What to do in Tasmania?
October 17, 2013 1:46 PM Subscribe
I need travel advice so I can plan my next trip to Australia.
I'm back in Australia for all of February for work. I'm free the 23rd on and was looking to travel somewhere cool in Australia. More than one person suggested Tasmania. I love the outdoors, wildlife (I'm an ecologist) and camping. Also happy to just rent a car and road trip.
Questions:
* Can I travel on a reasonable budget for a week in Tasmania (can you tell me what a reasonable budget for a week might be)? I'll be traveling from/back to Sydney
* I'm traveling alone. Are there cool things to do as a solo traveler?
* If not Tasmania, can you recommend somewhere else I could travel inside the country for about a week without breaking the bank. I know Australia is expensive so I'll budget accordingly.
TIA.
I'm back in Australia for all of February for work. I'm free the 23rd on and was looking to travel somewhere cool in Australia. More than one person suggested Tasmania. I love the outdoors, wildlife (I'm an ecologist) and camping. Also happy to just rent a car and road trip.
Questions:
* Can I travel on a reasonable budget for a week in Tasmania (can you tell me what a reasonable budget for a week might be)? I'll be traveling from/back to Sydney
* I'm traveling alone. Are there cool things to do as a solo traveler?
* If not Tasmania, can you recommend somewhere else I could travel inside the country for about a week without breaking the bank. I know Australia is expensive so I'll budget accordingly.
TIA.
Best answer: Hello, Tasmanian here!
Can I travel on a reasonable budget for a week in Tasmania (can you tell me what a reasonable budget for a week might be)?
It really depends. Tasmania has a bit of a clean-green-gourmet-organic high-end tourism thing going on. This means there will be a lot of expensive places to stay, and expensive food to buy if you're not careful. A simple meal at an average Pub will head beyond $30, although of course, being civilized, there's no tipping involved in Australia. February is also very much the peak season for tourists. However, if you are happy camping and buying your own food to cook then you should be relatively fine. Tasmania has loads of great hiking/camping opportunities. The Parks and State Forests websites should give you lots of ideas for places.
I'm traveling alone. Are there cool things to do as a solo traveler?
I'm sure there are, although I'm not sure how compatible this is with the camping thing - you shouldn't really hike or camp in the Australian bush alone. We really do have things that can kill you, and despite its size, the pretty parts of Tasmania are very remote.
However, in a more urban setting, I can sure recommend a few great things to check out in Hobart and the surrounds.
- Salamanca Markets, 8:30am Saturday onwards just outside the CBD, is a famous and fantastic market with great food and other things.
- MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). A Tasmanian mathematical genius managed to win millions of dollars from casios and horse racing. He spent his millions building a freaking amazing public art gallery. You need to see it.
- Mt Wellington - the big fat mountain above the city. Great views from the top. There's a guy with a trike-motorbike waiting at Salamanca to take you for a drive up there.
In February there will also be a load of festivals and special events going on - I'm going to go chase some down for you.
Can I use my US drivers license to drive in Australia or will I need to do something more?
As far as I'm aware, you can use your US licence in Australia. But just watch what side of the road you're driving on. It probably would be a good idea to hire a car for your stay - much of the interesting things to be seen in Tasmania are outside of Hobart's already pathetic public transport system.
posted by Jimbob at 3:34 PM on October 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Can I travel on a reasonable budget for a week in Tasmania (can you tell me what a reasonable budget for a week might be)?
It really depends. Tasmania has a bit of a clean-green-gourmet-organic high-end tourism thing going on. This means there will be a lot of expensive places to stay, and expensive food to buy if you're not careful. A simple meal at an average Pub will head beyond $30, although of course, being civilized, there's no tipping involved in Australia. February is also very much the peak season for tourists. However, if you are happy camping and buying your own food to cook then you should be relatively fine. Tasmania has loads of great hiking/camping opportunities. The Parks and State Forests websites should give you lots of ideas for places.
I'm traveling alone. Are there cool things to do as a solo traveler?
I'm sure there are, although I'm not sure how compatible this is with the camping thing - you shouldn't really hike or camp in the Australian bush alone. We really do have things that can kill you, and despite its size, the pretty parts of Tasmania are very remote.
However, in a more urban setting, I can sure recommend a few great things to check out in Hobart and the surrounds.
- Salamanca Markets, 8:30am Saturday onwards just outside the CBD, is a famous and fantastic market with great food and other things.
- MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). A Tasmanian mathematical genius managed to win millions of dollars from casios and horse racing. He spent his millions building a freaking amazing public art gallery. You need to see it.
- Mt Wellington - the big fat mountain above the city. Great views from the top. There's a guy with a trike-motorbike waiting at Salamanca to take you for a drive up there.
In February there will also be a load of festivals and special events going on - I'm going to go chase some down for you.
Can I use my US drivers license to drive in Australia or will I need to do something more?
As far as I'm aware, you can use your US licence in Australia. But just watch what side of the road you're driving on. It probably would be a good idea to hire a car for your stay - much of the interesting things to be seen in Tasmania are outside of Hobart's already pathetic public transport system.
posted by Jimbob at 3:34 PM on October 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: First off, full disclosure: I am employed by Tourism Australia, but I am posting here as a citizen of the world and not as an official representative of my organization. I also love the country.
Regarding reasonable budget, I hate to pull the "there's something for everyone"...but it really depends on your needs and your definition of "reasonable." There are a lot of great, budget minded camping opportunities out there, and on the other end of the spectrum, Saffire Freycinet has won tons of awards for being a combination of luxurious and eco-sensitive.
In order to drive in Australia you need a valid international drivers permit as well as a valid US driver's license. More info on driving in Australia here.
Cool things to do: do you like food? Bruny Island. This video will give you some idea. Hobart has MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, which has an international reputation. If you like hiking here's some hiking ideas. And there's plenty of great camping, and here's a sample outdoorsy trip, and here's a pretty great hiking-oriented trip idea.
Sorry, between meetings, but I hope this is a good start!
posted by rednikki at 3:35 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Regarding reasonable budget, I hate to pull the "there's something for everyone"...but it really depends on your needs and your definition of "reasonable." There are a lot of great, budget minded camping opportunities out there, and on the other end of the spectrum, Saffire Freycinet has won tons of awards for being a combination of luxurious and eco-sensitive.
In order to drive in Australia you need a valid international drivers permit as well as a valid US driver's license. More info on driving in Australia here.
Cool things to do: do you like food? Bruny Island. This video will give you some idea. Hobart has MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, which has an international reputation. If you like hiking here's some hiking ideas. And there's plenty of great camping, and here's a sample outdoorsy trip, and here's a pretty great hiking-oriented trip idea.
Sorry, between meetings, but I hope this is a good start!
posted by rednikki at 3:35 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Yep, Australian prices will blow your mind. Budget accordingly and then put in a little more.
Having said that, are you looking to camp? If so you can probably have quite a cheap week indeed.
My partner is a zoologist/ecologist and I have done a lot of travelling with her. I reckon that you can find somewhere amazing to go in any state. Yes, Tasmania is gorgeous (I'm going there this afternoon in fact) but in February you will find it busy and many of the popular overnight hiking trails will be full.
If I was you I'd look at heading into the high country of NSW or Victoria. February can be an extraordinarily hot month and you will find the high country cooler and more pleasant. Camp next to a creek and it's heaven. Perhaps the Kosciusko area? A wonderful road trip can be had through that line of national parks as well.
Budget $50/day for car hire.
Of course, keep a very close eye and the weather and leave at the first sign of smoke at that time of year. Never go anywhere that has only one way out. This advice goes for Tasmania as well. Also, let someone know where you are and carry a first aid kit. The remoteness of some parts of this country will be very unusual for you if you are not used to it.
posted by deadwax at 3:51 PM on October 17, 2013
Having said that, are you looking to camp? If so you can probably have quite a cheap week indeed.
My partner is a zoologist/ecologist and I have done a lot of travelling with her. I reckon that you can find somewhere amazing to go in any state. Yes, Tasmania is gorgeous (I'm going there this afternoon in fact) but in February you will find it busy and many of the popular overnight hiking trails will be full.
If I was you I'd look at heading into the high country of NSW or Victoria. February can be an extraordinarily hot month and you will find the high country cooler and more pleasant. Camp next to a creek and it's heaven. Perhaps the Kosciusko area? A wonderful road trip can be had through that line of national parks as well.
Budget $50/day for car hire.
Of course, keep a very close eye and the weather and leave at the first sign of smoke at that time of year. Never go anywhere that has only one way out. This advice goes for Tasmania as well. Also, let someone know where you are and carry a first aid kit. The remoteness of some parts of this country will be very unusual for you if you are not used to it.
posted by deadwax at 3:51 PM on October 17, 2013
Eat curried scallop pies. I quite liked this place to stay: http://www.woolmers.com.au/
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:55 PM on October 17, 2013
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:55 PM on October 17, 2013
I spent about ten days on road trip around Tasmania with a friend last February and thoroughly enjoyed it. We found that there is so much to see and do that 10 days wasn't quite enough ( we missed the east coast altogether ) so another visit is on the wish list.
Ours wasn't a camping/hiking sort of trip but I can offer a bit of our experience for reference;
Cottage style accommodation which includes a small kitchen is quite prevalent. Costs were around $150/night. You might find some slightly cheaper motel-type places.
A compact car was about $50/day.
Add another $50/day for food and entertainment without doing any fancy dining or drinking so $250/day seems a fair budget.
Return flights from Melbourne were about $250 per person.
Highlights: Bruny Island, the Southeast corner, Mona, the drive from Hobart to Strahan, Stanley.
My Aussie companion did much of the driving but I did some on my Canadian license, didn't bother with getting an international one.
Other ideas for trips out of Sidney - train to Newcastle then bus to Port Stephens - train to Melbourne, either overnight or during the day - the Indian Pacific train to Adelaide - train to the Blue Mountains (which appear to be largely on fire at the moment!).
posted by islander at 6:47 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ours wasn't a camping/hiking sort of trip but I can offer a bit of our experience for reference;
Cottage style accommodation which includes a small kitchen is quite prevalent. Costs were around $150/night. You might find some slightly cheaper motel-type places.
A compact car was about $50/day.
Add another $50/day for food and entertainment without doing any fancy dining or drinking so $250/day seems a fair budget.
Return flights from Melbourne were about $250 per person.
Highlights: Bruny Island, the Southeast corner, Mona, the drive from Hobart to Strahan, Stanley.
My Aussie companion did much of the driving but I did some on my Canadian license, didn't bother with getting an international one.
Other ideas for trips out of Sidney - train to Newcastle then bus to Port Stephens - train to Melbourne, either overnight or during the day - the Indian Pacific train to Adelaide - train to the Blue Mountains (which appear to be largely on fire at the moment!).
posted by islander at 6:47 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is great. You can feed rescued kangaroos, and your admission costs go to rescuing more.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 9:18 PM on October 17, 2013
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 9:18 PM on October 17, 2013
I like to travel and rarely have much money, I also usually travel alone.
I've been to Tasmania twice, once from Melbourne once from Sydney. Both times I got sale fares (Melb - Hobart approx $80 return, Sydney - Hobart a little more). Once I stayed in backpackers and once I put an ad on an online classified site asking if I could stay at someone's house free. People responded, they were nice. We still catch up. Not everyone likes to travel this way. I usually check couchsurfing and airbnb too.
Tasmania does cater to rich retirees and gormet travellers, but there is nothing stopping eating on the cheap (supermarket food etc), self catering and saving the budget for nice evening meals (or booze). Definitely go to MONA and schedule a whole day, but bring your own snacks/lunch if you are really on a budget.
If hiring a car is out of your reach and travelling with others is okay, look for backpackers who are travelling with a campervan and are offering spare spots. People place ads for this kind of thing on gumtree.com.au Lots and lots of people go up and down the East Coast of Australia too. You are also likely to pick up domestic airfare sales in Feb because school holidays have just finished. If you are driving around Tasmania don't stop the car to look at the opium farms, security gets annoyed.
You do have a lot of choices around Australia as far as outdoors and wildlife goes, particularly since you are willing to travel so far. Maybe focus on what you want to see? Rainforest? Desert? Caves? Coast? The Blue Mountains are a beautiful day trip or weekend trip from Sydney. They are very cheap to get to on the train and I stayed in a private room in a backpackers for a modest price. Note, they experiencing devestating fires right now and I'm not sure what kind of state they will be in for tourists in February (Although the Blue Mountains Ukelele Festival is scheduled in early Feb, I wonder if that will go ahead).
posted by Trivia Newton John at 11:14 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've been to Tasmania twice, once from Melbourne once from Sydney. Both times I got sale fares (Melb - Hobart approx $80 return, Sydney - Hobart a little more). Once I stayed in backpackers and once I put an ad on an online classified site asking if I could stay at someone's house free. People responded, they were nice. We still catch up. Not everyone likes to travel this way. I usually check couchsurfing and airbnb too.
Tasmania does cater to rich retirees and gormet travellers, but there is nothing stopping eating on the cheap (supermarket food etc), self catering and saving the budget for nice evening meals (or booze). Definitely go to MONA and schedule a whole day, but bring your own snacks/lunch if you are really on a budget.
If hiring a car is out of your reach and travelling with others is okay, look for backpackers who are travelling with a campervan and are offering spare spots. People place ads for this kind of thing on gumtree.com.au Lots and lots of people go up and down the East Coast of Australia too. You are also likely to pick up domestic airfare sales in Feb because school holidays have just finished. If you are driving around Tasmania don't stop the car to look at the opium farms, security gets annoyed.
You do have a lot of choices around Australia as far as outdoors and wildlife goes, particularly since you are willing to travel so far. Maybe focus on what you want to see? Rainforest? Desert? Caves? Coast? The Blue Mountains are a beautiful day trip or weekend trip from Sydney. They are very cheap to get to on the train and I stayed in a private room in a backpackers for a modest price. Note, they experiencing devestating fires right now and I'm not sure what kind of state they will be in for tourists in February (Although the Blue Mountains Ukelele Festival is scheduled in early Feb, I wonder if that will go ahead).
posted by Trivia Newton John at 11:14 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you are driving around Tasmania don't stop the car to look at the opium farms, security gets annoyed.
What security? I've never seen any security. The one on the road to Pt Arthur has a three-strand barbed wire fence...
posted by Jimbob at 11:23 PM on October 17, 2013
What security? I've never seen any security. The one on the road to Pt Arthur has a three-strand barbed wire fence...
posted by Jimbob at 11:23 PM on October 17, 2013
Oh, I should say that as an ecologist, a thing to see is probably the tall trees. Eucalyptus regnans, the tallest angiosperms on earth. Mt Field is about an hours drive from Hobart, and there's a fantastic "Tall Trees Walk" through the wet schlerophyll forest where they reside. Mind blowing.
posted by Jimbob at 11:25 PM on October 17, 2013
posted by Jimbob at 11:25 PM on October 17, 2013
There always seems to be Hobart relocations available.
posted by jacanj at 5:56 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by jacanj at 5:56 AM on October 18, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks all for the advice. Looking forward to Tasmania in February!
posted by special-k at 11:35 AM on December 31, 2013
posted by special-k at 11:35 AM on December 31, 2013
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