Surferdude does Tasmania

Surferdude · **Reply #30: December 12, 2013, 11:27:14**

Quote from: Dazzler on December 12, 2013, 11:11:26

Quote from: Surferdude on December 12, 2013, 11:07:28
Quote from: Dazzler on December 12, 2013, 10:53:45
Trev (haven't been up the shot tower)
It's a long climb Dazz. I think about 300+ steps.

I don't mind steps for exercise (but that is a lot!)

I didn't realise you lost a friend in the shooting

He had left Goodyear by then and was living in Tasmania but he was a HR guy in our Sydney office. I met him a few times and still have some correspondence from him (including an aptitude appraisal).

eye30 · **Reply #31: December 12, 2013, 12:59:05**

Some great, i mean all, pics.

Thanks

Dazzler · **Reply #32: December 12, 2013, 20:03:08**

I just clicked on the spoiler for the Port Arthur pictures (at least it wasn't raining)

Nice pix and I really like the yellow cottage!

Phil №❶ · **Reply #33: December 12, 2013, 20:20:22**

Great pics, Trev.

Lakes · **Reply #34: December 12, 2013, 20:50:40**

Great pic's Trev! And reading your detailed account of your ride in the open boat & freezing. i think i went on that trip last time i was in Tassie. but not to port A, went to Brunny Island got a tour boat from Hobart then we got into an open zodiac type boat with two or three outboards, they gave us these big wet weather ?? gear to put on. & it was freezing too. but great experience.

Surferdude · **Reply #35: December 13, 2013, 00:20:38**

Quote from: Lakes on December 12, 2013, 20:50:40

Great pic's Trev! And reading your detailed account of your ride in the open boat & freezing. i think i went on that trip last time i was in Tassie. but not to port A, went to Brunny Island got a tour boat from Hobart then we got into an open zodiac type boat with two or three outboards, they gave us these big wet weather ?? gear to put on. & it was freezing too. but great experience.

Sounds like the same mob John.
Incidentally, months ago when I first researched the trip, I found a tour group doing the Port Arthur and cruise thingy and bookmarked it. Then, a few weeks before we went I opened it up and tried to book but some of the website links didn't work. So I rang them. No answer. Apparently they'd gone out of business. Lucky I didn't book earlier.
It seems the Tasman Island Cruises, run by the Pennicott Group are the real deal and we loved everything about the day.

Surferdude · **Reply #36: December 13, 2013, 04:57:42**

On Day 8 we wandered around Hobart and Battery Point in the morning, then drove out to the Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder in the afternoon. Absolutely great day all round and anyone touring Tassie should make the time for the 5 hour round trip to the Gordon Dam when they are in Hobart.

A few from the Harbour, between Constitution Dock and Salamanca Marketplace.

This one takes visitors up river to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art - an art gallery with a twist). Think it also does cruises on the Derwent.

Surferdude · **Reply #37: December 13, 2013, 05:04:58**

A walk around Battery Point is a must do, also.
Now if we could just remove the cars which park in front of the nice old houses.

Note the rose bushes.

A few more.

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Surferdude · **Reply #38: December 13, 2013, 05:11:35**

Lake Pedder and the Gordon Dam and power station

Our trusty steed for two weeks. Mitsubishi Outlander.

You can abseil down the face of the Gordon Dam. Not this little black duck.

]

The dam builders dug caves and tracks everywhere. This is on the opposite side of the dam gorge.

]

Phil №❶ · **Reply #39: December 13, 2013, 05:17:37**

Armchair travel,

FatBoy · **Reply #40: December 13, 2013, 08:23:14**

Thanks Trev. It looks like you had great weather!! Sorry we couldn't catch up while you were down.

Dazzler · **Reply #41: December 13, 2013, 08:30:03**

Awesome thread Trev.. You got some nice photos

Surferdude · **Reply #42: December 13, 2013, 09:09:39**

Quote from: Dazzler on December 13, 2013, 08:30:03

Awesome thread Trev.. You got some nice photos

More to come.............

Surferdude · **Reply #43: December 13, 2013, 10:23:32**

One afternoon we rushed off to Richmond and spent about 3 hours there.

Historic Richmond Bridge views. Built using convict labour from 1823-25

And a pano view.

Richmond main street.

IIRC, this is the original council chambers.

And I elected myself chairman of the council.
Not sure I was supposed to sit here but I took a quick "selfie" while the lady attendant was in another room.
Note the halo. I think it suits me.

And a few more here.

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Dazzler · **Reply #44: December 13, 2013, 12:00:30**

Surferdude · **Reply #45: December 16, 2013, 02:33:21**

We left Hobart and drove up the east coast via the Tasman Highway to Bicheno where we were checked in for two nights. This takes you through Sorrell, Orford and Swansea where we decided on morning tea. Swansea looks nice, overlooking the Great Oyster Bay on the other side of which is the Freycinet Peninsula which includes Coles Bay, Wineglass Bay and The Hazards.
But we tried three places (one was closed) to get served. One had a woman behind the counter making coffees for the couple in front of us but she completely ignored us for about 3 or 4 minutes. No eye contact, no "Be with you shortly". Nada.
So we went over the road. Prices were literally exhorbitant and the cakes and things lookedmost unappetizing.
So we moved on. Just on the northern exit to Swansea was a roadhouse type place with a cafe/ restaurant attached and a museum called the Bark Mill Museum.
Top food, top prices, great coffee, plenty of room, lots of customers and excellent service.
The only saving grace for Swansea IMHO.
Glad we hadn't booked there for one night.

So, on to Bicheno. What a beautiful spot. I think it just might be my favourite place in all of Tasmania. I honestly could live there.
It was early but we were able to check in to our cabin and go for a look around town. Got lunch from a cafe where the service was fine but with no personality. It was up for sale, too. Wonder why? Oh. And my Environmental Health Office daughter took great delight in pointing out to us all the things around the shop which would fail it in a council heath inspection.

Good burgers though and we took ourselves down to a park overlooking the bay to eat. I have to say, everywhere else in Bicheno and surrounds, from the Big 4 Van Park where we stayed to the East Coast Natureworld, to the Club where we had dinner and the small supermarket had great service and friendly people.

After lunch Kylie and I walked the coastal trail around the headland to the Governor island Marine Reserve and the old whaling station. Some pics from around the bay.

Our view while having lunch. Only the wind spoiled it.

More here

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Surferdude · **Reply #46: December 16, 2013, 03:13:37**

The first night in the Bicheno cabin we were rudely awakened about 10.30 pm by this god-awful screeching and carrying on under and around the cabin. We sort of vaguly wonderd if they might be penguins but dismissed the idea. Turns out they were. Lady at the park said they come in every night an droost under the cabins. They carry on their noise on and off all night and head back to the ocean - across the highway - before dawn.
What a great experience.
So, the next day we drove back to Coles Bay and Kylie and I did the walk up to the Wineglass Bay lookout. Awesome scenery
Here are some more shots from the Freycinet Peninsula. Cape Tourville was a pleasant surprise. The turnoff was just before the Winegalss Bay car park so we drove up to see what was there. Well worth the 10 minutes each way.

This is looking back from Cape Tourville Lighthouse into Wineglass Bay (the tiny strip of white sand you can see in the distance).

Looking straight down from the Cape Tourville walkway.

"The Nuggets" off Cape Tourville.

Cape Tourville Lighthouse.

Looking north from Cape Tourville.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #47: December 16, 2013, 04:17:54**

Tas, is a very pretty state

Good shots, surferdude.

rustynutz · **Reply #48: December 16, 2013, 05:44:30**

Bicheno has a "famous" mayor too...."The Frog" Bertrand Cadart.

Motorcycle enthusiasts might also remember him as "Clunk" from the movie Mad Max...

Bertrand Cadart speaks, Mad Max - YouTube

Surferdude · **Reply #49: December 16, 2013, 06:52:47**

I should have mentioned the Bicheno Motorcycle Museum, too.

Bicheno Motorcycle Museum - YouTube

Shambles · **Reply #50: December 16, 2013, 08:36:48**

Terrific photos. They serve well to reinforce my opinion that I live in and around a shithole. Thanks

AlanHo · **Reply #51: December 16, 2013, 08:50:10**

Quote from: Shambles on December 16, 2013, 08:36:48

Terrific photos. They serve well to reinforce my opinion that I live in and around a shithole. Thanks

There is good and bad almost everywhere - even Solihull has a rough area it was kindly given at the last boundary review.

My wife and her sister spent a couple of days in Manchester 2 weeks ago to visit the Christmas markets and take a look around the town. They were duly impressed with your civic buildings, the trams, the historic architecture, the shopping in the city centre and much more. Much better than Birmingham which claims to be the second city - but really isn't - it is miles behind Manchester. Not only that - you don't have to drive far to be in some glorious countryside.

So open your eyes man - you are lucky to live there........

Surferdude · **Reply #52: December 17, 2013, 03:17:44**

The afternoon saw us with plenty of time to visit the East Coast Wildlife Park just a few klms north of Bicheno.
They have an enourmous number of Australian fauna here, from wallabies to wombats to Tasmanian Devils, to a range of snakes and a massive, multi-section, walk through aviary. Also a kid's farmyard, emus, eagles and a good range of merchandise.

Spotted quoll - also known as the Tiger Quoll.

An albino peacock which wouldn't oblige with a fan tail display.

Mother and baby - baby wasn't too sure about this bloke with the camera.

You don't want to get between these guys and their meal.

Surferdude · **Reply #53: December 17, 2013, 03:40:35**

Here's a few more from the wild life park.

Rosella

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Dazzler · **Reply #54: December 17, 2013, 08:52:27**

Almost like being there!

Surferdude · **Reply #55: December 21, 2013, 07:13:49**

I only video'd the snake section so somehwere along the way I'll try to get around to uploading some vids.

So, after our second night in Bicheno, we hightailed it back to Hobart. This was brought about by the fact that, having flown into Launceston and due to leave from there to come home, we were unable to get to Hobart on the first Saturday of our trip. Which meant we were missing the Salamanca Markets. But a bit over two hours saw us back in Hobart for these on the second Saturday Details can be had here. Salamanca Market | Hobart City Council, Tasmania

We spent a few leisurely hours there and drove up the centre of the island to make Launceston about 3 pm. Not a big state is Tasmania.
We checked in to the cabin and drove up the western side of the Tamar Valley through Beaconsfield where, in 2006 a disaster in the gold mine made world news. A rock fall one kilometer underground killed one miner and trapped two others. The two week operation to locate them and free them was "edge of the seat" stuff and during the operation, one of Australia's most experienced, senior journalists, Richard Carleton died whilst covering the evnt.
Gold mining operations finished up there in 2012 but you can tour the facility.

Driving a bit further took us to Greens Beach Conservation Area from which you can see across to Low Head which is on the Eastern headland.
Beautiful area, the Tamar.

Pics follow.

Car show in Hobart in front of Parliament House.

And more here......

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Dazzler · **Reply #56: December 21, 2013, 07:38:53**

Keep 'em coming Trev.. We were there when Richard Carleton collapsed with his heart attack. We were only a few metres away with my youngest daughter Nateah who would have been 8 or 9 y/o at the time.. so we quickly moved away.

I saw his face but his hair was much greyer than I imagined so I didn't realise who he was until later...

I made a video record of most of the major events of that two weeks (from TV bulletins etc..) and presented a copy to a lady that worked in the Head Office of the Tile shop I was managing at the time.. She was Todd Russell's Sister (one of the guys who was rescued after 2 weeks)

I got a special cap and a T-shirt for my trouble (which I ended up wearing out)

Not sure where they are now!