Port Arthur and Chocolate, Hobart

Yesterday morning the 14th of March, we said goodbye to our campsite in Fortescue Bay and farewell to our friendly furry relatives, the Beno's, and headed towards the historical site of Port Arthur.

The kids hand feeding the friendly Bennett's wallabies

I was looking forward to seeing Australian history, but felt a little heavy in the pit of my stomach after what went on there in April 1994.
It was a news story that I lived and breathed for many months and probably among a handful of stories that I covered as a journalist that had such an impact on me.
The sun was shining as we walked into the foyer area and ordered a coffee, wondering if this is where it all happened... that feeling followed me during the entire visit.

Port Arthur Prison

My little convicts

The ruins were amazing and the history came to life with stories of individuals ... when you hear their names, ages and why they were sent there it becames more than just history, it becomes reality.
Most of them were sent from their homes in England for what these days would be considered   misdemeanours...  like stealing a loaf of bread for dinner, handkerchiefs, an umbrella or making fishing hooks.

We were able to walk through the remains of the prison and read stories about each room and cell.

It was an entire village... there was a police station, port and an old church, built by the prisoners in the 1820's with their bare hands.

The kids inside what remains of the old church

We then took a boat trip to the Isle of the Dead, which was the cemetery for the prisoners and anyone else who had died in the settlement.

The Isle of the Dead, with Port Arthur in the background

Port Arthur from the Bay

Last, we passed what remained of the Broad Arrow Cafe where 20 people were killed...
It has been gutted and now is surrounded by a memorial garden... so sad!!!!

What remains of the Broad Arrow Cafe

The beautiful gardens of Port Arthur

After several hours we headed back to Hobart via that gorgeous town Richmond that we had visited a few days earlier...We had lunch there while Richard watched one of his horses lose a race :-)
We then continued on to a caravan park on the banks of the Derwent in Hobart.

Thursday the 15th of March.... Richard left us early to head to Perth to do some work so today the kids and I caught up on the washing and some schoolwork before heading to the Cadbury factory.

It was sweet!!!

Three excited kids outside the Cadbury Factory, Hobart

You can no longer tour the factory but there was an information tour which was interesting and then they send you into the Cadbury shop, jam packed full of every Cadbury chocolate you can think of, all at cost price... needless to say the kids had died and gone to heaven.

Harry, Jack & Nina,  kids in a lolly shop :-)

Harry & Nina in an old Cadbury replica truck