Tasmania Attractions Are Expensive, Any Options around It?

minijumbuk on 17/12/2015 - 12:03

I've found that a lot of attractions in Tasmania are quite expensive. Wondering if anyone has any advise on what to do in Launceston and Hobart that won't break the bank?

For example the Tahune airwalk near hobart is $28 per person for a 600m tree top walk. For a family of 5 adults, that $140 for a 30minute walk! Granted, the rest of the bushwalk trail is free, but I've never had to pay for a bush walk trail before in Sydney. The most expensive national park in NSW I've been to asked for a $10 fee.

Does anyone have Entertainment book vouchers for this attraction and any other attractions close to Launceston and Hobart? Or any tips on how to travel around TAS on the cheap? We have decided to hire a car for the 6 days we are there so transport isn't a problem.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

General Discussion

Comments

  • Looking4Bargians on 17/12/2015 - 12:05
    +1

    I did pay same price last year. Expensive but good.

  • battler on 17/12/2015 - 12:26
    +1

    Illawarra Flyer Treetop Walk is same concept and more or less same price, so can't see that Tas is any more expensive.

    • minijumbuk on 17/12/2015 - 12:51
      -2

      Well it's $28 vs $22.50. That's 25% more expensive… I know it's not a lot but I just think they're overcharging.

  • PVA on 17/12/2015 - 12:29

    doesnt sound too bad to me. You are on a holiday, just do it and enjoy.
    Where in Sydney do you have a tree top walk for free, you say?

  • airzone on 17/12/2015 - 13:12
    +1

    If you're going with your brother/sister, they do have another form of entertainment down there that doesn't cost much (excluding personal shame)… lol

  • SirFlibbled on 17/12/2015 - 13:34
    +4

    I thought about going to Tassy last year. Priced it out for a week. Decided to go to Vietnam which was about the same price for 3 weeks.

  • sharepoint on 17/12/2015 - 13:42
    +3

    Also, if you are driving around Tasmania and visiting all the parks that you need to purchase a Park Permit ($60 per vehicle valid for 8 weeks) - see Parks Tasmania

    There is lots to do there and 6 days may not be enough if you are doing the whole island. If you are just in Hobart/Launceston then you have Salamanca Market (Sunday), Mount Wellington, Cataract Gorge which are all free. Port Arthur is worth a visit. Apart from that, if you moving around there is Freycinet National Park and Wine Glass Bay (there is an excellent cruise), Bay of Fires (all Tassie oysters come from around this area), Strahan, Gordon River Cruise, Cradle Mountains (nice walk around Dove Lake), penguins at Bicheno, Seahorse World and a whole lot of wineries.

    See Trip Advisor and here for the top 50

    • minijumbuk on 17/12/2015 - 13:51
      +1

      The most useful post here thanks for the suggestions. You did scare me a bit there when you said Salamanca market was on sunday cus I planned my whole trip around Salamanca markets being on saturday. Turns out it is open on saturdays only :)

    • akd on 17/12/2015 - 14:20

      Thanks, excellent suggestions

  • mskeggs on 17/12/2015 - 13:46
    +4

    Cataract Gorge in Launceston is free and a nice place for a walk/picnic.
    Salamanca Markets in Hobart on Saturdays is free to walk around - I found it had a much better range of stuff than markets I've attended in Sydney.
    MONA in Hobart is free if you are a Taswegian, but worth the $25 entry if you aren't, IMO.
    A drive down to Cygnet is attractive scenery and a nice place to look around.
    If you take the east coast route, Wine Glass Bay is pretty.

    • inasero on 17/12/2015 - 16:29

      Highly recommend MONA - it's the drawcard attraction

  • Clear on 17/12/2015 - 14:08

    There is a reason Tasmanians say there is nothing to do here. Great if you want to visit convict-era towns and attractions (port arthur), national parks etc.

  • papachris on 17/12/2015 - 20:54

    When I was there, Tahune Airwalk was disappointing - not worth $28.

    View from Mt Wellington (free) on a clear day is amazing and was worth much more IMHO.

    Don't forget shot tower at Taroona (were Princess Mary came from) which is not expensive, and a trip to Bruny Island by car ferry is free. Just be careful that your car hire will allow you to take the car on to Bruny Island (ferry and 2WD dirt roads)…

    • minijumbuk on 18/12/2015 - 06:30

      How are the roads there? We are thinking about 4wd

      • papachris on 18/12/2015 - 20:48

        Assuming you are referring to Bruny Island, main road(s) are smooth dirt - no issues for regular sedan which is what I had. There are probably 4WD tracks, but I don't remember and wasn't looking for them anyway. I was there 10 years ago. I remember the view at the isthmus joining North and South islands, and you can clearly see the water on one side is higher than the other side!

        A trip to your local map specialist (or online store) will likely cover 4WD in Tassie.

        If you do go to Bruny, don't go expecting to be able to get late night fast food takeaway. There are no Maccas, KFC etc on the island for the same reason they don't tarmac the main road - to keep down the numbers of tourists. And the place is far better for it too…

      • Rawr_ on 26/12/2015 - 19:27

        The main roads are now mostly tarmac. Also the ferry is unfortunately not free - between 33-38 return per car depending on the season. Would definitely recommend going to bruny for a day trip at least. There are lots of nice places to eat, oyster farm, berry farms, cheese and chocolate places. The beaches are beautiful and there are also some really good walks. Fluted cape is my favourite, has some really amazing views and isn't overly long (about 2.5 hours). There is also a cruise that departs from bruny (http://www.brunycruises.com.au/?_ga=1.176417189.1847824966.1…) It's a bit pricey but everyone I have talked to who has gone on it says it is really worth it.

  • GourmetFoodie on 17/12/2015 - 22:04

    That airwalk price sounds like the price they tried to charge us for the airwalk in the Daintree rainforest in QLD. We simply decided not to do it because it felt like a massive rip off and figured you see nothing except trees and maybe some birds. Most other animals only come out at night or are hidden far from human activity. If TAS tourist attractions are anything like the multiple other rip offs we found in Queensland, I will not be visiting anytime soon!

    • papachris on 18/12/2015 - 20:58

      As is often the case, the tourist traps are just that. The best stuff is often free or cheap, and found by walking or driving around.

      Hobart is great for walking around, and the Huon Valley and south to Dover and Southport is nice for driving.

  • Tasmaniac on 21/12/2015 - 05:42
    +1

    I used to work as a forest worker (tree planting mainly) and it broke my heart to realise that just 5 minutes down the road from the airwalk they are clear felling some of the tallest, most magnificent trees in Tassie. No real point to the story I just find the airwalk a bit hypercritical.

  • thirtysixd on 21/12/2015 - 10:35

    From Hobart there is Mt Field or Mt Wellington
    Mt Wellington requires no walking
    Mt Field has about a 1k walk (up hill but mostly on road / there is a 400m steep section worth mentioning)
    From Launceston there is Ben Lomond (not much walking required)

    You only need a 4wd in winter.

  • danyool on 23/12/2015 - 18:19
    +1

    If you're going over summer keep a look out for some wonderful fruit. If you get to North around Devonport there is the Cherry Shed which have nice, usually very big tasty cherries. There's another place near this, but can't think of the name - it's up a hill and they do a soft serve with fresh cherries mashed in. Very good. There's probably other places that sell cherries too. Roadside stands and such.

    Also pick your own strawberries/raspberries at http://www.theberrypatch.com.au/ - although I believe you're not meant to eat as you pick now :( and no price online. But was a bit of fun.

    If you want to get expensive - look at the Pennicott Eco boat tour - $125 per adult for a 3 hour tour! My brother-in-law talked us into it. I wouldn't normally spend that much, but was awesome epic cliffs and scenery and a taste of how rugged it can be. Departs near Port Arthur. That free Bruny Island ferry sounds great!

    • minijumbuk on 24/12/2015 - 11:50
      +1

      cheers, will look into those berry farms!

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