Tasmania, part 2 - into civilization?

As I mentioned in my last post, Queenstown, TAS is nothing like Queenstown, NZ. Or Queenstown, Maryland either. It was mined for gold and copper and the trees in the surrounding hills were all cut for lumber. It doesn't look very pretty, but it is a convenient stopping place when you are driving the west side of the island. And they have a good Pub there, as a beer was much needed after my prolonged driving "practice".  Had we planned this better, we would probably have headed a little to the west and stayed in Strahan, (pronounced STRAWN) a pretty town on a protected harbor. But no.
Hoping for better scenery out of Queenstown we turned east, climbing through some impressive hills and cresting along a gorgeous plateau with this view:

From there it was all downhill to Derwent Bridge and Lake St. Clair, the southern terminus of the Overland Track. This is not just some day hike, but a serious 7-10 day trek through the heart of Tasmania. My cousin (who leads treks in the Himalayas) had recently completed it and said it was "challenging".  Not for us!

From here it got increasingly less wild and more farmed, and we assumed more populated by wildlife as we saw these signs often -

We were now on the outskirts of Hobart, the largest city in Tasmania. It has an incredible history: of a penal colony, a trading post, and a jumping-off point for Antarctic exploration. We however were there for the wine, the cider, and the farm-to-table food.There are many "farm gate" produce stalls and eateries in the Huon Valley, south-west of Hobart, well worth the one hour drive. Well, it would be one hour, if we didn't stop at almost every stand...