#australiantraveller

Did the first Coles Myer store open in Wilmot, Tasmania, Australia?

Helen Avaient

Oct 22, 2021
3 min

Did the first Coles Myer store open in Wilmot, Tasmania, Australia?

Since coming to Tasmania, I have frequently heard that the Coles Myer shopping emporium opened its very first store in Wilmot here. It was a suprise when visiting the town that they did not have any information verifying this. The reason is, that the rumours are not true. In fact, the first ever GJ Coles store was opened in Collingwood, Victoria in 1914. That one Victorian shop was the beginning of the Coles Myer shopping empire. It would be a great story for Tasmania if it w

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QLD, SA and WA residents can win $300 travel voucher to Tasmania in 2021

Helen Avaient

Oct 13, 2021
1 min

QLD, SA and WA residents can win $300 travel voucher to Tasmania in 2021

Hi For all my readers from Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, I have some fantastic news for you. A ballot will be open from 9am 29 October 2021 (AEDT) and closes at 5pm 2 November 2021 (AEDT), for residents of the above three states. 10,000 vouchers valued at $300 each will be chosen at random. Winners will be notified by SMS and the voucher emailed on 3 November 2021. The vouchers consist of $200 for accommodation plus $100 for tours and attractions and must

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10 things to see and do in Wilmot, Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 12, 2021
3 min

10 things to see and do in Wilmot, Tasmania, Australia

Wilmot is a small town in the north-west of Tasmania (population 298 in the 2016 census) and is definitely worth a visit. Located 39km (24mi) south west of Devonport, the drive through this rural area is a pleasure for all the senses. Winding country roads, stunningly green hills dotted with sheep, cows and occasional llamas make it a fabulous journey to a lovely destination. Known as the Valley of Views, stopping at the designated lookout gives you a breathtaking vista of co

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Let us enjoy the Wilmot Letterbox Trail in Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Oct 8, 2021
3 min

Let us enjoy the Wilmot Letterbox Trail in Tasmania, Australia

Around 80 novelty letterboxes adorn the sides of a 25km stretch of road from near Forth to past Wilmot in the north-west of Tasmania. Known as the Wilmot Letterbox Trail, this drive takes you through beautiful farmlands and breathtaking valley views. The scenery is spectacular and that alone is worth the trip. However, it is the quirky letterboxes that also capture the eye. Not every property has a decoration outside, so it is the alert eye that spies the prizes. I ventured o

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Cruise in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 24, 2021
3 min

Cruise in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Cruising on the Pieman River in the middle of the Tarkine Wilderness was definitely a glorious experience. It has been described as remote, beautiful, magical, memorable, wild, peaceful, serene and more. The air here is one of the cleanest in the world. We set off from near the Corinna Wilderness Lodge at 10am and arrived back at 2.30pm. The 53m long vessel started its sailing career in1939 as tourist boat, built in Hobart and consisting of a hardwood frame. The original owne

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Stay in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 20, 2021
2 min

Stay in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Peace and tranquillity await the traveler in the isolation of the Tarkine Wilderness at Corinna. Without internet or mobile phone coverage, it is a wonderfully secluded time out from the rush of modern life. I recently had the great pleasure of staying a weekend in a comfortable and modernly decorated one bedroom cottage at Corinna. There are ten, one bedroom cottages and four, two bedroom cottages in this little village type accommodation. Looking at the cottages from the ou

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Walk in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 15, 2021
2 min

Walk in the Tarkine Wilderness of north-west Tasmania, Australia

Quiet and serene was my hike through the ancient cool temperate rainforest at Corinna. This is the second largest temperate rainforest in the world (the first is in the Pacific area of the United States). Located in the north west of Tasmania, this area is known as the Tarkine Wilderness. 477,000 hectares is home to creatures and sights not seen anywhere else in the world. The uniqueness is the untouched beauty. Once there were mining towns here, but they are long gone and th

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Grindelwald - a Swiss Village in the middle of Northern Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 6, 2021
2 min

Grindelwald - a Swiss Village in the middle of Northern Tasmania, Australia

I had heard about the purpose built Swiss-style village of Grindelwald and was curious to visit and see it for myself. It was built in the 1980s. Dutch immigrant Roelf Vos created the village after taking his wife on a holiday to Switzerland where they fell in love with the scenery and buildings. In this suburb, located 24km south-east of Beaconsfield and 19km north-west of Launceston, live just under 1000 residents. Houses are built in a Swiss style with wide eaves, flowerbo

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Go underground at Gunns Plains Caves in Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Sep 2, 2021
2 min

Go underground at Gunns Plains Caves in Tasmania, Australia

Standing on solid ground gazing out at the vista of the Gunns Plains farmlands, it is difficult to imagine the beautiful cave system below your feet. Tours operate six times a day. Our group was led by Geoff Deer who started working here fifteen years ago. Geoff has an excellent sense of humour and engaged all members of the tour, from a young preschooler to the older members. We descended down a steep flight of fifty four concrete steps then the path leveled out. Due to the

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10 things to see and do in Penguin, Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 30, 2021
3 min

10 things to see and do in Penguin, Tasmania, Australia

Pablo the Penguin welcomes visitors to the picturesque seaside town of Penguin in northwest Tasmania. Yes, little penguins can be seen along here from November to March each year. In fact, the botanist Robert Campbell Gunn named the town after seeing the large number of penguins along the coast, way back in 1861. With the rich farmlands and the Dial Ranges behind the town and the seas of the Bass Strait in front, this gorgeous town is a favourite holiday destination in Tasman

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Helen Avaient

Aug 26, 2021
2 min

Penguin Beer Co. is so refreshing!

Relaxing on a deck looking out onto a beautiful blue ocean, hearing the waves kissing the shore, listening to great music, and sipping on a delightfully cold beer is close to perfect. This is the setting of the Penguin Beer Co. which opened in July 2021, in Penguin, Tasmania. A pod of dolphins swam by just the other day and everyone watched them for over 20 minutes. Whales have also been spotted from here. With a new brewery opening roughly every six days in Australia, what w

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Winter Truffle Hunting in Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 23, 2021
3 min

Winter Truffle Hunting in Tasmania, Australia

Asparagus Sous-vide in Truffle Butter with Cured Egg Yolk was the second of four mouth watering courses on a truffle hunt and harvest tour. The first course was in the field, before our truffle hunt started. Field and forest mushroom soup with Truffle oil. Fresh made sour dough bread accompanied our soup. The day was off to a good start. The truffle farm is set in an amazing landscape, with Mount Roland visible in the background. It is a lovely picture postcard view. The truf

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Cruise the Leven River and enjoy a forest walk in Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 21, 2021
3 min

Cruise the Leven River and enjoy a forest walk in Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia

In the 1880s, river cruises on the Leven River were an extremely popular form of entertainment. Today, it is no different. An enjoyable way to discover the river is to take a cruise with Leven River Cruises. As well as seeing this beautiful part of northern Tasmania from the water, you learn some history of the settlement and the development of this region. Kim was our guide on the Jus Leven. The boat was originally built in Ulverstone in 1982. It was being used as a houseboa

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10 things to see and do in Ross, Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 18, 2021
5 min

10 things to see and do in Ross, Tasmania, Australia

Sightseeing, soaking up history or eating your way around the delicious food establishments, Ross is a definite place to visit in Tasmania. This beautiful Georgian village is located 78km (48 mi) from Launceston and 117km (73 mi) from Hobart. The population in 2016 was just 404. For such a small town it certainly has enough here to see and do over several days. 1. The four corners of Ross Located at the crossroads in the middle of Ross are the famous four corners. One corner

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10 things to see and do in Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 16, 2021
5 min

10 things to see and do in Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia

As the only major resting place on the Midland Highway, Campbell Town is perfect to stop for fuel, toilet breaks and to grab something to eat at one of the many food outlets that line the highway. It is 68kms (42 miles) south of Launceston and 134kms (83 miles) north of Hobart. The population in 2016 was 996. The town is worth an extended stop. New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the river after his wife Elizabeth way back in 1811. In 1821, on his second tour of

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Bonnets for convict and free women to Australia 1788 - 1868

Helen Avaient

Aug 13, 2021
4 min

Bonnets for convict and free women to Australia 1788 - 1868

Roses from the Heart is a project created by Artist Dr Christina Henri as “the first Memorial to all women sentenced to transportation as convicts to Australia. 25,566 cloth bonnets (taken from an 1860s servants bonnet) symbolises the women whose lives have been shrouded by a veil of amnesia for far too long”. It began back in 2003 when Dr Henri created a moving installation of 900 calico bonnets to represent the babies of convict women that died at the Cascade Female Factory

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The Lobster Ponds Haven and Cafe in Flowerdale, Tasmania

Helen Avaient

Aug 8, 2021
2 min

The Lobster Ponds Haven and Cafe in Flowerdale, Tasmania

The largest freshwater crustacean in the world is endemic to north west Tasmania. This endangered species is the Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) and has found a home at the Lobster Ponds where visitors can see and learn more about them. Surrounded by beautiful native gardens the ponds here protect the crayfish. Originally opened in 2003, between 20 - 25 local volunteers took over running the Lobster Ponds in 2011. Local farmers supported the venture with land an

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I rocked it with a frock at Sparkle in the Dark

Helen Avaient

Aug 6, 2021
2 min

I rocked it with a frock at Sparkle in the Dark

I had the pleasure of attending the Sparkle in the Dark fundraising event in Ulverstone, Tasmania hosted by the Rotary Club. The theme of the night was The Great Gatsby and all attendees dressed for the era. Men looked resplendant in suits and formal black tie, the women were absolutely gorgeous in sparkles and beads, boas and feathers. This dress up event was right up my alley. I had the perfect dress to wear for the occasion. (Yes, I do carry a sparkly beaded dress in my l

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Trowutta Arch and rainforest are tremendous in northwest Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Aug 2, 2021
2 min

Trowutta Arch and rainforest are tremendous in northwest Tasmania, Australia

Walking through a lush rainforest full of towering tree ferns, myrtles and tall eucalyptus all covered in green moss is a delight. Finding the extraordinary and rare geographical feature, the Trowutta Arch, at the end of a 15 minute walk is a glorious bonus. This is part of the Tarkine Drive in the remote north-west coast of Tasmania. "This rainforest is park-like, with large, widely spaced trees producing a dense canopy above and a shaded, cool and moist understory of tree f

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Liffey Falls, a four tier cascade in Tasmania, Australia

Helen Avaient

Jul 31, 2021
1 min

Liffey Falls, a four tier cascade in Tasmania, Australia

Liffey Falls is upstream from the town of Liffey in the Meander Valley, and accessible via the town of Deloraine. There are four tiered cascades here, Alexandra Falls, Hopetoun Falls, The Leap or Spout Falls, also called the Albert Falls, and Victoria Falls (often known as Liffey Falls). As you will be walking through rainforest, make sure to wear comfortable, waterproof shoes. The picnic area has toilets, tables and gas bbqs for visitors to use. This is an awesome area to ge

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Perth, Western Australia

helen@maturesolotraveler.com