Hints for a Tassie holiday please.

jaydee · 03-10-2009, 10:18 PM

The wife and I with my teenage daughter are planning a trip to Tassie in mid January. Apart from Port Arthur and Cradle Top can anyone tell me some must see places.
We're only going for about 8 days, do you need to book accomodation? People have told me theres accomodation everywhere and just rock up.
Thanks in advance.

kelnic · 03-10-2009, 11:33 PM

have to go to strahan on the west coast. it is the most beautiful,relaxing place.also has the gordon franklin river cruises.everyone else that i know has gone there and loved the place.this is a place you have to go,you wont be disappointed!

Director · 04-10-2009, 07:29 PM

mid Jan might be a bit risky for rock up accom if you want to stay in the top tourist areas. What are you into? fishing? bush walking? just relaxing? Coles Bay and Bruny Island are beautiful spots, Richmond is nice. If you like trout fishing Little Pine lagoon and shannon River are fantastic.
If you get stuck you can come around and do my lawns while I go fishing

The G6ET Spot · 04-10-2009, 07:41 PM

8 days, will pass by very quickly I can assure you. When you go to port arthur make sure you allow a full day as to see it properly you will need it.

But as Kelnic said Strahan and a Gordon River cruise would have to be up there on top of one of the must things to do. Absolutely magnificent trip and the scenery is something else.

If you do go to strahan the Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge is also a must see. A wall of wood carvings that measure 40m x 3m approx, a very talented man and worth the stop.

Be prepared to take plenty of photos as well, we were there for 11 days and took over 1000 pics.

Going back for 3 weeks in may next year,so who know how many will be taken then.

If you are going to the main tourist spots it would be best to book accommodation as we were told that everything is just about booked out at that time of year being the height of their tourist season.

Falcon_Crazy · 04-10-2009, 07:47 PM

8 Days not a lot of ime. Maybe stick to to east coast? The roads are a bit hows ya father and 200 kays can easily take 3+ hours. Accomodation in peak can be tough so suggest you book ahead. Weather is unpredictable. I spent 3.5 weeks there in Feb - gotta head back cause i missed so much due to weaher and time. Check out some photos below if you like

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2454391...7613805409857/

Beautiful place

jaydee · 04-10-2009, 09:04 PM

Thanks all, yes 8 days isn't much but due to work commitments thats about all we can manage.
Sorry Director, won't have time to do you lawns, good thought though. I would like to have a go at trout fishing any recommendations for a beginner tourist on where to go?
Hiking would be good but the ball and chain can only go a few hundred metres before complaining.

XR6_661 · 05-10-2009, 12:11 PM

Me and my missus are going down towards the end of the year. I'm a tassie boy so we are just going to hire a car and I'll show her around.

Try and get down the south east...A lot of nice places there. Dover namely, where I grew up.

Hastings caves are also quite nice. Definatly do Port Arthur. Also if you are up there, check out the midlands. Lots of nice places there, if you get the chance, stay at Brickendon Estate.

Salamanca markets in Hobart are pretty good to check out, that as well as the docks, make sure you drop into Mako Seafood for a feed, best fish and chips ever.

If I think or more, I'll post it up.

RedHotGT · 05-10-2009, 02:53 PM

I reckon RICHMOND is awesome.... has the oldest bridge in Australia, and they also have an old Gaol that you can tour...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Bridge,_Tasmania

We went there with a 4yr old and a 2yr old.... so it was a little trying...

The other place that I HIGHLY recommend - though it takes a little bit of driving and walking... is HASTINGS CAVES....
http://www.discovertasmania.com/acti...astings_caves#
its about as far south as you can go in TAS, but it is amazing and well worth the walk...

Like I said, we went there with 2 young kids and basically had to carry them everywhere in and out of the cave... but it was well worth it....

outback_ute · 05-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Have you been to Tassie before? As said definitely book ahead for the middle of school holidays.

The Wilderness Railway from Strahan to Queenstown is a worthwhile, it is the historic train used for the copper mine, goes through some spectacular country and also interesting story to construct it.

The good thing in Tassie is that distances are not huge, but work on 60km/h average speed not ~90 everywhere except perhaps the hwy between Hobart and Launceston.

jaydee · 05-10-2009, 10:24 PM

Cheers guys.
XR6 661, the markets, what days are they on please, someone else recommended them

TS50 · 05-10-2009, 10:33 PM

Freichenyet on the east coast (coles bay) is a must see, Wineglass Bay is listed as one of the best beaches in the world, once you go there you will see why
I live here and take it all for granted, and miss a lot, as we all do around our own area
but yeah hastings caves is great
Strahn on the west coast (gordon river) is a must see,, you can do a gordon river cruise in the morning, and the abt railway in the arvo
I guess its really what you like and wantto see
But Tassie is so compact, but such different scenery everywhere
As others have said, BOOK ACCOMODATION AHEAD
Bloody hard to get accomodation in Jan, most places have well in excess of 90% occupancy rates in Jan

jaydee · 06-10-2009, 10:30 PM

Cheers TS50, will do.

The G6ET Spot · 06-10-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

Cheers guys.
XR6 661, the markets, what days are they on please, someone else recommended them

Salamanca Markets are on Saturdays. Some very cool woodwork there. Certainly worth looking. Here's a link for you.

http://www.salamanca.com.au/

XR6_661 · 07-10-2009, 09:24 AM

Oh, not sure if they still do it, but if you want a thrill, go on the jet boat on the huon river.

As for Trout fishing, South of Dover, look for the esperence river...Used to fish there nearly every day with my dad as a boy, lots of fish in there...Oh and it's not trout fishing unless you use a fly rod!

mcnews · 07-10-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelnic

have to go to strahan on the west coast. it is the most beautiful,relaxing place.also has the gordon franklin river cruises.everyone else that i know has gone there and loved the place.this is a place you have to go,you wont be disappointed!

Absorootry! This is the best place in Tassie. You must do the cruise, I drove the yacht most of the way up the river. If you are lucky you can be there at the time of the month when the yacht collects the kayakers that have been riding the whitewater down the river for a few days. If you get this the yacht is allowed to go more than 10km further up river than any other vessel and you stay overnight on the yacht near a nice waterfall. The roads down the west coast are also heaps better than the east coast. If you want somewhere to stay between Hobart and Strahan if going across the bottom then Tarraleah is a nice place to stay. A couple of photos I took during my yacht trip up the Gordon.

AC/DC · 07-10-2009, 06:06 PM

8 Days will rock in Tassie....

Bicheno and Strahn are both very nice.

The river cruise at Strahan was excellent, , Sarah Island was a nice place.

The cascade brewery is worth it.

I wouldnt book accomidation, , just roll up.

Other places that were good - - - -Stanley and "the Nut" , , , Cataract Gorge in Launceston, , , Wineglass bay, , , Devils Gullet, , , Port Arthur, , , There is a wildlife park just north of hobart ( cant remember the name ) , , , ,Ross ( nice old bridge ) , , , , There is also a pub south of launceston where they used to race formula 1, , , , Oh the Ghose tour in port arthur was cool, , , , , we also went on a night tour of the bay and river area in Hobart which was cool, , , , , PUB MEALS ! ! ! !, , , , , , Swansea on the east coast was nice and "old school"

now I wanna go back ! !

TS50 · 07-10-2009, 08:40 PM

Just rock up in January??
hmm, could be sleeping in the car

jaydee · 07-10-2009, 10:28 PM

Thanks all, you've been great, I think we'll be busy, no sleeping in.

Mark s · 07-10-2009, 11:25 PM

My mum moved down there a few years ago and the wife, kids and I visited.

Really loved Port Arthur(kids got bored), did a drive up the guts and came back down the east coast. Missed out on visiting all the old pubs in Hobart (due to kids) Visited Richmond, missed the Cascade Brewery tour (kids again) Went to Cadbury factory (kids wanted to visit that, and it really made me understand that I had a wonderful job)

Really I think it''s a great place for adults to visit and I cant wait to get back there. Kids get bored pretty quick, so if you have them, leave them with the inlaws.

Pass on the Cadbury factory, it rates up there with Bart Simpsons visit to the box factory.

ltd · 08-10-2009, 08:30 AM

My parents live in Tasmania, and as many a journey down there I can give you some details that I have constantly had driven in to me on the way to their place from the airport.

* Tasmania is the worlds biggest producer of medicinal opiates ergo, the reason for all the poppy fields you'll see.
* Tasmania has police that actually do, um, policing. You will often see police by the side of the road with a radar; not a camera stuck in a bush.
* Because of Tasmanias lattitude, twilight is often around 9pm-9:30pm in Summer.
* Tasmania is used as the benchmark throughout the world for measuring air quality.
* There are more sheep in Tasmania than people.
* Tasmanian is often referred to as the "apple isle", but it is more commonly referred to for its shape resembling a certain part of the anatomy.
* Tasmania has the best conditions in the world for making riesling wine.
* The Japanese buy Atlantic Salmon only from the farms on the Gordon river in Tasmania; nowhere else.
* On any given hot day the waters at Bicheno are startlingly cold. This is due to strong antarctic currents.

You'll miss the Taste Festival in Hobart, but check out the Tamar Valley if that's your sort of thing.
Also, between Devonport and Ulverstone there are numerous Rasberry and Strawberry farms where you can pick your own; always fun with the kids. As everyone else has highlighted areas you should go to, I'd recommend that if you travel on the Spirit of Tasmania, you should get a cabin and not cruise seats.

TS50 · 09-10-2009, 10:12 AM

Well partly right on a few thigs
although cops do stand out next to raod, dont let that fool you, we still have plenty of comeras in cars etc
so do not be think there arnt any
In February, yes twighlight is around around 9, love it
and I dont think Cabury do the tours anymore, something about ohs and food safety

ltd · 09-10-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS50

Well partly right on a few thigs
although cops do stand out next to raod, dont let that fool you, we still have plenty of comeras in cars etc
so do not be think there arnt any
In February, yes twighlight is around around 9, love it
and I dont think Cabury do the tours anymore, something about ohs and food safety

My GF wants to know if Cadbury has buried that stupid recipe they had before with palm oil or whatever?
I know there's a fixed camera around longford, was unaware they have them in their cars too.

DayTE · 09-10-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

My GF wants to know if Cadbury has buried that stupid recipe they had before with palm oil or whatever?
I know there's a fixed camera around longford, was unaware they have them in their cars too.

Don't know about cadbury's, but, yes the police (or contractors) do sit in the bushes in vehicles such as RAV4's. Foresters, Commodore wagons, and you will see the odd un,arked Camry, Mondeo, Falcon, Commodore.

I would suggest to book accomodation. Even if it's just to be on the safe side, but depending on what you are into, there are lots of different things around the state to see and do.

I think a lot of things have been mentioned, but there are so many things here that you just wont see over the time you have here. But I woud try to get around Port Arthur, Cradle Mt, the Gordon River Cruise, Stanly Nut, Wineglass/Coles Bay. There are other things in their respective areas which could easily fill in a day or two, but it really depends on what you are into.

You also have two of Australias best (commercial) beer brewers within 2 hours of each other, and both have tours, which you will need to book for. As well as a boutique brewery, a couple of distillereys, cheese places, vinyards, etc. etc.... I could go on

Either way there is plenty to see and do, and you wont see half of it in eight days. Enjoy the trip though.

The G6ET Spot · 10-10-2009, 12:00 AM

Cadbury's definitely don't do tours anymore. Due to OHS.

**TUF_302** · 11-10-2009, 07:04 PM

I live in tas and still ain't seen half the things people have surgested, all i can say is i think you will need a lot longer to enjoy it, 8 days just wont be enough i can assure you that!, i've spoken to people who think 2-4 weeks still isn't enough time to see it all, maybe you should extend your time frame, otherwise you might feel like you have to rush the trip and wont enjoy it as much

blown351 · 13-10-2009, 11:17 AM

bruny island is a nice place,apart from the roads arent much good at times though worst luck ,few good walking tracks and sights to see. (i grew up down there) i recommend the bruny island charter boat tours,its awsome. been on it a few times. they depart the adventure bay jetty every day from memory at 11am and i think they have afternoon ones around 2 or 3 not sure on prices now though.

jaydee · 12-12-2009, 11:36 PM

Ok, booked a few nights at the casino, pretty cheap on the WOTIF site. Booked a few nights in Strahan, doing the river cruise and the train ride, then going on to Cradle Mountain, back to Hobart for a few more days to get in the markets, then Pt Arthur, we'll leave the rest up to spontinaity, maybe even a jet boat ride or something.
Thanks for all the tips.
Going to hire a car thru AAA tours where I can get a "preloved Camry" for about $500 for the whole 10 days.

**TUF_302** · 13-12-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

Ok, booked a few nights at the casino, pretty cheap on the WOTIF site. Booked a few nights in Strahan, doing the river cruise and the train ride, then going on to Cradle Mountain, back to Hobart for a few more days to get in the markets, then Pt Arthur, we'll leave the rest up to spontinaity, maybe even a jet boat ride or something.
Thanks for all the tips.
Going to hire a car thru AAA tours where I can get a "preloved Camry" for about $500 for the whole 10 days.

No such thing as a pre loved camry, no one loves them lol!

jaydee · 13-12-2009, 04:07 PM

Very quick there Tuf 302 I like it, but I think you're wrong, asians and middle easterns seem to like them. ( Not a racist comment so nobody have a shot, just an observation).

**TUF_302** · 13-12-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

Very quick there Tuf 302 I like it, but I think you're wrong, asians and middle easterns seem to like them. ( Not a racist comment so nobody have a shot, just an observation).

Only casue they dont get the choice of owning a falcon lol!