After our brief look at Australia, our cruise ship docked at Hobart in Tasmania. I must confess that I wasn’t in the holiday mood yet having gone down with a bad cold, and suffered from sea sickness. Hint for sea sickness – at the first signs, go to the main desk and ask for sea sickness tablets. They are free of charge and dished out in handfuls! (Holland America Line).
It is always difficult to decide on shore excursions in places you no do know. Do you explore locally or go further afield. A difficult choice when the visit is a once in a lifetime experience, and very expensive.
We decided to go on a coach trip to the Huon Valley and Tahune Forest Walk. This was a good choice as we saw something of the scenic countryside, with a guide to give a commentary. The Forest walk was created to help employment and tourism. It had succeeded in the latter, because two coach loads of people got there at the same time! We edged our way along the walkway in crocodile formation. This rather spoilt the splendid high level walk amongst huge gum trees, and views of tree ferns with the river far below. It needed solitude, not a mass herd of tourists, to do it justice!
Having shuffled around the walkway, we returned to the visitors centre but our time there was rushed, there was not time to do photographs, coffee, toilets and gift shop – I did the essentials, coffee and toilets, disappointing!
In true package deal style, a tantalising glimpse of an interesting place!
