HBA - Tour suggestions - Dec 2020 & NYE

[Ade]

Hello dear AFF'ers,

Trust yourself & everyone you know are safe during this pandemic.

A very good friend of mine & I are planning to do a road trip across Tasmania during the last weeks of Dec 2020 and planning to spend the NYE in HBA.

Our idea is to fly MEL-HBA and hire a car. The plan is to visit the below places ;

1. Mt. Wellington
2. Russell Falls Creek Track
3. Lake St. Clair
4. Cradle Mountain
5. Launceston & surroundings
6. Bridestowe Lavender farm
7. Bay of Fires
8. Freycinet National Park

then return to HBA airport and fly back to MEL. We were thinking we'd do the above route in 6 days ... Any advice on the above ? Am I missing any OBVIOUS places to visit or too little? Thoughts?

And for the NYE, want to see the fireworks that MIGHT happen at the Waterfront. I read up online and there was a suggestion to go up to Mt. Wellington to get a good view of the fireworks.

I checked HBA city council website - no mention of any firework for NYE

So, does anyone, local to HBA perhaps know if there is going to be fireworks and if yes, how sooner should I get to HBA Waterfront to secure 2 good spots to see the fireworks - that is if they are going to happen ...

Any & every suggestions welcome

Cheers,
Ade

 

[bPeteb]

David Walsh - MONA's creator. It will help you understand him/MONA a bit (maybe!!).

Mona was ceded to its audience out of some perverse longing to remould some tiny segment of my world to my own ends (whatever they may be), to augment my understanding of things I should know but forever doubt (opinions vary – some people really like Vegemite, or Donald Trump, or prayer, but their opinions grace them as nobly as mine ennoble me), and to uphold and expand my social covenant (Mona is a friendship filter – if you like it, there’s an increased chance you’ll like me).

Certainly an interesting guy! We've met David, through our friend who has the apartment on The World.

Mona is just amazing. Don't miss it. Get the ferry there.

The wall of cough casts is quite a sight to behold. We bought my brother a soap of one that we gave him for Christmas. His face as he opened the box, pun intended, was something I'll treasure forever.

 

[Chooleekhor]

Hello dear AFF'ers,

Trust yourself & everyone you know are safe during this pandemic.

A very good friend of mine & I are planning to do a road trip across Tasmania during the last weeks of Dec 2020 and planning to spend the NYE in HBA.

Our idea is to fly MEL-HBA and hire a car. The plan is to visit the below places ;

1. Mt. Wellington
2. Russell Falls Creek Track
3. Lake St. Clair
4. Cradle Mountain
5. Launceston & surroundings
6. Bridestowe Lavender farm
7. Bay of Fires
8. Freycinet National Park

then return to HBA airport and fly back to MEL. We were thinking we'd do the above route in 6 days ... Any advice on the above ? Am I missing any OBVIOUS places to visit or too little? Thoughts?

And for the NYE, want to see the fireworks that MIGHT happen at the Waterfront. I read up online and there was a suggestion to go up to Mt. Wellington to get a good view of the fireworks.

I checked HBA city council website - no mention of any firework for NYE

So, does anyone, local to HBA perhaps know if there is going to be fireworks and if yes, how sooner should I get to HBA Waterfront to secure 2 good spots to see the fireworks - that is if they are going to happen ...

Any & every suggestions welcome

Cheers,
Ade

This year there’s no 9pm fireworks only a short one at midnight. Most vantage points to watch requires prior tickets for entry further reduced this year for crowd management. For the northern end of the Sydney Harbour tickets are purchased usually from the North Sydney Council.

 

[bPeteb]

This year there’s no 9pm fireworks only a short one at midnight. Most vantage points to watch requires prior tickets for entry further reduced this year for crowd management. For the northern end of the Sydney Harbour tickets are purchased usually from the North Sydney Council.

Ade is off to Hobart Chooleekhor

 

[RooFlyer]

I figured where the lavender farm is @Ade if that is a must-see, and you fly into Hobart, my suggested itinerary would be:

Arrive Hobart, drive to Freycinet/Coles Bay. 3 hrs direct but stop at Devils Corner (between Swansea and the Coles Bay turn off) for wine tasting and a great view of Freycinet. If you are into wine, there are a number of wineries between Swansea and the turn off. Spring Vale is pretty, Freycinet (just after Devil's corner) for great wine. Stop at the Pondering Frog just after Devil's Corner & Freycinet for ice creams or afternoon tea. Freycinet Marine Farm on the Coles Bay road- pick up fresh oysters. See the wineglassbay.com for meal suggestions. It will be crowded!! (Very popular with Tasmanians)

Day 2 Walk Freycinet Nat Park - the Wineglass Bay lookout, down to Wineglass Bay if you are energetic enough, drive to the lighthouse etc etc. Take insect repellent on the walks!! Late afternoon, depart for Launceston via Lake Leake and Campbell Town. 2 hours This is pushing it, but you don't have much time! Arrive Launceston late-ish (but dusk about 9pm here) OR push north on the Tasman Highway and overnight at St Helens 90 mins. Nice seafood - try to get into the Blue Shed.

Day 3 an early start if you want to see Bay of Fires ex St Helens (but like I said, its really just a pretty beach) - onto the Lavender Farm either from L'ton or St Helens. Return via the Tamar Valley - wineries, or historic houses / towns around Launceston.

Now, you can either do Cradle Mtn (2 nights) or Hobart & surrounds.

A: Day 4 L'ton to Cradle Mtn 2 hrs. Longer if you stop in quaint & scenic towns like Deloraine, berry farms, cheese places etc etc . Afternoon walks around the lodge in the Park. Here's a Trip Report I did on a recent quick CM visit Weekend at Cradle Mountain National Park

Day 5 Cradle Mtn walks

Day 6, to Hobart - Mt Wellington / Mona if you have time

B Day 4 L'ton to Hobart via Midlands Highway 2.5 hrs direct. Zeps in Campbell Town for coffee/snack or Banjos for bakery fare - scallop pies. Stop at Oatlands if you are into historical villages. Mt Wellington / Mona / Hobart docks

Day 5 Mt Field Nat Park / Russell Falls / New Norfolk Coal River Valley wineries OR Port Arthur.

Day 6. As day 5.

 

[drron]

And good news @denali.I drove past Ashgrove today and it has re opened.

 

[Ade]

Update : After talking to almost all car hire places - we were told, no rental cars available There was supposed to one available at Hobart, but by the time I called up the CC, it was gone.

So we have to look for alternatives or change the trip to a different city/state

 

[Ade]

Update : We thought we'd do Darwin or Alice Springs - do Uluru & such. But after trying to book car hire, I learnt for the first time that the cars are only to be driven 100 kms each day ? So for a 7 day trip, we only got 700 kms in total ... which is not even sufficient to drive from ASP to Uluru & back

 

[drron]

Are you limited to that last week in December.Cars available after new Years in Tassie.So you could fly in to Hobart on 31/12 and spend 2 nights.Don't really need a car when in Hobart.Then pick up a car on 2/1 and drive up the East coast.Could do Port Arthur and a quick look at Freycinet and overnight in St. Helens.2 nights in Launceston as an easy drive back to Hobart but get a late flight so you can have stops in Campbelltown,Ross and Richmond on the way back to the airport.

December is not a good time to visit the NT especially Uluru.Uluru is usually over 40C in late December.

Uluru / Ayers Rock, NT - December 2019 - Daily Weather Observations

 

[VPS]

Update : After talking to almost all car hire places - we were told, no rental cars available There was supposed to one available at Hobart, but by the time I called up the CC, it was gone.

So we have to look for alternatives or change the trip to a different city/state

Have you looked at an aggregator like Cheap Car Hire Comparison in Australia

 

[drron]

I looked and in Tasmania in the last week of december there does appear to be not a single rental car available.

 

[Ade]

I looked and in Tasmania in the last week of december there does appear to be not a single rental car available.

Yes, I called up all the car hire places and none had even a single car available ... we are just 2 people, but we offered to hire a camper van or a caravan or something big & massive - still no luck

Post automatically merged: Nov 28, 2020

Are you limited to that last week in December.Cars available after new Years in Tassie.So you could fly in to Hobart on 31/12 and spend 2 nights.Don't really need a car when in Hobart.Then pick up a car on 2/1 and drive up the East coast.Could do Port Arthur and a quick look at Freycinet and overnight in St. Helens.2 nights in Launceston as an easy drive back to Hobart but get a late flight so you can have stops in Campbelltown,Ross and Richmond on the way back to the airport.

December is not a good time to visit the NT especially Uluru.Uluru is usually over 40C in late December.

Uluru / Ayers Rock, NT - December 2019 - Daily Weather Observations

Can't really plan anything after NY ... need to be at work by 4th Jan ... I live & work in SYD, so I need to back in SYD by 3rd night latest ...

 

[Ade]

Have you looked at an aggregator like Cheap Car Hire Comparison in Australia

Oh yes, @VPS - I did, still no luck ...

 

[VPS]

I'd keep looking because peoples plans change and you might see one pop up. Good luck

 

[drron]

Have sent you a conversation Ade.

 

[AV8]

Oh yes, @VPS - I did, still no luck ...

What about going across on the Ferry and taking your car?

 

[Ade]

What about going across on the Ferry and taking your car?

I don't have a car ... I have to hire one ... I checked Spirit of Tasmania - they don't any slots where I can take the car across ...

 

[Ade]

Update :

After much discussions, my mate & I have planned to can the trip this time We will be planning something else during mid next year, when both of us have sufficient time off work and sufficient time to plan the trip.

My thanks to everyone that contributed their thoughts and ideas on how we could do our trip.

Cheers,
Ade & Ade's travel mate

 

[RooFlyer]

Probably a good idea to avoid Christmas here at this stage.

Mid year is of course winter which can limit some outdoor options. On the other hand, its the time of Dark mof_ and the Winter Feast
Dark mof_ (turn on sound)
Dates TBA, but the winter solstice is June 21 and the nude swim is the weekend nearest that

If you are into sitting by log fires and/or tasting whiskey and that sort of thing, its a great time to visit (and cheaper!). Plus you can go bushwalking without the flies

 

[jakeseven7]

Update :

After much discussions, my mate & I have planned to can the trip this time We will be planning something else during mid next year, when both of us have sufficient time off work and sufficient time to plan the trip.

My thanks to everyone that contributed their thoughts and ideas on how we could do our trip.

Cheers,
Ade & Ade's travel mate

Some work people have found the same thing. Everywhere is booked solid until the end of school holidays.

luckily they don’t have kids so they are going to wait until schools go back then book then!

 

[Ade]

If you are into sitting by log fires and/or tasting whiskey

But of course !! I love that