Medusa242

Greetings!

I am tentatively planning on visiting Hobart, Tasmania for a few weeks in mid-November/early December.

I already have a place to stay, but I am looking for ideas of things to do around Hobart. I have never been to Tasmania, or to Australia for that matter.

I love animals & birds & am hoping to see a lot when I am there.

I've read a few posts on this forum already & have heard about the Bruny Wildlife Adventure & the Bicheno Penguin Tours.

Also, I live on the East Coast of the U.S.A. & would like recommendations from other travelers who have started from my general location as to the best ways to book airfare & airlines/routes/etc. you would recommend.

Thank you very much in advance for any recommendations.

Cheers!

Susan7

If you like animals I would suggest doing a loop around Tasmania Hobart--Freycinet--Bicheno (for the penguins)--Cradle Mountain--Strahan--Lake St Claire--Hobart. I wouldn't base yourself solely in Hobart.

Cradle Mountain is a fantastic place for seeing marsupials: wombats, poteroos, echidna, platypus, wallabies.

peterSale

The Tasman Penisula is fantastic. Do the Tasman Island boat trip. Just remember YELLOW boats.

There are great dives near Hobart and you don't need a scuba licence for some of them.

Maria Island is great - we got very close to a penguin near the fossil cliffs (follow the white poo trails).

The Low head penguin tour is excellent.

Read my trip report.

wlzmatilida

Hi,

I agree with Susan - while Hobart's a great city, don't limit yourself to one small area, Tassie has so much more to offer!

As for routing from the East Coast, what I normally do for clients (if they have the time)is book them into LA, have them stay at an inexpensive hotel near LAX and then out the next day - breaks up a very long haul from the East Coast.

Hope this is helpful.

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

longhorn55

We enjoyed a great trip to Tasmania several years ago when we lived in Australia. Since you have so much time to spend there, I also suggest that you do not restrict yourself to Hobart. I recommend that you get a copy of the Lonely Planet edition for Tasmania as it has a lot of great information. It is available on Amazon for $16.49.

While I hesitate to disagree with Melodie, who certainly knows her stuff about Australia, I would not break up the flight from the East Coast to Australia in L.A. We also live on the East Coast and have made to the trip to Australia several times. Once I thought it might be a good idea to break up the trip with an overnight stop in L.A. It was NOT a good decision. It was a hassle to have to deal with the luggage; it was a hassle to get to/from LAX and our nearby lodging; and we actually didn't get much of a rest. I think it's preferable to just "suck it up" and fly straight to Australia without an overnight stop. You can catch up on your sleep more easily once you are settled in Australia. Plus, that means you get an extra day in Australia as opposed to a day in an LA hotel.

wlzmatilida

Longhorn,

you ARE a hardy traveller to suck it up!

Yes, it's much more preferable to spend an extra day Down Under, but I have clients from the East Coast who are elderly, or travelling with multiple kids and they just can't do that flight in one go!

Best,

Melodie

surprisealot

Tasmania, on the whole is a great destination. I have to agree thatits best not to limit yourself to just Hobart - although Hobart is a great attraction in itself. Unlike the rest of Australia, Tasmanian destinations are 'close' at least in Australian travel terms - to be honest - and if you want to push it - you could drive 5/6 hours and be in Launceston from Hobart opening up another part of the beautiful Apple Isle.

This is the driving time but you will missing out on great villages, attractions and landscapes on the way if you had to take this option.
AS for nature - you have picked a great state as Tassie to go look for it!!

We are Australians and also just recently returned (okay over 6 months now) from our first trip to Tassie and wish to take a return trip.

Highlights for us.

We stayed in the north for the first four nights at green beach ('near' launceston and in a national park) that had an easy walk to the beach with a resident wombat and possum at night (yes the possum was noisy -but hilarious and intriguing to watch),

then travelled to the north west as far as stanley climbed the Nut and stayed a night or two, travelled to Mole Creek and ventured to the caves - stayed at the mole creek holiday village (log cabin style self contained)

then travelled to Cradle Mountain

now this is a MUST for you if you are into nature the park itself is great the views the area then there is a Tassie Devil park learn about their life cycle and 'cancer' they are facing and just be in awe as you watch them within arms reach at times.

birds, nocturnal wildlife tours the works. gotta go!!
we stayed on the mountain and we had a possum try and invite itself to dinner!! lol

then we headed the 'long' way (past ross and richmond) to the point arthur area stayed in a cabin on a hidden point and over looked the harbour.

Look I could go on and on but needless to say we ended up in Hobart loved our time and enjoyed the salamancer (check the spelling) market and the friendly locals and good food.

do visit, just be prepared to be 'blown away' with nature and timeless feel of Tassie!