After living in Australia for so many years, having visited each other state and territory, it was finally time to pay a visit to Tasmania. The island state to the south-east of the Australian mainland was originally called Van Diemen’s Land.
With a full itinerary ahead we don’t loose any time and after picking up our rental car for the week in Hobart, go straight to the top, Mt Wellington.
Windy, cold and even some snowing whilst we enjoyed the view over Hobart and the bay.
Back to the historic centre of the city, Salamanca, famous for its Saturday Market, which has over 300 stallholders selling local produce, art, clothing etc. Whilst we missed the market, there are plenty of historic buildings, shops, galleries and coffee shops to visit.
Following the ‘Hobart’s Heritage Heart’ podcast (http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au) providing some insights and history for some of the many historic buildings; starting at Hunter Street, City Flour Mill, former Hydro Building, Franklin Square with a nice fountain and surrounded by the Town Hall (Local), State Government Building (State) and the General Post Office GPO (Federal).
Then along St. David’s Cathedral (tower is build a bit to the side..), the Treasury and into the beautiful and interesting St. David’s Park which used to be a cemetery. Many headstones are preserved along some walls at the back of the Supreme Court. From there we are passing the Parliament House, the Tasman Memorial and back at Salamanca Place.
Before we are heading on, a few more views from Hobart.
Day trip to Port Arthur Historic Site.
Admission fee includes access for 2 consecutive days (if you are interested and have time), a very informative walk with a guide and a cruise around the 2 islands which used to house the boys prison and the cemetery. The weather if course is very changeable and we had patches of sunshine, rain, sun, drizzle and sun again followed by more rain.
The drive from Hobart is under 2 hours. There are a few interesting scenic spots to stop along the way: Pirate Bay with Tassellated Pavement State Reserve, Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site, Devils Kitchen and Tasman Arch. We run out of time and with rain on again, decided to skip them and return to Hobart without detour.
There are a few nice town along the way to Launceston which are worth a quick stop to break the drive a little up:
Richmond, Richmond Bridge, Goal
Oatlands, Windmill, 87 original buildings along the Main Street.
Ross, Ross Bridge is the third oldest bridge in Australia. Lunch, beautiful church.
Arriving in Launceston in early afternoon leaves just enough time to visit the Cataract Gorge. There is an easy walk from the King’s Bridge to the ‘First Basin’ where a hanging bridge, chairlift and a coffee shop await. There are further tracks up the South Esk River leading further into the gorge.
The next morning an early drive up to the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centres. The park fee includes the bus down to Dove Lake where an easy 2 hour Dove Lake Circuit walk around the lake awaits us. With a bit of luck, you may see some local wildlife; we spotted a wombat grassing by the road.
Cold and windy at parts, misty views, but a good walking track makes the hike easy.
Drive to Devonport and a visit to the Mersey Bluff lighthouse.
Long drive to Freycinet National Park at the east cost were we had beautiful weather. Two short walks, the first one to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. Easy walk, but a fair few steps to the top. Just over an hour for the leisurely return walk.
The second walk is a 15 minutes drive away by the Cape Tourville Lighthouse. A very easy, flat circuit of about 15 minutes. There we spotted a Wallaby in the bushes by the car park.
After spending the night in Swansea, a quick stop at the Spiky Bridge just south of Swansea before driving back to the airport.
Tasmania – 2019, that was the last State visited. Tasmania is quite beautiful with fertile farming land wild coasts, romantic beaches and a number of fantastic National Parks with walking tracks and astonishing views.
Tasmanian Devils on the loose at the airport…
G’day from Tassie!
othmar & wichit's space 