In much better spirits after a good night’s sleep (earplugs and medicated induced coma), we headed out this morning to the aptly named, Beauty Point. Unlike yesterdays’ slightly (yes hugely under exaggerated) ridiculous time buffer, today I calculated the drive time, added 15 minutes cautious driving time (uncalled for as Lightening McQueen was at the wheel) and an extra 30 minutes for a cafe visit.
Arriving right on time (who would have thought anal retentive planning would be so spot on), we admired the beautiful river views (completely unscheduled) and headed to The River Cafe. Only a short drive up the road from Platypus House, it was a great decision as the drinks were good, the cakes were yummy and as it turns out, the cafe at Platypus House didn’t have seating….or more importantly cakes.
The big draw card for Beauty Point is Platypus House. We had booked our tickets online yesterday, so had to be there at a specific time (hence the over retentive planning). With COVID impacting on the numbers they take through, booking online is imperative to ensure you don’t miss out. As long as you are as amazing a planner as me (without ridiculous time buffers), it is easy to schedule the arrival time from Launceston. No repeat of the three hour twiddling thumbs today.
The first part of the visit is a guided tour of the platypus pools. Who knew that these cute little creatures could be such dangerous critters. I am feeling very David Attenborough with my now, expertise status in platypus. Knowing the males have a spur on the inner side of their legs, that just so happens to be connected to venom glands, that just so happens to inflict massive pain, that just so happens to not have an anti-venom, will definitely deter me from going in for the pat if we spot one in the wild. This is even more so after the guide made a point of sharing information on ‘idiots’ who try and pat platypus. I wasn’t considering patting one…..honest.
The next part of the visit, an echidna experience, was by far my favourite part of Platypus House. Perfectly on cue, the echidna responded to the banging of their food bowls just like I respond to the sound of a knife cutting cake in front of me. Let’s just say that we are both capable of inhaling the food we like. I can’t believe just how close up and personal you get to the creatures as they repeatedly walk past you.
All full on bug porridge, the echidnas disappeared into the mock bush area where the guide shared that they were getting friendly with each other. She shared that ‘Thomas’ was young and still wasn’t sure where to stick it. I really hope that the sounds coming from the bushes weren’t Thomas missing the hole and sticking it onto a spike.
Heading back to Launceston, we stopped at Beaconsfield for lunch and a visit to the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre. The bakery on the main street did a delicious scallop pie and hubby said the Cornish pasty was yum. That is quite a feat to impress an Englishman who has sampled pasties in Cornwall. We ended up spending quite some time wandering the Mine and Heritage Centre. The karma gods must have been looking out for us, as just as we finished the outside part of the centre, the skies opened with a downpour.
Beaconsfield also had a heritage walk that I’d missed when planning. Unlike the dodgy ones we have done in Hobart and Launceston (absolutely nothing to do with the map reader……honest), this one had information signs along the sidewalks, sharing what the buildings were and where to head next. Not even I could get lost on this walk! We did stumble across this amazing unoccupied place (picture below) that was for sale for offers over $590K. For a brief moment hubby and I considered selling up in Cairns and running a B&B and cafe. As it turns out, our bright idea was quashed a couple of minutes later after a bit of online research informed us that it had recently sold. Knowing our track record (have made two impulse property buys in the past), it was probably good that it had sold or we might have been coming back home with excess baggage.
Not far down the highway was the turn off for ‘Grindelwald’, a mock Swiss village, resort and residential area. Less than 5 minutes drive off the highway, we stopped in with high hopes of feeling like we were back in Europe. Now if you squinted really hard, played a little yodelling music on your phone (tip of the day: download prior as reception was dodgy) and looked past the non existent snow capped alps, you might have just been able to convince yourself you were in some Swiss town. I found the place quite sweet but hubby repeatedly stated it was ‘naff’ aka English for crap. We visited the sweets shop in hope of picking up some goodies but the random and repeated coughing of the shop assistant had us holding our breath and making a speedy exit. I’m just hoping she was spluttering on a sour lolly and not the next patient zero in Beaconsfield.
The cafe was welcoming and after asking for an extra hot, hot chocolate (eventually I’m going to get a hot one), was presented with something that reminded me of my visits to Switzerland. If we hadn’t already eaten cake twice today (yes we are pigs today), I would have tried one of their delicious offerings. Would I visit Grindelwald again? Driving past on the highway, I might stop at the cafe but I definitely wouldn’t drive out of my way to visit.
As we drove out (hubby grateful his visit was over), we saw the sign for the ‘scenic drive’ around the residential part of the Swiss themed area. With much reluctance from Lightening McQueen at the wheel, we took the turn off. As I oohed and aahed at the Swiss style homes (yes it did take some squinting), hubby repeated his theory of the place being naff. The wood posts around the neighbourhood were quite cute and we successfully managed to not add a rabbit to the roadkill.
Back in Launceston, we decided to stop by Tandy’s Alehouse as it had been recommended. My thoughts on beer are quite clear, it all tastes the same to me. They had a wide range (in my opinion, of all tasting the same) but I opted for a Tassie cider. Boozed up and we decided to take the recommendation of the publican to visit Burger Junkie for dinner. Not a typical Tassie delicacy meal, it was quick, cheap, tasty and easy for two tired travellers. My Canadian hotdog was actually really good! Mind you, that might have been the after effects of my cider. I am a one glass wonder.
Tanya'stravelblog 