Edbear
14th March 2011, 20:42
Just back from holiday in Tasmania. We had a fabulous time there! So much like NZ you'd think you were still here but without the traffic!
Weather the same as here, landscape so similar with so much variety of flora including Willow, Poplar, Norfolk Pine, Ponga, Ferns and a huge number of trees and plants I could not name to save myself!
Hobart is a beautiful city, very old with what seems like mostly stone buildings. Huge harbour and rivers perfect for fishing and boating in sheltered waters. My Bro-in-Law lives in New Norfolk, a small town not too far from Hobart and very central to so many sights! We went up Mt. Wellington to spectacular 360degree views and through bushwalks in the Nat. Forest to beautiful water falls and natives.
I had no trepidation of walking through the bush or in paddocks and no suggestion of snakes, crocs or spiders appearing. They do have scorpions there but Ross and his family have only ever seen one in the time they have lived there, needless to say we didn't find one either. Bit like the Katipo here I suppose.
Bikes seemed to be mostly Harley's with a few smaller sports bikes and Boulevards.
Vehicles that stood out as common were the ubiquitus Hyundai Excell of course which is popular throughout Aus, but notably the Hyundai i30, the Subaru Forrester - the perfect Tassie vehicle I would opine - and the Toyota Camry. These were everywhere! Lots of Toyota Avalon's as well, almost as common as Commodores and Falcons.
We walked several long beaches which were clean and smooth, in fact the lack of litter was a notable feature of Tassie!
Everyone was friendly and very sympathetic to the Chch quake. Shopping malls were clean, friendly and inviting.
We had no idea what to expect so went there with a cautiously open mind and were blown away by the place! If you like NZ, you'll like Tasmania, a beautiful, stable, friendly island that bears little resemblance to the Australian mainland and is more like NZ than any place else I can think of! Houses are cheaper than here and we could sell up and buy a mansion there! You don't need air-con in your house any more than here but it is handy in the car.
I'll post some pics when I can edit them. We're already planning our next trip over there!
Weather the same as here, landscape so similar with so much variety of flora including Willow, Poplar, Norfolk Pine, Ponga, Ferns and a huge number of trees and plants I could not name to save myself!
Hobart is a beautiful city, very old with what seems like mostly stone buildings. Huge harbour and rivers perfect for fishing and boating in sheltered waters. My Bro-in-Law lives in New Norfolk, a small town not too far from Hobart and very central to so many sights! We went up Mt. Wellington to spectacular 360degree views and through bushwalks in the Nat. Forest to beautiful water falls and natives.
I had no trepidation of walking through the bush or in paddocks and no suggestion of snakes, crocs or spiders appearing. They do have scorpions there but Ross and his family have only ever seen one in the time they have lived there, needless to say we didn't find one either. Bit like the Katipo here I suppose.
Bikes seemed to be mostly Harley's with a few smaller sports bikes and Boulevards.
Vehicles that stood out as common were the ubiquitus Hyundai Excell of course which is popular throughout Aus, but notably the Hyundai i30, the Subaru Forrester - the perfect Tassie vehicle I would opine - and the Toyota Camry. These were everywhere! Lots of Toyota Avalon's as well, almost as common as Commodores and Falcons.
We walked several long beaches which were clean and smooth, in fact the lack of litter was a notable feature of Tassie!
Everyone was friendly and very sympathetic to the Chch quake. Shopping malls were clean, friendly and inviting.
We had no idea what to expect so went there with a cautiously open mind and were blown away by the place! If you like NZ, you'll like Tasmania, a beautiful, stable, friendly island that bears little resemblance to the Australian mainland and is more like NZ than any place else I can think of! Houses are cheaper than here and we could sell up and buy a mansion there! You don't need air-con in your house any more than here but it is handy in the car.
I'll post some pics when I can edit them. We're already planning our next trip over there!