Tasmania is often forgotten by...
by j-san
Tasmania is often forgotten by the rest of the world and by the rest of Australia even! It is cold for most of the year and its weather (especially in the mountains) is very changeable! However, there is so much breathtaking scenery and if you love hiking without running into another soul, then this is a must place to see!
This photograph is by the man who brought Tasmania to the rest of Australia: Peter Dombrovskis. He lived in Hobart and captured the beauty of the Tasmanian Wilderness.
Here is the official Tasmanian tourism site:
http://www.discovertasm nia.com.au/home/index.cfm Walking through magnificent forests, camping by a crystal clear lake and looking out at the brilliant blue skies above a white-capped mountain - and not a soul around! (except for the odd wallaby or possum!)
TahuneAirwalk
by iandsmith
The thing about the Airwalk is that it's changed the area dramatically. Before, those who loved the forest used to visit with few others taking the time. Today, it's a totally different crowd and there are thousands more of them.
They've come not so much to see the trees but to get the thrill of going along a 20 metre high boardwalk (actually, metalwalk). The climax (pic 1) is the seemingly unsupported section at the last lookout. Only about half who arrive at the start will actally go out to the end; the swaying motion tends to put many off for some reason.
I sometimes lament that it's no longer the purists who come here but then I think that at least it does get the person who wouldn't normally come into a forest here and, hopefully, some of it will rub off on them and their children and we'll have new generation who appreciate the real Australian bush.
It's located 28 kilometres from Geeveston and you'll have no trouble finding it.
On the way in you'll pass other walks such as Zig-zag Track, Keogh's Creek Track, the Look In, the Big Tree and, if you really want to go out of your way, try and find The Big Stump. These are what used to attract people here but, co-incidentally, less people visit them now than used to before.
As the main entrance to Tahune you can buy your AirWalk tickets here, as well as local crafts and wood products. The bistro serves local fare, hot meals and great coffee. For those who prefer to have a barbecue, the Bluestone Shelter and barbecue sites are close by. A new attraction at the Centre is Southern Forest Threads, a spectacular hand-made quilt, presented to Forestry Tasmania as a memento of its strong ties with the Huon Valley community. Twenty-two women took part in the project, including the Southern Spinners and Craft group and the Huon Valley Quilters, contributing more than 700 hours of labour.
This 597m walk amongst the trees gets you 20m above the ground. The highlight is the cantilever that is 48m above the river level, providing fantastic views of the forests and the junction of the Picton and Huon Rivers.
Admission fees (2009):
Adults - $22.00
Yummy Scallop Pies!
by xuessium about Salamanca Bakehouse
The Scallop pies of this bakery was named Tasmanian Gourmet Pie of the Year in 2004.
This is the pride of the bakery and it comes with different flavours, be it curried, with vegetables etc etc - they're all good.
The bakery also offers a great variety of sandwiches, specialty pastries, gourmet cakes and slices. All freshly baked on the premises.
And it is open 24 hours, 7 days a week (including Christmas & New Year).
Very popular with the young working crowds and with students.
(Service is unfortunately uneven. It really depends on the chap or gal manning the counter that day. I had smiling ladies to gruffy guys who looked like they just lost a million bucks) The scallop pies, without a doubt!
Fresh succulent & sweet scallops flavoured with gravy or curry and baked to a wonderful aroma. Flaky crispy on the outside; juicy tender on the inside.
(And just A$4 onwards each)
Perfect.
Salamanca Market on Saturdays...
by j-san
Salamanca Market on Saturdays is really wonderful. There is a strong 'alternative' community in Hobart (as well as the 'red-necks' that the rest of OZ can't seem to help teasing Tasmania about...) and it makes its presence felt at this once a week market.
Many of the stalls sell organic fruit and vegetables, bread made from natural yeast and organic flour, even organic beef! And if you know the right people (wink wink! nudge dudge!) you can even get organic, unpasteurized cheese!! (illegal in Australia...)
This market also sells the best apples - such an unbelievable variety, super cheap and freshly picked off the trees! The farm I worked on was exporting its apples to Japan even! Unbelievably delicious!
Besides all that, you can also buy many kitschy little hand-made things to take back home... eg. tea-cossies, hankies...
;)
Cat & Fiddle Arcade
by balhannah
This arcade links Elizabeth Street with Centrepoint. Inside, it has an animated clock, which acts out the Cat and Fiddle Nursery Rhyme on the hour, every hour. There are seats there to rest your legs.
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at the cafe sipping yummy hot chocolate
Attractive old warehouses
Location
Mount Wellington.
