Archive for the ‘Tasmanian Travel & Transport’ Category

Cataract Gorge.  There’s absolutely no escaping the fact that “The Gorge” is one of the most loved Tasmanian attractions.  Locals and tourists to the island state all rave about it.  But why?  What makes it so popular?  We take a closer look and offer some insight into that popularity.

Riley gets a good view of the suspension bridge from the Cataract Gorge Chairlift

Cataract Gorge: The Basin Chairlift

Firstly, the Cataract Gorge is home to the Basin Chairlift.  Since 1972, the 450-metre ride has been gently transporting people from one side of the Reserve to the other.  And as Harry and his buddy demonstrate, catching the chairlift is child’s play!

Ready and waiting for a turn on the Cataract Gorge Chairlift

Better than walking! Fasten your seat belts and take the chairlift across The Gorge

Sit back and relax as the chairlift carries you over the Cataract Gorge

The views from the chairlift are always spectacular, and the ride is smooth enough to take photos.  But at certain times, when northern Tasmania is receiving heavy rainfall, the river system floods and the waters raging through the Cataract Gorge provide a real show.

The South Esk River floods from the Cataract Gorge to the Tamar River, Launceston

Climbing, Cruising and Walking in The Cataract Gorge

While the Basin Chairlift provides enough adrenalin for many people, there’s always some that want more.  Rock climbers for instance, who scramble up and down the face of the cliff.  The photo collage below shows the climber on the left; his location is circled on the right hand side.  Scary stuff!!

This rock climber gets a different view of the Cataract Gorge in Launceston

Kings Bridge is an iconic landmark in Launceston and marks the start of the walking trail into the Reserve from the city centre.  We cruised underneath the bridge on our Cataract Gorge Cruise with Tamar River Cruises and the construction is amazing.

Kings Bridge, an iconic landmark in Launceston Tasmania

Walking into the Cataract Gorge possibly provides the best experience of all.  The Reserve is very close to the centre of Launceston, and the track is straight forward in terms of access and makes for quite an easy stroll.

The path follows the edge of the river, passing the gatekeeper’s cottage (another building often photographed for tourism brochures).  The cottage is now leased out by the council to artists working on projects in the region.

And why wouldn’t artists be drawn to the area with so much natural beauty right on the doorstep?  No matter what mode of transport you use to enjoy it, the Cataract Gorge is definitely a must-do experience in Tasmania.

Kings Bridge Gorge Cottage, now used for a Launceston Artists in Residence program

Thanks to Jo Kuchel for providing some of the photos for this article.
See her guest article about Sheffield in the state’s north west, too.

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Map: Cataract Gorge, Launceston Tasmania…

Water Skiers: New World Record

by Mike Fry

At 7.20am this morning, The Eagle towed 145 water skiers into the record books.  They set a new world record for the number of water skiers towed behind a single vessel.

Water skiers towed behind The Eagle in Strahan set a new world record

The Powerful Tasmanian Eagle

This was a picture perfect morning with a clear sky and glassy waters on Macquarie Harbour as The Eagle slowly pushed the throttles forward.  World Heritage Cruises own and operate The Eagle which is the only vessel in Tasmania capable of pulling this amount of water skiers.  Even then they had to fit special propellers to provide enough power to lift the 154 skiers that started off.

The Eagle owned by World Heritage Cruises was modified for the world record attempt

The water skiers settle behind The Eagle in Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, Tasmania

The Eyes of the World: Record Set in Strahan

The water skiers gripped their tows and braced themselves for the ride of their lives.  And they managed to break their own record of 114 skiers set two years ago at Strahan.  There was a mighty cheer as the helicopters buzzed overhead.  Many people around the world were able to watch the water skiers breaking the record live by logging on to Strahan’s live webcam.

Water skiers waiting to set the new world record, in the pristine Strahan environment

On the west coast of Tasmania, in pristine conditions, a new world record was set

145 Water Skiers: A Day on the West Coast

After one nautical mile 145 water skiers were still standing and a new world record was created.  Today, in the early morning, on a pristine day on the west coast of Tasmania.

Mike Fry is the owner of Ormiston House bed and breakfast
accommodation in Strahan Tasmania

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Map: Water Skiers World Record, Strahan Tasmania…

Ten Things That Attract Me to Tasmania

by Roger Findlay

If you asked me to name ten things that attract me to Tasmania as a holiday-maker I would come up with the following:

1. Beauty of the island, breath-taking scenery and clean air.
   

   The breath-taking scenery and clean country air of Tasmania

2. Temperature and climate, most suitable for a Pommy!
3. Unspoilt places.  Slow to exploit tourism through changes.
   

   The pristine wilderness, another Tasmanian attraction high on Roger's top ten

4. Sailing on the Spirit of Tasmania.  It’s a great experience every time.
5. Salamanca Market and any farmers market that we find along the way.
6. Food: especially seafood, cheese and beef.
   

   Roger enjoys the Tasmanian produce, including seafood, cheese and beef.

7. Pubs: Knopwoods, Shippies and the Royal Oak.  Gunners Arms – R.I.P.
8. Fish punts, Tassal and the Wursthaus.
9. Walking on the deserted beaches.  Douglas River springs to mind.
   

   Beaches make Roger's list of top ten attractions for holiday-makers in Tasmania

10. People we’ve met and friends we’ve made…
    The Madsden family, Patricia, Eddie & Dulcie, to name a few.

That’s ten things that attract me to Tasmania but there are so many more.

People often ask me why I choose to travel and holiday in Tasmania so much.  They often ask whether I get tired of visiting the same place year after year.  My answer is always the same; but I don’t have to change my lifestyle to suit them or anyone else.

I must confess that in recent weeks, I have been toying with the idea of a first visit to New Zealand.  I’m sure it is a very beautiful country with the South Island being exceptional, but for now I have unfinished business in Tasmania so NZ will have to wait until I retire in a few years’ time.

I first visited Tasmania in the mid 80’s.  I was chasing a job at the ACL plant in Launceston but it didn’t lead to anything except a brief look at the island.  The drive north and then down the east coast to Hobart convinced me that this was the place for me and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

Beware: Sub-Standard Accommodation

There is only one criticism that I have to make and that is the rapidly increasing price of accommodation.  Some of it is mediocre and we have found a few of our hosts unsuited to the hospitality industry.

Beware!  Don’t be fooled by some of the places you find on the internet.  The photos and write-ups published by the owners themselves can make the accommodation look most attractive; when in reality it can be well below expectation.  If you do get caught out, don’t put up with it.  Let the owner know of your objections and demand a refund.  Then take your business elsewhere.

Rustic accommodation! Beware the tourist of the internet booking...

Beware Tasmania!  Don’t price yourself out of the market.  It is a fact that I can holiday in Vietnam or Thailand cheaper than Tasmania but that’s not for me.  However, when it comes to the decision of others, the attraction of a cheap overseas holiday may be their choice.

To attract the tourist keep the price reasonable, ensure good quality and make it so that the visitor wants to return.

Photos that accompany Roger’s article titled
Ten Things That Attract Me to Tasmania
have been taken by Dan Fellow of Tasmania Photos.

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Bruny Island: An Introduction

by Roger Findlay

The isthmus joining north and south Bruny Island

Bruny Island Ferry: Kettering

Bruny Island can be accessed by regular ferry service from Kettering in the Huon Valley region.  Kettering is a comfortable 45 minute drive south of Hobart on the southern outlet via Kingston.  To make the journey a bit more interesting, we usually travel along the coast road through Sandy Bay and Taroona where you may wish to visit to the Shot Tower.

Before you commence your journey, check out the Bruny Island Ferry departure times so that you don’t have to wait for too long.

Take the vehicular ferry from Kettering to Bruny Island

The ferry boat is of drive on-drive off style and the cost for a return trip is between $28 and $42 depending on the season and length of the vehicle.  The good ship Mirambeena sails at a steady pace for twenty minutes before docking at Roberts Point south of Barnes Bay right at the start of the Bruny Island main road.  The crossing can be a bit blowy but I don’t think you need to take tablets for sea sickness!

The vehicle and passenger ferry between Kettering & Bruny Island (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Isthmus: Memorial to Truganini

Now for those of you that don’t know what an isthmus is, I can tell you!  It is a narrow strip of land between two seas.  Bruny is almost like two islands (north and south) joined by an isthmus just wide enough for the road.  With the sea either side, it makes for a very different drive.  Half way across the isthmus is a lookout and a memorial to Truganini who was born on the island and was married at the island’s mission in 1829.

A memorial to Tasmanian aboriginal Truganini on the isthmus of Bruny Island

Read all about Tasmanian aboriginal Truganini on the isthmus of Bruny Island

Lookout for Bruny Island Residents…

Before we went, I read there are more snakes on Bruny than anywhere else in Tasmania.  This didn’t stop us from staying a few days and we’re glad we did as there’s so much to see and do.  The coastal views are breathtaking especially at Kelly’s Lookout.

Breathtaking coastal views abound on Bruny Island

We stayed in a small house in Lunawanna (South Bruny).  It was fairly close to the Cape Bruny lighthouse where we spent time walking the surrounds.  For those interested in history, you can visit the location of Captain James Cook’s 1777 landing at Adventure Bay.

Lighthouse, Cape Bruny (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Bruny Island Foodie Paradise!

For the foodie, Bruny Island is paradise.  I am told the Bruny Island Smokehouse (BISH) is a must.  We chose a cheese platter and fresh baked bread from Nick Haddow’s cheese factory but you may choose to source freshly caught fish or oysters.  The Hotel at Alonnah serves hearty pub food and you can sit outside drinking a cleansing ale right beside the sea.

Bruny Island Hotel at Alonnah, the place for hearty pub food

We’ve been to Bruny Island twice now and it’s a place we would visit again.  Three days on the island makes it worthwhile and reduces the odds of seeing one of those snakes I told you about!

Roger's daughter Carly Findlay enjoys the view over the Bruny Island isthmus

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Map: Bruny Island Tasmania…

The Spirit is Free in Tasmania

by Roger Findlay

In the spirit of Christmas, someone needs to whisk Roger away
for another holiday in Tasmania!  Seems he’s feeling a bit
lost, away from his favourite place in the world…

With Christmas fast approaching, I have a yearning to be in Tasmania.  Unfortunately it won’t happen and I will be enjoying a few days with family up here in Gregory West.  A few years ago my wife kindly paid for a trip on the Spirit so that I could be down for the Taste Festival and the finish of the yacht race.

A great time to be in Hobart, over the festive -and sailing - seasons

After an enjoyable Christmas Day, I went to bed very early before departing for Melbourne at 2am so that I would be very early for the sailing.  As a young man, I enjoyed my own company and did most of my activities alone.

Roger Findlay... a Free Spirit, akin to good times spent in Tasmania

I still have the opinion that when you have more than fits in a suitcase your life is over and you are no longer a free spirit.

Getting into the Spirit: Salamanca

On this occasion, I was a Free Spirit sailing to the place I love best on the Spirit of Tasmania!  I based myself out at Bushy Park; travelling into Hobart each day for the day’s activities.  I usually started off in Knopwoods at 10am where I enjoyed a pint while reading the papers.

My lunch consisted of pork pie and salad from the Wursthaus Kitchen with fresh baked bread rolls from Fresh Fruit Market.  I would sit on the hard ground in the shade of a statue taking it all in.  In reality, I was reliving the seventies and our trips to Blackpool where we had much the same routine on the end of the pier.

Getting into the spirit of the festive season, buskers play in Salamanca

Lively music wafted my way from a Salamanca alley.  Young people were dancing and having fun.  The atmosphere was electric as the band played jigs and reels, giving us a taste of what they would be playing in Cygnet a few days later. So many thoughts passed through my sixty year old head.  A tear or two was shed.  I was glad to be alive and a Free Spirit.  I could share this moment with no one.

They wouldn’t understand.

Musicians prepare for the Cygnet Folk Festival by playing to the crowd at Salamanca

Roger enjoys the spirit of the season at Salamanca near Hobart's waterfront

The crowd get into the spirit of the occasion, dancing in the Salamanca streets

Young and carefree... a great time of the year to visit Hobart

Kindred Spirits…

With my car parked up on Queens Domain, I used the free bus shuttle service to avoid the congestion of the city.  On the bus I met so many interesting people.  They too had been for a peek at the anti-whaling boat.  Like me, they fully support the activities of those brave enough to badger the Japanese fleet.

Salmon on the BBQ, a special treat for the free spirit in Tasmania

I had a nice juicy salmon steak in my bag and I was going to cook it at the side of the road on my way back to Bushy Park.  It wasn’t tea time but I didn’t care as I only had myself to answer to.

In the spirit of Christmas (or more likely the New Year)…
we’d like to organise another Tasmanian trip for Roger (and his wife Jeanette).
Life’s an Adventure with Roger, and his articles always attract lots
of attention and comment, so if you’d like your place to be on the agenda,
please contact Think Tasmania and we’ll put everything together.
But don’t tell Roger… let’s keep this one a secret for now!

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Map: The Spirit of Tasmania…

Novelty mailboxes are an amusing feature on Tasmanian roads.  Some owners put an amazing amount of thought and effort into the roadside collection of their post.  And one of our regular readers, Lynn Gorman has taken quite a shine to the unique constructions.  When she travels around Tassie, she makes a point of stopping to take photos.  She’s sent some of those photos to share with you…

Novelty Mailboxes in Tasmania

by Lynn Gorman

We went for a drive today and guess what… another letterbox to add to the collection.  I actually had a bit of time to study ‘Timmie’, and thank him for being there.  If we hadn’t stopped, we wouldn’t have seen the flat tyre we unfortunately souvenired from our drive to the Alum Cliffs and Devil’s Gullet!  ‘Timmie’ was found on the road between Mole Creek and Chudleigh.

Timmie the Sheep: photos of novelty mailboxes by Lynn Gormann

The magpie and dachshund novelty mailboxes were in the Table Cape region, and the cow was in the Bay of Fires region.  Hope these may be useful, I am always on the lookout for more.

A magpie mailbox in the Table Cape region of Tasmania

A dachshund is amongst the novelty mailboxes in the Table Cape region

From the Bay of Fires in Tasmania: Daisy the Cow serves as a mailbox

Thanks to Lynn for sharing her photos with us.
We’ll add to the collection when she sends more.
If you have any photos of novelty mailboxes you’d like to share,
just contact Think Tasmania.

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A dinner cruise aboard Captain Fell’s Historic Ferries is great value.   In fact, Peter Fell himself reckons it’s the best value on the river.  And really, where else could you take your family for a hot, three-course meal for $115-00?  That price includes free wine, coffee and cake, and over two hours of cruising on the Derwent River in Hobart.

Join a dinner cruise in Hobart with Captain Fell and his historic ferries? Yes we can!

Join Us For a Dinner Cruise? Why Yes…

So we agreed from the outset with Captain Fell that the price of his dinner cruise was very reasonable.  But would it be a good Tassie experience?  You know, there’s only one way to find out for certain.  So when Karlien made contact with Think Tasmania requested help with some free advertising, we accepted an invitation to climb aboard and test the waters.  This article is a result of our first-hand experience.

All the food on the dinner cruise was excellent. Hot, generous and well-cooked.

We met with the good captain at 5:30pm at his jetty on Franklin Wharf in Hobart before our 6:00pm dinner cruise departure time.  We ordered our meals, which were to be cooked fresh aboard the boat when we set sail, and had a casual chat.

Buy your tickets and meet for the dinner cruise at Franklin Wharf in Hobart

Captain Fell Loves His Historic Ferries

Peter has a real passion for the historic ferries.  He is a true Aussie battler, and has faced real adversity in his tourism business of late… not an uncommon tale.  But rather than shrink from a challenge, Peter seems determined to improve his product range and service delivery to suit emerging market trends.

Captain Fell (and our dinner cruise host) aboard the Emmalisa in Hobart

We climbed aboard the vintage Emmalisa at the scheduled time with the other passengers, everyone buoyed with enthusiasm.  While Captain Fell took to the wheel house, the chef went to the galley and we were left in the capable hands of our dinner cruise host.  With a glass of wine to start with, the on-board commentary began… all about the history of Battery Point and the Hobart wharf.

The Emmalisa, one of the historic ferries owned by Captain Fell in Hobart

Delicious Dinner Cruise

In no time at all, we were served with a delicious and steaming hot bowl of chicken soup.  With real chicken in it!  One of the juniors declared it the best soup he’d ever eaten!!  Soon followed our main meal, and as this was a test case for an article, we ordered a variety of mains.  Rump steak, chicken schnitzel, lamb cutlets and crumbed fish; all served with Tasmanian potatoes and a garden salad.

All hot, and all with accompanying sauces.  And all delicious!  There wasn’t a single bite left, and we’re talking very generous serves.  Peter supports other locals in the area, and buys all his meat fresh from the Salamanca Fruit Market in Hobart.

Dinner and a cruise with Captain Fell. Generous serves, hot and delicious!

The bowl of ice-cream to finish the meal was also massive, and we had a choice of chocolate or strawberry topping.  If that wasn’t enough, there was also fruit cake to have with coffee.  And while you can help yourself to wine for free, there’s also a bar selling beers and mixed drinks.

Cruising Hobart’s Derwent River

Now you might think we actually just sat at the wharf eating and drinking; but what would a dinner cruise be without an actual tour around the Hobart harbour?  Of course we did that too, and what a bonus!!  It was lovely, and very relaxing.  The day had been quite windy and the water seemed choppy, but the historic ferry handled the conditions really well and we had a smooth ride.

You get such a different perspective from the water, and as we cruised past some of Hobart’s landmark features, I couldn’t help but take way too many photos.  But as you may know, that’s my indicator of a good time!  You will travel past the Tasman Bridge (where we saw a dolphin leap from the water), Government House and a myriad of boats and ships in the docks, all from a new angle.

The Tasman Bridge across the Derwent River in Hobart Tasmania

A great view from the Derwent River of Government House on Queens Domain

Emmalisa meets the Lady Jane and other vessels over the course of the dinner cruise

All too soon, the dinner cruise came to an end and we returned to Franklin Wharf.  Other passengers leaving the historic ferry posed for photographs with the captain, and all left with big smiles.  This is definitely a great thing to do with a group, but since our visit we’ve sent other customers along (a couple) and checked their opinion.  It was the same as ours!  They had a fabulous steak meal and really enjoyed the perspective of Hobart from the Derwent River.

Returning to Franklin Wharf at the conclusion of the Saturday evening dinner cruise

Captain Fell’s Historic Ferries & Tours

So everyone has given the dinner cruise a definite thumbs up.  For a value-for-money meal with a bonus cruise, you can’t go wrong!  The company does offer other services, including tours on the Lady Jane (a “party boat” for group functions) and tours on a double-decker bus of Hobart and surrounds.  We wouldn’t hesitate joining Captain Fell and his friendly staff another time.

The vintage Emmalisa, the Hobart dinner cruise tour boat owned by Captain Fell

For more information, phone 03 6223 5893
or see Captain Fell’s Historic Ferries website.
The writer and her family were guests of
Captain Fell for the Saturday evening dinner cruise.

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Map: Captain Fell’s Dinner Cruise…