Left chilly Queenstown heading for Cradle Mountain along more windey roads. The main roads guys here in Tasmania do not know how to build straight roads. Up and down some serious climbs but thankfully little traffic - just like the rest of Tasmania. One thing I have noticed with thanks is the low levels of vehicle traffic both in Hobart and out on the highways and byways.
The west coast is/was a big mining area, mainly tin, silver, copper, some gold and other minor minerals. Queenstown was copper and smaller towns we passed includes Zeehan (tin), Rosebery (tin, silver and gold)  and Waratah, again mainly tin. Rosebery is the highest community in Australia with its own postcode. Waratah has a superb waterfall the early miners used to generate power (reportedly Australia's first hydroelectric scheme), and used to drive crushing equipment for the ore.
Cradle Mountain unfortunately was a bust with rain, strong winds and low clouds making trekking for us older folk not on. There were plenty of younger trekkers and campers heading out but discretion being the better part of valour we visited the gift shop and headed off to Burnie.
Burnie is located on the north coast and offers port facility for smaller shipping up to 50,000 tonnes. There was a vessel in from Hong Kong and a Toll company barge used to transport goods from the mainland. Burnie is a nice small city with all the modern conveniences including McDonald's and Jack's.
Last night at around 9:00 we braved the cold and went penguin hunting. This area is home and breeding area to the Little Blue Penguin. It was once called the Fairy Penguin then they found they were not all gay so changed the name. We saw quite a number of these little critters. Some adults having done with rearing children for the season were land bound getting ready for their sea voyage. Some adults and young came from the water and waddled their way up to their burrows for the night. Great sight and great facilities provided by the friends of the penguin group.
And so off to bed. Tomorrow we head west.