Thanks to Rabbit for organizing the whole Tasmania trip... from booking both of our airfares to car rental and making reservations for our accommodations at Hobart and Cradle Mountain and etc... She's not only good in organizing trip, but she's also the greatest travel companion (and very safe driver too!)
1st March
Arrived Hobart and checking into City View Motel... Had Seafood buffet at Cove Restaurant at Hotel Grand Chancellor... The food there wasn't too bad but I didn't quite like the idea that they didn't place any ICE underneath/around the Salmon Sashimi and Fresh Oyster to keep the fresh and cold...
2nd March
Breakfast at Maldini Restaurant at Salamanca Place and checking out the young cute bikie (and also the cute friendly waiter who looks a bit like Matthew Broderick - Thanks to Rabbit for reminding me!)... hehe... It's a pity that we missed out on the Saturday Salamanca Market... Oh well, there's always next time, I guess?! ...We walked and shopped around in Hobart City before heading to Barilla Bay Restaurant for our seafood lunch!! Again, I didn't know there's a Farm Tours & Tasting at Barilla Bay or else I definitely won't missed it... Anyway, the Oyster and food at Barilla Bay is absolutely beauuuuuutiful...
We then headed to Richmond and start to take lotsa photos... And we also stopped by at Eaglehawk Neck to check out the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen and the Blowhole before we headed to Port Arthur for our Ghost Tour at night!
I didn't do enough homework before I came to Tasmania, and I absolutely didn't know Port Arthur historical site is soooo big and it's absolutely worth visiting during the day... We arrived in the evening to join The Ghost Tour only, which was quite alright (thank goodness we didn't see anything scary stuff)... Rabbit is funny cos she deleted or refused to take any photos to avoid capturing any scary/unexpected stuff... lolx...
By the time we finished the Ghost Tour at Port Arthur and drove back to Hobart, it was nearly midnight and I think I had trouble sleeping that night... I kept hearing THINGS!!!!!
3rd March
Rabbit went to Cadbury Factory by herself in the morning while I was still dreaming in bed as I'm not a chocolate lover... hehe... After her visit to Cadbury Factory, we then checked-out from the City View Motel and headed to Cradle Mountain by pass Hamilton where there's this Glen Clyde House that offers the most yummy Cheese Chicken Scone... it was so yummy we even take-away two scones! ...
Lake St Clair National Park was the next stop and everyone over there carrying big backpacks (I think they all go there to camp and trek for days!)... We only stopped by for a short while before headed to Queenstown under the rain... The winding road near Queenstown was unforgettable as it was raining and I could see how high we were as I was driving uphill and downhill (there's no trees on road side at all cos it's a mining area)...
Anyway, I think we might have stopped at Rosebery or Tullah before reaching Cradle Mountain.... Ahhh.... Cradle Mountain Lodge is such a beautiful, warm and cozy place to stay... I still could smell the wood fire as I recall it now as I'm typing this... ahhhhhh =))
We had dinner at the Tavern Bar & Bistro at Cradle Mountain Lodge... It was quite crowded there and I think we headed back to our lodge and soaked in our own spa for a while before we called it a night...
4th March
Complimentary Buffet Breakfast at Highland Restaurant... OMG!!! ...I ate sooooo much because the breaky was sooooooooo yummy... The smoked salmon, the different types of Danish, mushrooms and scramble egg, the super beautiful porridge... and it's ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET BREAKY!!! ...I think we went for so many rounds we were so full at the end and didn't even feel hungry during lunch!
Ohhh... All I could think of now is the Fabulous Breakfast and I don't remember what did we do on the 4th March... lolx... I think we went for Enchanted Stroll, and then booked our Spa for next day, and checking out Tasmania Devils at the conservation park near the Lodge... and had a cuppa at the Cradle Mountain Cafe where we checked out the Helicopter ride (4 pax $190 each - 2 pax $330 each)... Too expensive to even take it... =((
We then went back to our Lodge and took the Kings Billy Track... It was kinda exhausted for me cos we had to walk uphill but when we reached to the top, the view was beautiful and we could see Cradle Mountain from there... After that, I think we went to The Waldheim Alpine Spa where we met the BITCH who see us as her enemies just because her boyfriend smiled at us politely when he entered the spa... Anyway, we went for Tavern for dinner again before we went back to our lodge to rest before joining for Native Animal Night Viewing Tour... We saw lotsa cute wombats, possums and pademelon and also two Tasmania Devils in the wild!!! ...Lucky hey?!
5th March
Again, the highlight in the morning was the complimentary buffet Breakfast... hehehe... We ate so much and so full again before checking out The Waterfalls Walk (Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls) to burn some energy since we had been eating so much! ...It didn't take us too long to finish the walk and went back to our lodge to wait till 130pm for our Canoe Tour at Dove Lake...
As I was taking a short nap, the Canoe Tour guide came to knock on our door and delivered the bad news... Canoe Tour has been cancelled due blizzard wind at Dove Lake... So we decided to join the Quad Bike Tour at 230pm!! ...
It's my first time on manual Quad Bike! ...So much fun driving my own!!! ...I was a bit worried because it's a bit different to riding a motorbike (and I haven't ridden a motorbike for more than 10yrs and I think I have only rode it not more than 3 times!??)... but it didn't take me too long to master the Quad Bike... I didn't ride as quick as the guys but hey, safety is more important ok!! ...hehe
After the Quad Bike tour, we then headed back to our lodge... Rabbit decided to do some laundry and took a relaxing Spa in our lodge, while I headed to the Tourist Center to catch the shutter bus at 520pm to Cradle Mountain National Park to check out Dove Lake by myself!
First arrived Dove Lake and it was beauuuuutiful... The lake was so peaceful and calm and Cradle Mountain was just right behind... I walked around the track (eventhough there's signs saying I should not walk by myself?)... Yeah, imagine if the Tasmanian Tiger appear infront of me and attack me yeah?! ...But it would be worth it if I get to see it (which thought to have became extinct now). Anyway, I missed the 630pm shutter bus to leave the National Park and had to sit there for 45mins for the next one... I didn't have a watch nor my mobile phone with me and I thought I have missed the last bus!! ...A bit PANIC at first until I found out I haven't missed the last shutter bus at 730pm... *phew*!!! ...
I think I got back to the Lodge nearly 8pm and quickly get changed to have dinner at Highland Restaurant for our 2 course meals! ...I had beef and Rabbit had salmon fish again... I think the whole trip she ate Salmon nearly everyday!!
6th March
I don't think we would ever get sick of the Buffet Breakfast at all... Ate so much again before checking out from Cradle Mountain to go to Tasmazia Maze near Sheffield... then headed to Sheffield the murals town... We met the very very cute and adorable Pablo... Isn't he a cutie?? ...Pablo's owner insisted that I have "Indian" blood in me and he described me a "handsome" lady... Hmmmm!!!!?? ...
Anyway, we reached Launceston in the evening and found a cheap hotel (can't remember which one!) and the room stink (people who stayed in the room previously probably smoked in the room?)... Oh well, it was just one night so we didn't bother to request for changing room...
Went for a drive at Tamar Valley and came back to Launceston... and it was a Thursday and there's no late night shopping... We went to catch the movie "10,000BC" instead... It was good enough to kill some time... but I still think Apocalypto is much better... =P
I guess I didn't enjoy my stay in Launceston as much as I expected... because I really really missed Cradle Mountain a lot... It was a great place to relax and stay away from city life and in touch with beautiful wilderness...
7th March
Woke up and strolled around the city of Launceston... Found the Coco Bean and tried their Tea Chocolate (cos a friend told me I must try it?)... but it failed to excite me... Perhaps we went to the wrong Chocolate shop hey??! ...
Had simple lunch at a food court and headed to Launceston Airport to catch the flight back to Melb....
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaap! ...Our trip ended just like that....
I still miss Cradle Mountain very much... I can still picture the yummy breakfast and the wilderness and peacefulness at Cradle Mountain Lodge and walkabout...
Perhaps next trip shall visit Cradle Mountain during Winter time!? ...Would be cool staying at the beautiful cozy lodge overlooking the snowy mountain.... The view must be very very beautiful.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I want more holidaysssssssssss....
Anyway, for more photos... check here
1st March
Arrived Hobart and checking into City View Motel... Had Seafood buffet at Cove Restaurant at Hotel Grand Chancellor... The food there wasn't too bad but I didn't quite like the idea that they didn't place any ICE underneath/around the Salmon Sashimi and Fresh Oyster to keep the fresh and cold...
2nd March
Breakfast at Maldini Restaurant at Salamanca Place and checking out the young cute bikie (and also the cute friendly waiter who looks a bit like Matthew Broderick - Thanks to Rabbit for reminding me!)... hehe... It's a pity that we missed out on the Saturday Salamanca Market... Oh well, there's always next time, I guess?! ...We walked and shopped around in Hobart City before heading to Barilla Bay Restaurant for our seafood lunch!! Again, I didn't know there's a Farm Tours & Tasting at Barilla Bay or else I definitely won't missed it... Anyway, the Oyster and food at Barilla Bay is absolutely beauuuuuutiful...
We then headed to Richmond and start to take lotsa photos... And we also stopped by at Eaglehawk Neck to check out the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen and the Blowhole before we headed to Port Arthur for our Ghost Tour at night!
I didn't do enough homework before I came to Tasmania, and I absolutely didn't know Port Arthur historical site is soooo big and it's absolutely worth visiting during the day... We arrived in the evening to join The Ghost Tour only, which was quite alright (thank goodness we didn't see anything scary stuff)... Rabbit is funny cos she deleted or refused to take any photos to avoid capturing any scary/unexpected stuff... lolx...
By the time we finished the Ghost Tour at Port Arthur and drove back to Hobart, it was nearly midnight and I think I had trouble sleeping that night... I kept hearing THINGS!!!!!
3rd March
Rabbit went to Cadbury Factory by herself in the morning while I was still dreaming in bed as I'm not a chocolate lover... hehe... After her visit to Cadbury Factory, we then checked-out from the City View Motel and headed to Cradle Mountain by pass Hamilton where there's this Glen Clyde House that offers the most yummy Cheese Chicken Scone... it was so yummy we even take-away two scones! ...
Lake St Clair National Park was the next stop and everyone over there carrying big backpacks (I think they all go there to camp and trek for days!)... We only stopped by for a short while before headed to Queenstown under the rain... The winding road near Queenstown was unforgettable as it was raining and I could see how high we were as I was driving uphill and downhill (there's no trees on road side at all cos it's a mining area)...
Anyway, I think we might have stopped at Rosebery or Tullah before reaching Cradle Mountain.... Ahhh.... Cradle Mountain Lodge is such a beautiful, warm and cozy place to stay... I still could smell the wood fire as I recall it now as I'm typing this... ahhhhhh =))
We had dinner at the Tavern Bar & Bistro at Cradle Mountain Lodge... It was quite crowded there and I think we headed back to our lodge and soaked in our own spa for a while before we called it a night...
4th March
Complimentary Buffet Breakfast at Highland Restaurant... OMG!!! ...I ate sooooo much because the breaky was sooooooooo yummy... The smoked salmon, the different types of Danish, mushrooms and scramble egg, the super beautiful porridge... and it's ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET BREAKY!!! ...I think we went for so many rounds we were so full at the end and didn't even feel hungry during lunch!
Ohhh... All I could think of now is the Fabulous Breakfast and I don't remember what did we do on the 4th March... lolx... I think we went for Enchanted Stroll, and then booked our Spa for next day, and checking out Tasmania Devils at the conservation park near the Lodge... and had a cuppa at the Cradle Mountain Cafe where we checked out the Helicopter ride (4 pax $190 each - 2 pax $330 each)... Too expensive to even take it... =((
We then went back to our Lodge and took the Kings Billy Track... It was kinda exhausted for me cos we had to walk uphill but when we reached to the top, the view was beautiful and we could see Cradle Mountain from there... After that, I think we went to The Waldheim Alpine Spa where we met the BITCH who see us as her enemies just because her boyfriend smiled at us politely when he entered the spa... Anyway, we went for Tavern for dinner again before we went back to our lodge to rest before joining for Native Animal Night Viewing Tour... We saw lotsa cute wombats, possums and pademelon and also two Tasmania Devils in the wild!!! ...Lucky hey?!
5th March
Again, the highlight in the morning was the complimentary buffet Breakfast... hehehe... We ate so much and so full again before checking out The Waterfalls Walk (Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls) to burn some energy since we had been eating so much! ...It didn't take us too long to finish the walk and went back to our lodge to wait till 130pm for our Canoe Tour at Dove Lake...
As I was taking a short nap, the Canoe Tour guide came to knock on our door and delivered the bad news... Canoe Tour has been cancelled due blizzard wind at Dove Lake... So we decided to join the Quad Bike Tour at 230pm!! ...
It's my first time on manual Quad Bike! ...So much fun driving my own!!! ...I was a bit worried because it's a bit different to riding a motorbike (and I haven't ridden a motorbike for more than 10yrs and I think I have only rode it not more than 3 times!??)... but it didn't take me too long to master the Quad Bike... I didn't ride as quick as the guys but hey, safety is more important ok!! ...hehe
After the Quad Bike tour, we then headed back to our lodge... Rabbit decided to do some laundry and took a relaxing Spa in our lodge, while I headed to the Tourist Center to catch the shutter bus at 520pm to Cradle Mountain National Park to check out Dove Lake by myself!
First arrived Dove Lake and it was beauuuuutiful... The lake was so peaceful and calm and Cradle Mountain was just right behind... I walked around the track (eventhough there's signs saying I should not walk by myself?)... Yeah, imagine if the Tasmanian Tiger appear infront of me and attack me yeah?! ...But it would be worth it if I get to see it (which thought to have became extinct now). Anyway, I missed the 630pm shutter bus to leave the National Park and had to sit there for 45mins for the next one... I didn't have a watch nor my mobile phone with me and I thought I have missed the last bus!! ...A bit PANIC at first until I found out I haven't missed the last shutter bus at 730pm... *phew*!!! ...
I think I got back to the Lodge nearly 8pm and quickly get changed to have dinner at Highland Restaurant for our 2 course meals! ...I had beef and Rabbit had salmon fish again... I think the whole trip she ate Salmon nearly everyday!!
6th March
I don't think we would ever get sick of the Buffet Breakfast at all... Ate so much again before checking out from Cradle Mountain to go to Tasmazia Maze near Sheffield... then headed to Sheffield the murals town... We met the very very cute and adorable Pablo... Isn't he a cutie?? ...Pablo's owner insisted that I have "Indian" blood in me and he described me a "handsome" lady... Hmmmm!!!!?? ...
Anyway, we reached Launceston in the evening and found a cheap hotel (can't remember which one!) and the room stink (people who stayed in the room previously probably smoked in the room?)... Oh well, it was just one night so we didn't bother to request for changing room...
Went for a drive at Tamar Valley and came back to Launceston... and it was a Thursday and there's no late night shopping... We went to catch the movie "10,000BC" instead... It was good enough to kill some time... but I still think Apocalypto is much better... =P
I guess I didn't enjoy my stay in Launceston as much as I expected... because I really really missed Cradle Mountain a lot... It was a great place to relax and stay away from city life and in touch with beautiful wilderness...
7th March
Woke up and strolled around the city of Launceston... Found the Coco Bean and tried their Tea Chocolate (cos a friend told me I must try it?)... but it failed to excite me... Perhaps we went to the wrong Chocolate shop hey??! ...
Had simple lunch at a food court and headed to Launceston Airport to catch the flight back to Melb....
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaap! ...Our trip ended just like that....
I still miss Cradle Mountain very much... I can still picture the yummy breakfast and the wilderness and peacefulness at Cradle Mountain Lodge and walkabout...
Perhaps next trip shall visit Cradle Mountain during Winter time!? ...Would be cool staying at the beautiful cozy lodge overlooking the snowy mountain.... The view must be very very beautiful.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I want more holidaysssssssssss....
Anyway, for more photos... check here
