Friday February 23, 2024
Day 4: Hello Tasmania
Another very early start here. Up at 4 AM, cab at 5 and arrival at Brisbane airport around 5:30. Taking a domestic flight in Australia was very easy. We did self check in, checked our bags and made it quickly through security. The airport itself was fairly busy for so early in the morning .
Having about an hour till we boarded, we did an airport breakfast. Although wildly overpriced , the meal was pretty tasty .
Our flight seemed fully booked, but boarding went very quickly and we left a bit earlier than scheduled, ie. 7: 15 AM. One major difference we found here was that at no time were we asked to show identification. All that was required was to show your boarding pass to go through security and board the aircraft. The flight to Hobart takes about 2h 30 min and we landed on time. I must admit, Hobart has what I think is the best piece of "airport sculpture", it made all of us smile.
Our Airbnb is in South Hobart. It is a renovated row house that dates back to the 1840s. It is on 3 levels and has a back patio. It is more than enough space for the three of us. Due to its size it is called a cottage, although it is likely bigger than our own home.
After settling in , we decided to walk into the city proper and do a quick tour. It is a bout a 20 -25 minute walk into the city centre. Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is a city of about 200,00. It is located on a river, and the waterfront is both a commercial and tourist area. The waterfront is dominated by a series of piers, that today house hotels, restaurants, shops, and tour boat operators. For lunch we chose Fish Frenzy, a small fish house located on the Elizabeth St Pier. We enjoyed a fish burger, chowder and fries. It was wonderful to enjoy lunch with a marvellous view .
After lunch , we stumbled across a moving sculpture down by the docks.
The three women represent all the women and children who were brought to Tasmania as convicts. Tasmani was originally known as van Diemen's Land and became one of the central points where the British sent convicts during the early and mid 19 th century. The inscription states that over 13. 000 women and were transported here during that time. Inscribed on the statues are the names of the boats that brought the convicts and the names of some of the women who were transported here. It is remarkable to thinks that some of these women, many as young as their late teens, were convicted of what today would be regarded as petty crimes (simple theft and assault). The were sent here as a means to alleviate overcrowded prisons in the UK at the time. I found the monument very moving in its detail and its simplicity.
Our final stop for the day was a visit to Cascade Brewery. The brewery dates back to 1824 , making it the oldest brewery in Australia. It is set against the backdrop of Mt Wellington, the peak that overlooks all of Hobart. The brewery now has a restaurant, bar and tasting lounge. While you can do a tour, you can also see the history of the brewery through the many photos and artifacts that fill the restaurant. It was a fun stop for dinner, and the tasty treats were a good way to end the evening. Oh yeah and the beer is quite tasty too. All in all , it was a great first day in Tasmania.
