Good Friday 2018

Top 5 Bicheno Attractions

All photos in this post were not shot by me, and are credited to their respective sources.


City: Bicheno
State: Tasmania
Country: Australia

A former coal mining town, the fishing town of Bicheno in recent years has become known in Tasmania and Australia as a tourist destination, thanks to its natural beauty and unique geological sights. It also acts as a base to explore the nearby Freycinet National Park, which is home to several popular attractions.

Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Bicheno, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.


1. The Blowhole

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The Blowhole (Purchased Stock Image)

A rare geological feature in the town of Bicheno on the east coast of the island of Tasmania in Australia, The Blowhole sees nature at its most playful. This sea cave channels waves up to the surface, which shoots several metres up into the air in a large water spout. Marked by a natural diamond shaped boulder / rock nearby, this unique sight draws many visitors, and is the most popular attraction here.



2. Bay Of Fires

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Bay Of Fires (Purchased Stock Image)

Stretching over 50 kilometres from the edge of Bicheno to Eddystone Point, the Bay Of Fires is a string of superb beaches with powder white sand, crystal-clear turquoise seas, and the iconic orange lichen covered granite boulders and rocks, which gives the place its name. This popular conservation area in Tasmania is regarded as one of the most beautiful places in Australia, and is great for swimming, snorkelling, surfing, camping, walking, or relaxing.



3. Penguin Tour

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Penguin Tour (Purchased Stock Image)

The nightly Penguin Tour in Bicheno is the best way to see penguins up close and safely. The daily guided visits to a private rookery of fairy penguins on the east coast of Tasmania only takes about an hour, but is an exciting and educational Australia wildlife experience as the guides are knowledgeable and experienced. Not to be missed as the birds are so cute and cuddly.



4. Wineglass Bay

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Wineglass Bay (Purchased Stock Image)

Located near Bicheno, Tasmania, Australia in the Freycinet National Park, the picturesque Wineglass Bay with its signature crescent of white sandy beach, clear turquoise waters, and green forested mountains, makes for a perfect aerial photograph from the Lookout Point, or from Wineglass Beach itself. Beautiful from any angle during the day, the sight evokes emotions of awe; while at night, the vast expanse of twinkling stars and shooting stars feels magical. Many agree that it's among the most incredible places to visit.



5. The Hazards

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The Hazards (Purchased Stock Image)

Named after local whaler, Captain Richard Hazard, the mountains called The Hazards in Freycinet National Park near Bicheno, Tasmania, Australia, are reowned for their unique geological composition. The granite rocks here are covered in orthoclase, a pink feldspar, which gives the mountain range a vibrant pink hue. Views are best during either sunrise or sunset, when the 4 mountains glow the most brilliantly and brightly, and can be seen from either Coles Bay, Hazards Beach, or Muirs Beach. The walking and hiking trails up the 4 mountains (Mayson, Amos, Dove, and Parsons) vary in difficulty, but offer a view of the pristine and serene landscape below.





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SunSurfnSand
2 Gordon Heights
Bicheno
Tasmania 7215
Australia

https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/15918770


Huge, Family-Friendly, Modern Accommodation

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Mar-2018
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: NA
Service: 7
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $118 per person.
- $118 Accomodation 3D2N


Nearby Attractions: Bicheno Aquarium, The Blowhole, Redbill Beach, Waubs Beach, Bay Of Fires, Whalers Hill Lookout, Penguin Tour, Diamond Island, Wineglass Bay, Natureworld, The Hazards, Freycinet National Park, Governor Island Marine Reserve, Douglas-Apsley National Park, Bicheno Motorcycle Museum


Accomodation Facilities & Amenities Provided: Air-Conditioning / Heater, Toiletries, Laundry Area With Washer (No Dryer), Fully-Equipped Kitchen & Pantry, Barbecue Grill, Arcade Console System, Reading Corner, Crib, Toy Corner, Movie DVDs, Garage



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Introduction
Located about 2 hours drive away from both the Launceston Regional Airport in Launceston and the Hobart International Airport in Hobart, the SunSurfnSand is a spacious modern accomodation in Bicheno, in the east of Tasmania, Australia. The fully equipped place is family-friendly, and sleeps up to 7 people, but the highlight is the ample amenities available, and the beautiful views from the balcony.


Ambience
Ambience at SunSurfnSand is cozy and comfortable, well suited for relaxing. Despite its urban location, the quiet surroundings have ample natural greenery, plus, there's also wildlife like wallabies and rabbits around Bicheno. I fell in love with this 2-storey house because it's just so comfortable and relaxing here.


Room
Rooms at SunSurfnSand at clean, bright, and spacious. The bedrooms have large wardrobes, and the master bedroom even has a walk-in wardrobe. Beds are large and comfortable, we slept so soundly here. There are 2 large living rooms with large-screen televisions, while the 3 toilets / bathrooms are clean and well-stocked with toiletries.


Food
Food at SunSurfnSand is non-existent, as it's not a hotel. However, a fully-equipped kitchen with a well stocked pantry is available, allowing guests to prepare their own meals easily. We cooked all our dinners here, and I find the wide range of seasonings and basic ingredients available to be very useful. They have an outdoor electric barbecue grill, which is easy to operate, allowing us to barbecue on the balcony and watch the sunset. Plus, there is a big supermarket just a short 5 minutes drive away.


Service
Service at SunSurfnSand is completely self-service, though the assigned property manager is easily contactable. Household devices are generally easy to use, and come with simple instructions. As the place is managed by a real estate corporation (LJ Hooker), the interaction feels more impersonal than other accomodations, but is actually more efficient when tasks / requests need to be fulfilled.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at SunSurfnSand are the best I've had in an accomodation. Multiple family-friendly options for leisure are provided, from movie DVDs, to board games and toys, to a full arcade console system that is loaded with classic arcade games. The laundry area has a washer and detergent, and while there is no dryer, the in-house heaters can be repurposed for drying clothes. The only drawback; the lack of wifi or any sort of internet connection on the premises. Overall, I greatly enjoyed my stay here, and I would recommend this place.


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Top 5 Launceston Attractions

All photos in this post were not shot by me, and are credited to their respective sources.


City: Launceston
State: Tasmania
Country: Australia

Despite not being a capital city, Launceston is still a major hub for food, wine, arts, culture, and nature, in the Tasmania state of Australia. Boasting one of the best-preserved late 18th century cityscapes with its elegant Colonial and Victorian architecture, the city is also home to many galleries, museums, parks, forested hills, and farms.

Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Launceston, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.


1. Cataract Gorge

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Cataract Gorge (Purchased Stock Image)

Within walking distance from the Launceston city centre lies the famed Cataract Gorge, a key attraction in Tasmania. Boasting the longest single-span chairlift in both Australia and the world, the first basin area also features bushland, a funicular railway, and a beautiful suspension bridge. Other sights here include landscaped Victorian gardens, the historic Duck Reach Power Station, the King’s Bridge - Cataract Walk and its century-old original toll house, as well as South Esk River.



2. City Park

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City Park (Purchased Stock Image)

The Launceston City Park is a heritage park in Australia which comprise several beautiful landscaped gardens. Sights include a conservatory, band stand, duck pond, the ornate cast iron 'Jubilee Fountain', the Boer War Memorial, the Design Tasmania museum, and the Albert Hall Convention Centre with its elegant high Victorian architecture. Train rides for children operate around the park, while Monkey Island is home to a group of macaques.



3. Tamar Island Wetlands

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Tamar Island Wetlands (Purchased Stock Image)

The Tamar Island Wetlands is a unique urban wetlands near Launceston. The interpretation centre here hosts exhibits, talks, and activities to educate visitors on the wetlands ecology and the flora and fauna of Australia that is found here. But the star is the easy access board-walk and its vantage points that allows you to spot local Tasmania birds and offers gorgeous views of the skyline, particularly during sunset.



4. National Automobile Museum Of Tasmania

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National Automobile Museum Of Tasmania (Purchased Stock Image)

The National Automobile Museum Of Tasmania in Launceston features one of the most significant motoring collections in Australia. There are over a hundred exhibits of traditional and contemporary automobiles and motorcycles, spanning a century of engineering, design styles, and vehicle history, across 4 themed displays. Gearheads will appreciate classics such as the 1969 Fiat Spider, the Chrysler Valiant Charger E49, or the Holden Torana racing cars.



5. Queen Victoria Museum And Art Gallery

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Queen Victoria Museum And Art Gallery (Purchased Stock Image)

Located in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, the Queen Victoria Museum And Art Gallery (QVMAG) features colonial art exhibits, contemporary craft and design exhibits, Tasmanian history and natural sciences artefacts, a zoology collection, an interactive science centre, and a planetarium. A well-regarded gateway to local history and character with thousands of exhibits, this museum is so large it occupies 2 physical sites.





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Launceston Street Food


Launceston Street Food is largely influenced by British English cuisine and cooking styles, because Australia formerly was a colony of the United Kingdom. With its vast areas of farmland and proximity to several oceans, most food in Launceston is fresh, sustainably sourced, and natural. Dishes are clean-tasting and kept simple, usually showcasing the natural flavours of the ingredients, and thus have little sauces or dressings.

Seafood And Chips

Country Hideaway
145 Edinborough Road
Abbotsham
Tasmania 7315
Australia

https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/3536872


Quaint Farm Stay

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Mar-2018
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: NA
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $57 per person.
- $57 Accomodation 3D2N


Nearby Attractions: Cataract Gorge, Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Launceston City Park, Devonport Maritime Museum, Tamar Island Wetlands, Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, Don River, Little Penguin Observation Centre, National Automobile Museum Of Tasmania, Fern Glade Reserve, Guide Falls, Queen Victoria Museum And Art Gallery, Burnie Regional Museum, Gunns Plains Cave, Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, Sisters Beach, Design Centre Tasmania, Launceston Ghost Tour, Boag's Brewery, Marakoopa Cave, Tarkine Forest Adventures At Dismal Swamp, Montezuma Falls


Accomodation Facilities & Amenities Provided: Free Wi-Fi, Air-Conditioning / Heater, Toiletries, Laundry Area With Washer (No Dryer), Fully-Equipped Kitchen & Pantry, Barbecue Grill, Entertainment System, Reading Corner, Crib, Garden



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Introduction
Located about 80 minutes drive away from the Launceston Regional Airport in Launceston, the Country Hideaway is a quaint farm stay accomodation, in the north of Tasmania, Australia. An ideal location for a quiet holiday with friends or family, the fully equipped place is well suited for relaxing.


Ambience
Ambience at Country Hideaway benefits from the natural beauty of the rolling hills and farmlands around it. There is a calm, unhurried air here. In fact, there are several animals on the property, all of whom are very friendly, and will come by to say hi - including 2 dogs, 2 sheep, and some horses.


Room
Rooms at Country Hideaway are cozy and comfortable. Able to accomodate up to 7 - 8 guests in 3 bedrooms, the comfortable beds and heavy window blinds allow for a good sleep. The bathroom and toilet have basic amenities, and the washer is simple to operate for laundry. However, there is no clothing dryer here.


Food
Food at Country Hideaway is non-existent, as it's not a hotel. However, a fully-equipped kitchen with a well stocked pantry is available, allowing guests to prepare their own meals easily. We cooked all our dinners here, and I find the wide range of seasonings available to be very useful.


Service
Service at Country Hideaway is completely self-service, though the owner, Emma, stays in a separate shed nearby, and is easily contactable. She's responsive to requests and enquiries, but the household devices are generally easy to use, and come with simple instructions.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at Country Hideaway are very good. Loved the entertainment system and wifi availability, as well as the small reading corner with a selection of toys and games. The living room is spacious and great for spending quality time together. Overall, I enjoyed my stay here.


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Launceston Shops

Some examples of the shops in Launceston, whether along the streets or within the shopping malls.

Launceston City Capital Chemist

Some notable ones include:
Banjo's Bakery Cafe, an artisanal bakery franchise established in 1984 in Launceston, with outlets across Tasmania and Australia
Bank Of Us, a customer-owned bank whose profits are reinvested to benefit customers and the local community
Liv-Eat Fresh Eating, a popular Launceston casual eatery offering a large range of healthy and fresh food options
Red Herring Surf, a brand of surfwear in Tasmania, Australia, that is strongly involved in local youth culture







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