A Fleeting Flight to Hobart Town - Blog4
Covid clusters and lock downs were strangling normality in the latter period of 2020. Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia experienced outbreaks and lock downs to a greater or lesser degree with the consequential economic disruption and travel chaos. We had been exploring options for a short 'get away' and bingo, a window opened in December with lock downs lifted and borders reopened enough for us to sneak into one of our favourite destinations, historical Hobart. Return flights via Melbourne, still a hotspot but with airport transit allowed and 3 days for a pre Xmas break was more than worth while in these times of uncertainty. As a bonus, but unaware, we were to witness an historical but scarcely recognised event of national significance.
Quintessential Hobart view with Tasman Bridge
Historical Hadleys Orient Hotel. Old world charm for us. Our favourite Hobart pub at Battery Point. The Shipwights Arms Hotel has the best seafood chowder. Yum!
Me taking a snap of Ngaire.
Memorial burial walls from the first Hobart Town Cemetery
Great little cafe in central Hobart. True to it's name.
Hobart is home to one of, if not the most celebrated markets in Australia. These markets attract stall holdersfrom far and wide across Tasmania and are held everySaturday in the just as famous and historical SalamancaPlace from which the markets are named: 'The Salamanca Markets'. Salamanca Place is adjacent to the Hobart docks where the Sydney-Hobart yacht classic finishes at Constitutional Dock. Salamanca Place nurtures some of the most significant colonial archetecture, including some of the earliest pubs and taverns adorning old Hobart Town. Below are some snaps around the markets.
'It was that big' he exclaimed! Bullshit he responded.
A visit to Hobart is not complete without a trip to the Botanical Gardens. The gardens are about a 10 min. drive from the centre of the city but being on foot for our visit it was a most enjoyable hours walk there and back again. Below are snaps from the walk and around the gardens.
Government House
Classical iron gate entrance
Life of the rich and famous?
Poster of Peter Clundell(r), now deceased was the inaugurial host of the ABC's Garden Show. Peter was Tasmanian and had his own vege garden in the Botanical Gardens for garden technique education.
I know what they are, do you?
As mentioned in the intro, unbeknown to us we were to witness an event of maritime historical significance. Hobart has been the H.Q.for the Antartic Expedition teams that venture down for research stints lasting up to a year at a time.
This event is best summed up by this statement from Tasports:
At 9.00am on Saturday 12 December 2020, the P&O owned vessel will depart the port for Dubai, to start its next chapter. TasPorts Chief Executive Officer Anthony Donald said farewelling the vessel will be bittersweet.“The ‘Orange Roughy’ has been a feature of Sullivan’s Cove for more than30 years, completing resupply voyages from the Port of Hobart during the Antarctic season, and laying up at Princes Wharf during the winter months," he said.During its time in Hobart, the vessel has completed more than 150 scientific research and resupply voyages to Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations.“Whilst we’re saying goodbye to the iconic vessel, its departure also signals the upcoming arrival of Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) new icebreaker RSV Nuyina and highlights the growth and importance of Antarctic research for the state of Tasmania.
At around 8.45 on the morning of Saturday December12 we were walking down to the markets and when near the docks heard the loud blasts of ship horns and much activity as tugs were manourvering 'Aurora Australis' out from the wharf and turning her around for her final voyage out of Hobart.We stopped and realised the significance of what we were witnessing.
Photos taken on Friday December 11That was a sample of our 3 days in Hobart. Highly recommend a visit if you haven't already done so and if you have, worth a return trip.
