[steffijade81]

Hoping you lovely Tasmanian people could give me any advice for travelling in Tassie?

We are travelling over with our car on the Spirit in early May and staying for 18 days in the following places...

Devenport 1 night
Mole Creek 2 nights
Stanley 2 nights
Strahan 2 nights
Hobart 5 nights
Coles Bay 2 nights
St Helens 1 night
Launceston 2 nights

We have accomodation booked and are travelling with our 19 mth old DD... We plan to visit Port Arthur and the Salamanca Markets but apart from that we have no plans.

Can anyone recommend anything fun to see or do that our toddler might also enjoy? We like fishing, history, wildlife parks and good scenery thats not hard to get to.

Also whats your experience with the Spirit of Tasmania?? We have a cabin. Shouldwe pack sea sick tablets??

Would we be in for snow in early May at all??

I appriciate any info you can give us... I know I can read books but I think word of mouth is the best way to get recommendations on things. Thanks heaps

[FionaBeagle]

Definitely pack travel sickness tablets for the Spirit. DH brought the car down on the Spirit and had a lovely smooth trip, but I get sea sick so flew. DH had one horror trip on the Spirit, due to high waves and the resultant sea sickness. The doctor on board was treating the really bad cases of sea sickness. DH has been very pleased with the accommodation and food.

Hold onto your toddler tightly at Salamanca Market on Saturday morning as it is so crowded that it's easy to become separated. Whenever I'm in Hobart, we always make a point of going to Salamanca on a Saturday and buying some Hunza pies (with the great tomato chutney) from a stall at the silo end of the market, up near the Ball and Chain restaurant. The pies are great but are very popular, so get there early to get the best choice.

Snow? There was a light dusting on the top of Mt Wellington yesterday (bit of a cold snap.)
www.wellingtonpark.org.au/

You must see MONA. Shield the toddlers eyes from the more "adult" art. www.mona.net.au/

After visiting Salamanca, take a stroll around Battery Point. www.batterypoint.net/

If you enjoy history, Richmond, Ross and Campbell Town are great for a visit.

This post has been edited by FionaBeagle: 24/03/2012, 05:26 AM

[intd242]

My advice, don't leave the main road unless you can already see the attraction! Signage is very poor once you get off the main road and leaving it to see something that is 5kms away could take you an entire afternoon ... Well, that was my experience anyway. They also have quirky road signs that tell you it isn't a certain speed any more, but don't mention what the new speed is. Have to be seen to be believed!

Depending on your phone carrier, you probably won't have coverage most of the time, and be aware that most petrol stations seemed to close at 5pm which was a bit of a trap for us as we're used to 24/7 petrol access. If you're planning on self catering in cabins, might be worth buying a basic stash in Hobart/launceston as we were surprised many years ago that there wasnt much to buy in cradle mountain to self cater with.

It is beautiful though and there is a lot to love. eat lots of fish and chips too, great seafood here, you'll be spoilt for choice!

[Mrs Bunny]

Be aware that there are motels at Cradle Mountain and other places like Freycinet (I may have spelt that incorrectly) that do not have TVs in the rooms. Sounds fine until you're actually there! I would only make a day trip to Cradle Mts, not stay there. Lovely bushwalks that are like scenes out of The Lord of The Rings.

The tourist information people in Hobart are brilliant.

Take rain coats (not brollies), especially to Salamanca markets because there's not one large canopy (like at The Rocks Markets) - every stall holder has a p*ssy little individual canopy and you will get soaked...

There's a skywalk through the rainforest in a logging area to the south of Hobart - can't rememer what it's called, but it was one of the highlights of our spring trip.

Go to the top of Mt Wellington, but be aware that the road up is a bit scary! Also, it's one of the few free things for tourists.

Port Arthur is breathtakingly beautiful.

If you like oysters, there's an excellent oyster farm near Hobart Airport.

We enjoyed the Tamar River Cruise and a walk to the Cataract Gorge reserve - there are peacocks and pretty gardens and a cafe. If you have a little one, take the sealed track (on the low side of the gorge) not the mountain goat track.

[laridae]

There is a cool little shop called Reliquaire in Latrobe (near Devonport) - well worth a visit. Also Anvers chocolate factory.

There are murals in Sheffield (also near Devonport).

Dismal Swamp has a big slide through the forest. (I've not been there but I've heard it's good)

Tasmazia - a big maze complex is quite fun.

I think there is a wildlife park in Mole Creek. And caves also.

Hastings Caves & hot pool south of Hobart.

The Salmon Ponds near Hobart - you can feed the fish.

Walk to Wineglass Bay (near Coles Bay). Though you'll probably have to carry your toddler most of the way, it is a fair walk up a mountain & down again.

You'll probably see plenty of signs for things on the way as you drive between places.

[CFMummy]

The wildlife park in mole creeks foccus is breeding tassie devils but out the back of Ulverstone there is one called wings wildlife park has a petting area and the full wildlife park. http://www.wingswildlife.com.au/
there is also tasmania zoo near launceston
http://www.tasmaniazoo.com.au/

[FionaBeagle]

What intd242 says about most petrol stations appearing to close at 5pm is just plain wrong. Certainly there are some stations in isolated areas which may have limited opening hours, but there are plenty of stations open at all hours. There can be quite a distance between stations, when travelling in country/off the beaten track areas, so do be aware of that and try to keep a full tank.

Not sure where intd242 was, but again, certain isolated areas do have dodgy mobile phone coverage, but for the most part, phone coverage is fine.

[laridae]

They also have quirky road signs that tell you it isn't a certain speed any more, but don't mention what the new speed is. Have to be seen to be believed!

You mean the end speed limit signs? They are actually part of the national standard road rules, not "quirky".
They just mean you can go at the maximum rural limit - which is 100, except in Kingborough and a few other council areas where it is 90 (but it will be signposted on entering the council boundaries if its 90).

Also - Telstra coverage is very good, unless you are in a very remote area. Optus is getting better but not as good.

[ally0812]

richmond has a lollie shop for the little kids, adults love it too! also there are ducks to feed, visit to the old gaol, richmond bridge, a pancake house and a maze in richmond.

bonorong wildlife park- just out of brighton- kids can pat koala-wombat feed roos see echidnas, native birds, emu, tassie devils(no touching)


hastings caves, couldnt tell you how to get there myself but dolomite? cave systems can do tours and i think its near the hot springs..?

port arthur is good but not a lot for kids IMO..

tasmania zoo, just out of launceston, has a fantastic dinosaur display up, real life size and interactive!!

[intd242]

You mean the end speed limit signs? They are actually part of the national standard road rules, not "quirky".
They just mean you can go at the maximum rural limit - which is 100, except in Kingborough and a few other council areas where it is 90 (but it will be signposted on entering the council boundaries if its 90).

Also - Telstra coverage is very good, unless you are in a very remote area. Optus is getting better but not as good.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend the locals! but as a tourist it would be more meaningful to know what the speed limit is at that point in time, rather than what it is not.

Yes, my petrol station comment was from doing a similar round tas trip a number of years ago, but as a pp has said, it is best to keep a full tank which I'd completely agree with.