be the right vehicle, and is the sole event being held in Tasmania.

I have been running dowsing workshops here in Franklin for over a year, using archaeology to gain interest in dowsing in general but leading to energy balancing/ healing which is much more important, and 30 have learnt the overall skills and I trust they are practicing and spreading those skills.

Do call in at Franklin gallery cafe and see Jane M who will make you coffee and show you our exhibition. I am on call to do short presentations and will be available to give conducted tours of the foreshore and the stone circles, all three of them strectching back to 3700 BC. Due to the interest shown the exhibition will be extended for another week, and Saturday May 30th has been earmarked for a free workshop just anybody can attend and learn to dowse and find more ancient building sites and balance themselves and their homes!

Hope to see you there.

Another Day in Paradise

Monday 18th May It has been a glorious day, just the occasional whisp of cloud in the sky, sun shining and no wind. Who would want to be anywhere else ? :)
Bit a nusiance really to have such good condtions and nowhere 'fun' to go. But I needed to go into the shopping centre and buy a very detailed map and also collect my HDD which was being repaired. Thankfully all is well with that, I was very worried that it had died resulting in me losing LOTS of photos. I am breathing easy.

I will not be going anywhere tomorrow either as my son is coming to do some chores for me.
BUT on Wednesday I am driving down to Franklin in the Huon Valley. I have to 'sell' some tourism items to a local business and then I am going to meet up with a dowser who is going to tell me all about the Stone Circle to be found on the foreshore in Franklin.
I am hoping to interview him and of course take one or two photos. !

SO I hope this has got you all rushing to google to type in the word 'dowser'.

No post tomorrow, next one will be full of information I have learnt from Franklin.

My tourism items for those interested can be found on my web site http://gillistasmania.tripod.com/

Monday in Tasmania 11/5/09

Wasn't planning on going anywhere today but plans can change ! :)

After speaking with my son I found myself volunteering to drive him to Franklin to collect the boys from school.

While not a sunny day, it was nice. My son lives in West Hobart, closer to town than me. After collecting him we set off. Our journey would take us south into the Huon Valley. Franklin where the boys go to school is south of Hounville and sits on the bank of the Huon River. It was a glorious drive with all the orchards for which the Huon Valley is famous for, putting on their autumn coats. The colours varied depending on the type of orchards. There were some vineyards still showing a defiant green. Once we crossed the Huon River at Huonville we were driving with the river close on our left.

River waters in this area tend to be very dark, due to the amount of tannin in the water. This was the case today with the river being so very, very still and this meant the reflections were mirror perfect. Sadly we didnt have the luxury of time to take photographs. As it was we got into trouble from the boys for being late !!. I made up for the 'error' by buying them an ice cream [my son had one as well, not sure how that happened:)]

I will tell you about Franklin another day but here is a postcard photo showing the sort of relections one can find.