Campsite #15: Mt Field National Park (highly recommended especially at $16 a night); Campsite #16: Barilla Holiday Park (not bad for a metropolitan park)

WILDLIFE at your feet; walks at every turn; a new discovery around every corner. At Hamilton, we visited Australia's oldest church still in use. We felt so privileged to wander around the outside cemetery. Gravestones of pioneers born before Australia, others of settlers who died at the ages of 25, 28, 31 etc. having toiled all their life for the benefit of this great land; and the sombre tiny gravesites of infants, taken too soon by diseases that we thankfully no longer have (unless of course, the anti-immunization mob have their way - but that's a blog for another day).

Standing there in the hot son we could almost picture our forebears standing around the freshly dug grave, in their long skirts and dark clothing, their horses waiting on the dirt road leading up to the church gate, which remains there still. We were taken even farther back to the past, walking amidst 400 year old towering swamp gums in Mt Field National Park that existed even before Abel Tasman sailed past.

Our campsite at Mt Field was a lovely site by the creek and each evening we were spoiled with visits by cute pademelons and other wildlife. And great walks and a playground on hand too.

We were also spoiled with a visit from my parents. One thing we have realized on this trip is how much our girls enjoy and need the love of their entire family, especially their grandparents. We've met many grandparents on the road who've delighted in our girls' company but nothing compares to the sparkle and pure joy in the eyes of their Nanny, Grandpop, Oma & Opa. I have also learned how much my girls need their father as much as - if not more than - their mother. Angelina and her daddy are soulmates and Esther has won her daddy's heart too - easily! So back to work for me to enable Jonathan and his girls to spend that valuable quantity (yes quantity!) time together.

Speaking of my wonderful husband, he and I managed to sneak in a romantic dinner in Hobart to celebrate my birthday, while the girls stayed with Oma & Opa. The night was blustery and cold but his jacket was warm. The food was not too bad either. The six of us also shared a magical night at the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra's free concert, Symphony Under the Stars. Seems like both our girls will be music afficionados.

Obligatory sightseeing was completed as well: MONA (impressive but a bit overrated - imagine a funky underground nightclub for well-heeled over 50s); the Cadbury chocolate factory (yum, but no tour so rather dull); Cascade Brewery (yum, yum!) and Richmond (Wicked Cheese - Yum, Yum, Yum!). The gourmet experiences continued at Salamanca markets, where we were fortunate enough to see an episode of Masterchef being filmed and were capped off with a sumptuous birthday lunch at Fish Frenzy (said to be Australia's best fish & chips and we'd have to agree) - Oh, and topped off with a nightcap of Tasmanian Cuvee! It sure is a tough life!