Plane wasn’t leaving until 9pm so we all took advantage of the 10am check-out. Wayne was about to walk out the door when I suggested putting his dirty old sandshoes into a bag that had just been put in the bin. In the flurry of bagging his shoes, Wayne misplaced the unit keys. Apparently, it was my fault as I suggested the bag. When he retrieved it from the bin, a domino effect occurred.

A used tea bag was on the bag and it dropped onto the floor. Wayne was then trying to clean it up, while cursing me for the idea (and the tea-bag). He re-gathered his stuff and then couldn’t find the keys.

‘I had the #*!#* things in my hand.’

Fifteen minutes later, after searching every pocket, bag and bed twice, we found them. They had slid down the back of the open table. Crisis adverted.

We spent the morning filling in time. Went to Beaconsfield, Green Beach, and Beauty Point before heading into Launceston via the Batman Bridge.

We returned to Launceston, where fourteen days ago we began our adventure. First stop was Cataract Gorge where Wayne completed the trifecta of height challenges. First, the chair lift; then the goat track without rock walls in some places; and finally, the swaying suspension bridge. He passed with flying colours and is now ready to progress to the Overland Track.

We filled the remainder of the day shopping at the mall and sitting in the pub before driving to the airport.

Our trip home was tiring and uncomfortable – the plane seemed to have got smaller…or had we all got a little bigger. We landed just before 11 and for the first time in all our travels, a bag didn’t make it – Al’s! By the time we had watched the carousel go around bagless several times, two other planes land, and filled in the paperwork, it was 11:55pm.

Play(er) of the day

It has to Wayne- starting the day declaring the missing unit keys as the worst experience of his life… and finishing it by absolutely smashing his debilitating fear for heights.

BEST TASMANIAN CUSINE

Michael – Dinner at Tall Trees

Karen – Salt-shaker at Swansea

Mark – Breakfast at Glencoe B&B

Donna – Croissants at Glencoe B&B Barrington

Al – Salt Shaker at Swansea

Robyn – Dessert at Salt Shaker, Swansea

Wayne – T-bone at Swansea pub

Me – Roast pumpkin side at Telegraph Hotel in Hobart

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OR EXPERIENCE

Michael – Marion’s Lookout walk with Grubby

Karen – Tasman Island adventure cruise

Mark – Marion’s lookout

Donna – Robyn’s excitement when we finally saw Tassy devils.

Al – Tasman Island boat trip

Robyn – B&B at Barrington

Wayne – Boat trip past Tasman island

Me – Tasman Island cruise

WHAT LEFT ME LAUGHING…

Michael – Wayne and Aldo’s navigational skills

Karen – Alan messing up the navigation directions all the time

Mark – Robbie’s laugh Special mention – Al’s lost bag and the torturous trip home behind an over load vehicle

Donna – The girls phoning Wayne to pay out on him re the Myers phone calls. We thought we were hilarious. Special mention to the group for getting me up and down all the steps this tour!!

Al – The old guy trying to get out of his carpark at Swansea 🥴🤣

Robyn – The girls’ pool game 🤣🤣

Wayne – Karen using toy binoculars Special mention: Al’s shortcut to Mt Wellington

Me – Wayne telling his ‘Duxton’ story at Tall Timbers – I am crying every time he tells it!

End of this trip

Well, thank you readers for sharing our Tasmanian adventures. We had an absolute blast. We may not have seen wombats or platypuses but we did see devils, heaps of echidnas and the most beautiful, untouched landscapes of Tasmania. We dined, we wined (and beered), we laughed and we explored all in the company of great friends. Can’t wait to do it all again. Until next time….

Next on the agenda: Great Ocean Road.