WEST COAST WILDERNESS

WE HEADED FOR THE MONTROSE 4WD TRAIL THAT CUTS UP BEHIND THE WELLINGTON RANGE, WHICH DOMINATES THE BACKDROP TO HOBART

SAYING goodbye to the white sand and turquoise waters of the Friendly Beaches was difficult, but our schedule was tight as our wounded Cruiser limped towards a repair shop, while the rest of our convoy headed through Sorrell and across the wide expanse of the Pitt Water for a quick visit to the heart of Hobart.

We spent that time wandering Salamanca Place and the old wharves of the celebrated port that has seen some of the first ships to sail to Australia, as well as some of the latest and slickest watercraft on the planet in the annual Sydney to Hobart sailing classic.

With our quick capital city foray over, we headed out to the Lark Distillery (there’s also a retail outlet in Hobart’s Salamanca area), situated just outside Cambridge. Lark had been established in 1992 when the state relaxed its distilling laws, after having banned such evil pursuits back in the 1850s! We tasted a wee dram and wanted to try their rum as well, but sadly it’s no longer produced as whisky and the odd bottle of fine gin are taking up all the plant’s