Reset search
Tasmania 2025
  • The Shifting Spanners
  • The Shifting Spanners

Tasmania 2025

Our Retirement trip Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Trip start
    October 23, 2025
    The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    And we're off!

    October 23 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Flew Virgin to Sydney with a 3 hour layover then into Hobart. Smaller airport than we imagined. Picked up the hire car and straight to the hotel...pretty weary after a big trip down

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Huon Valley

    October 24 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Gave the Corolla Hybrid a good squirt down the Huon Valley. First stop was Willie Smith's Apple Shed where we ordered the platter including a Cider tasting paddle, ham and cheese toastie, and their famous apple pie. Delicious!
    After stuffing our faces, we headed off visiting Huonville, Cygnet, Franklin and Dover.
    Stopped in at Home Hill Winery for a Pinot Noir with some hot chips to warm us up.
    Finished the day at the Hobart twilight markets where we had some street food etc.
    Our hotel had basic cooking facilities, so bought some groceries to make lunches and some dinners.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Salamanca Markets and Mt Wellington

    October 25 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    After a big day yesterday, we kept it closer to home today. Did Salamanca Markets in the morning which was great. Then headed straight up to Mt Wellington while the weather was fine. The temperature guage on the car indicated 3° at the top, (I reckon it was colder) and there was snow everywhere. It even snowed whilst we were there which was great.
    Went back to the hotel and had a nap in the arvo.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Richmond and Lyn & Dave's

    October 26 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Nice drive out to Richmond, where we visited the oldest working bridge in Australia. Great little touristy town similar to Yungaburra.
    Next up was the oldest catholic church and the the Wicked Cheese Company where we bought some cheese and truffle oil for our visit with Lyn & Dave.
    Visited New Norfolk where we had our sandwiches in the park and Marg bought some offerings at the local Op Shop
    Had a great afternoon with Lyn & Dave...great to catch up after many years. We all loaded in to Dave's farm ute and chugged up their mountain track to check out their 200 acre property. Unfortunately there was a fallen tree across the track which Dave attempted to ram with the bull bar, only succeeding in smashing the windscreen and peeling off the bonnet haha. No mountain views for us! Once again forgot to take photos of us all...    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Port Arthur

    October 27 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    A big day to Port Arthur today including a 90 minute each way drive. A bit of rain on the way, but miraculously fined up for us which was lucky as almost all the ruins are outdoors. We had heard so much hype about Port Arthur but were slightly underwhelmed really. Perhaps we've been spoilt by visiting some other ruins (Pompeii, Rome, Europe) but enjoyed it nevertheless.
    Did the included boat cruise around the area which was great.
    Glad to tick this one off the bucket list!    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Strahan

    October 28 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    A 6 hour drive (with stops) to Strahan today. Stopped at Wall in the Wilderness on the way which receives great reviews and everyone suggested we visit, but not our cup of tea. Drove on to Lake St. Clair and walked along the jetty, before driving through to Queenstown and finally, Strahan.
    Our accomodation was upgraded to a hilltop room where we had great views from our deck over the town and wharf. Had a few wines and chatted to our neighbours before heading out to the pub for dinner.
    Early night tonight in readiness for our all day cruise tomorrow.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Gordon River Cruise

    October 29 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    A great day with World Heritage Cruises (Big Red Boat). So lucky again with the weather...we were told Strahan only has 30 fine days a year and we've had two of them!
    We chose this boat as its owned and operated by the original family that has run these tours for generations. They are big on conservation and even lent their boats to the protesters during the Gordon Franklin Dam protests, which eventually succeeded in stopping the dam.
    Splurged tickets to the upper deck window seats, so had great views, morning tea and lunch provided as well as a wine on the way home.
    We had a fantastic day out, stopping at Sara Island for an hour talking tour, as well as Heritage Landing for another 40 minute tour.
    Had booked a play tonight in Strahan, but decided to cancel as we'd heard ordinary reviews.
    Back to the pub for dinner tonight and ready for Cradle Mountain tomorrow.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Cradle Mountain

    October 30 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    The weather man said we were going to get some rain at Cradle Mountain, so we left Strahan early and arrived at Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre (massive) early enough to do the walks on the first day. Organised our bus tickets and went straight up to Dove Lake where we walked around to Glacier Rock, and then around to The Boatshed.
    Fantastic vistas from both sites, but The Boatshed had all the Gen Z's taking their Instagram photos haha.

    Did the Devils at Cradle after dark feeding at 5.30pm, which was great, then drove our car back up the mountain for another look at Cradle Mountain at sunset. (You can drive up there after the buses finish operating).

    Fantastic weather on day 1, but the weather man was accurate for a change, and had some drizzle on day 2, so we did our laundry and chilled out.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Stanley

    November 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Great coupla days in Stanley. Stayed at the Stanley Hotel and had dinner in their bistro both nights. The seafood chowder was fantastic.
    Caught the chairlift up to The Nut, walked around the summit, and lucky enough to see the penguins come ashore that night.
    Can highly recommend Stanley Wine Bar...what a place!    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Launceston

    November 3 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    A great drive from Stanley to Launy, stopping at Penguin and Latrobe, before having pancakes at Christmas Hill Rasberry Farm.
    Had 3 days in Launceston. Loved the Tamar Valley where we stopped at Holm Oak Winery for a tasting. Then bought a bottle of Pinot Gris and a cheese and salami platter and sat in the grounds overlooking the vineyard.

    Really enjoyed the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre. Spent a couple of hours wandering around the sites and remembering the mine rescue all those years ago.

    Enjoyed Cataract Gorge where Marg had another go in a chairlift haha.

    Ended up with a tour of James Boag brewery...favourite beer was St. George but is unavailable outside of Tassie.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    St Helens

    November 6 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    A nice drive from Launceston to St. Helens stopping at Scottsdale for a coffee and pie...Marg did some Op shopping as well. Next stop was the Legerwood Tree Carvings, before venturing through the Blue Derby Mountain bike trails, and walking through the Derby Tunnel. Stopped again at Pyengana Dairy for some cheese tasting and a glass of Pinot Gris. Had to visit the Pub in a Paddock as well...great story behind this pub.

    Spent the next day exploring Bay of Fires. Loved Binalong Bay, Cosy Corner and The Gardens.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Freycinet

    November 8 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    A nice coastal drive from St Helens down to Coles Bay. Stopped in at Ironhouse Brewery and tried their beer tasting paddle which was pretty ordinary, then had a go at their whisky paddle. The whisky was better but not my thing. Stopped at Bicheno and checked out the blow hole before continuing on to Coles Bay.
    Our accomodation was great here...right on the esplanade overlooking the bay, the Hazards Mountain range and Freycinet National Park.
    I did the hike up to Wineglass Bay Lookout which took about 1 hour, then picked up Marg and checked out a few other walks including Cape Tourville Lighthouse and Sleepy Bay.
    I tried oysters at 2 oysters farms which were beautiful. Had dinner at Frecinet Lodge which was beautiful overlooking the bay.
    On our 3rd and last day we tripped out to Swansea and checked out the Spikey Bridge.    Read more

  • The Shifting SpannersTasmania 2025The Shifting Spanners

    Hobart Airport

    November 11 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    3 weeks has come to an end and we check out of our cottage at Coles Bay. Left some groceries for the cleaners as we fly out today.
    Just 1 stop at the Red Bridge on the way to Hobart Airport. Bloody Google Maps took us on a scenic route which proved stressful, but we made it in plenty of time to return the rent a car, and check in.Read more

    Trip end
    November 11, 2025
  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice