Trans-Tasman Bubble Calls for Tazzy Trip
Fear not, New Zealand, it appears the long, painful wait for the quarantine trans-Tasman bubble might finally be over soon. Undoubtedly, many a holiday will be being planned over the next few weeks and the Australian major cities will likely be flooded with Kiwis finally blowing off 12 months worth of pent up sight-seeing steam. But before you book your ticket to one of our neighbour’s typical tourist magnets like Melbourne or Sydney, maybe give a look to Australia’s unsung destination, Tasmania for your trans-Tasman excursion. After all, it’s never been easier to head to the Apple Isle, as Air New Zealand recently announced direct flights from Auckland to Hobart will be available for the first time in over twenty years.
If your only association with Tasmania is the goofy Looney Tunes character or the equally goofy looking fluro purple strip of the Hobart Big Bash team, I can assure you there’s plenty in the capital and beyond to justify hopping back onto a plane for. It might be said that what you sacrifice in bustling streets and shopping malls, you gain in picturesque landscapes, wonderful local cuisine and essential Australian history. Here’s just a few highlights we’ve put together for when the trans-Tasman bubble opens up:
Kunanyi/Mount Wellington
This is one you can’t miss. No, I mean literally, it’s a gigantic mountain that looks over most of the capital city. The summit sits at over 4,000ft above sea level, providing some spectacular views of Hobart and the surrounding areas. The mountain is worth a trip whether in the sun or the snow (yes, it snows up there!) and features a variety of walking and biking trails, including the famous Organ Pipe trail where you can sometimes catch experienced climbers attempting to scale the marvelous dolerite cliff. Alternatively, you can jump in and have a go yourself, as locals have provided a comprehensive online guide to all of the best spots for climbers and boulderers looking to get the blood pumping (just bring a sturdy rope, you’ve got a return flight to catch).
Bruny Island
Just a 20-minute quick ferry ride from Kettering (which is itself just a quick half hour drive from Hobart), Bruny Island is a nature explorer’s dream. The island, which is in essence really two islands connected by a slim strip of land affectionately known as “The Neck” is famous for its vibrant and diverse collection of wildlife and its exceptional views provided by several lookout trails located all over the island. Bruny Island is also regarded for its fantastic range of local produce, so you’ve got to try its native cheese, whiskey, oysters, honey and chocolate (maybe not all on the same plate, that might make an odd combo). Regardless of whether you jump aboard one of the popular guided tours or take the island solo (a hire car would be a great investment), Bruny Island is well worth setting aside a day or two to explore.
Port Arthur
A 90-minute drive from Hobart (with enough sight-seeing treasures on the way to justify the journey by itself), Port Arthur is the home of some truly fascinating Australian history. The Port Arthur Historic Site is the town’s main feature, a former convict settlement considered one of the most important and well preserved in the world, with guided tours available to provide you with everything there is to know about a place rich with stories. Explore the former penitentiary, take in the performance reenactment of the life of both prisoner and guard in the 1800s, or brave the after dark, lantern-lit ghost tour (ghost sightings likely not guaranteed… unless?).
Top image credit: Stu Gibson.
