Tag Archives: tasmania

Little Italy of Australia (Tasmania Day 3)

Looking off of our balcony this morning, it reminds me exactly of the Italian countryside. Apparently, Hobart is the Little Italy of Australia!

MONA

Today we visited the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), which is a very popular attraction in Hobart that nearly everyone told us to visit. It might not be for everyone, but I am incredibly happy went! We started by taking a lovely ferry from downtown Hobart up the Derwin River. Upon arrival, it doesn’t look like much, but at the top of the 99 entrance steps and underground lays the art museum with remarkable architecture and creativity.

Ferry's view of MONA

Ferry’s view of MONA

Entrance to MONA

Entrance to MONA

Stage area behind MONA

Stage area behind MONA

We explored outside, then entered the museum, looking at and thinking about all the artwork inside. Some was a bit dark or disturbing, but majority of the works were very interesting to view. Our of everyone we’ve met, this gallery gives different people very different views. You either love it, or hate it. Luckily, my mom and I thought it was well worth the visit and a fantastic way to spend our last morning in Hobart. If you’re interested in art and creativity, I highly recommend visiting MONA!

Organ/flower artwork

Organ/flower artwork

Skull made of colorful beetles

Skull made of colorful beetles

Wall of art

Wall of art

Live tattoo art

Live tattoo art

By afternoon we were on the way to the airport, headed to Sydney!

Port Arthur (Tasmania Day 2)

Today was probably one of the most incredible days I’ve spent in Australia! We took a three-hour wildlife cruise along the Tasman cliff faces, and later explored Port Arthur.

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Our day started with an hour’s drive from Hobart to Eaglehawk Neck. We enjoyed morning tea at a local café, then were transferred to the coast to board our boat. It was a 32-seat boat built like a giant inflatable raft with a roof.

Pennicott Wilderness Journey's cruise boat

Pennicott Wilderness Journey’s cruise boat

The Cruise

We soon set our to explore the incredible Tasman landscape by way of the ocean! We travelled along the eastern cliff edges of the Tasman Sea, down south and around that land section, and eventually into the water channel leading to Port Arthur. Stunned by the staggering cliffs and open sea caves, we soon stopped Waterfall bay, where you could see the marking of where a huge waterfall would flow with enough rain.

Cliff faces

Cliff faces

Sea caves

Sea caves

Our next stop was at a calm inland bay, where an old jetty and boat remains were sunken in the ocean. Years ago a ship ran aground there, and the story can still be envisioned today. Here we saw a flock of birds native to Tasmania that look remarkably similar to penguins. The main difference is they can fly. We also saw a nest of white-chested sea eagles, however did not see any of the actual birds themselves! This area is also a popular camping destination, and although it wasn’t the right season at the time, it can fill up to hold 1200 campers.

Shipwreck

Shipwreck

This was probably the most exciting boat ride I’ve been on, a bit adrenaline pumping but also awesome. As we cruised along the cliff edges, I was so impressed by their brutal beauty. The Southern ocean is not protected by any land masses prior to this point, so by the time Antarctic swells reach the edge of Tasmania, they are extremely powerful. Along the way, we also saw dolphins and seals lying along the cliff edges.

Seals along the cliff edges

Seals along the cliff edges

The Black Coast

Today the swell was a mere 3 meters (distance between the trough and peak of a wave), but next week they are predicting that the largest swell in 10 years is to pass through, at 20 meters. Glad we visited today! These massive swells make the ocean too powerful to take tours out in, and today was one of only 50 days of the year that the water was acceptable to take the tour down the entire coast to Port Arthur, along the most dangerous area called the Black Coast. Typically, a tour will go out at the same start spot, cruise, return to that spot, then be driven down to Port Arthur. However, we were lucky enough to explore the magic of the Southern Ocean and Black Coast!

Port Arthur

This small town started as a convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula, built during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a beautiful property, but has a very dark past.

View of Port Arthur from the water

View of Port Arthur from the water

The English empire started sending convicts down to Tasmania because they were running out of room in their prisons. Due to Tasmania’s location and extreme landscaping, it created a natural prison because people literally could not leave the island. This penitentiary was actually built with the intention to help boost the economy by prisoners doing work to send supplies back to Europe and settle the area. In fact, most “prisoners” were not even imprisoned, but were expected to work various jobs around the area, such as fishing or cutting down trees.

Unfortunately, Port Arthur is also the location of Australia’s worst mass murder event, where 35 innocent people lost their lives. This in turn pushed the enactment of Australia’s very strict gun laws, which still exist today.

Inside a penitentiary wing

Inside a penitentiary wing

After two devastating fires among the years, Port Arthur ceased working. At the time, the Queen of England encouraged everyone to gather leftover supplies to rebuild the community, leaving just a shell of the original property. Some has been reconstructed, but you can still imagine its original look. Now, Port Arthur is Tasmania’s top tourist attraction.

View of Port Arthur on land

View of Port Arthur on land

Rosney Hill Lookout

On the bus ride home, our driver surprised us and drove to a beautiful hilltop lookout over Hobart (after sunset). With clusters of downtown areas and homes lit up on the hillside, it was an incredible view, and a perfect way to end such a fantastic day!

Bruny Island (Tasmania Day 1)

Yesterday we arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, and spent the rest of the day exploring downtown and shopping around. Tasmania is located at the Southeast corner of Australia, the only state not attached to the mainland. It is the closest you can get to Antarctica while still in Australia! The town of Hobart is located on the central Southern coast, was founded in 1803 as a penal colony, and is the second oldest city after Sydney.

Today, we took a food and scenery tour of Bruny Island. We woke up to hear the first snowfall had hit the top of Mt. Wellington overnight, quite a cold shock after my days in sunny Gold Coast! After catching the ferry from Kettering, we docked in Robert’s Point, and started our day:

Map of Bruny Island with associated tour stop locations

Map of Bruny Island with associated tour stop locations

1. Bruny Island Cheese Co.

This artisan cheese producer provided a fantastic cheese tasting of two hard, one soft, and one fresh cheese. They were all delicious, and the outdoor setup was just charming. We also tasted two craft beers that were available at their shop. After nearly 10 years of making cheese in many different countries, the owner set up shop on Bruny Island, and has been quite successful since then.

Inside of Bruny Island Cheese Co.

Window showcase of cheese wheels

Outside of Bruny Island Cheese Co. tasting setup

Outside of Bruny Island Cheese Co. tasting setup

2. Get Shucked Oysters

Due to its location, Tasmania is known for its quality fish industry, and oysters are also popular. The owner of this company purchased the business at age of 18, and has thrived. Although I am a vegetarian, I decided prior to traveling that if I came across a cultural food containing meat I MIGHT try it. However, this has been the first time I’ve actually followed through. I tried one oyster, and it tasted like a quality one, but I don’t think I would care to try them again. Most of tour group had the same opinion, but a few people enjoyed the extras!

Oyster tasting

Oyster tasting

3. Truganini Lookout

Bruny Island is made up of the two islands, north and south, connected by a strip of land called the Neck. We walked up to the lookout, and had a spectacular view of the islands and surrounding waters. It’s the perfect place to see the spectacular white sands, which get their light color from their high silica content.

Panoramic view of Bruny Island

Panoramic view of Bruny Island

The Neck lookout

The Neck lookout

This area also contains a colony of little fairy penguins. They are the smallest penguin species in the world, with a 40cm height and 1kg weight maximum. They breed in colonies here, nesting and burrowing in the ground. Like the St. Kilda penguins in Melbourne, they feed during day and come in at night. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any since we were only visiting during the day!

Penguin burrows (darker holes in ground)

Penguin burrows (darker holes in ground)

4. White wallabies

You learn something new everyday, and today I learned that wallabies come in white too! Wallabies are typically a brown color, but here on Bruny Island they contain a gene that gives a white color. Since the gene is recessive, they are born either entirely brown or pure white, and at times you will even see a white one in a brown mother’s pouch, or vice versa. We were lucky enough to see two up close (so we know they actually exist and aren’t just ghost wallabies), but not quite quick enough to get a picture!

5. Morning tea

Next we enjoyed a lovely tea at a beachside café off Adventure Bay. The coffee and blueberry muffin was a great little snack to fit into our morning while enjoyed the (finally) beautiful weather.

Teatime view

Teatime view

6. Bruny Island Premium Wines

For lunch, we headed to the island winery, where we tasted two whites and three red wines. I had a mushroom and halloumi (firm white cooked cheese) dish, which was AMAZING. I think it may have been the best dish I’ve have so far in Australia. Definitely a recommend stop on the island.

7. Chocolate Factory Outlet

For desert, we headed to a chocolate producer, where we tasted hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate fudge, and chocolate-covered honeycomb. It was definitely caloric, but a great way to enjoy the holiday! While driving from here, we passed by Satellite Island, which a man inherited from distant family. He built a resort on property, and now you’re able to rent out the entire island, starting at $1200 a night!

Chocolate Factory Outlet

Chocolate Factory Outlet

8. Bruny Island House of Whiskey

Our last stop of the day was at the island’s whiskey distillery, where we sampled either whiskey or a gin and tonic. This was a great stop to wrap up the day, and was a stunning property overlooking the water and northern edge of the island.

View off House of Whiskey front deck

View off House of Whiskey front deck

Overall, I had a fantastic impression of Bruny Island. The people are lovely, and the scenery is gorgeous. My favorite part is that the buildings look like charming little toy buildings that were dropped throughout the land. It just looks like a peaceful little dream island where people go to relax and escape.

A very worthwhile and enjoyable day!