Museum, malt and macaques.

We were surprised (not really) that the Weather App's prediction of rain did not eventuate, but relished the chance of a bit of a sleep-in. Our destination for this morning was the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG), the museum and art gallery being located on separate sites. In the afternoon - I'd booked in for a tour of the Boag's Brewery for purely educative purposes, whilst the rest of Team Martin were off to run about in City Park.

We were just paying for our parking when we saw a bus-load of Vacation Care kiddies come spilling out and head towards the entrance. Unlike the snooty TMAG, QVMAG was very kid-friendly - with tolerant staff and plenty of activities to keep the young people amused. Both Hamish and Lily were inexplicably obsessed with the rocks and crystals at the Gift Shop - but we managed to draw them away, and through the Perception Tunnel. This consisted of a platform running the length of a cylinder with rotating mural landscape. The effect was such that it felt like the platform was swaying precariously. A veteran of ludicrously high platforms and swinging bridges - I was able to stave off waves of nausea.

Although Jen wanted to complete the Museum in an entirely sequential pattern, Joshie noted dinosaurs in the next room which ended any semblance of order. There was an impressive array of dinosaur skeletons - from the chicken-sized to the Tyrannosaur variety.

Another interactive section awaited us outside, including 'whisper dishes' that had Joshie looking for Lily's disembodied voice coming from somewhere behind his left shoulder. We noticed a restored train carriage, and discovered that they served morning tea.

Cupcakes!
Chocolate-mint with Jelly-beans for Josh
and Peanut butter & jam for Jen

The kids managed to convince us to purchase some minerals (ie polished coloured rocks), and we then departed for the Gallery component of QVMAG. Again, the attendants were friendly, even suggesting an order of viewing the exhibits as a result of having kids with us. There was a section by local Year 12 students - with some rivalling the works we'd seen in MONA. Fortunately there was an area where the kids could practice their own drawing skills to hang up along-side others.

We called in to the Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers for some lunch. There was a quirky guy behind the bar, that not only made our coffee, but our toasted sandwiches too - and then threw on his Tour Guide jacket ready for the 3pm tour.

At this point, Jen and the kids left and drove over to City Park, where they saw the resident Japanese macaques (because that is what you have in a Tasmanian park) and enjoyed the train-themed playground. Some strange young woman in Alice in Wonderland gear was being photographed at numerous locations around the place - but did not appear to be connected to any specific event. Lily was besieged by a small girl called Holly, who was keen to make friends - much to Lily's strained tolerance.

Overly-ornate drinking fountain.

Back on the Boag's tour - I learned about the impacts of toasting your malted barley, as well as the fact that the frustratingly tasty Wizard Smith's Ale is not available outside Tassie. The guide also mentioned (off the record, so don't tell anyone) that if it has a Boag's label, it has been brewed in Tasmania - the same unable to be said for Cascade. 

The weather for Cradle Mountain is being frustratingly fickle - so we may end up there tomorrow morning, otherwise will scamper over there prior to driving onto the ferry on Friday.

Not coming soon to a store near you.