Report On Tasmania Tour
 

I toured Tasmania ,Australia and New Zealnd for the full month of March.

I will ty to hit only major points about some of the places, starting with Tasmania.

First f all our flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours going to LA.
Then at LA we had to walk fourblocks to the Qantas Terminal...great!!
Then Qantas was 1 hour late, but finally we were off.

The flight to Sydney was 14.5 hours.
So after crossing the International Dateline,and after 2 full meals, two lunches , two movies, a few restless hours of sleep ,we arrived in Sydney.

Okay now a 5 hour wait for the flight to Hobart ( Capital)of Tasmania.

The flight to Tasmania was about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The plane flew low enough that wecould see the ground and this afforded us with great views of the topography of this Island country.

At last and finally we are in Hobart.!!!

The drive from the airport was great and the scenery was better than what I left behind.

This was their Autumn going into their winter Oh really!!
The flowers were all in bloom ,the trees were lovely and green and only a few had a hint of the Autumn tinge of gold.
The temperature was 75 F...hmm winter you say!!

We stayed right on the waterfront at the Grand Chancellor Hotel......great location..but I knew this because I did my homework well and knew all the places I would be staying at.

it was super walking distance to everything.
There are many nice old building dating back to the early 1800's.

What amazed me most is how many lovely parks they had right downtown.
Huge trees and statues dedicated to the founders of their land in these parks...just terrific to walk through and sight see.

Places like:

Salamanca Place
Battery Point
Constitutinal Docks and Parliament House were all right there.

Elizabeth Street in the main street with all the quaint shops and a huge Mall.
Part of this street is closed to traffic so you just walk across the cobblestone street at anytime .
Sidewalk cafes are everywhere here.

We took a tour to Mount Wellington for those panoramic views of the city of Hobart down below.
Dress warm because it is cold up here and windy ..so dress warm..you are warned now!!!

The Derwent River flow right through Hobart, our hotel was on the Derwent River.
The great Tasmanian Bridge connects downtown Hobart to the southern other side.

In 1975 , a cargo boat hit the bridge and part of the bridge collapsed into the water below.
Many people were killed as five cars went over the edge that were crossing the bridge.

I saw pictures of the damaged bridge , one car was just hanging over the edge ready to fall in also.

We took a few crusies up and then down the Derwent River.
The guide really explained the places well as we cruised along.

Okay we are off to Port Arthur.

They say that no trip to Tasmania is complete without going to Port Arthur.

Our private tour guide did not take us the convention way to Port Arthur.
Rather ,we went through some lovely contry side places like Richmond.

Richmond is a quaint village that resembles a village right out of Old England.
They have a lovely bridge here...built in 1823.
Then we went to the twon of Sorel...our guide's home town.

Port Arthur is at the tip of an island penninsula connected to mainland by a stretch of land called the Eagleneck Narrow.

It was built by convict labour established in 1830.
It was a convict settlement for the next 50 years....if you were a bad boy or man in Britain ...you wound up here for good in many cases.

Bring a jacket and walking shoes.
You can walk around and see everything in about 3 hours,maybe more.
Make sure you see the Model Prison,The Penitentiary and the place where the Old Chruch was( in ruins now bya 1884 fire)

Also do your homework on Port Arthur before coming here...and other places you will be seeing in Tasmania....you will appreciate everyhing that much more.

But wait a minute , Wait a minute.!!!!!

" am not leaving Tasmania without seeing the Tasmania Devil",I told my Tour Guide/Driver.

No problem he said.I will take you to a great place.
he got us in free...you cannot argue with that.
I have to admit I was excited about seeing all the animals that you can only see down here.
Like the wombat,Wallabies , Kangaroo etc.

But then finally I walked over to where the Tasmanian Devil was and said " So there you are you little Devil."
"Do you know how far I came to see you."?

He did not look too impressed with me as he looked up at me..my digital camaera clicking away.

Food is not cheap in Tasmania,Australia and New Zealand.

The coffee to me was almost non drinkable (very strong) amd towards the end of the stay here We drank tea at breakfast.

At Port Arthur (one hour plus)from Hobart the coffee was $3.50 Australian per cup.
This was okay but it was too bitter to drink.
I two three swallows and Vi took 1 and we left the rest.
You could stand a spoon in the coffee..... I even tried to stand a spoon in it...nope , the spoon fell to one side.!!

The best coffee we had in Hobart was at McDonalds...I kid you not.
We went to McDonalds once as it was in one of those large Malls on Elizabeth Street.

The price was $1.80 for the coffeeand $2.75 for a muffin(not exactly what you people in the USA pay is it!!!!!)

But down under this is what McDonalds had...maybe you have it in the US , but we do not have it in Canada... at least I have never seen it,

They have a McCafe in the same area as the regular McDonalds.

In the McCafe,you get fancy coffees like cuppaccino , Lattes etc,and fancy sandwichs (allover $8.00 )and very fancy desserts like cheese cake and triple layer chocolate fudge cakes.

But it was drinkable coffee we were after mainly !!!

Across from the Grand Chancellor Hotel and right on the waterfront is a terrific seafood place called Mures.

Everyone goes there.
For $25.00 per person you had about 10 different varieties and you could not eat it all.
They only do seafood at Mures. It is a big green building that looks like a warehouse and is right on the dock over looking the water.
You cannot miss it . Go there.!!

Oh yes, Errol Flynn ( remember him) well he was born and grew up in Hobart.
I asked the tour driver/guide to stop at his house so I could take a picture.

There are ,many other country side places that I visited in Tasmania but I will stop here.

Next will be Melbourn ,Alice Springs and Ayers Rock

Percy

Thanks Percy,
Very interesting and very informative as always

Thanks for an informative report, Percy.

A couple of minor points for the record -

First, Tasmania is a separate country only to the extent that Alberta or BC are separate from Canada. It was established as a penal settlement in 1804, seceded from the colony of New South Wales in 1825 and became one of the six founding and current states of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. I'm hoping, anyway, that you didn't have to flash your passport on arrival in Hobart, or those crafty Taswegians have been keeping something from us.

Second, convict transportation to the eastern colonies ended around 1840, not 1880. Western Australia was still receiving involuntarily guests in 1868. This may explain WA's talent for producing white-collar criminals, although NSW and Queensland are certainly contenders.

Your comment about coffee is interesting - a case of what we get used to, I guess, but being used to the ubiquitous espresso-style coffee of Australia we found American coffee far too watery. I've never tried McDonalds coffee - I find the only thing I can eat there are their chips, which in an act of blatant cultural imperialism they keep calling "fries" -inferior to the real thing, but edible. I believe they have espresso machines, so assume that they must make an especially weak brew?

Anyway, great to hear that you had a good time in Tasmania.

Thanks Neil_Oz

You are right about all you say.

I tried to keep the report short and not go into details,but the report is long anyway.

I read so much about Tasmania and Port Arthur that I had it coming out of my ears.

No I did not have passport trouble at the airport,but boy are they ever sticky on bringing even a cookie from one place to another !!!

Thank you for your valuable comments.
I have enjoyed all your replies to other on the Australian postings

You are certainly doing a great job.

I just did the report on Melbourne ,Alice Springs and Ayers Rock( Uluru )and before I could post the report.....I lost it..grrrrr. over and hour of typing lost.

Oh well tomorrow is another day.
Once again Thank You for the details and accuracy you provided.

Percy

Percy, I agree that with all the quarantine provisions at State borders you could be forgiven for thinking you were arriving in a new country.

Hi Percy your post is very timely for me as I am trying to decide how to book my frequent flyer flights for next spring. I've been to NZ 5 times and am going back, but can't decide if I should add a week or two in Australia. I can fly either into Melbourne or Sydney. I was thinking of Tasmania, but other than the wildlife, is it that much of a different experience than south end of the South Island? If you could pick one or two weeks within easy driving distance of Melbourne or Sydney, which would you pick? Would you go there or Tasmania? I live in Los Angeles, and grew up in the tropics, so while I like beaches, etc, it's not the main purpose of my traveling. Also not that interested in large cities other than a day or two. Thanks for any comments! Oh I love golfing and dayhiking (can't carry a full pack but can walk all day).

PS to my prior post, I have a number of friends/relatives who say that parts of Australia look just like California, ie rolling grassy hills and eucalyptus trees, so that type of scenery is not why I would fly half way around the world.

Is Feb-March a bad time of year for Kakadu NP?

Hi Neil_Oz

Yes the quantine provisons was something I was not used to.

Had a cranberry muffin at the Sydney Airport and did not eat it on the plane to Auckland so I had to throw it away at the Auckland airport.
hmmm!

Oh well you live and learn...I should live that long.!!

Percy

mlgb:

Well you have been to New Zealand five times...so you know all about the Southern Island, I just did this Island and will be posting a short report at the end of my reporting.

I liked Tasmania,and I am glad I went it.
It is less hectic than Melbourne and Sydney and I had some great private tours to a lot of Country side places.

Hobart is so easy to walk around,take a few cruises on the Derwent River.

You can do a side trip to either Cradle Mountain or Freycinet National Park...nice to see the country.

Melbourne is less hectic than Sydney ,but they are both nice places to see some classic sites.

I am doing my report on Melbourne,Alice Springs and Ayers Rock ( Uluru) now.

Percy

MlgbI do not think any of Australia looks like California with the exception of a couple of pockets in places. As Gum trees are from Australia then the comparison would be that California is like Australia as is Chile, Peru and other places which have taken our gums to grow in what is infertile soils to keep them together. Tasmania is as different from the Southern Island of NZ as California is as different from Oregon. I would suggest that you do some research as you seem to have a pre-conceived idea about Australia V New Zealand. Its your holiday and your money, I would suggest you narrow things down somewhat first and then ask questions.
Kakadu would not be my suggested ideal destination for you although I prefer Kakudu in the wet season compared to the dry. Australia in my view is NOT big cities but rather that which no other country has, its uniqueness in more ways than you would expect. Percy has outlined some of the sights of Tasmania but only a tiny little bit. Again though February/March is not the best time of year for Tassie either but Tassie at any time of year is better than no Tassie. Each state of Australia has its own tourist web site and may I suggest that you check those first.

Hi Percy -

We just returned from our second visit to Tasmania yesterday. I'll be writing a report as soon as I dig myself out from all the laundry and luggage.

Found your comments about the coffee interesting - when traveling in OZ and NZ, we take our own coffee along with a brew cup and filters so we can make our own, as we've found most accommodation provides Nescafe, the attraction of which baffles me to no end.

We had no issues with the coffee this trip, except for some sludge we had in the Melbourne airport at a place called Hudson's - undrinkable to us, but others seemed to be lapping it up.

What surprised me was the almost complete absence of bagels - with the exception of one bakery in Lorne, we were unable to find bagels for the entire trip - we looked in bakeries, coffee shops, cafes and grocery stores, all to no avail.

Perhaps a Aussie can help with this one - were we just unlucky or are bagels just not popular in OZ?

Glad you had a good trip Percy - looking forward to your next installment.

Hi Melnq8:

Well welcome home.

I know what you mean about coming home to a month of mail and it is tax time also, then there is all that clothes washing to be done.

I was not going to do any trip reports but I was asked to do so by some dear friends so I started to do them( trip reports).

I made NO notes so I am doing the reports from memory.

I got back March 30th after a one month tour down under.

Yes, what is about this Nescafe instant coffee in all the hotel rooms !!!


Never mind me,I am looking forward to YOUR report.

I just posted my Melbourne,Alice Springs and Ayers Rock report.
Take Care

Percy

It makes me smile a bit when people talk about American coffee v the Australian coffee because for over 30 years I have been taking my own coffee ( and particularly tea ) to the USA because of what we thought was dreadful drudge that was coffee until you got Starbucks who made something resembling Mocha, Cappo, Espresso etc etc but still they insist in putting it in cardboard mugs. As for hotels who put Nescafe' in the hotels. shame on them but I guess that is a cost cutting exercise. It was not that long ago when there was absolutely no tea, coffee or biscuits in any USA hotel and that was when my immerser and instant coffee came into its own.
Percy I know that this has been done to death a number of times but I really do not think that paying $11 Australian is a lot for a very good meal and I wonder how many other people have not asked, or read what has been written on the subject, when a lot of us have given heaps of information on excellant meals in Australia ( and I guess in NZ too) because I don't have any problem in getting meals in places that are far better and far cheaper than places like MacDonalds ( HEAVEN FORBID) Denny's or Wendy's which generally cost about $20 US for a meal. On Thursday last I bought my husband a beautiful pre-made salad on which was a half a lobster with all the dressings and trimmings for the sum of $14 Australian or just over $10/ $11US - this was in Tasmania and I did not have to pay anything for service nor leave a tip. Hubby was in raptures with the lobster and so we left taking several lobster rolls as well at $7 each. These by the way can be bought at "Little Bondi" en route to the Tahune Air Walk near Dover in Tasmania. The boats come in just around the corner and the little kiosk is usually open each day before lunch.
Fish Frenzy on the wharf is another place for meals in the seafood line and the meals are excellant, cheap and good for you.
I pay about $8 - $10 Australian for a really good roast with about 5 veg at Clubs and yet I still hear complaints about meals from restaurants all the time. Is it that you are comparing apples with oranges when you compare prices? Wendy's is cheap compared to a good restaurant here in Australia but our restaurants prices are no dearer than restaurants of similiar quality in the USA.
On the subject of bagels. If anyone really cannot live without bagels when they are over here in the Antipodes then may I suggest that you bring your own because although there are some places that sell them I believe that they rank with things like grits and the eating of pickled cucumbers as a pre dinner munch for us. Why not try something that you don't have in the US when you are here for instance, isn't that the reason we all travel? I tried grits, bagels and those pickled cucumbers on the table in NYC too along with other things, some I have incorporated into my cooking and others I just choose to forget.

Melnq; on the question of bagels, my local bakery in Cairns was making them up until about 10 years ago (I have eaten them in NY and these were of similar quality) - other more interesting breads, to locals here at least, were becoming easily available, such as ciabatti, pide, the naan-type Indian breads and many more, that the demand for bagels slowed right down.

Percy, thanks for the entertaining report, yes, you would have had to throw your Australian cranberry muffin out in New Zealand as you were going through customs in another country. Recently a US movie star was fined thousands for trying to take an apple into NZ. Quarantine laws have to be strict to protect agricultural interests in both countries. At least, nowadays, they don't spray you before alighting from overseas flights!

The question of coffee baffles me a bit, particularly when visiting US and Canadian guests make pilgrimages to Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland to buy locally grown coffee to take home for both their own use and as gifts.

The old coffee problemo.

Coffee is a drug and it doesn't do it's job unless it is the way you like it. I love short blacks that I can stand a spoon in so when in motel faced with little satchets of nescafe 43 I use up the whole supply trying to replicate my favourite brew in one go!! My american husband shudders!! So do I when I taste it... I do recommend getting a plunger and some fresh ground coffee when travelling to either American or Australian travellers. Some hotels do provide but not nearly enough. Still waiting to get a hotel that provides an espresso machine in rooms. The ones I can afford anyways. mmmmm..maybe just stick mine in my luggage?

Tasmania, nice place and you saw just a smidgen, bigger island than one thinks. Did you get to Mt Field National Park.

Talking burgers I am going to go in defence of maccas. I hate the place like all good citizens but do enjoy their coffee and cake (McCafe) for a good price and enjoy their bacon and egg deli sandwich for brekkie. Certainly beats some of the rubbish we were served up on our recent five week jaunt through country towns. I even started to frequent KFC!!! really want to support local business but geez some of them need to actually try to please.

Great report Percy and a good classic coffee stoush.

Hi Liz -

Regarding the bagels...

We live in Indonesia, and do well to get ANY bread here, so bagels are a treat for us. I was surprised that they're so hard to find in OZ (and NZ for that matter) because I've gotten the distinct impression that our friends down under enjoy their bread. We eyeballed some crumpets, but they didn't look all that appealing - sort of reminded me of cold American pancakes.

Kudos for your bravery in trying grits. I'd rather eat Vegemite (almost).

Thanks for the feedback I will definitely be reading a few guidebooks but now am just trying to book my overseas frequent flyer flights.

PS to Liz, my brother and sister in law (also named Liz) lived several years in Australia (Canberra I think) as did another and we all are from CA and lived in Miami and Jamaica growing up. My Bro first made that comment about CA/Aus and I've heard the same from others who have lived in and traveled near Sydney etc. My brother was all over except the west coast and suggested Kakadu for the wildlife. My free flights in are limited to Melbourne or Sydney and I am trying to decide if it is worthwhile adding Australia in if it works.

I will definitely go to the tourist websites as soon as I wrap up my tax returns.

Gee Thanks everybody for all your in puts.

lizF:
Hi There.
No, I am comparing apples to apples,and I can only compare what I pay in my own area.
We only went to McDonalds 3 times during the whole month and it was for the coffee.

Also , my tour guide in Rotorua New Zealand told me to go to this McDonald( he pointed it out) because they have this lovely carvings on the wall done by the Maori people....

I went in and took pictures of the great carvings on the wall... I would add that if you are in Rotorua then visit the McDonalds that has the carving on the two walls.

When a noon time Ceasars Salad in my city is $6.00 and $12.00 in Australia, then I think it is high (but relative to where I am coming from)

No where in my city is a cup of coffee even near $3.50.
I am talking about coffee and not Lattes or Cupaccinos etc.

So when I pay $3.50 for a coffee in Australia or Tasmania , then I make the commnent that it is expensive.

But all that does not matter if it was drinkable to me....but it was not.

However I did not find the food in the upscale restuarants anymore expensives than right here in my own city....in fact,in many cases it was cheaper.

At the Sydney Sky Tower ,the meal was great and cheaper than at our revolving Restaurant for the same meal.

At the Queenstown Gondola Skyline Restaurant...again no complaints about the food or the price.
Same with the Sky Tower revolving restuarant in Auckland.

I had Lamb for $31.00 NZ.( Auckland SkyTower)
That same Lamb meal, here , at our revolving restuarant is $44.00 ,I just called and double checked.!!

I also fully realize that when I am at a tourist place like Port Arthur Tasmania,that food is more expensive.... it is like that at any airport,you just pay more for snack or whatever.

However ,when I pay $3.50 for a coffee that my wife cannot drink and that I can only force 3 swallows...before having to abandone it , then you say " Gee $3.50 for a cup of coffee that taste like tar."!!

You people that take your own coffee are smart.

Yes, all we got were Nescafe instant packages in our rooms and just let me add,that I stayed at very nice places.. during the whole trip.

Now about Vegemite.

My tour guide told me that you use it like this:
"You first put some butter on your toast and then you apply a thin layer of vegemite ,..a thin layer"

He then added,"If you use it like jam ( which I did !!), then you will be washing your mouth out for a week."


No one is more aware than me that I have only seen a small part of this beautiful country of Tasmania... but I did try to see as much as I could , and that is why I had a local private guide to drive me around.

Once again ,thanks for all the comments I sure enjoy them all.

Percy

Now Percy did you have a "very Tasmanian" scallop pie washed down with a Tassie Boag beer? - that would set you back about $7 and is the best ever thing.
Personally I believe that all immigrants to Australia should be forced to eat Vegimite on toast every morning for one whole week and then and only then should they be able to come and live here - that would sort out the true believers from the also rans.
MLGB:
OK, you win, but do tell me where in CA do you have cute small convict built villages? Where in CA do you have something like the Menindi lakes? Where in CA do you have a 2,700 Klm long GBR? Where in CA do you have World Heritage listed areas like Lawn Hill National Park? I could go on and on but of course I don't know my country like your relatives do. I would stay in NZ if I were you as Australia is only going to be the same as you have at home and it would be most boring for you, I mean Sydney is so like LA that you could think you were in either city most of the time.

Couldn't fathom all this rant about coffee but did pull out the currency converter. If coffee is $3.50 in AUS, then it's about $2.95 CAN (for Percy) and about $2.53 in the US. Pricey. But McDonald's? Ack. Personally, I'm trying to escape all the American franchise drivel we've managed to foist on other nations. LizF, thanks for the Little Bondi recommendation - I'll be looking for that along the road in about 5 weeks - can't wait!