Tasmania, a Mole’s eye view

The Mole was fortunate to be offered an opportunity to visit Tasmania last weekend as a guest of AAT Kings and sampled just a taste of what was on offer.

At a time of uncertainty for the Tassie tourism industry with the impending demise of the Spirit 111, it was a chance to see first hand what delights are on offer and appreciate why we should all take time out every now and then and experience the beauty that is on our doorstep.

The Mole like many of you, no doubt, has visited Hobart on a number of occassions but always on a fly in, do the business and fly out basis. I had never taken the time to head out and see what lay beyond the town. Sitting back on an expertly driven coach with a knowledgeable driver / guide was a great way to learn a little more and relax for a couple of days.

It quickly occurred to me that had I taken the ferry and self drive option, I wouldn’t have learnt as much of the history, or seen the little quirky off road sites that Graham our friendly tour guide showed us.  

Things like DOOtown, a sleepy holiday hamlet where every house / shack must include DOO in it’s title in order to get their mail delivered. Home to such delightful retreats as DOO drop Inn, Just DOO it, DOO little, Luv me DOO and GunaDOO.  

Or the exquisite setting of Home Hill Winery and Restaurant, set in the beautiful Huon Valley, just 30 minutes from Hobart but a world way. We were greeted by their two resident Golden Retrievers and tasted a selection of award winning cold climate wines. It was easy to see why this establishment was a 2003 & 2004 Tasmanian Tourism Award winner.

The highlight however, was an all too brief stop at Port Arthur. As a history buff, the Mole was fascinated by the tales of hardship and deprivation endured by the convict inhabitants of this special site. Although we had three hours there, the reality is the place deserves your attention for a full day.

Port Arthur is one of Australia’s great tourism destinations. Every building, every feature of Port Arthur Historic Site has a story to tell. Created with convict labour, the impressive architecture, delightful gardens and chilling prison facilities survive today for you to explore.

The site encompasses a total of more than 100 hectares. About 40 hectares of the Site is accessible to the public, including more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored period houses.

The Port Arthur Historic Site won The Australian Tourism and Travel Award 2005 in the new Best Heritage Tourism category.

Of course, while exporing and sightseeing, one has to take sustenance and Tasmania offers some of the best dining experiences The Mole has enjoyed in a long while. Seafood not surprisingly features prominently on every menu and is fresh, succulent and very affordable. In fact, at a fish co-op just out of Port Arthur, fresh oysters were on sale at just $7.00 a dozen! No wonder the locals are always smiling.

For fine dining, the newly refurbished Wrest Point Casino revolving restaurant proved an excellent place to relax and enjoy the fare and the ever changing view.

Tasmanian Tourism clearly has challenges to tackle with the demise of the Spirit 111. However, the charm and beauty of the island will ensure  its long term success.

It is emcumbent upon all of us to remind ourselves and our customers from time to time just what is waiting down there to explore and enjoy. The pricing is right, the people are warm and inviting, the food’s sensational and the traffic is non existent.

If you haven’t been for a while, take the tip and go for a look. Better still, sit back on a coach and let someone take you along for the ride.

Further information from www.aatkings.com

Report by The Mole