We spent the day travelling. We left the Mantra Hotel at 0930. The serviced apartment ($180p/n) was perfect - very spacious and well appointed - to be recommended and within a 12 minute walk of the CBD along the scenic Swan River. The free Redline bus also passed in the adjacent street.
We took the bus to the airport conveniently located in Adelaide street, 2 minutes walk from the hotel. Our first flight was with Virgin Airways, 3.1/2 to Melbourne. After a 2 hour stopover, in addition to a gain of 2 hours, we continued our journey with a 1 hour flight to Hobart
On the flight I spoke with a man, working in Hobart, returning after a weekend spent in Melbourne. He had never been to Europe but had acquired a British passport as his father was British. In Oz, one gets 3 months paid leave or 6 months at 1/2 pay, if one works for a company for 10 years. In the past, I think it was even more generous than that!!
On arrival in Hobart, we took a taxi to the Central Hotel. It was very expensive at $53, for a 20 minute drive without any traffic. - elsewhere in Oz, taxis are inexpensive. On arrival at 22.00 hrs, the city was in total lockdown - not a restaurant or a shop open. Maybe it hadn’t change all that much since my previous visit!
Accessing the hotel was like a Bond movie. As the reception was closed, we had to put a code in a lock, it opened and the key of our room appeared.! The hotel is adequate, perfect for a short stay. Breakfast was excellent - I’ve never had a better Eggs Florentine, the hollandaise sauce was to die for!!!
This morning, having visited the Tourist Bureau, we set off to walk the Hobart Riverlet walk.
Sign posting isn’t one of Australia’s strong points. Australia appears to assume that everyone takes a tour - and you know my views on tours!!
We found the walking track at Moses and Collins - not we’ll sign posted. With a few deviations from the track (not our fault) , we arrived at Cascade - c 3km from Hobart. Views from track in the Park was very picturesque . Its trees have an autumnal hue , not unlike Ireland.
Tasmania gets a lot of rain as the greenery of its landscape suggests.
Casacade’s attractions are the ‘Female Factory’ and the Cascade Brewery.
In the Female Prison (1828-1856), no buildings remain.
Three of the original five yards surrounded by high walls give one an idea of its layout. Between 1788 and 1853 some 25,000 women were deported to Australia and c.half were transported to Van Diemen’s land (Tasmania). Only a portion of the original site remains today. It was subdivided and sold by the government to private buyers. Today, some of the yards are occupied by private houses!! In the 1970s the Women’s Electoral Lobby sought grant money to purchase Yard 1, others were acquired piecemeal until finally in 2008, the Tasmanian Government established it as a Historic site. While some of the women committed major offences, others were very minor.
A quilt made by convicts
Our next stop was the Cascade Brewery - Australia’s oldest operating brewery, founded by Peter Desgraves in 1824, who devised the idea whilst in a Hobart Gaol for crimes committed in England.
He realised that the pure waters flowing from nearby Mt Wellington, with the addition of Tasman grown hops and barley, were the key to ‘genuine beer that cannot be excelled.’
A bus ride back to town and a walk to the Battery Point did reward. Battery point was built to protect Hobart but the artillery soldiers to fire the guns were few and so the guns only ever sounded on the King’s Birthday! It’s defence of Hobart was never tested!!
We passed the very modern Tasmania University - its Marine and Antarctic branch.
Appropriately, a bust of Amundsen graced the entrance.
Nearby was located the institute for marine research, which sends ships into the Antarctic. Here it’s next stop the Antarctic ! An ice breaker ship was in port. We chanced on an employee, who gave us great tips for our 1919 expedition!!
We continued to Salamanca Place, where the wharves’ use has changed - now shops and galleries. Behind the wharves is a modern area with accommodation, shops and restaurants.
As we walked, we passed the imposing Tasmanian Parliament buidings overlooking the Derwent River.
We returned to Sullivan’s Cove and visited the various wharves there.
On our return, I intended to visit a Tasmanian Chocolate Shop I had seen on my outward journey but it was closed on my return at 16.25 - no mention on the door of opening/closing times.
False!!
Neither did the restaurant we intended to eat at tonight - “open for dinner’ it stated but no time given ! The Tassies have just had a 5 day Easter break - Friday to Tuesday!!
We’re now ensconced in ‘Hope and Anchor’ established 1807 reputed to be the oldest pub in Australia!
Tomorrow we hire a car and set out to see the countryside ......
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