Recommendations For Tassie - Must See & Accommodation

[jack]

Hello,

I'll be in Tassie for 6 days from next Thursday, arriving in Launceston and hiring a car to drive around (not 4WD).
Other than Port Arthur, MONA, Salamanca Market etc. can any locals recommend any must see attractions?
Also looking at accommodation in Launceston and Hobart, any recommendations or 'don't stay there'?

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[rusty_nail]

i stayed in salmenca place in serviced aparments called somerset on salamenca and it was nice. close to the city to explore, good night life nearby and plenty of good food close by.

we went to the top of that gigantic mountain close by(mt wellington maybe?) it was a MUST see.

also went right down the south cape(able to do it in a day), saw bruny island and the penguins which was pretty damm cool.

we just fluked being in tas for some mud racing that was happening in a little town to the saouth (but i cant remember where, we just heard the ad on the Radio by chance.

the south tip was beautiful, got to see seals and some amazing ocean and islands.

FINALLY, i think the most beautiful part about that trip was visiting the tahune forest and doing the air walk, it was breath taking.

all in all i would have to say that Tassie was my most favourite overseas trip haha, but thats only compared to NZ and a tropical cruise so failry limited, still its a beautiful place and if i had the chance i would move there in a heart beat

edit: went to port arthur too, that place is pretty cool, lots of heritage there

edit 2: cascade brewry was definately worth the tour also, plenty of beers you dont see on the mainland including probably the best dark ale i have ever tried

[rusty_nail]

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo_zps885c2ef6.jpg
tahune air walk

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo5_zpsb305df9f.jpg
river in tahune

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo52_zps2515a1b1.jpg
seals! on the south cape

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo4_zps88b50f77.jpg
cascade brewry, and i look sooo happy lol

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo42_zps5e839526.jpg
on the boat tour

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo3_zpsdf84c92e.jpg
view from mt wellington

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo32_zpse92ce67d.jpg
on the boat tour

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo2_zps6bbaa549.jpg
mt wellington

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo22_zps29707f4b.jpg
island with penguins

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo1_zps272d1e96.jpg
cool cave

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u502/Nic_Purdon/photo12_zps7477a906.jpg
very deep tree trunk, im standing

[taslucas]

How long have you got? What regions will you be in?

I could go on for pages and pages so I need to focus on where you'll likely be.

West coast is my favourite.
A day trip through all the old mining towns. Strahan and ocean beach.

Central area id go for the great lakes region, lake Sinclair and cradle mountain national park.

Nw you'll find me!

East coast has beaches and white sand. Bicheno, st Helens.


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[jack]

Thanks guys, appreciated.
Great pics Rusty and thanks for the heads up on accommodation.
Tas, I arrive early Thursday and leave late the next Tuesday, so almost six days. Haven't booked anything but was thinking the first day and night in Launceston. Open for the rest of the days but will be spending the weekend in the Hobart area.
Been about 15yrs since was last there and thought it was time I returned, looking forward to it.

[taslucas]

Ok get ready for an awesome detailed post when I get home:-).

Where do you leave from? Back out of launie?

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[jack]

Yeap Launceston, thanks Tas just remember I only have 6 days:biggrin:

[Bloodyaussie]

I have a mate that owns a top of the line accommodation called eagle peaks.... no kids allowed and not cheap!!!

Even though I know him I still cant take my kids with me to stay there!!!

http://www.eaglepeaks.com.au/

[WogsRus]

if your a car nut, visit Joes garage on any given night after 7 in Hobart.

Hasting caves and the warm pools down south are also a BIG must.

Salmon ponds outside of Hobart, great if you like BIG fish to feed and have a picnic or a nice lunch.

[pearcey]

Joe`s Garage is a must . New owners are trying to get it back to original theme after the owner died .
We dropped in 6 months ago and had the place to ourselves. wont tell whats there but worth the visit.
Harley dealer ship in Launceston is the go as well
After 6 days you`ll want to go back for 6 months

[wildgu6]

Great pics Nick, maybe you looked so happy outside the brewery coz you forgot to don your NP shirt mate.... That air walk looks awsome.

[oncedisturbed]

Not sure if it is still open but Penny Royal in Launie is a good place to see and kids love it, Strahan is great. Check out Brunie Island if you get a chance as well.


Never underestimate the power of the Tap.

[taslucas]

Sorry, I didnt get time to write a good reply last night.
Are you coming with the family?(kids etc?)
Did you want to be in Hobart for Friday night or would lunchtime sat be ok?
What is your accommodation preference? Budget or luxury?

Lol I sound like a travel agent!

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[jack]

Ah my personal travel agent, sorry just saw the post busy doing a handover at work. It's just the wife and myself traveling. Hobart Sat lunchtime is fine, nothing planned or booked at this stage. For accommodation as long as it's clean and includes parking, I've got an 'Entertainment Card' that gives me discount at lots of accommodation places so will start booking over the weekend.

[taslucas]

Heres some more pics in no particular order:

Gravel Footy field in Queenstown on the west coast. The hills in the background are still dead from the old Mining operations. They still mine the area. Its a 7 kilometre drive undergound to get to the bottom of the main dig. You can do Underground tours there, Not sure how far ahead you would have to book.
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/DSC_0058.jpg

Lake Plimsol Bypass road on the west coast:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/LakePlimsolBypass_zps0c11dd22.jpg


Tassie Devils at Wings Wildlife Park, Gunns Plains in the Central North. There is also a cave system with tours daily in Gunns Plains:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/WingsWildlifeParkdevils_zps5c77e459.jpg

Haha Crazy Psycho Goat at Wings Wildlife Park:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/WingsWildlifeParkgoats_zps0442ce61.jpg

[taslucas]

Some more

Rocky Cape National Park from Sisters Beach. North west coast, half hour west of Burnie. Theres a few short walks in the area and a cool wet cave:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/RockycapeNationalParkfromSistersbeach_zps4224df6c. jpg


Cradle Mountain in summer. That is the corner of Dove Lake you can see. Cradle Mountain, Lake Sinclair National Park in the central north. Beautiful drive up to the Mountains and a heap of short to long walks in the area. Theres also a lot of accomodation there, all big lodge style ranging from cosy cabins up to $400 a night amazing hot tub apartments:)
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/cradlemountain_zps73a293ad.jpg

Cradle Mountain in winter. Half of Dove Lake is frozen in this pic:
A 3 to 4 hour walking circuit of the lake is nice.
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/Cradlemountaininwinter_zpsb1c2f167.jpg

Crater Lake just next to Cradle Mountain:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/craterlake_zps2da5227a.jpg

[taslucas]

Cool thing in Hobart:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/Hobart_zpsdd93ab1b.jpg

Looking up at Mt Wellington (in Nicks Pics) from the Woolstore Apartments in Hobart. Cant see the top of the Mountain lol:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/HobartMtWellingtonfromTheWoolstoreapartments_zps36 407bec.jpg


The 'Nut' at Stanley, North West Coast. You can walk or get a chair lift up the Nut. I recomend the chairlift to come back down, its an awesome view:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/StanleyNut_zps63787399.jpg

Old Stanley Wharf, looking down from the Nut. Not much action at the wharf these days, now only crayfish boats use it i think. If in Stanley get a feed from the pub. Fresh seafood and unbelievably good steak from the world renoun Cape Grim area:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/StanleyNut_zps63787399.jpg

[taslucas]

oops, wrong pic! Heres the wharf:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/StanleyWarffromNut_zpseed53a0b.jpg

[taslucas]

Scamander on the East Coast. A nice sunny little tourist town. Half hour north is the bigger town of St Helens which has a commercial fishing fleet. Good fishing and beaches all up and down the east coast.
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/Scamander_zps7b142925.jpg

Kenneth Bay on the west coast. Probably not somewhere youd take the hire car lol:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/WestCoast_zps61df9a2d.jpg

Crossing Arthur River bridge on the North West coast:
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/taslucas1/WestCoastArthurRiver_zpsd299cf5f.jpg

[taslucas]

Well Theres a little taster of some places:)

[jack]

Thanks Tas, looking at the map now and planning the itinerary. Looks like lots of beautiful places to visit.

[taslucas]

Heres some ideas. No way you can do them all but a few to chose from depending on how often you stop/how fast you drive.

Launceston: http://www.visitlauncestontamar.com.au/
The Cataract Gorge- http://www.launcestoncataractgorge.com.au/
Boags Brewery tour http://www.boags.com.au/
The Seaport for food http://www.launcestonseaport.com.au/?cat=1
Tamar valley wineries http://www.tamarvalleywineroute.com.au/
The Batman bridge
River cruise http://www.tamarrivercruises.com.au/batmanbridgeluncheoncruise.html
Seahorse World(http://www.seahorseworld.com.au/) and Platypus World (http://www.platypushouse.com.au/) at Beauty point
Ben Lomond mountain. http://www.discovertasmania.com/activities__and__attractions/wilderness_areas/national_parks_and_reserves/ben_lomond_national_park. Watch out driving up Jacobs Ladder, its pretty freaky!!

All that stuff is way too much to do in a day!

If you leave early-ish friday morning you can head out to Scamander on the east Coast and make your way southward stopping at a few places.
east coast:
Scamander
Bicheno
Frecinet national park (http://www.freycinetlodge.com.au/wheretostay.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=freycinet%20accommodation&utm_campaign=Freycinet+Lodge+-+Brand)
Mariah island

Come out at Sorrel and continue down to Port Arthur. Maybe stay the night there to check out the tasman penintula and the convict ruins. (Need a day to check out the area).
The Fox and Hound pub is good to stay at down there and very close to the convict ruins.
That should get you into Hobart around lunchtime Sat.

Plenty to see in the area and south of Hobart but im limited in my own knowledge. Maybe another member might be able to help out here....

Mt Wellington is a half hour drive from Hobart
Hastings caves and thermal Springs
The Huon Valley
Tahune air walk (nics Pics)



THERES BEEN ANOTHER FIRE FLARE UP IN THE SOUTHERN AREAS SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE TASSIE FIRE SERVICE WEBSITE (TFS). CONTINUED UPDATES CAN BE HEARD ON ABC LOCAL RADIO. http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/



Take the Lyell Highway back up the west coast, check out all the little mining towns. Stay the night at Strahan
Strahan
http://www.strahanvillage.com.au/wheretostay.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=strahan%20village&utm_campaign=Strahan+Village+-+Brand

The Wilderness cruise is a MUST (http://www.worldheritagecruises.com.au/).
Speed boat trip up the king river
Drive out to Ocean beach and feel the roaring forties

Head North to Cradle Mountain stay in the area for the night
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3297
http://www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au/

Coming out of Cradle mountain head into the Mole creek area, Sheffield, Barrington etc
Sheffield is "the town of murals" lol http://www.discovertasmania.com/north_west_coast/towns_and_places/sheffield
Tasmazia is a great place to go http://www.tasmazia.com.au/


Wings Wildlife Park is a bit for kids but They have a Tassie Devil Breeding program. http://www.wingswildlife.com.au/
Tassie Devils are getting cained by the facial tumor disease. Wings is being used as a disease free breeding sanctuary

Keep coming west along the coast as far as you want.
Burnie: http://www.discoverburnie.net/about-burnie/tourism-information-centre.html
Boat harbour beach, Sisters Beach and Rocky Cape national Park are nice.
A good place to stay is Killinaught cottages: http://www.killynaught.com.au/ (i used to work there many years ago:) )
Dismal Swamp. http://www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/visitor-sites/north-west/tarkine-forest-adventures
The iconic tarkine forest that has been the focus of severe environmental clashes (see it before its lost for ever) http://www.tarkinetrails.com.au/our-tours/tarkine-rainforest-track/

Stanley http://stanleytasmania.com.au/
Circular Head area http://www.circularhead.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=451
Smithton: http://www.talltimbershotel.com.au/tarkineFA.php

Then work your way back along the coast to devonport and head inland (south) to Deloraine then up into the Great Lakes area.

Devonport http://www.discovertasmania.com/north_west_coast/towns_and_places/devonport

Deloraine area http://www.greatwesterntiers.net.au/towns/deloraine

Great lakes http://www.centralhighlandslodge.com.au/

This leaves you in the centre of tassie with a few days up your sleeve and a short few hour drive to anything:)

Ive missed SO much, you could take a month and still miss heaps.

If you have any questions let me know! lol

[pearcey]

Welcome to the Taslucas Touring Company
It`s better than the Government guide.only trouble you`ll need 6 months to check it out.
Top stuff Lucas

[jack]

Hi Lucas,
Thanks again for the very detailed report. Just finished all the bookings, Launceston (1 night), Port Arthur (1 night), Hobart (2 nights) and the final night at Strahan.
We arrive at 8:20am and depart at 6:10pm so have plenty of time to look around, you're right no way will we get everything done in 6 days. Should be able to do the main attractions in that time and pencil in some spots for a future visit.
I'll post up a travel report when we return.

[happygu]

Apollofish,

I go to Tassie 4 or 5 times a year - love it....

Made the mistake the first time I went in thinking I could go right around the whole island in two weeks. We only made it off the boat, around the top and down the West Coast ( and aparently theres not much to see down the West Side.....:) )

Don't make he mistake of trying to travel too far and see to much, as you will miss out - and there will always be next time.

Cataract Gorge in Launceston is a must, and there are long and short walks to suit everyone.
Ben Lomond is great too.
Mt Wellington in Hobart is also a must do as well, as it gives you a great overview of the whole Hobart area and surrounds, although it can cloud up pretty fast and out of nowhere so you cant see a thing.
Camping overnight at Lake St Claire was awesome. Russell Falls is another great spot to camp, and great wildlife too.
Port Arthur, Wine Glass Bay, etc, etc....plenty to see and do

I would give you heaps of stuff for the West Coast, but I personally think that you should do one or the other, and not try to see it all.

[jack]

Arrived back home late Tuesday night after 6 wonderful days in Tasmania. Four things that stood out, wonderful scenery, courteous drivers, good roads and lots of road kill. Looks like plenty of interesting 4WD tracks everywhere.
Thanks to all who suggested sites, I would have needed six weeks to see them all and six months to do it justice. If you have never been I recommend a visit, it’s a beautiful state. We did a lot of travelling in the mighty hire car – Kia Sportage.
Landed in Launceston early Thursday, visited the Cataract Gorge and cruised the river. Later that day visited Beaconsfield and Beauty Point. Had a few issues finding a place to dine that evening, apparently Valentines Day is big for eating out.

Next morning drove to the east coast with stops at Bicheno and Freycinet Peninsula, before arriving at White Beach on the Tasman Peninsula and spending the night there. We saw many beautiful sights along the way but was very sad to see the devastation of the fires, Dunally reminded me of Kinglake after Black Saturday.
Saturday morning was the obligatory Salamanca Market in Hobart, followed by a drive to the top of Mount Wellington. Last time we were here it was snow covered so a 35c day was a bonus although the locals were all complaining about the heat. Next day was a visit to MONA, I can only describe this as different. An evening dinner cruise down the river finished our two day whistle stop tour of Hobart.
Monday saw us travelling to Queenstown, via Hamilton, Lake St Clair and the mighty Franklin River. Hard to describe Queenstown, a mining town with attractions. Quick visit to Strahan which was beautiful. Next morning we headed back to Launceston via Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek and Deloraine. Unfortunately the weather changed overnight and we had some rain and low cloud cover. This leg saw us really testing the Kia with numerous windy mountainous roads.
We are already planning a longer trip with the van to really explore the area.

[taslucas]

Awesome mate! I reckon you did the perfect trip in the time allowed.

Theres a fair bit of difference from the east to the west hey?
West is best:-)

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for visiting, see you next time, and tell a friend! :-)


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