AFF Gathering #16 in LST on 13 – 15 October 2023

Launceston has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2023, occurring over the weekend of the 13 to 15 October. The average temperature range for October is 7ºC – 18.2ºC (November is 9.1ºC to 20.5ºC). The average rainfall is 48mm with 7.5 rainy days. It is Tasmania's second most populous city following Hobart – which held AFF#7 in 2013 – and Australia's 21st most populous overall.

In addition to the usual dinners, planned activities (all subject to confirmation) for Saturday include a visit to the Table Cape tulip farm in full bloom, Ashgrove cheese and/or Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and/or Anvers chocolate, and a separate wine excursion along the Tamar River, perhaps including the Beaconsfield Mine (disaster) museum. On Sunday, a visit to Cataract Gorge and/or a cruise on the Tamar and if possible, a visit to the National Automobile Museum and the Boags brewery.

Costs are expected to be inline with past AFF Meet-ups, subject to fuel price increases!

However, the organisers have noted that wineries in the area who will take groups of more than 10 are limited. An alternative to the usual style of AFF-organised bus may be an externally-organised paid tour, but this would be more expensive - perhaps $170 including transport, lunch and tastings but this could take a bigger group. Those who may consider themselves 'Platinum' or 'Gold' may wish to express their willingness to pay for the second option if the usual style tour is not possible, to assist with planning.

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Please make it known what activities you would be interested in (generally) when indicating attendance, so the organisers can gauge numbers before announcing final plans and itineraries. For example:

• interested/not interested in alcohol-based activities (vineyard/distillery/brewery),
• interested/not interested in food based activities (cheese/chocolate/fruit),
• interested/not interested in general activities (museums/flowers/cruise)., etc.

The usual schedule includes two dinners, a Friday welcome dinner that is more casual and a Saturday "guest speaker" dinner that could be considered more formal. While people generally mingle at both, you may find the space chosen on Saturday makes it harder to do so, but is regarded as the main event as well.

The lead organisers this year are @RooFlyer & @Steady , however they encourage all members local to Launceston (or surrounding areas) to raise their hands on helping coordinate the weekend.

The AFF Leadership Team can provide support in terms of money collection and distribution, and editing this thread as needed. If something needs to be updated, please simply report the post with the update so anyone on the team can action it (starting a conversation only alerts one person).

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Links:

Tulips: VDQ Bulbs | Van Diemen Quality Bulbs
Ashgrove: Ashgrove Cheese, Tasmania, Australia
Christmas Hills: Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe
House of Anvers: https://www.anvers-chocolate.com.au/
Beaconsfield: Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre
National Automobile Museum: N.A.M.T.

 

[JessicaTam]

Surely you are arriving via one of your famed indirect routings???

If I was attending I certainly would have. But alas I am not going.

 

[drron]

We are doing 7 modes to do 860km.

What 7 different types of helicopter.

And in serious mode when we last went to the Tulip Festival 2 years ago it was very muddy and they had boots you could use. No cost either.

 

[CaptJCool]

What 7 different types of helicopter.

And in serious mode when we last went to the Tulip Festival 2 years ago it was very muddy and they had boots you could use. No cost either.

Phew
I won’t need to grab a pair of Wellies then

 

[Jacques Vert]

Now in the J lounge in SYD but the bar doesn't open until noon when we are due to depart!

Will have to double dip in MEL.

Now descending into MEL.

As we transited SYD to go to SYD, +1's bag couldn't be checked through so she will have to collect it in MEL and recheck-in.

As I'm HLO, no such problem. Of course I'll be a gentleman and accompany her to the baggage carousel and back through security.

 

[RooFlyer]

And in serious mode when we last went to the Tulip Festival 2 years ago it was very muddy and they had boots you could use. No cost either.

True, although with this Saturday being Tulip Festival, if it is muddy, their supply of wellies might be strained.

 

[drron]

Well we were there on the weekend as I was working during the week and it was a Saturday. Busy but less so on fine days we experienced on previous visits. They had quite a few but obviously the supply could run out.
But then again wellies are Tassie formal wear so most of the locals would be wearing them anyway.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Finally

 

[Mattg]

A call out to the wine tour attendees - the first stop on our wine tours is at the Jansz Wine Room - Jansz is a Sparkling wine house.

This tasting is optional as apparently some people don't like sparkling wines... so it was not included in the tour cost.

The tasting is $20, and includes 6 different sparkling wines, it is curated and takes ~45 minutes.

(I could only find a photo of mostly empty glasses post tasting on my phone but you get the idea.)
View attachment 349061

Now the attendees are confirmed and its getting close - I want to let Jansz know how many will be tasting, to avoid delays while waiting for the staff to set up more places etc and making us late to our next stop.

Can all wine tour attendees please post here with 'yes' or 'no' (or send me a DM)

@PrezRegan @QF WP @Bindibuys @Jacques Vert @Gem56 @Major @Flyrner @straitman @Sprucegoose @Doug_Westcott @zig
@WilsonM @Matt_01 @gwilli1 @admin @Mattg @Ade @meMEme

admin, Major & Bindibuys, please also advise for your +1's

Looking forward to meeting some new faces and catching up with familiar faces

It's a YES from me

 

[Steady]

Thanks everyone - just @gwilli1 outstanding

 

[RooFlyer]

DINNER AND TULIP AVAILABILITY

Unfortunately two people have had to pull out of the event due to a situation at home. Therefore we have 2 places available on the Tulip tour, and two places available for Saturday dinner.

Any takers, please message me ASAP.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Arrived SYD 10 mins early. Now bus, train and bus.

See you all on Friday.

 

[gwilli1]

Thanks everyone - just @gwilli1 outstanding

YES for me @Steady

 

[boxo]

I’ve done my OLCI and searched for a LST map. Does it have four gates? Collecting my checked bag will be a breeze, right?

Just an FYI, @Matt_01 , @PrezRegan , and @sirchop , I need to stop at the carousels.

 

[RooFlyer]

I’ve done my OLCI and searched for a LST map. Does it have four gates? Collecting my checked bag will be a breeze, right?

Its a very small airport! There won't be a problem, but there is this map (opens a PDF)

https://launcestonairport.com.au/source-assets/images/Terminal-Main-Level.pdf

Make sure you aren't bringing any fruit, veg, flowers, honey etc. Forbidden, and there are biosecurity sniffer dogs on arrival (usually cute beagles).

 

[drron]

No air bridges so you have to go upstairs to the carousel and you exit through the baggage collection area so you can’t miss it.

 

[zig]

I’ve been in Tassie all week. Currently sitting in rental car at Cradle Mountain waiting for the pouring rain to stop. Fortunately yesterday was lovely weather and I got the Dove Lake Curcuit completed in fine conditions.

 

[CaptJCool]

Make sure you aren't bringing any fruit, veg, flowers, honey etc. Forbidden, and there are biosecurity sniffer dogs on arrival (usually cute beagles).

Labs today !

Post automatically merged: Oct 12, 2023

Good thing about Adelaide is the internationals are right alongside !



Saw my first Bonza plane too!

 

[CaptJCool]

Anyone looking for a decent coffee

Amelia Expresso a short walk from the Sebel !
In a glorious building

 

[Fifa]

After an Uber to Helensvale station, a train to Varsity Lakes and a bus we are finally in the VA lounge at OOL. Flying OOL-SYD-MEL and staying at the Holiday Inn tonight before our QF flight to LST tomorrow

 

[Bundy Bear]

Now checked in for my direct Jetstar to Launceston,