MOT Tour Day 18 - Weekend at Burnie(s)

Burnie Park

 I had a few simple repairs to make this morning. Somehow, the car got a flat battery. Not all bad. I found out NRMA have reciprocal rights in Tasmania.

By the time all problems were solved - which was after the RACT jumped started the Forester and I ran it for half an hour and then took it for a drive and none of the original simple repairs were complete - after all that, we grabbed Subway and went to Burnie Park.

What a delightful place. Originally the home of William Henry Oldaker, a place he called Avon, it has Shorewell creek running through it. The park is hilly but the Council have done an outstanding job not only setting it up but also maintaining it. Lots of seats and places to just plonk. Lots of thick grass to lay on. Plenty of up to the minute kids equipment. Off street parking to unload the kids. BBQs, shelters, a performance shell set into the side of the hill ... and oh, the waterfall! Oldaker Falls is at the top of the park and is reached by an easy walking track, with the water from the falls running beside you as you approach.

Not many city park can boast a waterfall.

Also contained with in the park is the 175 year old Burnie Inn: the oldest remaining building after white settlement. Naturally, it was a pub. It was moved to the park in 1973 and preserved.

Following lunch, we went out to Fernglade Reserve, It has been set up as a protected platypus habitat and daily at sunrise and dusk, the shy little monotremes will make an appearance. Afternoon for us so no chance. We walked the 500m of track which follows the Emu River and saw an unnamed beastie go rattling along the bush on a parallel path to us but didn't get a clear look to identify it. On the return journey, a pair of pademelons were quietly grazing trackside. Its a nice, quiet spot but looks a little over-used and being only 4km from the city centre, that's hardly surprising. Still, people are coming out into the bush.

We ended the day with a visit to the Foreshore: literally. A cafe which is beside the Burnie Surf Life Saving Club, we squeezed in among the trendies and sucked on our mochas and lowered the tone. The foreshore redevelopment is very pleasant, with lots of activities for ankle biters. The Life Savers are trading under a misnomer. There is no surf in Burnie! Despite this, they are well supported with eight volunteers on show, across a range of ages. Of course, the backdrop is stacked containers and cranes from the port, so you never forget where you are.

For today's photos, click here.

We may go out to watch the penguins come in tonight, to end our weekend at Burnie(s) but its chilly and the wind is gusting strongly, so if I can talk some common sense into Sue, we'll watch telly.

468 @ 10.43 (2133 @ 11.85 km/100 L)