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Hobart Tasmnia


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I am looking for sightseeing suggestions. I see Cadbury mentioned but plan on a factory tour in Dunedin NZ, so would probably be a duplication?? Anyway- am looking for independent suggestions, open to car rentals, public transportation etc. Scenery is a preference, museums less so, unless really good. :)

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When we got off the ship, we were given a copy of "The Visitor's Guide" (everything you need to know about Tasmania). The whole island is a national park or so it would seem! It was the highlight of our cruise - we visited Mount Field National Park for lunch then hiked to Russell Falls. We also drove up onto Mount Mawson for some spectacular views. There was a wild life park that we visited, but I can't seem to find its name at the moment. It was where you could pet a devil or koala and hand feed the wallabies. My only regret was that we didn't have a lot of time there. Seven hours was not enough for Tasmania.

 

Charlie

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I am looking for sightseeing suggestions. I see Cadbury mentioned but plan on a factory tour in Dunedin NZ, so would probably be a duplication?? Anyway- am looking for independent suggestions, open to car rentals, public transportation etc. Scenery is a preference, museums less so, unless really good. :)

 

might be a duplication but it means twice the chocolate:D

 

actually, it is the same but the situation of the factory in Hobart down on the Derwent is quite beautiful. Don't think I'd be doing it twice,..... maybe I would now that I think of that extra chocolate;) .

 

Depending on how much time you have a trip you down to Port Arthur is both scenic and poignant due to it's history - 18th,19th and 20th. I think you normally go to the Devils Causeway (??) basalt columns like in the UK as part of a tour down the peninsula

 

Hobart is beautiful, another city on a spectacular harbour - Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Vanocouver, San Fran, NY... my list is long. Peak your head in to the Henry Jones Art Hotel down by the dicks if you have a chance. A wonderful restoration and re-use of a historic jam factory. Henry would be proud.

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I love Hobart and we will be there for 5 days next weekend. If I were a visitor I would put Port Arthur and Richmond number one to visit. The history of Tasmania is at Port Arthur as it was originally settled as a Penal Colony.

 

My second choice would be to visit Mount Field National Park and do the short walk to Russell Falls. The trees in this area are the tallest in Australia.

 

If you need to rent a car, the ship will dock right in the heart of Hobart city and you will only need to walk a block or so to pick up the car.

 

Jennie

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I love Hobart and we will be there for 5 days next weekend. If I were a visitor I would put Port Arthur and Richmond number one to visit. The history of Tasmania is at Port Arthur as it was originally settled as a Penal Colony.

 

My second choice would be to visit Mount Field National Park and do the short walk to Russell Falls. The trees in this area are the tallest in Australia.

 

If you need to rent a car, the ship will dock right in the heart of Hobart city and you will only need to walk a block or so to pick up the car.

 

Jennie

 

Can you list the car rental companies, that have the downtown pick up?? Thank you for the help.

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We used a private tour operator...had a brief tour of Hobart itself then went to Mt. Fields National Park and hiked to Russell Falls...absolutely beautiful particularly since it was just the four of us...we left the park as a Princess tour bus arrived! Had a "tea" picnic stop (homemade goodies by the tour guide's wife...yum!) then went to the wildlife park (lots of fun...I took a great photo of my friend literally face to face with a kangaroo..looked like they were having a wonderful conversation!) and then to Richmond to see the convict gaol. We loved Tasmania.

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Is there a car rental option for pick up at the port?? It sounds like a car rental is recommended??? Thanks for the help.

 

First of all thanks for all your help re Alaska. Our plans are falling in to place for next September and we are looking forward to visiting that part of the world.

 

Here is a link to a lot of car rentals in the City of Hobart.

 

http://www.google.com.au/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=car+rentals+hobart&meta=

 

Hobart is not a big city, there are only 200,000 people living there so the city area isn't large. As I mentioned, it is an easy walk from the dock into the city.

 

Jennie

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OK - so how long will it take to tour Port Arthur? I gather it is about 1-1/2 hours from Hobart. We MUST do the Bonoron Wildlife Sanctuary - how far is that from Hobart and is it in the same direction as Port Arthur. We have from 7am to 6 pm in Hobart and want to see and do as much as possible. Do you suggest we rent our own car (from US - drivng on other side of the road might be a slight problem, but guess my husband would love the challenge) or hire a guide - any recommendations for a guide?

 

Thanks so much for any help!

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It will take you at least 3 hours to tour Port Arthur. You are taken around by a guide and then left to have a look at the buildings on your own. Then you can go for a boat ride that takes you to an island where the young boys were sent. You will probably want to have something to eat so by the time you return to Hobart, more or less 6 hours have gone by. Also, on the way to Port Arthur you should stop in Richmond and have a wander around that lovely old town. Port Arthu is the most important tourist attraction in Tasmania.

 

Unfortunately, Bonoran Wildlife Sanctuary is in the opposite direction, so I very much doubt if you will be able to combine the two.

 

If you are coming to Melbourne, then our Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary would be an alternative to Bonoran. It is Government run, not a Private Sanctuary. Here are some links:

 

http://www.zoo.org.au/

 

http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.000DB963-42CD-1D81-B32080C476A90000/vvt.vhtml

 

http://www.webwombat.com.au/travel/articles/melb_healesville.htm

 

http://healesvillezoo.melbourneaustralia.com.au/

 

You enquired about hiring a car. You can hire cars quite close to the dock and the sign posting is good in Tasmania. Also, the roads are not busy like here in Victoria as the population is very small which is a bonus.

 

I personally don't know of any tour guides in Tasmania but I did find this link:

 

http://www.touringtasmania.info/tasmanian_tours.htm and this one as well

 

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=tour+guides&near=Hobart,+TAS&fb=1&view=text&latlng=-42912265,147493113,9065715094286777986

 

Hope this is of some help to you. We are actually flying to Hobart this afternoon for 5 days. It is a lovely city with lots of good eating places and wonderful wines.

 

Jennie

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OK - so how long will it take to tour Port Arthur? I gather it is about 1-1/2 hours from Hobart. We MUST do the Bonoron Wildlife Sanctuary - how far is that from Hobart and is it in the same direction as Port Arthur. We have from 7am to 6 pm in Hobart and want to see and do as much as possible. Do you suggest we rent our own car (from US - drivng on other side of the road might be a slight problem, but guess my husband would love the challenge) or hire a guide - any recommendations for a guide?

 

Thanks so much for any help!

 

wblevin.....you need time to appreciate the attractions - not just the scenic drive.;) Port Arthur would take at least 5 hours of your day. Bonorong Wildlife is the opposite direction. I'd suggest checking Richard......email rjonn@ozemail.com.au Check out the website

www.tasmaniandaytours.com.au ......customises your tour in a 4WD for max 6 pax AUD$140 per person. Includes Derwent Valley/Russell Falls/Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary/Richmond. Gourmet picnic lunch included :p . HAVE FUN :)

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When we went to Hobart, our group rented a van and went to the Tahune Airwalk. We had planned to also go to Bonorong; but ran out of time due to the time it took to go through immigration and the long drive. From talking with folks on our ship at the time, I wish we had just taken the ship tour to Bonorong and Mt. Field National Park. You can see pictures of what we did on the review at our website www.thepreismans.com. Tasmania is a wonderful place to visit, just like the other ports on your upcoming cruise.

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We have had 2 experiences with renting a car in Hobart.

On the first cruise we simply enquired at the information office on the dock and had a car delivered within a very short time.Guess we were lucky that day.On the next cruise we pre booked a car and walked a couple of blocks to pick it up.There were about half a dozen people from the cruise ahead of us in the office and when it came to our turn, they had run out of the class we had ordered, so we were upgraded at no extra cost.

Driving in Tasmania is great as there are no big city traffic hassles ,

as long as you keep to the correct side of the road.

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We have just returned from Hobart after 6 lovely days there. It is a great place with wonderful restaurants and we certainly enjoyed them.

 

We did a great trip which may interest some of you. It was a boat trip that took us up the Derwent to Peppermint Bay where you had the choice of having lunch on board and viewing the sea life through a camera or leaving the boat for 2 hours and having lunch at a lovely restaurant. Along the way we were lucky to see dolphins at play and lots of interesting places and wildlife were pointed out to us.

 

It left Hobart at 12 noon and we were back before 5pm. Here is the site in case anyone would like to know more about the cruise. We loved it and thought it was good value:

 

http://www.hobartcruises.com/

 

Jennie

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Wow! what a small world. I note Budgetqueen from Alaska assisting Aussie Girl, while she is aiding everyone else with info regarding her home. Meanwhile, a guy from Boynton Beach is also is helping out with his experiences in Australia.

 

When we went to Alaska last year, I was helped immensely with info from BudgetQueen now I'm hanging on to every word Aussie Girl has to say cause we're doing a combo cruise (Sapphire Princess, Auk to Sydney) and then a 2-3 week extension in Australia on our own.

 

And we visit Boynton Beach several times a year to see my husband's mother.

 

It's marvelous how everyone is eager to assist others. Thanks so much to you all for your help.

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Susie,

That is what Cruise Critic is all about. Helping other cruisers to have a great time. BQ helped me with my recent Alaska Cruise and Aussie Girl helped me when we went Down Under. I believe the expression "Paying it Forward" applies to the fine folks on these boards.

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Susie,

 

When you have your 2-3 week extension in Australia will you be returning to Tasmania, because if you do you must not miss visiting Freycinet National Park, Cradle Mountain and Strahan. If you do not intend to return then forget this post.

 

If you have any queries about anywhere else, ask away. I agree with you, Cruise Critic is a wonderful source of information and I am only too happy too pass on anything I know about Australia and the countries I have visited.

 

Jennie

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Hobart also has an excellent webcam on top of the Wrest Point Casino which gives wonderful views of the Derwent,and the port area.You can take control of the cam and move it around to suit.Here is a capture from yesterday

 

2003084869894826686_rs.jpg

 

Here is the link....

 

http://wphc-webcam.federalit.net/#

 

(don't forget the time difference)

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Dave,

 

What a wonderful photo. I can practically see where we were staying - at the old Elizabeth Street Pier which has been turned into "Somerset on the Pier". A fabulous position right on the wharf.

 

We walked all around Sandy Bay and Battery Point on Monday. The sun was out but the wind was freezing - straight from Antarctica!

 

Jennie

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Jennie:

 

Unfortunately, we won't be back to Tasmania. Current plan outline, once deboarding ship at Sydney after crusie from Auckland, is to stay a couple of days; fly to Cairns for 3-4 days (is that too long or not long enough?), taking in the Great Barrier Reef and surrounds; then fly to Ayers Rock and visit the surrounding outback area for several days; then fly to Adelaid, where we'll rent a car and drive the Great Ocean Highway, visit a winery. How long should we make that segment? Then we'll fly back to Melbourne and on to Sydney for return to Cincinnati, OH, via LAX.

 

I have done very little at this time toward firming up reservations and itinerary. Gotta start doing my homework and get moving!

 

Should anyone ever plan to visit southern Ohio (a beautiful spot), I can help out there. It's hardly exotic, however.

 

Thanks,

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Susie,

 

Your plans sound great though I do have one query. Once you get to Adelaide and hire the car I presume you are either going to the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale for the wineries, which are both great areas. You then mention the Great Ocean Road which you can reach by driving on the Princes Highway from Adelaide to Warrnambool and then continue on the GOR back to Geelong before finishing in Melbourne so you will not need to fly between Adelaide and Melbourne. Also, coming that way, you can do a detour and visit the wine area - Coonawarra - where our best red wines come from at eg. Penfolds Grange Hermitage. I would allow a couple days for Melbourne and perhaps one day for Adelaide.

 

Your time up in Cairns at the Great Barrier Reef is good. I would allow 4 days with travelling as there is a lot to see up there. Besides the reef, there is Mosman Gorge and the Daintree River area which would be another day of touring.

 

I hope this has helped you a little.

 

Jennie

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