Tasmania Tips, Background, Growing Cruise Ship Interest

[TLCOhio]

From the Los Angeles Times yesterday, they had this headline: “No longer a pit stop and much more than a place to dump prisoners, Tasmania is a kind of cabinet of curiosities”  with these highlights: “For 175 years, explorers and adventurers spent their last night in Hobart, Tasmania, before setting off into the unknown, icy wasters of the Antarctic in search of fame, science and the South Pole.  For 50 years, it was also the notorious last stop for about 75,000 prisoners from the British Empire.  But now people are flocking to the heart-shaped island for very different reasons.  Last year major cruise lines made 95 port calls here, thanks to newly lengthened wharves that can accommodate the largest vessels.”

 

YES!  We super enjoyed our full day in Tasmania in 2014.  More on my live/blog connected below.  Lots of interesting history, nature, wildlife, etc., here.  This profile offers many different ideas, tips, visuals, etc.  One background item I learned from this writer was this "detail": "Errol Flynn, the swashbuckling movie hero and sailing enthusiast, spent his early years in Tasmania. His voracious appetites allegedly inspired Warner Bros.’  'Tasmanian Devil'  cartoon character, and his archives and papers were left to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which is also close to the harbor."

 

Full story at:

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-tasmania-museum-wine-20181019-story.html

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling for "down under” wonders. Exciting visuals with key highlights. Now at 213,715 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

[possum52]

Thanks Tom, Tassie is becoming very popular with cruisers.

 

Leigh

[TLCOhio]

On 10/20/2018 at 9:37 PM, possum52 said:

Thanks Tom, Tassie is becoming very popular with cruisers.  Leigh

 

Hi, Leigh!  Appreciate your follow-up.  This is Terry filling in for "Tom".  Keep it coming with any comments, questions, tips, suggestions, etc., for what to do and enjoy at Hobart, on Tasmania, etc. 

 

From our one day visit to Hobart, I will share some visuals from what we saw and did.  This might spur more research as you plan your options.  Many very good potentials to consider.  Below are some visual samples from the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.  Having a private tour worked very well for us in being able to maximize what we could do and see in and around Hobart, plus being able to reach locations in the most time-efficient manner. 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Wonderful scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 231,506 views. 

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

From the nearby Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, here is one of the Tasmanian Devils with the unique identification stripe showing on its back. That stripe is like their fingerprint, different on each one, according to the park expert. Not a big creature. Didn’t get to see its teeth, but you have to admit that their name is a little scary. Don’t put your fingers too close to their teeth!:

 

Here is a full view of an emu at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Next is Susan from our group getting ready to feed an emu, but becoming a little surprised by how aggressive this unique animal got by putting its head under the fence. Finally, a really close-up view of their heads. Susan thought they seemed fairly oily on the tops of their heads. Not all animals are cute and perfect in their looks!:

 

 

 

Here is a little wombat. Did you think they look like this?:

 

Not sure of this bird’s name, but it sure looked different and interesting. Don’t see these in Ohio or the midwest!:

[TLCOhio]

Below are more of the visuals to document and verify what we were able to see and do during just one day while our ship was in Hobart.  Lots to see, experience and enjoy.  Carefully consider your many great options.  And my sense is that since 2014 when we visited Tasmania that the many food, nature, scenic, etc., options have become even better.  Right?

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling for "down under”wonders. Exciting visuals with key highlights.  On page 15, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 214,056 views. 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

 

How can you not love seeing the Koalas up close and personal? Unlike at Kangaroo Island, we did not see this one in the wild, but here we got closer. What a face? So, so super cute!!:

 

Here is a mother Kangaroo with the baby “Joey” in the pouch. We saw two different mothers carrying babies in their pouch.:

 

Here is Karen from our Central Ohio group finding a cute Kangaroo for feeding. And, surprise!!, this mother has an even more lovable baby in the pouch. This is getting really up close and personal.:

 

Here is a larger group of Kangaroos. Quite a wide range of ages and sizes. :

 

Here is our long-time friend, Dennis, with Janet’s help, taking a picture, up close, of the Kangaroos.:

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Our main goal for Tasmania involved some driving distance to reach Port Arthur, the famed British penal colony on this island. We saw in traveling there, the check-point of dogs to keep prisoners from escaping this somewhat remote location. Conditions were not good in these facilities, but many also viewed conditions at this time in London to be very bad. Remember Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities?  Our guides were very good in helping us understand the historic context and the realities for life at this time in Australia. 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.!  Live/blog from early 2018, first adventure through SE Asia, stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before exploring all over Vietnam and Cambodia, seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Now at 37,553 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

 

From Port Arthur, the historic Tasmanian penal colony seen during our stop in Hobart, here are a series of view of the sights there. First is a view for a portion of this camp. Second, shows our tour guide, Murray, giving an overview on a model for how the camp looked at the time of its operations. Third is a visual of some of the old building remains towards to the nearby water area and the location where the prisoners would arrive from England for this “visit”. It took six to nine months to make the journey from England to this distant part of the world. Fourth is an interior view as some members of our Central Ohio group tour and learn more about daily operations here.:

 

 

 

 

Port Arthur was the location for the “worst of the worst” with these prison camps down under. Here are some more architecture examples from this site with many of its buildings made of native sandstone and classic designs.:

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Here is a final, maybe, group of some highlight visuals for what we saw and did while having our one-day visit to Tasmania.  Have many more pictures, but hopefully these give some sampling and ideas for what is possible at this great location in Australia.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 241,589 views. 

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

As we traveled to Port Arthur, this was one of the scenic beach/shore views. Like this weather? Look like an attractive location?:

 

In the Tasmanian historic town of Richmond, here are two visuals of interest. First is their historic stone bridge, built by convict labor, that goes back to 1823. We drove across it. Still works. Second is the interior for the old historic Catholic church there in this town. Not as old as the churches in Europe, but it gives a sense of Aussie history. Lots of interesting shops there in this town. Didn’t have time to do stops in the shops. Good news!! Saved money and kept my wife’s buying habits in check.:

 

 

In Hobart, one of the hot new attraction is this art museum built along the water in Hobart. We did not have time to stop here, but we drove by. It has free admission and was built by a local “rich guy” with unusual art tastes. Very popular, according to our guides.:

[possum52]

Sorry Terry, a real senior moment on my behalf. We have spent many land trips to Tasmania but yet to cruise there. We love visiting Richmond, it is such a pretty town. Port Arthur is amazing, so eerie and dark but in a beautiful setting.

 

Leigh

[GUT2407]

3 hours ago, possum52 said:

Sorry Terry, a real senior moment on my behalf. We have spent many land trips to Tasmania but yet to cruise there. We love visiting Richmond, it is such a pretty town. Port Arthur is amazing, so eerie and dark but in a beautiful setting.

 

Leigh

Leigh as beautiful as Port Arthur is, cruising in is even more spectacular.

[SteveH2508]

Terry

 

Thanks for this. We are in Tasmania in January and your posts have given us some great insights.

[hbtcruiser]

On 10/24/2018 at 3:33 AM, TLCOhio said:

 

In Hobart, one of the hot new attraction is this art museum built along the water in Hobart. We did not have time to stop here, but we drove by. It has free admission and was built by a local “rich guy” with unusual art tastes. Very popular, according to our guides.:

 

 

This museum is MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) and has been a great thing for Tasmania, especially Hobart. There are many visitors who come to the island with this museum as their main reason. They also hold a number of different festivals around Tasmania each year. Just to let you know there is an admission fee to the museum, used to be free (only now free for locals).

 

https://mona.net.au/museum

 

[iancal]

Thanks very much. We are in Austalia for a month in Feb/March.  Just booked a flights for eight days in Tasmania.  It is such a large country....so much to see.

 

 

Edited December 4, 2018 by iancal