Exploring Sydney Harbour and Manly Beach by Ferry

Sydney Harbour stretches for many kilometers, radiating outwards from North and South Head, the two sides of the entrance to the Harbour itself.

The Sydney commuter ferries run an extensive network of ferry options from Circular Quay throughout the various bays, inlets and stretches of open water that make up the Harbour area. It is very easy to catch a ferry that stops off at a number of the small suburb docking points on a regular basis. Perhaps appreciation of just how big Sydney Harbour is, is provided by taking the Manly ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and back. This journey crosses the entrance from the ocean and lands at Manly, a bayside suburb that has frontage to the Harbour as well as to the ocean. Manly is known for its beach culture, from surfing, surf life saving and swimming to the marine zoos showing the sealife of both the Harbour and the nearby ocean.



Catch the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay. As a tip, if making a day trip of it, take the slower conventional ferry for a relaxed look on the way over to Manly and then the fast catamaran back to the city.

When you get off the ferry at Manly, it is a short walk through the Corso, a mall connecting the ferry terminal on the harbourside with the Pacific Ocean and Manly surf beach. There are loads of specialty shops, restaurants, pubs and interesting characters all along the esplanade north and south of the Corso.

A particularly good walk is one up and over North Head. The trail is easy to pick up from the north end of the Esplanade at Manly Beach

If you like exploring cities on your own and to get a feel for the way the locals live, this is a good day’s introduction to Sydney Harbour and its beach culture. For more information go to our website, Australian.com

Tasmania Self Drive Package - 8 Day/7 Night

New 8 Day/7 Night Self Drive Packages for Tasmania!

Wilderness & Beaches…History and Nature Walks…NEW 7 Night Packages ready to go that include accommodations, rental vehicle, entrances to places like Port Arthur, MONA and boat excursions to Wineglass Bay (since you might not want to do the 3 hour hike!). Stay at Cradle Mountain, and finally, take a cruise on the Gordon River. In style. Spend time on Tasmania’s east coast to enjoy the crystal blue waters of Freycinet and spend time at Friendly Beaches.

There are 2 Packages ready to go – first one called Wilderness & Beaches has you arriving at either the Hobart Airport or Launceston Airport (we’ll check your dates to be sure you don’t miss the Hobart Saturday Salamanca Market, if interested). If the wilderness is driving you, then land at Launceston Airport and you’re in position to stay at Cradle Mountain and then move on to Tasmania’s west coast – where ocean beach is a great example of cool temperate beaches – the crashing waves reminds you that you are in the path of the roaring “40’s.”

You’ll walk through the wilderness path in Mt Field National Park and experience the man ferns, huge swamp gums and Russell Falls, one of Australia’s most spectacular wilderness waterfalls….and it’s only 20 minutes from the carpark!

The second package, History and Nature Walks, has more time in Hobart and Port Arthur to study the history of the convicts and get the real story on transportation to all of Australia. The Port Arthur Historic Site has been restored beautifully and is now a major example of how life was for the Convicts in the mid 1800’s. There are loads of walks, especially on the Tasman Peninsula near Port Arthur that will show you some of the most amazing ocean views and cliff top vistas out over the Tasman Sea. The Sydney to Hobart yachts turn around the end of the Tasman Peninsula for the final run up to the finish line in Hobart.
Both Packages include a Wineglass Bay nature cruise with lunch and while at Freycinet, visit a vineyard, a marine farm and Kate’s Berry Farm to check out the local wine and food. Obviously, seafood is at it’s best on Tasmania’s East Coast.

A night is included in Launceston, Tasmania’s major northern city where you can visit the Tamar Valley wineries in their spectacular valley hillside locations. Walks in the Cataract Gorge at Launceston provide a unique experience in local wilderness right in the heart of a major city.

For more information, visit 8 Day 7 Night Packages on www.Tasmania.com

10 Days in Australia - Splitting Up Your Time

You really want to go to experience all that wonderful wildlife, but you only have 10 days to do it. You can stretch an extra day or two to cover the travel time and give you 10 days on the ground Downunder, but that’s about it.

So…how do you decide where to go, and for how long?  You see the packaged tours and they are usually too long and miss something that you really want to do. Customise your Trip instead.

It is usually a bit rushed to try and spend less than 3 days in a particular location, so saying you want to visit Sydney, the Reef, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island in the 10 day span is pretty counter productive. You will get to know a lot about Australian airports. Remember, Australia is about the same size as the continental U.S.A. Splitting your time up too much results in flitting from point to point without getting to really see it.

Work with a Travel Planner on www.Australian.com.  There are two levels of of trips – Deluxe and Budget. The real difference between the two is the level of the hotel and the offerings of small group trips versus seat in coach day tours. In the deluxe arena, there are private driver/guides for a few 4 Wheel Drive trips to get you away from the coaches. So, you can stay at a lower level hotel, and put the money in going off the beaten track. Or, you can stay in better hotels and take the coach trips.

It is a good idea for a first trip to include Sydney and the Reef – your third place to visit can be decided by whether your interests are in wildlife, cities, wilderness walking or zip lining in the wilderness type activities. The experiences are in different locations and a Travel Planner knows how to mix them in to your final trip so you’ve included everything what you want. This is how you do not waste time unnecessarily.

6 Day – All of Tasmania Tour

Tasmania – How to do it without a car!

Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, Wineglass Bay, Hobart, Port Arthur, West Coast & Strahan.

Even if you are a single traveler, this trip is a great way to see how beautiful Tasmania really is while you are tasting some of its excellent food products and walking in its famous wilderness.

If you are not driving, it is often very difficult to get to the coasts with single tours.  This NEW 6 DAY Tasmania Tour takes all the guesswork out of the trip.  Accommodation is included (dormitory or private) and a local driver/guide makes sure you get to see the sights and take part in the activities and food tastings.  All this from about A$110. per day per person, depending on accommodation level.

The trip leaves Hobart each Sunday and is going to be very popular.  Make sure you book early here. 

The schedule is really fun!  After visiting Port Arthur Historic Convict Site and the Tasman Peninsula  for the fabulous ocean views and history on the first day, it is up the Derwent Valley to Russell Falls and the beginning of the western mountains.

On Day 3, head for Tasmania’s West Coast to Strahan via Montezuma Falls and climb some of the world’s best sand dunes at Henty Dunes.

Day 4 takes you to Cradle Mountain and then on to Sheffield and honey and salmon tasting.   The next day takes in the East Coast, Wineglass Bay and Freycinet.  The Bay of Fires has some of the most amazing cool temperate beaches in the world and here is your chance to go on the beach.  The finale is a visit to Kate’s Berry Farm to taste Tasmania fruit products and even fruit wine.
The tour finishes in Hobart…and you have seen it all!

Again, book early here. 

Fly to Australia – Sometimes cheap is not the least expensive.

You’re ready to fly Downunder and you start looking at websites and see some pretty good prices.  The fine print will tell you the date period and you then type in the dates you can actually go, and the price almost doubles.  Ouch.

There is a trick to this, and the answer is routing.  While flights generally fly to Australia from Los Angeles to Sydney, you do have options from and into other cities!  You must be careful grabbing what looks to be the cheapest flight online as you may end up routing through New Zealand or even Korea!  Your time is valuable and you want to land and start seeing those kangaroos as soon as possible.

Have a look on www.Australian.com and click on Air Travel to get some help on how you might fly Downunder.  You can depart from Dallas and even Vancouver BC if you live in the northwest U.S, and, starting Dec. 15, you can fly into Sydney nonstop from San Francisco!

You need not land into Sydney – you might want to fly into Brisbane and start your trip enjoying the Great Barrier Reef.  You can exit Sydney back to the U.S.  The options are there and if you check out www.Australian.com you will find our fairly quickly if there are air specials and what routing works for you on the dates you wish to travel.

If you’re into Tennis, you can fly directly into Melbourne.  You can enjoy the Reef on your way out and maybe fly Brisbane back to the U.S.  To customise your Vacation to include Tennis, be sure to visit www.Australian.com and get help from an Aussie Travel Planner.

Australia: Day Tours – Help to know what’s better

Day Tours, Half Day Tours, Multi Day Tours.  Where to start?  And what tour do you choose so you know you are on the ‘better’ tour?

To take the confusion out of choosing Tours, get a large piece of paper and write out each area, such as Sydney, Cairns Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, for instance.

If you have 3 days in Sydney, block in a Half Day Tour on arrival.  How about a Sydney Harbour Cruise?   On Day 2, write in a morning Bridge Climb Tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  In the afternoon on Day 2, write in a Sydney Sailing Trip.  On Day 3, choose from the Blue Mountains or Bondi Beach. 

You now have Sydney ready to go.  Go to www.Australian.com and click on Tours and you’ll see Sydney.  You can now choose your tours, book online, and you’re in great shape!

Repeat this for Cairns Barrier Reef.  Be sure to include the Full Day Tour on a Reef Trip, and book easily online a Half Day Hot Air Balloon, or Rafting on the Tully River.

Multi Day Tours are available on the Reef in the Whitsundays.  You can sleep onboard a sailing boat and have the most time to snorkel and dive.  Even if you do not wish to get in the water, the cruises are available with glass bottom boats and ample beach time to just relax.

Daintree Rainforest

Full Day trips to the Daintree Rainforest from Cairns are a must and you should always book this ahead online at www.Australian.com    Easy to book, immediate confirmation, and at the best prices.

Kangaroo Island has a few options and you will fly into Adelaide before flying on to K.I. as the locals call it.  Your best option is to not self drive on Kangaroo Island and to join any one of the Day Trips that you can book online at www.Australian.com. The 4 Wheel Drive guides will pick you up at your hotel, and drop you back after seeing all of the wildlife in the wild.

Great Barrier Reef. Why not go now?

You may or may not have what is called a “bucket list,” but if you do, you more than likely have places in the world that you need to see.  Most everyone knows that the continent of Australia is sitting there, just waiting, with it’s Downunder appeal:- Kangaroos, Shrimp on the Barbie, The Opera House, topless beaches, and one of the magic places in all of the world, The Great Barrier Reef. 

Even if you are not an avid swimmer, you are still drawn to the crystal blue waters and the vivid tropical sealife.  The Reef is truly amazing!  It stretches 1800 kms (1200 miles) from the northern tip of Australia to just north of Brisbane.  Imagine this:  You are 50 kms (30 miles) offshore, the hills behind Cairns are a smudge on the western horizon.  The Reef itself is 5 to 10 metres (15 to 30 feet) below the bottom of your boat.

There are several boat trips leaving from Cairns and Port Douglas and you want to be sure to prebook your Reef Trip well before you arrive so you do not miss out.  There are some for the younger crowd and others that are more deluxe and private.

If you visit Hamilton Island, and want more luxury, be sure to arrange your Australian Vacation with a CustomTravel Planner on www.Australian.com    You may also want to scuba dive.  If you are a beginner, you can take a "resort dive” and actually dive one on one with an instructor.  The Reef boats for snorkeling and diving have knowledgeable and licensed guides.

Hamilton Island

Also available off Hamilton Island are sailing boats that you can actually sleep on.  Some have facilities for private charters, small parties of up to 6 couples.  You can snorkel, swim, sleep and dine on your own private sailing boat while the crew look after you.

Australian Wildlife in the Wild. What’s not to like?

No matter where you go in Australia, it’s possible to see wildlife in the wild. Not in the big cities mind you, though a crocodile came up out of the drains in Cairns one time to give the tourists (and a few locals) a bit of a scare.  A bit too close to wildlife in the wild!

You can book tours online at Australian.com.  Any of the full day tours out of the city will show you some sort of wildlife in the wild.

What you see in various locations around Australia will depend a bit on where you are.  Kangaroos are just about everywhere and if you are self driving for any part of your trip, then you will likely spend some of your time avoiding hitting them on the roads.  As an aside, what is referred to as a “bull bar” on the front of the truck or SUV in the U.S. and Europe, is called a “Roo Bar” in Australia.

While a kangaroo is not quite as large as a cow,  the damage in being hit by a 350 pound (175 Kg) kangaroo in full flight is a matter of the speed in which it is traveling.  Kangaroos can make a good 30mph when pushed and if they are panicked into crossing the road, can make a heck of a mess in front of the car.  Hence, the term “Roo Bar.”

There are many other forms of wildlife you can see in the wild though since most wildlife is nocturnal, you are most likely to see them at sunrise and sundown.

The smaller animals such as the echidna (ant eater) wallabies, and in Tasmania, Tasmanian Devils, are often candidates for road kill after dark.

Any of the good wildlife tours, say to the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, or the Atherton Tableland behind Cairns, will show you kangaroos, crocodiles and if you’re lucky,  a cassowary or emu (large flightless bird that resemble the ostrich).

If you miss the chance to see wildlife in the wild, book tours on Australian.com to include the wildlife parks in Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania, Brisbane and Cairns.

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours

Book Online in Bed

If you’re reading this while you are in Hobart, you can log onto Tasmania.com and actually book tours from your bed where you are staying! Many travelers have only a half day or a full day to spend on Hobart Tours, so we want to highlight things you just do NOT want to miss.

For example, many tours pick up at your hotel. If interested in the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur Tour, you can book the tour online, pay for it, and you will be picked up and they can take your voucher electronically from your phone. Much easier than finding the ticket office, paying for the tour, only to return back to your hotel to be picked up. You can book and pay for all your tours leaving from Hobart on Tasmania.com all from your bed, and making sure not to miss some really cool sights for a half-day or full-day quickie tour of Hobart.

Weather can play a part in things too. If you want to go sailing, and it is raining or blowing a gale, the chances are the boat won’t go. So, you can choose another tour that leaves from Hobart, such as the Bruny Island Day Tour (that’s a full day tour, but well worth it).

Only have a half day available? (Of course, that’s why you’re booking this online) Tasmania.com has the times available, so book, pay and go on the tour without leaving your hotel bed!

Campervan Hire in Tasmania

You can overnight anywhere that is not signposted to the contrary.

You got the best deal by comparing Campervan Hire in Tasmania prices and features on Tasmania.com.  You have just arrived at the Hobart Airport and collected your Campervan. Rather than driving into Hobart, let’s head out of town to the Tasman Peninsula.

I have chosen the Eaglehawk Neck, Port Arthur area because is has some great beaches, wonderful coastal scenery and excellent forests to explore. Here are the directions for the drive to the Tasman Peninsula.

As a base camp, I would suggest Eaglehawk Neck for two or three nights. The beach is wonderful, there is a pub handy, and it is only a 20 minute drive to Port Arthur, Remarkable Cave and Fortescue Bay. The coastal cliff formations stretching south from Eaglehawk Neck are truly astounding.

The walks along the clifftops are well fenced and very safe – treat yourself to some of the finest coastal scenery in the world.

Take the Tasman Island Cruise to see the cliffs at sea level and to get up close to dolphins, the Great Southern Albatross and more seals than you thought could fit onto a rock ledge.

Port Arthur. 
The Port Arthur Historic Site, the best reconstruction of convict life in early Australia, is well worth a visit.  If you like scary stuff, take in the Ghost Tour as well one evening.

If you are really into coastal walks, the half day trek from Fortescue Bay to Cape Huay will get you up close and personal with the Great Southern Ocean – the sea cliffs are 300 meters high, rising from the deep ocean, and are riddled with caves and arches.

For some excellent coastal walking, the return walk to Cape Huay from Fortescue Bay can be completed in about 4 hours but to do justice to the scenery and the bush it is a good idea to allow a longer period and perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch at the Cape itself.  The walk provides magnificent views of the coast together with high cliffs and spectacular rock formations.

Remarkable Cave.Just to the south of the Port Arthur Historic Site, the road ends in spectacular fashion.  The cliffs, the walks and the access to the wild coastline is truly remarkable and it is well worth the hour or so it takes to drive down, take the walks and drive back.

From Port Arthur, stay on the C347 and drive the 5 Kms (3 miles) to the Remarkable Cave car park.  It is also worth taking the side road to the left as you come to the Caves car park to visit the blowhole and for views across the Southern Ocean to Tasman Island.

There is nothing between you and Antarctica here except a few small islands and a lot of water.

The Tasman Peninsula will give you a great look at Tassie’s amazing history and coastal scenery. A great way to experience it is with Campervan Hire in Tasmania.

Where to See the Tasmanian Devil

Sarcophilus harrisii

The Tasmanian Devil is a nocturnal scavenger only found in the wild in Tasmania. Usually coming out at night,  it is difficult to see in the wild.

There are a number of stories about how it got its name and ferocious reputation. When I was a lad growing up and camping out in the Tassie bush, we would often be woken in the middle of the night by an incredible howling and hissing. We never found the source of the noise, but were told it was Tasmanian Devils fighting over food.
The first settlers in Tasmania in the early 1800s heard the same sounds in the night. It is said they were more creative and said there was a “Devil in the bush”.
The Devil eats dead animal carcasses – it rarely kills for itself – and is almost entirely a meat eater, crunching up the bones and leaving almost nothing but hooves and horns. It really is “Nature’s dead animal vacuum cleaner”.
So, if they are hard to find, how do you find where to see the Tasmanian Devil, alive and kicking? The best place to see the Tasmanian Devil live and up close is in one of the excellent Animal parks in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park – Taranna, Tasman Peninsula.

One of the best in Tasmania. Situated on the Tasman Peninsula near Port Arthur.
> Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park
> Full-Day Tasman Peninsula Tour from Hobart (Includes Devil Park)

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – Near Hobart

Just north of Hobart, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary has an interactive Tasmanian Devil Pen.
It also features a great Koala display and wallabies, kangaroos and emus in an open range environment.
Hand feed the local wildlife. Make sure to be there for the presentation by the resident wildlife expert
> Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
> Bonorong Wildlife Park, Derwent River Cruise and Cadbury Chocolate Factory Tour from Hobart

Trowunna Wildlife Park – Mole Creek – Near Deloraine

About 30 minutes drive to the west of Launceston. You can stop in either coming or going to Cradle Mountain.
> Trowunna Wildlife Park

Devils@Cradle – Wildlife Park at Cradle Mountain

The Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain. Guided, interactive tours.
> DevilsatCradle

East Coast Natureworld – Bicheno

Tasmanian Devils and a particularly good Bird Display.150 acres of natural parklands and lagoons.
> East Coast Natureworld

While this list is not everywhere you can see the Tasmanian Devil, the places I have mentioned offer a quality experience and are located near places you will probably be visiting while in Tassie.
More Information: > Tasmanian Devil – Wikipedia

Arriving at Hobart Airport

Arriving at Hobart Airport – Be ready for a treat

The trip from the Mainland of Australia will take just over an hour from Melbourne, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Sydney or about 2 hours from Brisbane. Arriving at Hobart Airport is a bit of a step back in time – no jetways here.

The flight will either fly down the Coal River Valley – the views of Hobart will be on the right hand side of the plane – or will circle around over Frederick Henry Bay and Seven Mile Beach to land from the south.

You can get out of the front or rear of the plane – down the steps and walk across to the Arrivals Building. If it is raining, umbrellas are available at the foot of the stairs. If it is windy – more likely than not – be ready to hang on tight.

The arrivals area is not large and is dominated by people waiting to meet the passengers, drivers with signs and racks of promotional brochures. The luggage will arrive onto the single carousel. There are regulations regarding bringing fruit and vegetables into Tasmania and the cute sniffer dog will give your hand luggage a going over before moving on to the checking the carousel.

The car rental offices are about 25 metres from the exit doors. The coach transfer to Hobart City meets every flight and you can buy tickets on board the bus. Taxis leave from in front of the building (turn right when you  go out the door – about 50 metres along). If you are picking up a Campervan rental, call the rental company from the arrivals area.

You will drive into Hobart by crossing the Tasman Bridge - you cannot see the City from the Airport .

A note on dropping a Rental Car on leaving from Hobart Airport:

It is OK to drop the car off about 1 hour 15 minutes before flight time. This will give you plenty of time to get into the departures building and check in.

More Information > Hobart International Airport – Wikipedia

Travel in Tasmania

Travel in Tasmania

I was born and raised in Hobart, and for the last 20 years have designed and delivered interesting trips to Tassie that show visitors its unique and unusual aspects.
In these Posts I will blend history, geography and current activities to help you gain some perspective on Tasmania before you arrive.
Tasmania has only matured as a destination over the last 10 years. Before this it was regarded as a bit of a backwater. Today it is enjoying a well earned reputation as a great place to spend a very interesting 10 days of your life (more or less is fine, too).
I will assume you are interested in visiting Tassie. Getting here is simple: you either fly (usually to Hobart or Launceston) or travel on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry from Melbourne to Devonport. It is possible to ferry one way and fly the other if you are not taking your own car.

How Big is Tasmania?

It is 200 Kms from Hobart to Launceston and the drive takes about 2 1/2 hours without hurrying or stopping. Hobart to Cradle Mountain is about 300 Kms and takes about 4 1/2 hours.
Cradle Mountain to Strahan is about 4 hours, longer elapsed time if you stop and look around any of the old mining towns enroute. Allow about 5 hours to drive back to Hobart. These drive maps will help throw things into focus:

List of Tasmania Self Drive Itinerary Maps for Travel in Tasmania

> Drive Map Hobart to Port Arthur | > Drive Map Port Arthur to Freycinet
> Drive Map Freycinet to Launceston | > Drive Map Cradle Mountain to Strahan
> Drive Map Stanley to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Launceston to Stanley
> Drive Map Launceston to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Strahan to Hobart

While travel in Tasmania is not difficult, it is easy to misjudge the timing and find you still have 2 or 3 hours driving to your next accommodation at 6 in the evening.
If you are coming to Tasmania as an overseas visitor, please look at Australian.com