Tasmania - Tips & Highlights

Hi Ev,
Well as it happens you have picked THE time to go to Tasmania.
We are also travelling to the apple isle to visit the Wooden Boat Regatta which is held in Hobart 9th to the 14th February, 2011.
It is a bi annual event that I'm told is well worth visiting. I would add it my list if I were you. If you haven't booked your vehicle onto the ferry I believe that spaces are at a premium.
Kev

Hi Ev

Obviously depends on your likes, there's so much to see, but here is but a few mostly touristy ones:

West Coast - Macquarie Harbour, train trip form Queenstown to Strahan, cruise if you fancy it, 2+ days.

Sth - Tasman Peninsula, Pt Arthur, Remarkable cave etc, 1-2 days

Hobart area 2-3+ days; Salamanca markets (Sat); Mt Wellington; Huon valley drive - day round trip from Hobart - on way to/from Mt Wellington? Richmond village - crafts, old church and bridge;

Nth - Launceston Cataract Gorge; Mole Cr caves on way to Cradle Mt, 2+ days

East coast - Coles Bay/Freycinet 1-2 days

Enjoy your trip.

Hi Ev, The Cascade & Boag's breweries tours are a "MUST"

Ev, 11 days will only allow you to get around 20% of the must sees. You haven't given any indication of what you hope to look at so difficult to recommend. Are you after the best National Parks, hiking, good food, fishing, historical sites, guided tours, adventure activities, remote destinations or challenging 4 wheel driving? Even though it's not a big place I'd concentrate on looking at one area rather than spend all your time driving around. For example it would be easy spend most of your time around Straun & Queenstown & not see it all.
Cheers Craig...............

We spent three months in Tassie & still didn't see it all so your 11 days will just whet your appetite. For free camping the Tasmanians are stingy - they only allow staying in a free camp for 28 days and some on Freychinet Peninsular should be om your "Must See: - as should the Berry Farm near Swansea.

Ev, we spent about 4 months in Tassie last Summer. Great trip.

This is my Blog on the Trip which pretty much covers the highlights for us.

Norm and Kabby's Tassie Trip

Have a great trip.

Hi Ev

We spent seven weeks just taking a quick sample of the sights. My blogs from February/March 2006 show how we did it. Our daughter who had spent a year in Tasmania ten years prior took her partner, in laws and first child for a fly in 10 day quick look just before second child was born. She had to pre book hire car and accommodation so worked out a plan to show them a bit of each side, which has helped others plan quick tours. This plan and the blog on the camp sites we chose are not in my blogs here and until i get a website up, they are only available by email by request . Tasmania has worked out the benefits of offering free camp grounds in good locations to the benefit of the local businesses, but you need Camps Australia Wide to select them.Bush camping is not as easy as finding somewhere to get off the road as it is in the mainland due to the terrain, but with the aid of Camps, you can select some really special places.

Must dos for a short visit? Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, a selection of waterfalls, a drive along the north through the richest red soil you'll ever see, hydro-electricity stations, water and lots of it, mountains in the centre, a walk to Wineglass Bay, the rugged west coast, Montezuma Falls - the list goes on and on. It all depends on what you like, and how far you are prepared to walk, as in most cases it is a walk to get to the top the waterfall or sight to see.

Motherhen

Also a 'must see' for us on a recent 12 day trip was a Gordon Rver boat tour from the West Coast. For me, it was a highlight of the trip. Salamanca Markets in Hobart on Saturdays provide great food and entertainment. In fact you can eat, drink & walk your way around Tassie.....a great place buta little cold for me in the middle of winter.

PayrolEv,

All of above plus
boat trip from Stanley to see seals
Pt Arthur night time ghost tour
Pieman river ferry
When in Strahan go to the dock area and book in for the talk about the
Tassie Tiger, very informative and a surprise at the end
Shot tower in Hobart


Definitely make use of the free camping and enjoy the fresh fruit and seafood

Wow, I hope Tassie doesnt sink with all the EO folk going in Feb. The childbride
& I are also planning to spend most of Feb down there too. We have gleaned all the good oil from Motherhen, Norm & others & dont seem to have any difficulty filling in a month. We will take old Jack & C/t for a boatride...both have EO
insignia so dont drive past us without saying gooday........oldbaz.

Thank you everyone for the replies and the great info, I am really looking forward to it. It is good getting a broad range of responses, If I had defined my specific interests people may have only responded to them and I may have missed an opportunity - example - the wooden boats - not an interest area I would have listed but I will have a look because it sounds interesting and is different.

Thanks again
Ev