I definitely enjoyed my visit in Tasmania, Australia. And if I will have another opportunity to visit the country, I will visit again the island for the other parts that I haven’t seen yet.
Since I finished featuring Tasmania, here’s my top list itinerary that I had when I traveled the island.
TOP 1 – CRADLE MOUNTAIN
For me, it was the best in all itinerary that we had in Tasmania because we had a trek and a 360-degree view experience in the national park, for me it was like hiking a mountain summit in a much easier way. And the best of it at the top in Marions Lookout is seeing the places around it like you are witnessing a paradise in front of your eyes.
TOP 2 – DONAGHYS HILL
We had a bit of hiking here as well so we can reach the Donaghys Lookout where I had a 360-degree scenery of Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.
TOP 3 – MONTEZUMA FALLS
I really enjoyed visiting Montezuma Falls as we had to trekked or hiked the rain-forest before we reach the highest waterfalls in the island.
TOP 4 – MOUNT FIELD
I enjoyed a lot in Mount Field National Park, such as Russell Falls, Pademelon Tasmania and Eucalyptus Regnans.
TOP 5 – LAKE ST CLAIR
The calmness of the lake is one of the reason I fall in love with this lake and this is the Australia’s deepest fresh water lake.
TOP 6 – HENTY (SAND) DUNES
Sand dunes has an appeal to me because it made me feel a different outlook when it comes to nature and it showcase a unique beauty of the land.
TOP 7 – STRAHAN
One of the Loneliest Places On Earth and the Most Isolated Outpost in Australia with beautiful harbour at end of the world.
TOP 8 – SHEFFIELD
Sheffield has titled as Town of Murals where it boast its beautiful murals all visible around the town.
TOP 9 – DELORAINE / RED HILLS
A place where we enjoyed Salmon for free. A salmon farm that you can enjoy and nature that surrounds it.
TOP 10 – TARRALEAH
The lookout is overlooking of Tarraleah Power Station including the huge pipes (penstocks) down to it.
TOP 11 – QUEENSTOWN
A quick visit to one of the remote town exist in Tasmania which developed during the mining glory days in the island.
TOP 12 – LAKE ROSEBERY
A misty lake that I enjoyed during the quick stop we had near Murchison Bridge.
Two nights stay in the dorm was over and our stuff were all packed back in our backpacks again. Last day of the trip came, a signal that our trip is almost over in few hours. Three days was not enough to see the whole island of Tasmania but I am already thankful I had a chance to see some part of it. I wished my holiday will be longer, but I was not in Australia for touring but for work so I cannot really extend my holiday plan. I am lucky enough for having a chance to see the island even for just few days. Though it was the last day tour of the group, I was looking forward on that day like it was first day. Main reason of my excitement was because of Cradle Mountain, as mountain always amaze me whether I see it from a distance or up-close. I was delighted when I learned that the group will do a bit of trekking and bush walking in one of the famous national park in the island and in Australia.
Cradle Mountain
From Tullah (the place we stayed the two nights in Tasmania), we drove towards Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and we stayed in the road for at least an hour. On our way, I watched the surroundings attentively in my window and before we reached the parking area, there was a part of the road that we passed where I saw a seemingly endless wilderness. I felt I can’t get enough of what I am seeing at that time and I felt an overwhelming contentment in my heart for just being there at that moment. I cannot comprehend that I am actually seeing nature, vast space and remoteness of the place. My wandering thoughts stopped after the van parked near Dove Lake. We got off the vehicle from the parking and as we wait for the group to reassemble, we stopped near Dove Lake, a lake with amazing beautiful background of Cradle Mountain. After enjoying the lake up close, we started the trek and bush walk.
Dove Lake with Cradle Mountain
Tasmania (Day 3) : From Cradle Mountain to Sheffield to Deloraine
With Dove Lake Boatshed
We trekked Marions Lookout which is a great spot to see Cradle Mountain closer from the top. It is the same spot to see Dove Lake and Crater Lake which offers scenic views from the lookout and have 360 degree view of national park’s wilderness. The group had a great time not only for taking photos in the lookout but having fun in posing and jumping with beautiful scenery that surrounds everyone.
Dove Lake
Cradle Mountain
Crater Lake
Top 12 Places Visited in Tasmania
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park
When we had enough in enjoying the scenery of the national parks wilderness from the lookout, we trekked down and continued bush walking. What great about the walk was we had a chance to see the beauty and remoteness of the place. The group followed the walking tracks in placed in the park and along the walks we spotted a wombat. Our walks continue as we reached the considered historical accommodation in Cradle Mountain which is Waldheim Chalet.
Waldheim Chalet
Waldheim Chalet is a restored or replica of the rustic homes of couple whom discovered the Cradle Mountain – Gustav and Kate Weindorfer. The said accommodation is the nearest one in the national park.
Sheffield – Town of Murals
After hiking in Cradle Mountain, we drove to Sheffield – a town of Murals where we took our lunch. After lunch, we walked around a bit and we found that its title of being Town of Murals is proven to be true and it stand on its title which made Sheffield an interesting place to visit.
Below are some of the murals that I was able to capture during the visit.
Stillness and Warmth
First mural painted for town’s mural project which completed last 1986. The painting portrays Gustav Weindorfer who made effort to make Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair a National Park.
Masonic Lodge Symbols
This mural (left) by John Lendis features some of the symbols found in a Freemason’s Lodge painted last 1992.
The Hardest Years
Mural that depicts the typical rural life through a farmer and painted last year 2000 by Paul Wood and Mary Clancy.
No Boundaries (Left) and Still Free (Right)
“No Boundaries” by Alicia Swiderski which inspired by children’s play.
“Still Free” by Keith & Loretta Sommer and Winner of the Peoples’ Choice Award at Mural Fest 2013
Food Bowl
Demonstration mural at Mural Fest 2012 by Julian Bale& Others.
“Hide and Seek”, “Poetic Stanza”, “Bonnie and Clyde”, & “Searching the Heart”
From Mural Fest 2013 (left to right):
“Hide and Seek” which painted byLoren Wiffin with the concept of the imagination wild and free.
“Poetic Stanza” created by Shannon Crees with thematic concerns of exotic surrealism and the boundless potential for beauty in utopian landscapes.
“Bonnie and Clyde” by John Eathorne and Leanne Tamas with the idea of Tasmanian convict woman breaks free, her cat awaits, both just a whisker away from the wild, both about to do a certain amount of unescourted roaming, while in their eyes, magic resides.
“Searching the Heart” by Heather Sprott with concept of Nature itself is “freedom unrestrained”
Forth Falls
The mural depicts the second and most spectacular of a series of seven falls which once cascaded down Forth Falls Creek and flowed into the Forth River. Painted by John Lendis in year 1990.
Tigers and Devils
Painted by John Lendis last year 2000.
Christian Heritage
The historical roots of each Christian denomination in Kentish along with approximately 140 people are depicted in this mural. Created by Cheyne Purdue last 1988.
Here are other of snapshots around Sheffield.
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Deloraine / Red Hills – 41 Degrees Salmon
Our last stop before we ended the last day tour was a salmon farm called 41 Degrees Salmon where we had a chance to taste some of its salmon. After tasting experience, the group had some fun with the farm’s dog named George.
Then, we headed to Launceston, where I stayed for the night before flying back to Melbourne the next morning, while some of the group ended their trip back to Hobart. Before I wrapped up my day, I had dinner in one of the diners in the city and had a bit of night walk just around my accommodation, it was a quiet night indeed in Launceston.
Arts and Craft (Post#6) : Sheffield Murals – “The Hardest Years”
Sheffield is the town that we visited after Cradle Mountain. And because the town boast their art works such as murals, I had some snapshots of one of it which depicts the typical rural life through a farmer. This mural was painted last year 2000 by Paul Wood and Mary Clancy. The photo is part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.
When we were on our way to visit Sheffield town, I got a chance to see the stunning scenery of Mount Roland inside the vehicle. The mountain is a conservation area in the north-west coast of Tasmania and Sheffield is the nearest town at the vicinity of the mountain. The photo is part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.
Even though the season in Australia at that time was winter, the season cannot stop me from going somewhere. Because of the thoughts that I will be leaving Australia in August in that same year of 2013 and thinking that I will never be returning again during my first project, I really planned to see as much as I can while I am still in Australia. One of the plans that I made and put it into reality is to go to Tasmania or commonly called Tas or Tassie, the largest island following the mainland of Australia.
When I was planning to visit the island, I knew for myself, that if I wanted to see lot of places in Tasmania in just few days, the options available are either rent and drive a car then go to many places or join a multiple day tours available in the island. Driving is not an option to me since I don’t drive. My option left is to join a group tour. Because of that I searched if there are multiple days tour available for the island and after sometime of searching, I found a tour that fits my plan and I booked a 3-Days tour. Then, it followed by booking flights and accommodation.
The 3-Days tour that I booked was called Wild West Coast Tour of Jump Tours with the following itinerary:
Day 1: Mount Field, Russell Falls & Lake St Clair
Tall Trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) at Mount Field National Park
Russell Falls
Lake St Clair
Day 2: Montezuma Falls, Strahan & Henty Dunes
Montezuma Falls
Strahan
Henty Dunes
Day 3: Cradle Mountain & Sheffield
Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
Sheffield
The tour that I booked starts from Hobart and ends at Launceston, two major cities in the island. So stay tune for the next post of my Tasmania adventure.
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