Tassie Advice

[Nikon boy]

We are travelling to Tasmania for nine days from the 16th,
and would appreciate any tips ,no go's, do go's, etc from those in the know,
Itinery is Launceston, Cradle Mountain , Strachan, Hobart, Port Arthur, Ricmond , and Bicheno,

Taking most of my gear, Laptop with burner, Tripod, Comfortable boots,
appetite for taking images and sampling local food and wines

[hangdog]

Whaddya know, we'll be there for 9 days from the 17th to the 25th!

Launceston, Cradle Mountain, Strahan (with a Gordon River cruise), then several days in Hobart before buzzing back to Devonport on the last day, for the ferry ride home. I'll be working on 3 of the weekdays.

We visited Port Arthur last year: start early and give it a full day, as there'll be a guided tour, a cruise and loads of general photographic pottering-about involved.

[wendellt]

I am going to this event

http://www.bloomintulips.com.au

you will miss the event according to your departure date, but i am sure the tulips will still be there, it's worth seeing

[owen]

Hey guys. There's a bit of info here about photo locations in Tassie.

http://www.ausphotos.com/forum/viewforu ... 93f66564b2

There are also some great pictures of Cradle mountain too. When I went there it was snowing so I didn't see much at all, just check the weather forcast before you go.

Cheers,
Owen.

[xorl]

I'd recommend going to Hastings (caves etc..) and the Tahune forest, (West / SW of Hobart). The west coast of Tassie is nice (apparently) but it is a bit of a time sink due to the windy roads. East/Central Tassie has heaps of stuff and it is quicker to get around. The Freycinet Peninsula is worth visiting on the way to Pt Arthur. Cradle Mountain can only be seen for a few days each year due to cloud cover. Mt Wellington near Hobart provides some great views. I found Cataract Gorge (Launceston) interesting when I was there.

When I went there a couple of years ago I just drove around. It is pretty much impossible to get lost & everything is so close. There is a lot of interesting stuff wherever you go.

Hope this helps..

[johnd]

Nikon Boy, it sounds like you've got a pretty good itinery.

The places I would go in Tassie for wilderness type images are pretty much what you've got: Strahan (heaps here, make sure you do a cruise up Macquarie Harbour and a train trip), Cradle Mt (heaps of good walks, with some luck you'll have snow), East Coast (you've got Bicheno already, do Douglas Apsley National Park which is nearby Bicheno), you gotta do Frecinyet National Park (at least 1 day, maybe 2) which is between Bicheno and Hobart. Richmond is a bit touristy as is Port Arthur, but I guess you're a tourist. There are some good photo opportnities at EagleHawk Neck which is on the way to Port Arthur.

When in Hobart, do some day trips. Heaps of walks and waterfall shot opportunities around Mt Wellington which Hobart backs onto. Get the book called Wellington Walks. There's another book called "40 walks in Tasmania" or something which is worthwile having. Some really good night time photo opportunities around Hobart and particularly the waterfront.

Launceston, we'll I guess you've gotta go thru it!!

Mt Field National Park (2 hours from Hobart) is worth a day.

There are heaps of good restaurants all thru Tassie. The place is alive with great food and wine.

If you can be more specific about the type of shots you want to do, how much you'r prepared to walk etc, I may be able to help a bit more. I assume you'll be renting a car so can go where you want when you want.

[joolz]

I've found Tassie a landscape heaven with photo ops everywhere you go - everything is lush and green. The weather is improving as well, so it's a good time to go.
I'm working in Tassie at the moment, but will be leaving back to Melbourne on the 16th.
I'd suggest Christmas hills Raspberry farm in Elizabeth Town. Some lovely treats there - try the chocolate coated raspberries. Not many photos, but good food.
Boat Harbour is a lovely spot if you come up the northwest.

[johnd]

Other things I thought of:

Tulips: check out Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart. There's a tulip festival due on 1/2 October but the tulips may be out before then.

Hastings caves: No flash allowed (upsets the low light critters), so you'll need a fast lens and high ISO and a tripod.

Tahune forest: There's a cantalever platform above the forest. Sways around a bit but worth a look.

[Killakoala]

There must be something about Tasmania, as i will be in Hobart on 4 November for 5 days. My fifth visit to the island.

Food tip: Eat Tasmanian scallops. They are sensational.

[Nikon boy]

Thanks everybody for your input, as usual this fantastic forum delivers !!!!also are there many Lighthouses near the towns i mentioned or nearby ?
thanks again

[jberth1]

Thanks everybody for your input, as usual this fantastic forum delivers !!!!also are there many Lighthouses near the towns i mentioned or nearby ?
thanks again

If you're heading to Bicheno, you might want to head out to Cape Tourville. There is a lighthouse there which I've shot at sunrise.

Takes LOTS of memory with you though - even on a day out you'll run out before you can get 'back to base' to backup. I get down there about once every 2 years. I picked up my D70 on 17th March 2004, and hopped on the boat to Tassie on the 18th - never had so much fun. I learnt all about white balance on the boat trip on the way down !

You're going to have a ball - albeit a colddddd one !

Cheers

Justin

[Nikon boy]

Thanks Justin, i have put that one on the list !!

[joolz]

There's just so much coast, I'm sure you'll find a lighthouse somewhere. My avatar is the Devonport one.
It's too bad I'm not really a landscape sort of photographer - there's something to shoot almost everywhere you go.
Some other places to consider is the Cadbury Factory and the Boags & Cascade factories.
I agree on the seafood.

Are you going by ferry or flying?

[jberth1]

Thanks Justin, i have put that one on the list !!

hehe - I knew I'd find it. Checkout this site - 'Lighthouses of Tasmania' ! There are 25 of them scattered around the 'South Island', although the 5 in Bass Straight might be a little difficult to access ! A lot of them are quite difficult to access, and you won't just stumble accross them - the best area is up in the North West, where you can simply drive up to most of them.

With due credit to Lighthouses of Australia Inc.

http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/TAS/Index%20Tas.htm



Cheers

Justin

[birddog114]

Can we swim or walk from point to point? fuel is so expensive and work don't pay for this excursion

[jberth1]

Can we swim or walk from point to point? fuel is so expensive and work don't pay for this excursion

Hey Birddog - been swimming around Tassie in spring lately ? Sure is invigorating !

Cheers

Justin

[Nikon boy]

Justin , Thanks for the map,

And Birdy i'll meet you in Hobart for a quick dip in the Harbour if you like,,,,,you go first,,, and i'll see how you go before i join you,, what do you think ???

I've heard ex VNAF pilots are pretty tough, i'm just an ex Army siggie wimp !!!

[O1]

Hi Nikon Boy
I think that the info so far has just about covered everything.
There is going to be a great cover of snow on Sat so Cradle Mt might be a sensational sunrise on Sun /Mon.
There may be some ice around so watch out for this early morning.

East coast is a fine weather spot so if you can plan for Bicheno on the finest day you can there are some great shots of the hazards. (mt)

Tassie turns on some great light but you do need to plan to be in the right place at the right weather conditions. ie snow -- cradle , fine -- east coast

Cheers

Owen

[Nikon boy]

Owen, thank you very much for the heads up, i will be at cradle mountain sat and sun, departing mon morning so am hoping for snow,, will be on east coast late in the week, Thanks again, can't wait to get there and start taking pics !!!