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

[Chiliburn]

• I like Hobart,a big country town.
• museums,pubs,seafood,a lovely waterfront.

[GUT2407]

Be there eight weeks from today, looooove Hobart, nearly moved there a few years back. Wish I had.

[macntosh]

Moving to Tassie just a year ago was the best move we have ever made. I will point out that there is so much more to Tassie than just Hobart.  You really need to do an extended road tour to appreciate what is on offer down here. Something that we did after several day visits to Hobart on ship visits. Now, we are living the dream down here in northern Tassie.  And really, mainlanders stay away as they think it is cold, but it is not that cold in winter down here. We do have heating...😀 boy, we even have electricity and running water, contrary to popular beliefs of some... 😄  Sarcasm on a Sunday morning... it's like waking up to the results in a Wentworth  by-election.  Too soon?? 

 

[GUT2407]

1 hour ago, macntosh said:

Moving to Tassie just a year ago was the best move we have ever made. I will point out that there is so much more to Tassie than just Hobart.  You really need to do an extended road tour to appreciate what is on offer down here. Something that we did after several day visits to Hobart on ship visits. Now, we are living the dream down here in northern Tassie.  And really, mainlanders stay away as they think it is cold, but it is not that cold in winter down here. We do have heating...😀 boy, we even have electricity and running water, contrary to popular beliefs of some... 😄  Sarcasm on a Sunday morning... it's like waking up to the results in a Wentworth  by-election.  Too soon?? 

 

We’ve done a couple of road tours of Tasmania, we love all of it, but work would probably mean Hobart for me and Mrs Gut, when we came closest it ended up I had to choose between Tassie and University. Came closest when Port Arthur tried to temp herself with a job.

[Docker123]

1 hour ago, macntosh said:

Moving to Tassie just a year ago was the best move we have ever made. I will point out that there is so much more to Tassie than just Hobart.  You really need to do an extended road tour to appreciate what is on offer down here. Something that we did after several day visits to Hobart on ship visits. Now, we are living the dream down here in northern Tassie.  And really, mainlanders stay away as they think it is cold, but it is not that cold in winter down here. We do have heating...😀 boy, we even have electricity and running water, contrary to popular beliefs of some... 😄  Sarcasm on a Sunday morning... it's like waking up to the results in a Wentworth  by-election.  Too soon?? 

 

 

In Melbourne we have sarcasm all week, not just Sundays.  🙃

[MicCanberra]

Tassie is a fabulous place to visit, love to do it often but don't think moving there is an option. 

[MicCanberra]

59 minutes ago, Docker123 said:

 

In Melbourne we have sarcasm all week, not just Sundays.  🙃

Really?

[lyndarra]

Have been to Tassie a few times but in 2020 I'll hopefully do a motorcycle tour. It's something that's been on our bucket list a long time.

[portcbob]

I'll be there in early April on the solstice. Anyone please got any recommendations on what to do or see for the day. 1St timers to Hobart.

cheers Bob.

[GUT2407]

27 minutes ago, portcbob said:

I'll be there in early April on the solstice. Anyone please got any recommendations on what to do or see for the day. 1St timers to Hobart.

cheers Bob.

Really comes down to what you like

 

Port Arthur is always worth a visit.

 

last cruise we irked a car and drove up to Ross via Richmond.

this ext cruise Salamanca Narkets are on, so that’s it, we were going to head South.

A walk around Battery Point, Salamanca, Botanic Gardens and town centre is nice.

[GUT2407]

And then there’s MONA.

 

or just stroll around Constitution Dock and Fish and Chips on the waterfront.

[MicCanberra]

For first timers to Hobart I would suggest a tour around the port /harbour area, a trip to MONA, a walk through the Botanical Gardens, and maybe a trip up Mt wellington.

[portcbob]

Thanks guys for the advice. 

cheers Bob.

[Docker123]

MONA is a great experience. Ferry trip, great displays, wonderful location for lunch. 

 

Walking distance:

Mawson’s Hut museum, right on the waterfront. 

The Tasmanian Museum and Gallery, just up the road. 

Salamanca Place shops and galleries, including various food and drink outlets.

 

[MicCanberra]

If there on a Saturday, they will have the markets going.

[TLCOhio]

On 10/21/2018 at 4:35 PM, MicCanberra said:

For first timers to Hobart I would suggest a tour around the port /harbour area, a trip to MONA, a walk through the Botanical Gardens, and maybe a trip up Mt wellington.

 

Appreciate all of these great posts, tips, comments and follow-ups. Very helpful!!  Keep it coming. 

 

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 is 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.:

[MicCanberra]

Great pics Terry. 

BTW the bird is what we call a Plover or Masked Lapwing , they have a nest on the ground and the pair of birds protect it very well by dive bombing anything that approaches the nest even remotely. There are several types or subspecies of this bird but the one you took a photo of is a southern novaehollandiae as it has the distinctive black markings on the shoulder and side of the chest. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masked_lapwing