We had been thinking of The Gunns Plain to look at some walks and caves in the area with a possible visit to Wings wildlife park if time permitted.
Having power and showers here made the job of waking up to get ready much easier breakfast and the coffee part of the morning ritual over we headed off to the ablutions where they use a coin /timer solenoid system to give you hot water (5 mins at time !).
all clean and fed we head off to the Gunns Plain cave only a short 20 minute drive through some beautiful rolling farmland hills mainly growing crops of potatoes and part of Tasmania's 90% of the worlds poppy production for the medical industry (morphine and the like).
We pulled into the car park at the caves where there was only a few other cars ,as we walked down the stairs to the entrance I couldn't see anybody nearby but I could hear some voices below ,one of which belonged to Geoff "the foodie " our tour guide who had just begun a tour but ran back up the long flight of stairs to greet us .
Having paid the admission fee for us we donned jumpers as it was only 11 degrees below and headed down the very steep flight of 40 or so steps to join the other waiting couple .
This cave system was found just over a hundred years ago when a Scottish fellow was trying to either save a possum from falling into a hole above or trying to collect his skin for the small bounty that was then available .
Whilst walking around 50 or so metres below the hillside you are always looking at strange stalactites and stalagmites forming columns and strange formations of cauliflower and cheese sauce, mushrooms, bacon, Geoff's aunties lumpy custard ,mashed potato , marshmallows and the Wedding cake ,(see why he is the foodie!)
The kids were in charge at various times to hit the led floodlights and lighting while ensuring no one hid their head or got lost.
Back on the surface after seeing no platypus or large freshwater lobster we viewed some photos of both and was amazed that the lobster can grow to a metre long !.
Back in the car and veered off to head back up hill towards Levin canyon with a quick stop at the beautiful Preston falls which was flowing slowly but still picturesque .
More light drizzle persisted as we arrived at the well appointed Leven Canyon park.
Camera packed we began walking uphill towers the first lookout along the way overlooking Leven river a long drop below and across to the bluff resembling a long slide into to canyon below.
There is a signboard near hear explaining when it was declared a park and also of the man and his team who battled bad weather heat and snow to build the 697 steps to the walkway below towards the fern glade and lower lookout below.
Time or a quick drink and bite to help ease the hunger of a fairly strenuous walk then point towards Penguin for some supplies for our tea of Tikka masala beef and rice with mango chutney
All in all it had been a fairly busy day and we slept well.
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