Things to do in Tasmania (May 2016 - Autumn)
Travel Period
29 Apr to 4 May 16
Six days in Tasmania, great travel with a big group of friends (8 of us).
Airflight route
1) From Singapore, we bought a return trip via Scoot to Melbourne - (S$437.60). Approx eight hours.
2) One-way domestic flight via Virgin Airline to Launceston - (S$117)
3) One-way domestic flight via Tiger Air from Hobart to Mel - (S$93)
4) Back to Singapore
What is required
Driving in Tasmania, very convenient!
Warm clothing (Esp for mount wellington, it's always cold up there)
Australia Visa ($20AUD)
Travel Insurance (Bought from GE elite plan - S$40)
SIM Card (Service provider: tested and proven that Telstra offers wider coverage than Optus in Tasmania.) Telstra ~$40AUD for thirty days 3GB for day & night, Optus: 500mb, $2/day - max $4/day
Car Rental
Rented from Budget.com 2x SUVs, collection at the airport. SUVs are recommended over sedan cars you are going for off-roads (mountains etc). You may also wish to purchase car insurance.
~S$270 for six days per vehicle for Koleos Brand.
Travel Exploration Route
We reached Launceston -> Cradle mountain-> Eastern Tasmania (binalong bay to coles bay) -> Hobart
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Day 1 (Half day)
Touched down Tas in the evening time. Picked up the cars and the weather's pouring.
Accommodation
Airbnb: Button Street Townhouse (S$330 for 8 pax)
Address: 39C Button St, Mowbray, TAS 7248
Detail: Two floors, 2.5 toilets, gym, kitchen, washing machine available.
Dinner
Kebab (12AUD) It was such a big portion and we had to share!
Supper
Noodlebox
Always wanted to try these cute asian lunch boxes screened in english dramas!
Drinks :P
Went to a nearby store called "Cellarbrations". 6 bottles of wine for 30AUD!
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Day 2
Morning View from the apartment.
Visit Cataract Gorge
Lunch: Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm
All the food here are infused with raspberry!
Raspberry Hot choc
Dessert: VDL Creamery Cafe (Ice Cream Factory)
Very near to the raspberry farm.
The mint flavour is soooooo goooooooooood.
Next: Ashgrove Cheese Factory
Seven Sheds Brewery
Stopped by at Sheffield town for toilet before heading up to Cradle Mountain.
Where to next? No where else?
Cradle Mountain
NOTE: before driving to cradle mountain, you have to purchase the tickets from the visitor centre (AUD24 / vehicle). But we bought a season pass (i think it was about AUD60?) that entitles us to go to all the mountains/national parks in tasmania.
Many different routes. Depending on the time you have, you can plan your routes accordingly.
Dove Lake (just a five min walk down from the carpark)
Dove Lake Boat Shed
Marion's lookout: Good to have at least a decent pair of trainers!
Onwards to the lookout, there's a good view to take a photo:
Accommodation
Expedia: Cradle mountain Hotel (S$850 for 8 pax)
Address: 3718 Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain, TAS, 7310
Dinner: Grey Gum Restaurant (quite pricey, about $40AUD per pax)
Soup of the day: Clear mushroom soup
Steak
Seafood tasting platter: have to cook all these seafood by yourself!
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Day 3
Travel onwards to binalong bay! It's a long drive, so we stopped by to have breakfast at a petrol kiosk at Perth (Yes, there's a town called perth in tasmania). Their servings are huge!
Breakfast @ Petrol Kiosk
Binalong Bay
We spent quite some time here to take photos from many different angles: )
A faint rainbow. "where's my pot of gold?!"
Reached Coles Bay
Accommodation
Airbnb: Coles Bay Accommodation (S$400 for 8 pax)
Address: 31 Oyster Bay Crescent Coles Bay, TAS 7215
Detail: Three floors, 2.5 toilets, washing machine + dryer, fireplace, kitchen available.
Sunset view from our place.
Dinner ready! Two pizzas, two turkeys, spaghetti coupled with champagne :)
A good chance for you to go take a look at the night sky full of stars! VERY VERY PRETTY! Especially so if you are at the southern part, you may even get to see the southern lights (aurora). (Online claims that every part of tasmania you're able to see them though)
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Day 4
Freycinet National Park
We took a walk about an hour to the lookout point for Wineglass Bay
After which, Cape Tourville Lighthouse
If you like oysters, this is a famous one - Freycinet Marine Farm (Oyster Farm)
The mussels here are good too! Please rmb to clear up your dishes after eating though! We were asked to come back to clear it ><
Moving on to Port Arthur, we stopped by at Swansea for lunch and petrol.
Lunch: Oyster Bay Seafood
Can't miss fish and chips in Australia! (But.. so so only :/ price was about $20AUD)
Tom Yum Seafood Pasta
Drove past the Eaglehawk Neck to reach Port Arthur.
We didn't go to the lookout area due to time constraints but if you have time go take a look.
adopted from wiki.
Tasman Arch
Port Arthur Ghost Tour (located at Port Arthur Historic Site) - $25AUD
The Tourguide will tell you some real stories of the past. Some sorta spooky.
Dinner: Port Arthur Historic Site Cafe
It's fish & chips again! LOL. this one is nice!
Chicken Cutlet
Accommodation
Expedia: Fox and Hounds Inn (S$386.64 for 8 pax)
Address: 6789 Arthur Hwy, Port Arthur TAS 7182
The reason why we chose this is because it's near the ghost tour (will end late, so just a short 5 min drive away)
Detail: Booked two apartment. Each apartment: 1 toilet, two rooms. no washing machine. Equipped with basic kitchen.
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Day 5
Port Arthur Lavender Farm (Very near our accomodation)
We were having a sweet tooth.. so, cakes icecream savoury pancakes for breakfast!
Tasmanian Devil Unzoo (33AUD per pax, we went as a large group and there was group discount. So it was about 25AUD per pax!)
My favourite highlight of the trip because, animals!!! The zoo wasn't very big so we took roughly 3hours and completed it. There are little tours in the zoo, so make sure to follow the guide and ask on their timing.
Feeding time : D
Eastern quoll (black one is female, brown one is male)
HIGHLIGHT: Tasmanian Devils!! Make sure to go during their feeding time. Able to see how they share the meat.
Tawny Frogmouth (looks like owl) - But be careful, it..shat on my friend while carrying to take a photo. Hahahahaha
Onwards to Hobart CBD!
Accommodation
Beautiful Accomodation: Amtolu (540AUD for 8 pax per night) - 300AUD for a couple, additional 40AUD per pax. The owner lives next door, very friendly. When we ran out of condiments for our dinner we simply borrowed from him.
Address: 48 Liverpool Crescent, West Hobart
Details: Washing machine & dryer available. Three levels (however one of the levels are only connected via an outdoor pathway - we totally didn't use that floor cause it's freezing & raining out there. The two levels are sufficient for us)
I can't emphasise how much i love this house! it's equipped with many surprises.. For example, NERF GUNS AROUND THE HOUSE. and you simply have to go search for it! Great for family with kids. On the last level, there's also a secret room along the walkway. Thumbs up!
Port Arthur Lavender Farm (Very near our accomodation)
We were having a sweet tooth.. so, cakes icecream savoury pancakes for breakfast!
Tasmanian Devil Unzoo (33AUD per pax, we went as a large group and there was group discount. So it was about 25AUD per pax!)
My favourite highlight of the trip because, animals!!! The zoo wasn't very big so we took roughly 3hours and completed it. There are little tours in the zoo, so make sure to follow the guide and ask on their timing.
Feeding time : D
Eastern quoll (black one is female, brown one is male)
HIGHLIGHT: Tasmanian Devils!! Make sure to go during their feeding time. Able to see how they share the meat.
Tawny Frogmouth (looks like owl) - But be careful, it..shat on my friend while carrying to take a photo. Hahahahaha
Onwards to Hobart CBD!
Accommodation
Beautiful Accomodation: Amtolu (540AUD for 8 pax per night) - 300AUD for a couple, additional 40AUD per pax. The owner lives next door, very friendly. When we ran out of condiments for our dinner we simply borrowed from him.
Address: 48 Liverpool Crescent, West Hobart
Check out their website here: http://www.beautifulaccommodation.com/properties/amtolu
Details: Washing machine & dryer available. Three levels (however one of the levels are only connected via an outdoor pathway - we totally didn't use that floor cause it's freezing & raining out there. The two levels are sufficient for us)
I can't emphasise how much i love this house! it's equipped with many surprises.. For example, NERF GUNS AROUND THE HOUSE. and you simply have to go search for it! Great for family with kids. On the last level, there's also a secret room along the walkway. Thumbs up!
Pictures from their website:
The kitchen is well equipped too, and so we cooked our dinner! We went to the CBD's coles supermarket to buy these (eggs, chicken wings, salmon, salads!). Much needed protein~
It's a war. Think we played for an hour or so? hahahahaha
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Day 6
Bruny Island (We drove there and there will be a vehicle ferry terminal)
Go to Kettering for vehicle ferry terminal. See link for timetable and price.
http://www.brunyisland.org.au/bruny-island-ferry/
The ferry leaves on time, so make sure to reach at least ten minutes in advance!
Bruny Island: The neck
Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island, southern Tasmania.
Very instagram worthy photos! approximately 200 steps to reach the top from the carpark :)
Bruny Island Premium Wines
Salmon "Kid's Meal" for me. Seems Regular to me hahah.
Wallaby meat ><
Cape Bruny Lighthouse
We spotted rabbits there too! But they were too fast to even snap a pic!
There are some walk trails in bruny island, if time permits - take the walks!
We were searching for the carpark for "Mount Mangana". Reached there. Found the entrance it was surround by bushes. The carpark was not even a decent carpark. The trails were off-road and narrow, be very careful!
In the end.. we decided not to go for the 1.5 hour walk, and lepak instead :P
Bruny Island Providore (Chocolate Factory)
Note: THERE ARE NO TOILETS. My bladder want to burst already hahha. The nearest ones are at Cheese company and Oyster Farm (which will be introduced later).
Sells chocolate and some toys. Something like our "mama shop".
Bruny Island Cheese Company
I'm not a big fan of cheese, but sampled a few interesting ones!
There are ales and ciders there too. Bought a bottle of cider back to SG :)
Bruny Island Berry Farm
It was closed when we reached there.. but can include this into part of your itinerary :)
Get Shucked Oyster Bar
Great Bay (at the beach near Get Shucked)
Accommodation: still at Amtolu
Dinner was leftover food from supermarket from the day before :)
--
Day 7 (Half day)
"If you have never been to Mount Wellington, you have never been to Hobart!"
Pavement road to mount wellington, snowed on the top when we were there! Be equipped with warm clothing! There is a carpark to the peak of mount wellington, so there's not much physical exercises needed. However, it was too cloudy that day. from the observatory we couldn't see anything at all! Else im sure it will be a pretty good view overseeing Hobart CBD area.
Since there are clearer views than the peak, we decided to stop by some areas for phototaking.
Tasman Bridge
On the way from Hobart CBD back to the airport, managed to find a place (Rosny Hill lookout) to stop by and took photo of this landmark.But as the trees grow taller and larger, the views of the tasman bridge will bound to be obstructed.
Sullivans Cove Whisky
Whisky smell is super strong. Merely took a quick look, but there are sampling available if requested.
--
Returned rental car back at airport.
Back to Melbourne.
---
Day 6
Bruny Island (We drove there and there will be a vehicle ferry terminal)
Go to Kettering for vehicle ferry terminal. See link for timetable and price.
http://www.brunyisland.org.au/bruny-island-ferry/
The ferry leaves on time, so make sure to reach at least ten minutes in advance!
Bruny Island: The neck
Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island, southern Tasmania.
Very instagram worthy photos! approximately 200 steps to reach the top from the carpark :)
Bruny Island Premium Wines
Salmon "Kid's Meal" for me. Seems Regular to me hahah.
Wallaby meat ><
Cape Bruny Lighthouse
We spotted rabbits there too! But they were too fast to even snap a pic!
There are some walk trails in bruny island, if time permits - take the walks!
We were searching for the carpark for "Mount Mangana". Reached there. Found the entrance it was surround by bushes. The carpark was not even a decent carpark. The trails were off-road and narrow, be very careful!
In the end.. we decided not to go for the 1.5 hour walk, and lepak instead :P
Bruny Island Providore (Chocolate Factory)
Note: THERE ARE NO TOILETS. My bladder want to burst already hahha. The nearest ones are at Cheese company and Oyster Farm (which will be introduced later).
Sells chocolate and some toys. Something like our "mama shop".
Bruny Island Cheese Company
I'm not a big fan of cheese, but sampled a few interesting ones!
There are ales and ciders there too. Bought a bottle of cider back to SG :)
It was closed when we reached there.. but can include this into part of your itinerary :)
Get Shucked Oyster Bar
Great Bay (at the beach near Get Shucked)
Accommodation: still at Amtolu
Dinner was leftover food from supermarket from the day before :)
--
Day 7 (Half day)
"If you have never been to Mount Wellington, you have never been to Hobart!"
Pavement road to mount wellington, snowed on the top when we were there! Be equipped with warm clothing! There is a carpark to the peak of mount wellington, so there's not much physical exercises needed. However, it was too cloudy that day. from the observatory we couldn't see anything at all! Else im sure it will be a pretty good view overseeing Hobart CBD area.
Since there are clearer views than the peak, we decided to stop by some areas for phototaking.
Tasman Bridge
On the way from Hobart CBD back to the airport, managed to find a place (Rosny Hill lookout) to stop by and took photo of this landmark.But as the trees grow taller and larger, the views of the tasman bridge will bound to be obstructed.
Sullivans Cove Whisky
Whisky smell is super strong. Merely took a quick look, but there are sampling available if requested.
--
Returned rental car back at airport.
Back to Melbourne.
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