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- Day 1
- Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 9:33 PM
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
AustraliaArthur Circus42°52’57” S 147°19’46” E
Hobart Highlife

What better way to mark 40 years of marital bliss(ters) than to leave behind ‘the northern island’ and revisit Australia’s mainland (Tasmania) - where we had honeymooned in 1984.
It wasn’t possible to exactly replicate our itinerary from all that time ago (e.g. The “Abel Tasman” ferry on which we travelled across Bass Straight has subsequently sunk) - so we flew Qantas (which seems to be in the process of sinking) to Hobart instead.
On arrival, we picked up our Budget hire car - a process which took an inordinately long time as ‘the computers were down’ . . . . and the one capable staff member was training a newbie on the computer malfunction induced ‘manual check-in process’. As it turned out, this didn’t really delay us at all, as it took even longer than this for the checked bags to arrive on the carousel - so we took a deep breath, relaxed and accepted that we were now operating on ‘Island Time’.
The skies were relatively clear so we had no hesitation in deciding that a drive to the top of Mt. Wellington was immediately required as this window of opportunity could be short-lived. 40 years ago we never actually saw the top of the mountain as it was shrouded in cloud the entire time we were in Hobart. It seems that the ‘“Budget Rental Cars Computer Malfunction” has also somehow changed the Ferrari I had reserved (and promised Loss) into a Suzuki Swift (which it definitely isn’t).
Nevertheless, the little Suzuki propelled us up the mountain in a willing (if not exhilarating) fashion. Up and up we went, seemingly back to the cruising altitude of the B-737 from which we had just disembarked. Anti-icing systems (i.e. the demister) were activated part the way up and we guessed that we were nearing the top when oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling of the car to assist with breathing - it seems that Budget had given us the unpressurised version of the Swift.
We braced ourselves against the icy wind which assaulted us on opening the doors. Scurrying down to the viewing platform, we snapped a few photos then retreated to the haven of the enclosed viewing hut to allow our extremities to thaw out.
Once we checked fingertips for possible frostbite and were able to move freely again, we coasted ‘swiftly’ down the mountain, found that the cloud and showers of rain had indeed closed in on the top of the mountain behind us, and then found our Mövenpick accommodation in Hobart where we played the ‘it’s a special day today as we’re on our 40th anniversary etc’ line to reception which resulted in a free room upgrade and complimentary champagne.
It was now 6.45pm and time for our short walk to the highly recommended Italian restaurant ‘Peppina’ (well, recommended by one patient to whom I was chatting a few days ago and who has travelled to Tasmania on a number of occasions). It was indeed a fantastic meal - made even more enjoyable by the fact that Sam and Laura had given us a gift voucher as a ‘thankyou’ to both of us (well, probably exclusively to Loss) for our help over the past couple of months since the arrival of baby Jack.
Having played our ‘it’s our 40th anniversary’ card again to the Sommelier who gave us complimentary dessert wines at the end of the meal, we strolled back through the chilly and deserted streets of Hobart CBD in good spirits.Read more
Traveler
😂 definitely don't want to try hiking in them. But as usual Loss always looks amazing!
Traveler
😅
Traveler
too funny!