Tasmania Trip Report
Tasmania Trip Report – Nov 29 – Dec 3 2023
4 days – One Hotel Room – Two Showers – 7 Flights – 18,000 Miles
Cliff Notes – Do you want to visit here as a solo, couple/friends or family with kids 10 and over? YES! Foodie and Wine lovers dream and it’s a mini-Nepal/Kauai for sea/trekking adventurers.
Route – DFW LAS LAX SYD HBA CBA MEL DFW (More on this later)
Warning – the sun down here is no joke – Sunscreen is a must – My HANDS got sunburned!
When I arrived Hobart at 1300, the weather was perfect. The 25 min uber ride to the Tasman Hotel in Hobart was scenic. I could tell right away that the pace of living on this beautiful Island state of 500,000 was slower than normal.
After checking into the incredible Tasman Hotel, I wandered down to the harbor and the place was deserted. Beautiful but almost no people. I heard some music and wandered to the end of the pier. There was a large party going on and this guy shook my hand like he knew me. He hears me say hello and said, “are you an American?” Once I told him I was just here for a day to check it out he’s like “This is our company party, but you are coming in, mate.” He invited me to bring Amelia to his horse ranch next time. I had a couple beers with the nicest group of people then it was time for dinner at the hotel. Everyone I met down here is very nice.
Tasmania is covered in sheep. It’s like West Texas with sheep instead of cows and no smell. Tasmania actually has the cleanest air on earth. I had the lamb for dinner at the Tasman hotels in house restaurant, Peppina. It was the best meal I have ever had. The flavor was unbelievable, and it had this caramelized glaze on it that made it over the top. I had some great Tasmanian Cab and then called it a night. I have done a little research and If you are a foodie or a wine lover, this is one of the best places on earth. I went to bed early for an early wake up for a great adventure.
I met at the pier for my 0700 Zodiac tour with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. For sure this is the outfit you want to use to book whatever seemingly endless activities on the Island. I did the Tasman Island Zodiac trip with a tour of Port Arthur in the afternoon. The whole thing takes 10 hours. It starts with a 90 min bus ride from Hobart. You could save some money and drive yourself to the boat launch but out group of 6 had the bus to ourselves and we were able to take in the scenery on the beautiful, winding road where people drive on the wrong side. My brain doesn’t work fast enough to drive in the UK or Australia I’m pretty sure.
The views and wildlife we saw on the Tasman coast rival Kauai. I have done the Zodiac tour of the Napali Coast a few times. This Zodiac tour is far less physically intense. Its OK for relatively fit people and we even had a pregnant lady. Dress warm with layers. Even in the summer the sea is cold. Ill let the pictures posted speak for themselves. We saw humpback whales, dolphins, rare birds and sea lions. The Tasman coast is absolutely spectacular. The Bruny Island cruised are also very popular and I will do that next time.
We then were bussed to the Port Arthur Historic site. It is a 19th century penal camp. The grounds are absolutely beautiful but the guided tour got boring and me and the other two solo travelers split off and wandered the grounds ourselves and had the best time. I’m not a fan of guided tours anywhere.
My flight Hobart to Sydney left at 1930. We were a little late leaving Port Arthur and I was not going to have much time to make my flight. Our guide agreed to drop me off at the airport on the way and I easily made the flight. I was having such a good time, I almost told him, forget it, ill stay another day and call in to work. In hindsight, I should have.
I get on the Jetstar flight to SYD. We approach SYD and start to hold. I see a giant thunderstorm right over the airport. After 20 minutes, knowing we weren’t blessed for fuel, the crew announced we were diverting to Canberra. I had no idea where that was. We land and there are no gates for an hour. Then we wait for the one guy that can operate the jetbridge. There were multiple diverts and the small airport was a madhouse. Everything was closed and there was one agent that worked for Virgin and 3 cops running the whole airport. The hotel vouchers for the lone hotel across the street quickly ran out.
Everyone was clearly frustrated but nobody was inappropriate or rude. It was clear we were all spending the night in a beautiful airport terminal with a vending machine for food.
We all had to vacate the airside part off the terminal at 3 am. I found lots of friendly people to talk to and I can tell you Aussies managed this situation better than most would. After we all learned our fate, we all made the best of it and shared tips and tricks to get out and talked about life in general.
I ended up catching the 0600 flight to Melbourne. The Marhaba lounge was my home for the six hour layover in MEL. For sure the best Priority Pass lounge I have ben in. And it had a shower! I have been up 36 hours and spent the day getting sprayed with salt water and was feeling ripe.
The Qantas flight QF21 MEL DFW is the world’s 4thlongest flight in the world. The agent gave me a whole row of three in economy. I am a pro at making a nest and sleeping in the fetal position. I watched Mission Impossible then slept the entire remaining 14 hours. I landed at 2 pm in DFW, went home to say hi to the cats then went and picked my daughter up from dance and took her to Chilis.
This was probably my craziest and most memorable trip yet.
Lessons Learned:
1. Buy a hotel room after touchdown at destination. I’m out the $250 room I bought in SYD when I got a boarding pass in HBA.
2. Sunscreen! I have been sunburned both trips to Sydney and Hobart.
3. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. I’m already a pro at this. Ill find something to do or someone to talk to in any situation.