Hi, I will be going with my husband and 5 year old daughter to Melbourne in the 1st 2 weeks of August. We are not keen on renting a car as we are not familiar with the roads. We are thinking of going to Tasmania for a few days, is it worth the while and what other ways of getting there besides taking a domestic flight? Any suggestions for a farmstay in Mel?
Thanks for help

Bit cool for a swim at this time of year, weyfarer ... try the Spirit of Tasmania ferry if you don't fancy flying.
www.spiritoftasmania.com.au

As to whether it's "worth the while" - that depends entirely on what you're interested in.

If you're going to Tasmania, you'll need a car unless you do a tour, if you're to see anything other than your port of entry.

You might check out this farmstay - 30 mins from Melbourne airport.
http://www.takeabreak.com.au/Melbour...comodation.htm

I seem to recall that Pat is in the process of doing a report ( part finished) on this forum. weyfarer could check that out.
Yes, anytime of year is nice in Tasmania as there is so much to do and see which is very different from the Mainland

Bear in mind that if you take the ferry it takes between 9 and 11 hours, so that is a whole day of your trip and more expensive than flying if you get accommodation. The flight is an hour or less. You absolutely need a car in Tas, so make that decision first.

I agree about the need for a car .And Tassie is not New York traffic.It is very manageable driving. For instance driving the History Highway between Hobart and Launceston with stops at lovely towns will take you about 3 hours . I suggest flying in to Launceston , picking up a car and driving to Hobart stopping/ detouring along the way , including overnight at some historic home and flying out of Hobart . See drivenow.com.au for comparative car hire rates .

Thank you all for all that information. Have some ideas now. Cheers

Should you decide to fly, for a Mel to Tas flight, check out Virgin Blue's Happy Hour fares. They cut fares significantly from noon to 1 pm Sydney time every day on the website. Routes vary, but if you check every day, your date and route should turn up. We flew from Mel to Hobart for A$39.

Driving shouldn't be a problem if you're not trying to set any speed records.

visit to Tasmania. Ferry is expensive and all night. one hour flights from Melb to Launceston or Hobart can usually be had around $au80 -$100, www.jetstar.com.au

car in Melbourne city is horrible. not as bad as Boston but trams are a nightmare. Car in tasmania is easy if you have the R drive experience - country roads light traffic. and minimal public transport.

or come to Hobart - lots of history, gardens, scenery and cuisine to do on foot, plenty of day tours to history, rain forest, mountain. locations within 60 - 90 minute drive of city so day tours have loads of content.
example everyone must see Cradle mountain.
Mt Field 90mins west of hobart is at same altitude, same weird flora, geology and climate but about 1% of the visitors. Also visit starts at sea level so you ascend from rain forestand water fall to summit ice lake whilst cradle visits take a flatish road to 1200 meters and see nothing else.
yes - I am biased!

Launceston is a much less interesting city for the visitor, but surrounded by very pretty historic villages - vineyards - rivers and fishing. But a car esentail to enjoy this.
Hobart gives more in the city itself and variety outside without a car.
good luck - hope you get here

From Hobart you could take trips to Port Arthur which shows the convict past in Australia better than anywhere else and the setting is wonderful. Richmond is another lovely little village just 20 minutes outside Hobart with a rather interesting convict jail ( your spelling I think ?? ) and some lovely little shops to browse in and Georgian architecture abounds. Then there is of course the midland highway with a lot of lovely little convict villages along the way.
Regarding Mt Field, I endorse Taswegian's comments on that and if you go there spend a night in one of the wonderfully fully equiped little convict cottages in Hamilton and have a really good look at that area. The hotel there has great pub meals and everything else is provided in the cottage.