Navigator on board...

Trip to Tasmania 2004

Overall, the trip was not too bad. But if you are a city person, I don't think u'll enjoy Tasmania. Coz it's more of nature, scenery... I went with my aunt and 2 of her friends. We only went to the East part of Tasmania. Oh ya... in case you're wondering where's Tassie, it's an island located SouthEast of Australia.
3 of them took turns to drive around while I was the navigator... the one reading maps and telling which way to go, which corner to turn... So, didn't really get to sleep during the journey... not an easy job though.
And also... skin got darker after the trip!
on this trip, we saw many... more than 20 dead animals on or by the road, mainly possums (I think, coz can't really tell them apart).
And also, saw big open area with sheep, cows, horses......

Day 1 (5th Dec)
Arrived in Hobart at 8.10am after a 1hr flight from Melbourne.
Pick up a rented car (Kia, Rio, silver) from the airport
Drove to Port Arthur abt 1.5 hr from airport.
Port Arthur was established in 1830 as a convict timber station to produce material for Government projects. It bacame a prison settlement for male convicts and was intended to provide severe punishment for repeat offenders. By 1840, there were over 2000 convicts and staff in Port Arthur. The settlement closed in 1877 after abt 12000 sentences had been served here. During the next 2 decades, a number of the settlement's buildings were pulled down or destroyed by fire.
We had a 40 mins historic walking tour which explained to us the key aspects of Port Arthur's history. After that, went on a 20 mins Harbour Cruise which passes the dockrards, Point Puer boy's prison site and the Isle of the Dead. The cruise was nice. Strong wind plus strong sun. Isle of the Dead is where the majority of convicts and ex-convict paupers were buried in mostly umarked graves on the power part of the island. The graves of free ppl were on the higher part of the island and marked by headsontes cut by the convict stonemasons.
Walked around Port Arthur, visited and took pics of the Convict Church, the Commandant's House, the civilians' houses, Guard tower, The penitentiary...
On our way back to Hobart to check in to the apartment, went for a nice view at blow hole and the Fossil Cliff.
After dinner (instant noodles with eggs and vegie), drove to the casino. Which is kind of a lousy one compared to that in Melbourne. haha!

Day 2
Abt 35 mins drive to Huonville. Visited a few places near that area. Such as the Enchanted Woods, which is a craft shop; Tahune Forest Reserve for the 50 mins return Airwalk (walk through the canopy on a 'trail' built high up).
On the way back from Airwalk to the Huonville, we went to see the Australia's biggest tree, and some lookout points. Took some photos with 'our car' at a nice lookout place. haha!
Back to Hobart, drove around the city, then to a small town called Richmond, which is abt 25km from Hobart. Richmond is just a small, quite town. Australia's oldest bridge is there, dated 1823. The oldest church is there as well.

Day 3
After checking out from the apartment before 10am (that's the rule in Aus), set off to Claremont, only abt 15 mins drive from the apartment. What's in Claremont?! The Cadbury factory! Had a tour, which brought us around the factory, 'picked up' 17 chocolates along the tour. haha! Freshly made... yumm!! All the chocolate there are not stored in the factory for more than 24 hours. They're exported to Melb than to other places (not sure about other countries). The cocoa they used came from Gana (if i'm not wrong), which has the best quality cocoa, Malaysia and another country which I can't remember. The best quality cocoa is used to make dark chocolate.
And chocolate which is exported to hotter asian country, is not as 'pure' as those sold in Aus itself coz they have to add stabilizer (or something like that) so that it won't melt so easily.
After the tour, bought some chocolate back.
Then, on our way to Coles Bay, which is abt 3 hrs drive from Hobart.
Went pass another small town called Sorell. Went to a Cherry n berry farm. Plucked a container full of Cherries, rasberries, longanberries, apricot (or issit called peach?)...
Then stop by a small town called Swansea. Nothing much there, took some photos of the beach there.
After that, went to a disappointing route... From the map, there's a waterfall not far away.... so follow the road... but it's soooooo deep into the forrest along the small road, where no other cars passed by. which is scary coz it's getting dark somemore. So when we get to the dead end for the car, have to get down and walk through the woods to see the waterfall. We didn't walk coz scared will get lost in the woods. haha! So, feel bad about that, coz I was the one who brought us there but see nothing.
After checked into a cabins with 2 rooms, kitchen, bathroom... went for dinner at a fish n chip shop. Then, walk along the coast waiting to see the sunset on the horizon. But... the sun set behind the mountains! haha!
At night, 4 of us sat down and drank red wine. Couldn't finish that bottle though. haha! coz everyone's tired... someone even got drunk! haha! and also, they had to drive the next day.

Day 4
Check out from cabins
To the Frycinet National Park where the famous Wineglass Bay is.
Parked our car then have to walk for about 30mins to reach the lookout point, and abt another 45 mins to get down to the bay.
The walk is so tiring! Up and down on the rocks... Especially when coming back up from the bay. really... burn up almost all my fats!
Then at the carpark, saw a wild kangaroo with a little joey in her pouch.
After that, went to another 2 lookout point in the Frycinet National Park to see the light house and the bay.
Continue the journey to Lauceston, which is abt 3.5 hours from Coles Bay. Stopped by Campbell Town on the way. Saw this 'gadget' where you can calulate when will the venus (or issit mars?) will pass by the sun.
Arrived Lauceston, checked in. We stayed in a nice heritage motel. Each room has a name. The room I'm in is the Gun Room, which was said on the black heavy dungeon-like door. And in the room, even the toilet, chairs... is so.... heritage. There's a nice big windmill at the hotel area too.
Went for a walk in Lauceston city, had dinner, then walked along the Cataract Gorge which connects to the Tamar River. Nice view.
Wow... had many walks today. Tired...

Day 5 (9th Dec)
Had nice breakfast at the small restaurant opposite our room.
Set off to the Bridestowe Lavender farm!!! That's the largest lavender estate in the Southern hemisphere which has that particular species of lavender. (well, there're many types of lavender).
Had a short tour, explained how the flower bud is seperated and the oil extracted. Rupa-rupanya, only like.... 10% of the total weight of the plant is the bud, which is useful to extract the oil and make other stuff.
Had a lavender icecream... actually it's a vanilla ice-cream, with a lavender fudge and sprinkled with lavender loolies.
Before heading back to Lauceston city, went to the Tamar Valley, visited Hillwood Strawberry Farm, Fruit Wine & Cheese Centre. We din have time to pick our strawberries though. Bought a bottle of strawberry wine.
Hang around in Lauceston city till dinner time...
Back to Melbourne at 22.35

As soon as I'm back... Check my results!!! waited till abt 2.30 am for the results