The Cadbury Chocolate Factory

This morning we packed up reluctantly given the small creature comforts we enjoyed similar to home during our stay here.

First stop was the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Not sure why we made this a stop because none of us like the stuff, but it was in the brochures so what the heck. It's not exactly a tour, more a visitor centre and a bit of a video presentation with live narration & question time afterward. This was quite interesting and gives a great insight into how the entire process works from bean to bar.

They produce 800 tonnes per week out of this plant, and have factories doing similar outputs in Singapore and NZ, with the mother ship in Great Britain. It is the second largest chocolate factory in the world and is in Tazzie because of the temperate climate & the pristine water supply. The video centred on the big Caramello Koalas which run at a production of 700 per minute, whereas the normal Freddos can be punched out at 1000 per minute. No human intervention in this video, all robotic. The humans just seem to fill and clean the machines!!!

After the show there is a chocolate shop. Let's just say the Prado is carrying a little more weight than it was before we arrived.........

The long winding road to Strahan was our next challenge so Nat & the boys loaded up on sickness tablets & off we went. The drive is not as picturesque as we have enjoyed but still not boring, particularly coming into Derwent Bridge at the half way mark and thereafter because we were in the central highland country then. The forests just got bigger, as did the mountains so there were more great photo opportunities along the way.

We arrived at the little copper mining town of Queenstown (which ironically, the drive in reminded us of the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown in NZ) and as always it is disappointing to see landscape so beautiful decimated by mining. Some of Australia's most magical areas are all the same, the look of balding mountains set amongst World Heritage Areas. Money talks I guess.

Originally the plan was to stay here but we didn't like it & kept going to Strahan. We are glad we did this. It looks to be an awesome little town & another place we think we will like.  We booked the Heritage Cruise which has come well recommended, so that will be tomorrow.

6 klm amble then Cricket with the boys, dinner and into bed.

Jase.