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TAS Road Trip 2024TAS Road Trip 2024
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Making memories one road trip at a time. Read more
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  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 1

    Albury NSW

    April 12 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    On the road again, heading south. Destination Tasmania! Very excited as none of us have ever been before.

    It’s a different kind of adventure for us this time leaving the caravan behind and taking our chances on a range of motel, short-stay rental and cabin style accommodation.

    It was a slow-ish roadwork riddled start, but once out of Sydney we cruised down the Hume stopping briefly for lunch at Sutton Forest, fuel at Yass, and a quick detour to view the HMAS Otway at Holbrook.

    Tonight we’ve made it to the Albury Manor House in central Albury. Let’s just say it would have been stately in its day 🤣 Despite the room being twice the size of our caravan, we do miss the convenience of having everything on hand - it sure beats unpacking and repacking the car for short overnight stops.

    A quick drive up Monument Hill for a beautiful sunset vista over town before dinner at the Commercial Club - recreating a memory from our 2016 Great Ocean Road trip. The boys were disappointed the all-you-can-eat buffet died out with Covid but were more than happy with their mega schnitzels instead!    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 2

    Geelong VIC

    April 13 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    A quick detour leaving Albury this morning to peruse LuftWasser 2024 in the park opposite our morning coffee stop. Advertised as Australia's leading independent Porsche event, the festival showcases cars that are driven not polished. The boys at least were impressed.

    Moving on we caught up with Dan & Helen and arrived promptly in Geelong around mid afternoon excited and ready to board the Spirit of Tasmania, only to find it had been delayed and boarding would not commence until 9:30 pm. Hence we are now intimately acquainted with the Geelong waterfront!

    On the plus side, I did find the best raspberry muffin ever at a cafe on the foreshore, and we all enjoyed a yummy Mexican dinner.

    We’re now playing ‘spot the SOT’ as we patiently await its arrival in Corio Bay.    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 2

    Spirit of Tasmania

    April 13 ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After a long wait for delayed boarding we eventually sailed out of Port Phillip Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning. Happily we were able to sneak a cheeky port on the port deck as we left port 🍷😁

    Our cabin was cozy with all five of us but much better than the complimentary recliner option. In fact, once in bed it was quite comfy. I could even get accustomed to the quiet hum and vibrations of the ship’s engines while being gently rocked to sleep.

    We had a lovely calm voyage and were even welcomed to Tassie this morning by a spectacular full rainbow just outside our porthole window. Let the adventure begin!    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 3

    Launceston TAS

    April 14 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today we can claim to have visited every state in Australia within the past 12 months! Pretty impressive.

    We disembarked the Sprint of Tasmania in Devonport around 10:30 and headed south, stopping on route at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for the most delicious punnet of fresh raspberries ever. We took only a few hundred metres to completely devour them as we continued down the Midland Highway towards Launceston.

    Here we explored Cataract Gorge, a unique and unexpected urban wilderness wrapped around a dramatic gorge, just a stroll from Launceston’s City Centre.

    The highlight was the First Basin Chairlift which spans over 457m, including a central span of 308m making it the world’s longest single chairlift span. It was a delightfully slow retro ride, affording stunning views over the reserve.

    After a few short walks around the grounds we headed for the east coast and our first real destination, Binnalong Bay. The Lazy Waves Beach House will be our home for the next few nights as we explore the Bay of Fires and north-west region of Tasmania. The house is superb, with a generous balcony overlooking the beach - perfect for our first Tasmanian happy hour 🥂    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 4

    Binnalong Bay TAS

    April 15 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Making the most of a beautiful Tassie day exploring along the Great Eastern Tourist Drive.

    First stop Eddystone Point lighthouse overlooking the Bay of Fires Conservation Area and marking the easternmost point of the Tasmanian island. Here we experienced the iconic granite rocks splashed in orange lichen against a backdrop of clean white beaches and clear azure seas. A truly stunning landscape, exactly like the brochures. Bucket list ✅

    Next stop, Little Blue Lake - a natural phenomenon resulting from the pioneering mining days of South Mount Cameron and the surrounding areas of the Far North East of Tasmania. Originally a mine hole, the lake reflects a vivid aqua blue from the minerals in its base. It was slightly overcast when we arrived and possibly lacking its sparkle, but an impressive sight nonetheless.

    Moving on we headed to the Pyengana Dairy, home of Australia’s heritage farmhouse cheese, continuing 135 years of tradition producing handcrafted cheese and dairy products on a farm in the Pyengana Valley. While Anthony and I enjoyed a Tasmanian tasting platter, the boys made a big call confidently declaring their ice cream to be the best ever - all eaten before I had time for a picture!

    Down the road we indulged Priscilla, the beer drinking pig, at the Pub in the Paddock. I was a little conflicted by this tourist attraction, but they assured us she only drinks a “specially watered-down” brew. We were amazed how quickly she guzzled it!

    A bit further down the road we ventured out to St Columba Falls - reportedly the tallest in Tasmania and one of Tassie's top 60 short walks. It was a lovely stroll through the rainforest down to the falls and back up again.

    All in all, a fantastic first full day in northeast Tassie.    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 5

    Bicheno TAS

    April 16 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Twelve months ago we enjoyed a delicious seafood platter beside a sparkling blue Indian Ocean at the Lobster Shack, Cervantes WA. Today we repeated the experience on the opposite side of the country beside a brisk Tasman Sea in Bicheno TAS. A very different setting, but equally memorable. Dare we say east coast lobster for the win 🦞

    To wash it down, a few kilometres down the road we visited Devils Corner Winery with its magnificent views over Great Oyster Bay. Of course the soundtrack to our drive home included a few clinking wine bottles 😉🍷    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    1
    Day 6

    Freycinet NP TAS

    April 17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Tassie is really turning it on for us. Another cracking day in shorts and t-shirts exploring Coles Bay and the Freycinet NP.

    First up (and I mean literally up) we hiked to Wineglass Bay lookout for an amazing panoramic view of the headland and glistening turquoise water below.

    Next on the tourist trail we checked out Honeymoon Bay and Sleepy Bay, interesting geological contrasts on opposing sides of the isthmus. Last bust not least we drove out to Cape Tourville Lighthouse and explored the cliff top boardwalk with views back into Wineglass Bay.

    It was a long slow drive to our next accommodation, but not without some beautiful scenery and a few interesting finds along the way - such as Spiky Bridge near Swansea, made in 1843 entirely out of field stones without any mortar or cement. Stones have been laid vertically along the parapet, giving the bridge a spiky appearance. The ‘spikes’ protect the bridge from harsh winds. Some people claim they were put in place to stop cattle falling over the sides.

    We ended the day with dinner at the Dodges Ferry Hotel before returning to Beachside Family Surf Retreat, Carlton - our quirky home for the next few nights - and by quirky I mean who doesn’t love an indoor banana tree and a bath tub in the ping-pong room 🤪    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 7

    Tasman Peninsula TAS

    April 18 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today we explored the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site. We also checked out the other attractions on the Tasman Peninsula including the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch and Remarkable Cave. Plus a Lavender Farm and Chocolate Factory for good measure.

    We started our Port Arthur experience with a boat cruise around the Isle of the Dead including some great commentary about the origins of the penal settlement and life of the inmates. Back on shore we made our way around the grounds absorbing the history and reflecting on the horror and tragedy of 28 April 1996.

    The grounds were beautiful and except for the descriptions and accounts of inmates living conditions, Port Arthur could be mistaken for a lovely village in which to spend a few years. We were especially surprised at the size and grandeur of the church and government residences.

    It was definitely a day of four seasons where we busted out both our ‘Tassie Tuxedos’ and rain jackets before shedding them all in favour of t-shirts again.    Read more

  • TravelerTAS Road Trip 2024
    Day 8

    MONA TAS

    April 19 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today was a highlight, at least for me, getting our culture fix at MONA - the Museum of Old and New Art.

    But first up, we headed to Jackman & McRoss bakery - an excellent recommendation in the historic Battery Point area of Hobart. Anthony and I tried a famous Tassie scallop pie each, while the boys enjoyed delicious pastries. Lachie ordered a chocolate croissant and was served two (for the price of one) because they said it was a bit small - LOL it was enormous 😋

    With full bellies we boarded the MONA Roma Ferry for a short cruise up the Derwent River to the museum. The ferry itself was part of the experience - including our own DIY ‘posh pit’ riding sheep back on the pauper’s deck (a photo tells a thousand words here).

    Upon arrival, MONA’s mirrored entry is the first clue your senses are in for a wild ride inside. There’s no signage and no natural light in the underground labyrinth. Darkness and disorientation being all part the experience.

    The museum was equal parts interesting, unsettling, confusing and amusing, especially the signature Cloaca Professional (aka "the poo machine") and Naughty Wall - the latter being not for the faint-hearted, especially when escorting teenage boys 😆

    Returning from MONA we explored Hobart city centre before indulging in a superb ‘Sydney to Hobart’ hot and cold seafood platter at the charismatic Drunken Admiral restaurant near Constitution Dock.

    Back at the Carlton house, Dan’s Aurora Australis indicators were going off so we rugged up, braved the cold and headed to the beachfront for a clear view of the southern sky. Despite the overcast weather we caught just a glimpse of colour. Dan returned later in the night (or rather very early the next morning) to capture some magical Aurora action.    Read more

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