A quick little background to why this mini get away happened:
I have been living in Melbourne four about 3 weeks at this point, most of which has been spent running around and filling out paperwork for my job. Because it's taking so long for the final stage of my registration approval, I haven't been able to start working yet.
Last Tuesday I received an email informing me that my registration has at last been approved! So I quickly emailed the agency I was working with, only to find out that they wouldn't be able to start orientation until next week (May 6).
Now, anyone who knows me knows I don't handle being bored very well. Another five days of waiting around did not seem too appealing to me. So on Wednesday night I somehow pulled together a three day trip with a flight leaving early the next morning. Because of the short time between planning and leaving, I had no expectations for Tasmania. But boy oh boy is it full of treasures!
Day 1 in Tasmania: Hobart
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| Hobart |
I arrived in Hobart at around 1030 in the morning on Thursday, and was greeted with the most gorgeous air ever. I don't care what anyone else says, island air is just different.
My first impression of Hobart is that it reminds me a lot of the Canadian East coast. Not only the landscape, but the people. Everyone I interacted with was super kind and helpful.
The downtown of Hobart doesn't take very much time to wander around. So after a quick tour through the Tasmania Art Gallery and Museum, I continue to wander down to the Botanical gardens.
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| Royal Tasmania Botanical Gardens |
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens stretches approximately 34 acres, and is home to a variety of gardens, and seemingly endless kinds of plants. It being the beginning of winter here, many of the gardens had begun to be prepped for winter. But those that remained were absolutely gorgeous.
The rest of the day I mostly spent wandering around the shops, and chatting with my roommates at the hostel.
Day 2: Bonorong Sanctuary, and MONA
Just north of Hobart is the wildlife sanctuary Bonorong. Unlike a zoo, the animals in a sanctuary are there due to illness, injury, or are for some other reason unable to return to the wild.
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| Tasmanian Devil |
It was an absolutely magical experience getting to feed the kangaroos. The ones here are so used to humans that you are able to feed them from hand. (It should be noted that those animals with potentials of leaving are kept separate from humans). The only exception being the wombats.
Wombats, up until the age of 2, are able to be pet with no repercussions for their return to the wild. At age two they enter their "teenage years" and become very territorial and aggressive. Regardless of how much interaction with humans they have had, they will charge at any who come near their den. Even if the human has been taking care of them for the entirety of their life.
The most note-worthy of the animals found here are of course the Tasmanian Devils. So named because of the bright red colour their ears turn when excited or eating, along with their devil-like scream.
Many of the animals here are able to be rehabilitated and re-released into the wild. Entry fees to Bonorong allow them tho continue to care for sick or injured animals.
My second stop of the day was to the world famous MONA museum. Hands down the strangest museum I've ever attended. It is truly one of those places that you just have to experience yourself.
The entire museum is built underground, and feels a bit cave-like. There is quite a few strange paintings, exhibits, et cetera. But the coolest part of the museum is all the different corridors. Like the round house, the neon pathways, the floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking the lake, just to name a few. It has been described as "an adult playground", and I can definitely see why.
After the long day of adventuring, my roommates and I from the hostel went into town for some pretty amazing dessert from Honey Badger Dessert Cafe. Which was as mom would say, decadent.
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| MONA |
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| Round House-MONA |
Day 3: Mount Wellington
For my final day in Tassie, I booked a bike tour of Mount Wellington through Under Down Under tours. Mount Wellington overlooks Hobart and the surrounding areas, and is tall enough that in the winter the mountain can get quite a hefty dropping of snow, (as per the locals).
The tour begins with a bus ride up to the peak, where we were given a few minutes to have a look around. On this particular day there wasn't much more to see than a dense mist. From there we began our decent on bicycle down the main road.
There were a few stops we made along the way down, two of which were particularly interesting. First, was the site where the February 7, 1967 bushfire started. This day is known as Black Tuesday in Tasmania. Prior to the fire there were a series of hotels on the slope of Mount Wellington. When the fire hit, half the mountain's forest, including the hotels, were gone within about ten minutes. Looking at the forest today, you can still notice some faded scorch marks amongst the new foliage.
The second site was in the valley below, a place called "the Female Factory". This was a site that held female and child convicts in the 1800s. For more information on the history of the site
Click Here. In Hobart there is a monument to the convicts who served here, including the crime for which they were convicted. Some were even as minor as stealing a handkerchief.
The remainder of the tour took us by the docks of Hobart, and finally to where we had begun in CBD. Overall a pretty spectacular way to learn some of the history of Hobart, as well as admire the nature around the city.
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| Peak of Mount Wellington |
I had gone to Tasmania with absolutely no idea what to expect, and I am leaving a fan! Such a beautiful, simple part of the country; but rich in history and adventure. Having only three short days in this state, I've probably just scratched the surface.
