Tasmania - Things to see and do

[Tash]

Hi all,

Hoping the Tassie members have some great ideas here :) Mum is heading over on the boat (so they can take the RAV) in November this year and she's just after some suggestions on things to see and do, places to stay etc Unfortunately the tourism website hasn't been of great use and there doesn't seem to be much info online covering all the broader things.

I guess the basic idea is to travel down to Hobart and back up again, probably with a stop to Cradle Mountain and also they want to see the Cascade Brewery. Other than that there's not much planned, so where are the must-see's, where can you get a good pub meal, which are the good motels/towns to stay at along the way? They will be there for 7 days. I think Port Arthur is on the agenda but not 100% sure, we went there when I was about 13 so I don't know that she'll go again.

Advice and suggestions much appreciated :D

[Foss]

****, where to start!

Personally I'd recommend making a round trip, off the boat in Devonport, spend a couple days heading down the East Coast, few days down south around Hobart, Port Arthur, Huon Vally, etc, and then a couple of days back up the West Coast.

Coles Bay/Freycinet: I use Freycinet Rentals whenever I'm down there. You get a holiday house for around the same as you'd expect to pay for a motel. Granite Views or Amos Cottage are my pick of the houses they have on offer. Mostly its a fairly relaxed place where you can just chill on the beach or have a fish, there's some boat tours of the bay, and I think even canoe hire and stuff. Also (probably the main highlight) there's the many walking paths in the Freycinet National Park, best of which is the walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout, and if they're really game they can continue on the path down to the bay itself.

Port Arthur: Pretty much sells itself. Lived in Tassie all my life yet I've never been myself. One of those things I've intended to see but never got there. Apparently its highly recommended to go (except for 1 day in 1996, I'd avoid going then), so I'd put that on the list.

Tahune Air Walk: A pathway built amongst the treetops of the Tahune Forest Reserve. About an hour and a half from Hobart, definitely worth checking out while down south.

Derwent Bridge Pub: If taking the Lyell Hwy from Hobart to the West Coast, definitely stop at the Derwent Bridge pub for a feed. And have the burger with the lot. Best burger I've ever had. Ever. Its been nearly a year and I still haven't had a burger that comes close.

Strahan: Coastal village on the West Coast. Was the destination on one of our recent cruises. Nice peaceful spot set on the Macquarie Harbour. We only spent a couple hours there for some lunch, so I can't recommend much in the way of activities, but its a beautiful spot and worth at least a stop in.

Sheffield: Country town only half hour from Devonport renowned for the murals that adorn many of its buildings. I can't recommend it from my own enjoyment (doesn't interest me in the slightest) but its popular amongst tourists.

Oh and of course the Spirit of the Sea sculpture in Devonport at the mouth of the Mersey River is absolutely a must see, and was in no way a waste of $200,000 ratepayers dollars for a brass statue of Zeus (or whoever the f**k it is) with a trident and his wang hanging out. <_<

[Seby123]

I'd just like to add something there. Strahan has that scenic railway, which in my opinion is a very nice thing to do, lots of scenery to look at.

[Adamsy]

****, where to start!

Personally I'd recommend making a round trip, off the boat in Devonport, spend a couple days heading down the East Coast, few days down south around Hobart, Port Arthur, Huon Vally, etc, and then a couple of days back up the West Coast.

Coles Bay/Freycinet: I use Freycinet Rentals whenever I'm down there. You get a holiday house for around the same as you'd expect to pay for a motel. Granite Views or Amos Cottage are my pick of the houses they have on offer. Mostly its a fairly relaxed place where you can just chill on the beach or have a fish, there's some boat tours of the bay, and I think even canoe hire and stuff. Also (probably the main highlight) there's the many walking paths in the Freycinet National Park, best of which is the walk to the Wineglass Bay lookout, and if they're really game they can continue on the path down to the bay itself.

Port Arthur: Pretty much sells itself. Lived in Tassie all my life yet I've never been myself. One of those things I've intended to see but never got there. Apparently its highly recommended to go (except for 1 day in 1996, I'd avoid going then), so I'd put that on the list.

Tahune Air Walk: A pathway built amongst the treetops of the Tahune Forest Reserve. About an hour and a half from Hobart, definitely worth checking out while down south.

Derwent Bridge Pub: If taking the Lyell Hwy from Hobart to the West Coast, definitely stop at the Derwent Bridge pub for a feed. And have the burger with the lot. Best burger I've ever had. Ever. Its been nearly a year and I still haven't had a burger that comes close.

Strahan: Coastal village on the West Coast. Was the destination on one of our recent cruises. Nice peaceful spot set on the Macquarie Harbour. We only spent a couple hours there for some lunch, so I can't recommend much in the way of activities, but its a beautiful spot and worth at least a stop in.

Sheffield: Country town only half hour from Devonport renowned for the murals that adorn many of its buildings. I can't recommend it from my own enjoyment (doesn't interest me in the slightest) but its popular amongst tourists.

Oh and of course the Spirit of the Sea sculpture in Devonport at the mouth of the Mersey River is absolutely a must see, and was in no way a waste of $200,000 ratepayers dollars for a brass statue of Zeus (or whoever the f**k it is) with a trident and his wang hanging out. <_<

Foss has hit the nail on the head here few others i'd like to add:

If they venture down the east coast and are in the Coles bay Freycinet area they really must experience both the Bay Of Fires and Wine Glass Bay both of which made it to the top 10 or 100 beaches in the world last year.

Hobart way they of course there is Port Arthur, a dining must is the Henry Jones Art Hotel, must visit the Salamanca markets on the weekend. Not sure of your parents tastes but other popular activities in the area is what i think they call these days the coal river wine route or something to that affect and peppermint bay cruises. if they have time bruny island is a nice place to spend a few peaceful days. i have only being there since myself and that was when i was young on an entire family trip lol. I know there is dolphin and seal watching cruises there now though.

Strahan perhaps the jewel in Tasmanias crown. You cant visit Tasmania and not go there, the world is your oyster here. Activities include the wildness railway, which was rebuilt to celebrate the massive achievement the original track was back in the olllllldddd days.

Gordon river cruises, jet boating, water aeroplane scenic flights, piners and miners - pan for gold whilst you go on a 4wd wildness drive, fishing charters and of course Bonnet island where you can see the "little penguins" aka fairy penguins lol.

Moving north a stop at Stanley and the "nut" would be a great lunch stop, beautiful coast town that thrives in summer and have a giant **** rock which i think is volcanic rock millions of years old you can climb if your keen or take a chair lift to the top for an amazing view of the Tasmanian coastline.

Cradle mountain sells itself so i wont bother saying any more there.

Launceston(second Largest city in Tasmania) an easy hour drive east of Devonport, this region is very rich wine country and there is a wine trail called Tamar valley wine route. cataract Gorge is a go too, and actually is home to the worlds longest single span chair lift ride and has a thingo bridge too, cable one suspension bridge is that it lol? Anyway is very popular with tourists. There is a few museum too, queen victory museum and a car museum too called national automobile museum of Tasmania, worth a look and all the usual city things to do, shopping mini golf, indoor tennis that sort of thing.

now if they do end up in paradigm and my home city of Devonport( City with Spirit which apparently is meant to have no relation to the fact we are the home port of the Twin spirit passenger vessels oh and is 3rd largest city in Tas we feel sorry for them and no doubt its only to catch the SOT (Spirit of Tasmania) back home. nah thatis rough things to do whilst waiting include:

Australian weaving mills factory outlet

Devonport regional gallery also has something big going on apparently again not my thing so tend to skip over what happens there lol.

Home Hill is an interesting one, its the residence of the late Edmund Lyons the only Tasmania prime minister weve ever had.

Tasmania Arboretum - yeah trees, grass land, gardens ponds , bbq area etc etc usual stuff arboretums have lol

Don River Railway - has the largest collection of steam locos and oldschool carriages in Tassie

Tiagarra aboriginal centre- speaks for itself take a journey throw Tasmanias aboriginal history, bit of walk there too with some "rock carvings" which i dunno have also seemed a little suss to locals haha but look they reopened the centre as the demand was there so guess tourist like it.

The maritime museum and heritage centre incl the restored ketch Julie Burgess, Devonport is the gateway to Tasmania for not only passengers and freight but oil, gas, grain cement & fuel so has an incredibly rich maritime history, the museum has recently under gone a massive shake up and is now actually worth checking out so id recommend a visit there.

Other activities include shopping, Go-karts, Mini Golf, Target Golf and a properly good 18 hole Golf course, Ten pin bowling alley and arcade place, fairly decent 3D Cinema complex (C-MAX, Yes think I-MAX)and a place called pandemonium which is an indoor adventure centre that has things like Laser Skirmish, indoor rock wall and science centre.

Now you mentioned websites, Tasmanias tourist industry in dominated massively by one company - federal resorts, hotels & casinos and they run their whole tourism business under one banner and successful brand - Pure Tasmania here is the website check it out http://www.puretasmania.com.au/home.html

Govt run site is http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/

Lol Foss just on the spirit of the sea sculpture dont forget the water feature and lighttsss wowowowowowow! the dumb thing is meant to welcome people to Devonport yet the thing faces the wrong way, all you see of it when entering the river is it back and lets be honest when your leaving the river aboard the 200m Spirits you are not going to see much of that damm thing lol 200k well spend yep sounds like the Dev council hahah

[Tash]

Wow, thank you all so much - what a gold mine of information :D The scenic railway sounds pretty cool, as do a lot of the museums and bush walks and that. Mum and Nick are big into wineries as well so the Tamar valley would be a goer I reckon!

Top stuff on selling your home state :) Now I want to go there too! :D

[Foss]

Wow, thank you all so much - what a gold mine of information :D The scenic railway sounds pretty cool, as do a lot of the museums and bush walks and that. Mum and Nick are big into wineries as well so the Tamar valley would be a goer I reckon!

Top stuff on selling your home state :) Now I want to go there too! :D

If they're big on wineries, the East Coast Wine Route is also a goer. I went around a bunch of them a couple of years ago with my ex (she wasn't my ex at the time, lol) who is a massive wine-o. It took us great restraint to not blow heaps of dollars on wine. Theres several wine routes around the state, info can be found here.

[Adamsy]

Wow, thank you all so much - what a gold mine of information :D The scenic railway sounds pretty cool, as do a lot of the museums and bush walks and that. Mum and Nick are big into wineries as well so the Tamar valley would be a goer I reckon!

Top stuff on selling your home state :) Now I want to go there too! :D

lol anybody would think i sell crap for a living haha.

Nah despite the bad rap and mud slinging Tassie cops from you mainlanders :P it is a very beautiful natural state and please take all the business of logging and woodchips etc with a grain of salt, its only ever a tenth of the truth and only ever the save the trees hilly biilys (who are actully stopping actual employed hardworking people from goinf about there job) side of the story.

There is plenty to see and do and in a week they won't even get close to seeing a quarter of it.

Also a nice little get away spot close to Devonport is Portsorell/Shearwater, it's about ten mins east of dev not to far from the airport and is kind of considered our own little peice of the Gold Coast, amazing beaches and coves but hugely populer with locals of the area.

[Tash]

Excellent stuff - I will pass on that winery website too, cheers paradigm. Lol, sorry Tasmanians :( All in good fun! I must admit the only time I've been over there was when I was about 13 and didn't really enjoy myself, but then again now I'm older and from the things above there is lots I missed out on, so I'll definitely have to go back.

Mum was stunned when I sent her your replies, busily working out now what on earth they are going to fit into 7 days hehehe As you guys said above, a week probably just isn't going to cut it! You should take a photo of the spirit of the sea sculpture for us all

[Adamsy]

lol here we go some pics of the controversial "Spirit of the sea" statue all $220,000 of it....

untitled8862.bmp

[Tash]

Lol! Now I understand exactly what you guys are talking about - what an awesome use of taxpayer money :D That alone makes me want to visit Tasmania

[Adamsy]

Lol! Now I understand exactly what you guys are talking about - what an awesome use of taxpayer money :D That alone makes me want to visit Tasmania

Oh hell yeah lol so much so there is a facebook page about it http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=43686324934&v=wall

these pics actually make it look semi- impressive i was trying to get a pic of it with one of the Spirit Passenger liners in the back ground to show how stupid it looks but watching the spirits arrive and depart is kind of an "Attraction" for families so getting a car park along the rim especially by the river mouth is challenging so i gave up in the end lol. If it cost $22000 you’d say yeah ok but at 220000 it doesn’t give you much value for the coin...