Last year my friend and I went to Tasmania, back in June. We loved it, but with only 10 days we really didn’t see a lot. Though I suppose that is always what happens when you go away. On one of our last days there we went to the old convict penitentiary at Port Arthur. Such a fascinating place, but we spent so much time doing all the tours we didn’t have enough time to look around. We found out that you could buy a Ticket of Leave for $10 which meant that you could come back anytime in the following two years, so we both got them. Here is mine.
Of course, you must have guessed what that meant? We had to go back. We had until June 2018, so we started planning another trip. I have had this sitting in my wallet since then, and I am determined to use it.
So after much discussion and trying to work out when, we have the trip planned for next month. We are setting off on the Spirit of Tasmania on the 8th of September. Sailing overnight with my friend, her car and my mum. Yes, my mum is coming with us this time. She really wanted to see Tasmania so we invited her along.
We are there for around 12 days this time, a little longer than last time, but we are exploring some different areas. I have wanted to go to Binalong Bay for a long time, and Sandra wants to see Coles Bay. We are spending more time at Port Arthur and decided we would stay down there this time. We loved the boat cruise we did around Bruny Island last year and there is one around Port Arthur, so we will be doing the Tasman Island Cruise as well.
It is exciting and not too far away. I wanted to tell you about and thought I might share some of my favourite photos from my trip last year.
My goodness, your photos are amazing. Some of the most atmospheric I’ve seen of Tasmania. I hope you get back here soon. (And yes, A Tiny Space is well worth a visit, but you might have to book because it is … well, tiny).
Is it OK to use this space to ask you if I can use some of your photos to illustrate stories on my webpage Tasmania Stories or share some on the FB page? You might be too professional for that and if so I completely understand as images need to be protected. But they are great. I love that misty Gordon River. I love them all : ) You have a great eye, Leanne.
Thank you Joanna. I did get back, I was there in September, it wasn’t as great a trip as I had hoped because I seemed to be injured a lot, but still loved it. I don’t have a problem with people using my images, as long as it is very clear where the images have come from and that they are mine. Don’t remove the watermark. Also would be great to get some links to where you post them.
Make sure you try and grab a bite to eat at Small-fry and A Tiny Place. They’re two of our favorite restaurants in Hobart, Tasmania. Have a blast. We loved Tasmania and hope we get to go back again.
Where are those places? Always happy to get some good advice on where to eat. Thank you, I’m really looking forward to it.
We’ve got their addresses and the deets on their grub here: https://foodwatershoes.com/2017/09/02/love-at-first-bite-a-tiny-place-in-hobart-tasmania/ …and here: https://foodwatershoes.com/2016/08/07/hobarts-rambunctious-small-fry-serves-up-tasmanian-treats-full-of-soul/ We hope we get to eat there again sometime soon. Such great little spots. 🙂
I suspect we will definitely go to the first one, it is basically in the same street as the place we are staying, so thank you for the tip, will also look at the other one. Thank you.
How exciting, another upcoming trip to Tasmania. Not long to go now and hope you are all prepped and ready to go. Hope you get to enjoy the Spirit of Tasmania too and maybe you will get some great shots of the sea 🙂
Yes, Mabel, another trip, I can’t wait. Well not ready to go yet, but the planning is certainly under way. We are going on the Spirit overnight, so I don’t think there will be much opportunity for photos. Thank you Mabel.
How exciting to have a trip to look forward to, Leanne. Take your thermals! 🙂
It is, it is nice to be going back. We took our thermals last time and only used them once, haha. But they will definitely go in the bag. Thanks Carol.
Sounds great! Have a great trip. Here’s a travel quiz: what is the connection between Tasmania and the search for the Northwest Passage in the Arctic?
Thank you Robin. I don’t know, what is it?
I’ve been to Tasmania quite a few times, it’s gorgeous! I found Port Arthur fascinating. You’re so lucky to again this year!
I think it is as well, such a beautiful part of the country. I love Port Arthur, I find the whole convict history really interesting. I am lucky, thank you.
Thanks Leanne for sharing your plans and the great photos. I am looking forward to seeing where you will be going and perhaps incorporate some of your stops into our itinerary. Luckily we will have a much longer trip, planning on a 4 month trip in Tasmania.
No problem Erich, you are lucky that you will get to spend that much time there, I wish I could do that. I’m not sure how I will blog this time,but I will certainly make sure everyone can see what I did and where I went. Thank you Erich.
I’ve been to Hobart on business on four occasions, but that is all I’ve seen; a taxi to and from the airport – that’s it. You don’t get to see very much with this approach. Have a great time ~ I am looking forward to your photos.
No, you don’t get to see a lot that way. It sounds like you might need to go back again, but stay a little longer Don. Thank you.
Good for you. I’m happy for you and it’s wonderful your mum is going too!
Thank you Nicci, I’m looking forward to it, and Tasmania is so beautiful, so wasn’t a hard decision.
It will be great especially since you have scoped it out.
That’s true, I have a good idea of what sort of photos I want to get as well, which is nice.
It helps to go back repeatedly.
It does, though it will probably be my last time there for a while, there are too many other places I want to see.
Well there’s that, LOL.
Yep, lol
I was there earlier this year… It was great. Too bad that we only had 5 days and we couldn’t see much.
Flying down from Hong Kong won’t be too often, but I do wish I can have a chance to go there for longer period to enjoy the God’s creation…
It is a wonderful place to visit. Yes, 5 days is very short, I hope you get to go again. I’m lucky it isn’t really that far away. Thank you Celesta.
Magnificent photos!
Thank you Carolyn.
Now that’s a coincidence! I’m heading off to Tasmania on Saturday and just published my itinerary the day before yesterday. https://murrayfoote.com/2017/08/13/binna-burra-and-tasmania/
I just looked at your itinerary it doesn’t look like ours paths will cross. I’m there on the 8th, but up in the North East initially.
Last time I was in the north east was when I photographed Eddystone Point Lighthouse 30 years ago. https://murrayfoote.com/2013/05/15/eddystone-point/
Sounds like it might be time to go back Murray.
It would at least be easy to access. The lighthouses I’d really like to visit again in Tasmania though and preferably stay for a day or two would be Maatsuyker and Tasman Island (Not that I actually stayed at Tasman Is). Probably neither are possible.
https://murrayfoote.com/2013/05/19/maatsuyker-island/
https://murrayfoote.com/2013/05/16/tasman-island/
They both seem very remote, they would make great subjects for photos if you could get there. I was looking at the one on Tasman Island yesterday, trying to work out if you could get there, but it doesn’t look possible.
I walked out to Cape Pillar to take the shots of Tasman Island in the post and the book. I mentioned the old way of getting there in the blog post. Nowadays it would take a helicopter ride and special permission from AMSA. Both expensive and unlikely.
You can see where you can dock on Tasman Island, but I think you might be right, it is probably impossible for people like us to get there now. It would be incredible though.
There’s no dock. You can see it in this image: https://murrayfoote.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/tasman-island-from-cape-pillar.jpg .
The landing is at bottom left near where the small boat is heading. It’s 30 feet or so above sea level. There was a flying fox down from there to a rock. You jump into the basket at the top of a wave from the boat and hope you don’t stuff it up. Then you get hauled up to the landing. Then there are horses or oxen in the small hut at the top which drag you in a cart to the top on a whey or Cornish wooden railway. Incredibly, that’s how they got all the building materials onto the island for the lighthouse.
Yes, that is what I meant, I saw a photo of it on Google Earth. We are planning on doing the Tasman Island tour so I will get a good look then. I will have to show you. It is really incredible, I wouldn’t like to be trying to walk up there.
OK. A boat tour from Port Arthur. Tempting. Though we may not do it since we have six days on the ketch. I’ll be interested to see what you get.
I did the one around Bruny Island last year and loved it, so I am sure this one will be just as good.
The Tasman Island one possibly looks better from the promo material but who knows until you try. We’re going to Bruny so we’ll consider that one too.
I really enjoyed the Bruny Island one, so if the Tasman one is meant to be better, then I can’t wait.
It just looked better to me from their video, which may or may not be indicative.
I will let you Murray, which one I enjoy the most. I did the Bruny Island one, the water was rough and it was good fun.
Too rough for photography? I’ll have a dry bag though to hide the camera in while moving.
I took lots of photos last year. I had the camera in a special camera bag, and I was careful when I exposed it to take photos. I am going to take an old camera with me this year, and a lens I don’t care too much about, so if it gets a bit wet, I won’t be too bothered.
Enjoy Tasmania. You will have fun on the East Coast. The Bay of Fires is spectacular!
Thank you Chris, I am really looking forward to it and that place in particular.
Port Arthur is pretty darn amazing, Leanne. So glad you are going back.
Isn’t it Lois, I was so absorbed in it all, I can’t wait to really looking around. Thank you Lois.