Friday, December 28, 2007

14th ~ 25th dec 2008 (Tasmania)

dajie, bro-in-law, bb n i flew by qantas frm sin at 1955 to sydney at 0625..then frm sydney by jetstar at 0840 and arrive at hobart (the biggest city in tasmania) at 1035..
Day 1 Hobart

After deciding to rent the Subaru Forester..we are ready to set off to our first destination~SALAMACA MARKET- a place where ppl sell tasmanian pdts such as art & crafts, fashion n of cuz food..we tried some choc fudge n decided to buy some..we hang ard 4 abt 2 hrs n it's time to hv our lunch n then source for our accomodation..

headin to our nex destination..MT WELLINGTON- Hobart's wilderness of unsurpassed beauty..lovely

fyi, the shops r closed pretty early..some 5pm some 6pm..but as for their big supermarkets like coles n woolworths close pretty late,so we still got plenty of time to get our groceries for our dinner..also, the receipts cld be used petrol discounts

Day 2 Convict Trail
We stop in Sorell, went to the fruit farm to pick our own sweet cherries, strawberries, peaches & raspberries..cost abt $6/pax..u can pick as much as u can, as long as they fit into the container given to each person..the peaches r in season, so they r super juicy n sweet..it's really a deliciously perfect Tasmanian orchard experience..

along the way, we stopped at one of the spectacular geological features in the sea- Tessellated pavement..then at taranna, we went to see the Tasmanian Devil at the Tasmania Devil Conservation Park, $24/pax, can retry again as long as one is still in Tasmania..

For Port Arthur Historic Site, we need at least a full day to view the Australia's premier convict site. So, by the time we reached there it's pretty late already, so we bought the bronze entry pass at $25/pax (The pass is valid for two consecutive days. This pass includes an interpretation gallery, introductory walking tour, harbour cruise that pass the Dockyard, Point Puer Boy's Prison & the Isle of the Dead Cemetery)and we also got the ghost tour at night for $17/pax. This means, we need to get a accomodation for the nite. We chose Nubeena Town..

Day 3 Port Arthur~Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park~ The Heritage Highway
As the Harbour Cruise is at 1130am, we had to go back to Port Arthur..n as we missed the Tasmanian Devil Feeding yest, we also went back to see hw fierce the devils..

Along the Heritage Highway, the views r really awesome! We passed by many towns like Campania, Colebrook, Oatlands, Ross, Campbell Town n we pitstop at Evandale for the nite.

Day 4 Launceston Tamar Valley~Cataract Gorge and First Basin from the Chairlift

We spent abt 4 hrs at the scenic Cataract Gorge, strolling among the peacock & huge rhododendrons in the Gorge Cliff Grounds, cross the river on the world's largest single span chairlift, walk above the rapids on the suspension bridge. We also had our lunch at their cafe.

After that, we went to Launceston City for some shopping b4 heading down to Lowhead for the penguin tour.

Day 5~Tamar Valley Wine Route,The Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm, Cradle Mountain
drove along the wine route, stop at two vineyard-Delamere and Dalrymple..bought one red n one white wine..

after the wine-tasting, we head down to the largest & oldest lavender plantation in the southern hemisphere n bought some lavender related pdts..

the next destination~cradle mt..
greeted by wallabies n possum outside our cabin..

Day 6 Cradle Mt,Devonport, Burnie, Stanley, Strahan
We took the Dove Lake Circuit that takes us right ard Dove Lake n beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mt..but we didnt finish e whole track..after tat we proceed to the waldheim n weindorfers forest walk, a 20 min circuit..

we drove down to don river railway then to devonport town centre for some shopping..b4 heading down to Burnie for our accomodation..the duck hse accomodation @ Burnie is bb's fav..look! there r so many duckies ard e hse..

after checking out, we went to burnie town centre for some shopping n food..the drive to stanley was wasted as it was raining heavily over there..we intend to take the chairlift up to The Nut..since e weather was bad, we decided nt to..so we had to make our way down to Strahan b4 it's late..

Day 7 Strahan, Queenstown
the nex day, it started to pour, we tot there's no chance for us to explore Strahan n try out the 4 wheelers (ATV)..but yes, it stopped raining n we had the opportunity to explore the unspoiled widerness of the Henty Sand Dunes, appreciating the vast size n amazing beauty!Shiok man!

after e unique experience, we had a chat with the guy, we asked if he had recommendations for Crayfish (lobster)..n his bro owns one..

after the great meal, we went ard strahan, went to the Hogarth Falls, went to the notorious Hell's Gate n to the Macquarie Harbour..

after tat, we took the west coast wilderness way down to the mining town of Queenstown for the nite..Queenstown is renowned for its incredible mining heritage..
Day 8 Queenstown, Huon Trail
We drove on the Lyell Highway, at the top of Gormanston Hill, a sealed road that brings us to the Iron Blow Open Cut- place where gold was first discovered in 1883

The drive down was tedious, we r all havin motion sickness, the routes r juz too winding..worst then cradle mt one..our nex stop is the Huon Trail..
At the Huon Trail, we went to the Tahune Forest Airwalk, whereby we get to experience the amazing treetop walk high above the forest floor, with spectacular views over the junction of the Huon and Picton Rivers. We also tried the Swing Bridges Walk. The rivers r juz beneath our feet..it can b quite scary thou..