Port Arthur, on the Tasman Peninsular, is a place full of history, situated in a tranquil spot overlooking a beautiful bay. Not that it would have been tranquil when the colony was at its height in the mid nineteenth century. The Port was a secondary prison, a place where those found guilty of some offence after Transportation, were sent to further isolate them from society, and over 12,000 passed through between 1830 and 1852. Modern visitors, on entry, are each given a playing card representing a real person who ended up here. I was the seven of Diamonds which equated to Joseph Carpenter, a 15 year old Gardner's Apprentice from Somerset, who was transported in 1836 for stealing a few coins. Unfortunately I fell into bad company and ended up in Port Arthur after trying robbery in Hobart. I haven't found any ancestors who were transported yet, but knowing our family history there may be on of two lurking. To get to the settlement you have to cross a 100m strip of land, with sea each side and which once featured the Dog line. It was where 16 savage dogs were kept chained up, guarding the only exit by land. There is just a bronze one now as a reminder. Port Arthur was the site of another tragedy just 15 years ago. It holds the unfortunate record of being the place where the World's worst killing frenzy took place, when, in 1996, 33 people were shot dead by a madman armed with automatic guns. There is a memorial garden now, where several staff lost their lives.

Now in Hobart airport waiting for my flight back to through mainland, i love airports where you have to cross the tarmac to get your plane. You really feel as if you are going somewhere.

Arrived at the capital of North Tasmania, Launcestone, which has a lovely position on the banks of the Tamar River. Stopped at Devonport on.the way over and visited the former home of Joe Lyons, former prime minister of the commonwealth. His wife, Enid lived there until 1982 and did all the decorating herself. Although not the paper mache model of Joe, that was done by local schoolchildren. The Tamar valley has some wonderful views and some history. George Town was the third settlement of Australia, after Sydney and Hobart.

Left the west coast and ventured north, arriving at the town of Burnie situated on the coast. They reckon Tasmania was once hooked up to the rest of Australia, but these days it's a bloody long way to swim. Called in at Cradle Mountain Park on the way over. Stunning scenery and a beautiful day to enjoy it. Being Saturday it was rather packed and more like a walk round ikea than a wilderness adventure. But beautiful all the same. Burnie is very well equipped. I am staying at the Burnie inn, where else. It even has a highlands pipe band. Mind you they are situated on the end of the prom behind loads of protective wire. Maybe pipe players are a persecuted minority on north Tassie.

Left Hobart and headed west into the wild interior.  Destination was Straun on the west coast, once one of the most isolated parts of the world, and still a long way from everything. It used to take two weeks from Hobart, battling against the roaring forties, to get here, now there is a road. The harbor is massive, far bigger than Sydney, but home to just a single township. There uses to be a penal settlement on an island in the bay but now there are just tourist encamped here. Took a late night trip out to the harbour mouth, the optimistic named Hells Gates, to see some very cute Fairy Penguins return from sea. The other couple who booked the trip, wimped out as the water was a bit rough so i had the boat, and the Penguins, all to myself.

Ventured south to explore some of the bays and inlets south of Hobart. It's surprising how much there is south of Hobart, given its position at the bottom of the continent. In fact there are some gorgeous bays and abundant valleys filled with bountiful apple orchards. It has a laid back feeling with small communities dotted about the valleys. Didn't get down as far as Hastings, which is at the end of the road, but took a trip into the forests to visit the ariel walkway which takes you 20 meters above the trees for a look down on river below. Heading north tomorrow.

Spent today exploring the delights of Mount Wellington, the huge slap of rock which stands guard over the city. It was named after the Duke and first spotted by Captain Bligh, before the mutiny I guess, when things were still looking promising for a career in the navy. Charles Darwin climbed up in the 1830's and pronounced the view splendid although he thought the guide was a bit of an idiot. He was right about the view it is marvellous, overlooking the whole south of the Island and acting as a massive windbreak protecting the capital from the storms whipped up in the Southern Sea. Did some walking on the slopes and only afterwards saw the note about all three of Tasmania's venomous snakes being active. Hotel is right on the river although there are a large colony of Cockatoo's in a tree a couple of doors down.

Hobart is about as far south as you can go in Australia is Hobart, capital of.  Tasmania, and a very long way from London.  it  has that distant feeling of a city at the end of the world with spectacular views of sheltered bays and secluded coves, as you come into land.
The settlement near Hobart was the second in Australia and must have been like going to another planet for the poor wretches sentenced to end their days here. It's a bit more civilised now with posh restaurants where the prisons used to be.

Spent a couple of days in New York. It's my fifth visit but still feel the thrill on arriving. It certainly had a feel all of its own, the energy is almost visible while standing in Times Square watching the world race by. It was the Marathon on Sunday so saw all the poor entrants plodding towards the finish line. A very picturesque end to the long trek around the island. At least the runners had sun unlike today when we had wind rain and sleet. Took a walk down to the financial district and visited the Ground Zero museum. It always is sobering seeing the pictures of the missing and dead lining the room. One woman started giving a talk about some of the victims, including a young firefighter who was killed while trying to rescue people from the towers. She filled in all the details of his life and how they found his money which was linked to him via the DNA on the dollar bills. it was all very emotional, especially at the end when she said "and that was my son."

Arrived yesterday in the city of Brotherly love, Philadelphia. A bit chilly up here especially wandering around the various sites at Independence Park. Full of history though. Once the second-largest city in the British Empire it was the site of the Declaration of Independence and the Drafting and Signing of the US Constitutional both of which took place in Independence Hall, still standing and the centre of the National Park. It must have been a bold step, as the signers were effectively committing treason against the British Crown. It worked though probably better than they ever dreamed off. It always seems amazing to outsiders that a whole Country's laws are based on a few paragraphs, scratched out on a scrap of parchment in an old town house.

Took a look at the Liberty Bell, rehoused since I was here in 1995 and visited the Constitution Center where the document is explained in great detail. Also visited Benjamin Franklin's old House, or at least the remains of it.

Four days in Washington covering the Mid-Terms for BBC News. I flew out on Sunday, leaving a very wet London and arriving in a gorgeous autumn tinted Washington DC. It really is a beautiful city in the spring and in the fall, with the delicate scent of the cherry trees at one end of the Summer contrasted with the brilliant golden hues of the turning trees decorating the streets at the other. Had a very quick trip through immigration and caught the airport bus into town.

I was working mainly for Newsnight who were based at an OB in the Cannon Building, where many of the Representatives have their offices. We were based on a Balcony outside of the Rotunda, with a stunning view of the US Capital dominating the skyline behind us. It was a fantastic location in a stunning building. Because we were in a secure area we needed to get Capital Passes from the Senate office on the North side of the Capital. As our location was on the South side our guide took us the quickest way to get from one side of the House to the other, down the underground tunnels which lie like a warren beneath the home of the US Government. It was amazing to see how much was down there, even a little electric train which we caught to ride from the Senate Offices to the Capital itself. Halfway along the tunnel in the basement of the capital we passed a window with a stunning view right down the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial 1.9 miles away. I guess its the kind of view the President gets when he gets sworn in.

The OB's all worked OK although there were some communication issues. All OK on air which was the main thing, and London seemed happy. We finished with Piers Morgan and Simon Schama on our balcony. A popular tweet was that Emily should have given Piers a little push and no one would have protested. Except perhaps for the Capital Police who would have had to clean up the mess. He would probably have just bounced up again anyhow.