Journeys Feb/March 2021

Journeys YOUR RACT MEMBER MAGAZINE // FEB / MAR 2021

This issue

FIND THE ROAD’S END The new Mazda BT-50 A day in the life of a beekeeper Sky-high Tassie adventures

BC . 6986

Discount available when combining home and contents with a motor policy.

RACT Insurance Pty Ltd, ABN 96 068 167 804, AFS License 229076, is the issuer. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to decide if it is right for you. Obtain a copy from your local branch, call 13 27 22 or visit ract.com.au.

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FEB / MAR 2021

36

04

Welcome note

06

Inbox

The latest from our Group CEO

Our members share what’s on their minds

lifestyle

09

What’s on

12

Wellness

15

40 inside

Photos: Nick Jaffe; Courtesy of Osborne Heli Tours; Tourism Tasmania / S. Group

Sky high

18

The latest happenings on our island Homegrown no- and low-alcohol options

A mile in their shoes

Meet a beekeeping duo

Recipe

Chef Analiese Gregory on why Tassie is home

drive

35 travel

31

Travel news

35

The pit stop

36

40

0-100 review

57

on the cover

26

Road test

58

RACT branch network Mon to Fri from 8.45am – 5pm Our Travel branches, including Cruise Travel Centre at 110 Collins St Hobart, are open Mon to Fri 9am – 3pm

We take the Mazda BT-50 on a surf trip

RACT Customer Service Call 13 27 22

Mon to Fri from 8am – 8pm Sat 9am – 2pm

Tassie aerial adventures

Member rewards

25

Photographer Stu Gibson (@stugibson) taking the Mazda BT-50 for a test drive down the Tasman Peninsula.

Quality air time

52

Get back in the air with Tasmania’s most spectacular aviation experiences.

Our speedy review of the 2020 Nissan Juke

Oatlands adds new spirit to its heritage charms

The latest

54

Old town, new tricks

49

Auto news

The latest developments in the car world

How to spend a perfect day in Devonport

community

21

Everything on our radar in the local travel scene

News from the RACT community Member savings available right now

Changing gears

The big issues affecting RACT and our members

Puzzles

Take on the latest crossword and quiz

Rear view

See your snap of Tasmania here

RACT Roadside Assistance

Call 13 11 11 anytime

ract.com.au

We’d love to hear from you – email journeys@ract.com.au or write to GPO Box 1292, Hobart TAS 7001.

To comment on issues that matter to you, log on to Member Hub and keep up-to-date on social media.

If you’d like to unsubscribe from Journeys, call 13 27 22 or go to ract.com.au/update 3

welcome.

A word from our Group CEO

ABOUT YOUR RACT

After a rollercoaster 12 months, we mustn’t lose sight of what’s important.

PRESIDENT Kathryn Westwood VICE PRESIDENTS Alison Flakemore, Jenny Richardson BOARD Josephine Archer, Peter Dixon, Ralph Doedens, Jude Franks, Phil Jones, Risden Knightley, Pieter Kolkert, Sue Smith RACT GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR Zoe Cooney

A word from our Group CEO

My first year in Tasmania has been one I’ll never forget. Our island is like no other, and I’m so grateful my family can call this place home.

Journeys is published for The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania

by Hardie Grant Media, Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 hardiegrant.com Managing Director Nick Hardie-Grant Deputy Managing Director Clare Brundle Managing Editor Krysia Bonkowski Art Director Dallas Budde Design Katrina Mastrofilippo

OUR SPECIAL CORNER of the world has

a deep sense of community. When times are hard, Tasmanians pitch in, we dig deep and we band together: 2020 was the perfect example.

For me, a strong community is close and connected. It’s a place where we’re all encouraged to embrace new opportunities. It’s full of heart, diverse stories and fresh ideas, and Tassie certainly has these in spades.

With the new year well and truly here, let’s continue to support those around us and find ways to help each other achieve our goals.

Our members are always top of mind. Whether it’s over the phone, in one of our branches or out on the 4

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

road, we absolutely love connecting with you and hearing your stories. You bring our incredible community even closer together and help us to better understand how we can invest in and look after every Tasmanian going forward.

On that note, we’d love to see what you’re getting up to in the community this year. Jump onto social media and please share your stories with us.

Mark Mugnaioni // RACT GROUP CEO

@ractofficial #yourjourneys

Advertising Sales and Partnerships Director Lauren Casalini laurencasalini@hardiegrant.com Senior Account Manager Amanda Travers amandatravers@hardiegrant.com Printer Ovato Mailhouse D&D Mailing Services Distribution Australia Post Australia Post No. 100003899

Competition terms and conditions can be found at ract.com.au/competitions. No part of Journeys may be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2021 RACT. The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared

by The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited or its related bodies corporate (together “RACT”) or any of its directors or employees. Advertisements in Journeys are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RACT accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RACT.

BOOOKW! N

G O R A C I N G TA S M A N I A . C O M . A U

inbox.

LETTERS

Travelling with pets

Plates please As a driver of 66 years, I was always under the impression that number plates had to be clearly visible at all times. Lately I have noticed many vehicles with the rear number plate obscured (letters and numbers scratched out). This makes them hard to detect. Is this legal? If not, why don’t police fine the owners and take the vehicles off the road?

After your article about dogs travelling safely in cars, it brings to mind my experience while travelling overseas and the acceptance of dogs in hotels, planes (in a dog carrier in the cabin at your feet), in fact everywhere.

Derek Tite // Ulverstone

Our response: "In Tasmania, it’s an offence for an object to

It is such a shame that responsible owners are not allowed to travel and stay in accommodation with their pet. It could be of great benefit to tourism if this practice was adopted. We have a dog and find it very difficult at times to have her minded while we travel within Tasmania.

obscure or reduce visibility of a number plate. Also, number plates mustn’t have any features that prevent them from being photographed by a photographic detection device."

Elaine Duggan // Newstead

Cutting concerns I strongly agree with John Spence’s concerns with oncoming traffic cutting corners (Dec 20 / Jan 21 issue). I moved to Launceston 15 years ago and enjoy the courtesy and patience of most drivers in the north.

My biggest safety concern when travelling up the West Tamar Highway is the regular occurrence of oncoming traffic with part of the vehicle in my lane on blind corners. Can there be an information and education blitz on this like the Distance makes the Difference 1.5 metres for cyclists campaign?

Paul Haigh // Launceston

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Our roadside team has been busy

CAR

MEDIC

In the past year*, we’ve covered:

71,945 roadside call outs 19,187 battery issues 6541 flat tyres 4348 keys locked in vehicle We’ve also had some unexpected call outs recently…

Rescued an echidna from under a back seat.

Freed one wallaby who spent the night in the front bumper then hopped away.

Searched for a possum who set up camp under the bonnet (we didn’t find it, just some fur it had left behind).

And saved many members from spiders in their cars.

Q I’ve lost the spare fob for

my five-year-old Camry. Can I buy a new one from eBay or do I have to go through Toyota?

George Nguyen // Hobart

A Generally speaking, vehicle

remote key fobs can’t be programmed to the car by the owner. Vehicle security and immobilisation is an area that’s extremely hard to interrogate and even RACT Roadside Patrols can’t manipulate these systems.

Because of the sophisticated equipment required for reprogramming, you’re going to need a locksmith or the dealer to get it to work.

We wouldn’t recommend getting a key or fob from the internet. Let the locksmith or the dealer supply it, as the

actual key fob cost is likely to be the smallest part of your bill. The major expense is the programming – if you don’t have any keys you might expect to pay anything from $500 to double that, depending on the vehicle type. Things are usually a fair bit cheaper, though, if you still have one key fob that works, as these can be replicated more easily.

RACT Roadside Patrol // Grant Page

WRITE TO US We’re keen to hear your auto questions and thoughts on any motoring or travelrelated topics. Please keep them brief – we reserve the right to edit. journeys@ract.com.au

@ractofficial

*Data collected from 1 Dec 2019 to 30 Nov 2020

With savings at over 550 Tasmanian and interstate outlets, choosing a business in the 2021-2022 Seniors Card Directory has never been easier.

Photos: iStock.com

Remember to look for the sign or ask if Seniors Card is accepted.

To live more and pay less pick up your free copy of the Directory at Service Tasmania, Libraries Tasmania or Visitor Information Centres. You can also access a copy online at seniors.tas.gov.au or by calling 1300 13 55 13.

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lifestyle

Photo: Courtesy of Ten Days on the Island

10/ 12/ 15/ 18/

Island of the arts

WHAT’S ON WELLNESS A MILE IN THEIR SHOES RECIPE

Ten Days on the Island celebrates its 20th year over three weekends between 5–21 March packed with local talent. The biennial statewide arts festival presents a home-grown roster of artists this year, with a program shaped but not diminished by the year just gone. From the dawn Welcome to Country mapali on the Burnie foreshore (pictured) to the transformation of Hobart’s Theatre Royal for the debut of Hide the Dog, co-written by palawa playwright Nathan Maynard, Tasmania’s cultural might will be on glorious display.

P For more, visit tendays.org.au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

9

what’s on.

YOUR NEW TO-DO LIST MEMBER DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE NOW

FARMING’S BEST

Between 1 February and 31 March, RACT members can claim 10% off* tickets to Agfest – one of Australia’s top agricultural field days – on at Carrick’s Quercus Park 5 to 8 May and online 8 to 15 May. Visit ract.com.au/agfest *Terms and conditions apply.

22–28 FEBRUARY

WRITING ON THE WALL

Hobart’s street art scene grows stronger every time Vibrance Festival rolls into town. Over the week, catch more than 20 street and graffiti artists hard at work beautifying buildings along Elizabeth Street, from Midtown to North Hobart, along with live music, skateboarding demonstrations, markets and more.

26–28 MARCH

Dust off the camping gear and round up your foodie friends – ECHO (East Coast Harvest Odyssey) is returning to Cranbrook’s Gala Mill over the final weekend of March. Come for the day or set up camp onsite beside the Swan River for the full weekend, with live music, art performances and fireside feasting on the cards.

ALL THAT JAZZ Clarence Jazz Festival returns to Rosny Farm Arts Centre for its 25th year with a program that highlights Tasmanian talent as never before.

Jazz lovers can attend workshops, masterclasses, twilight concerts and intimate shows by local musicians.

7 & 8 MARCH

TASTING HUON Enjoy the bounty of late summer from one of Tasmania’s hottest gourmet regions at A Taste of the Huon. This beloved annual culinary festival brings the best of the fields, farms and artisans from the Huon Valley and D’entrecasteaux Channel to Ranelagh, just outside Hobart.

During these uncertain times, event details are liable to change with little notice. Please check with event organisers directly for the latest updates.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Sarah Rhodes / Ash Thomson / Chris Phelps; iStock.com

LOCAL FLAVOUR

17–21 FEBRUARY

lifestyle Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us on journeys@ract.com.au

Made in Tas Just when you thought your linen obsession had peaked, enter The Linen Print. Our pick of graphic designer Rochelle Dare’s collection is the Tasmanian prints, featuring images from Rochelle’s other day job on Tassie travel blog Lets Go Dare. See more at @thelinenprint.

Wild about Tasmania This World Wildlife Day, Wednesday 3 March, pause to appreciate your favourite Tassie animal.

Maybe it’s the eastern quoll, which flourishes here 50 years after it disappeared from the mainland; or the Tasmanian platypus, the largest in Australia; or the orange-bellied parrot, now finishing its precious breeding season in Southwest National Park. Last year, many mourned the extinction of Tasmania’s endemic smooth handfish, but thanks to groups such as the Handfish Conservation Project – dedicated to the remaining three species – the fight continues for our island’s unique fauna. Mark World Wildlife Day with a gesture: collect rubbish on a bushwalk, slow down on the roads at dusk, or donate to a worthy organisation. Little changes can have big impacts.

Make a note

Read L.J. Morley documents the history of Tassie’s travel obsession in Early Motor Touring in Tasmania. Go into the draw to win a copy. For more details, visit ract.com.au/competitions

Listen The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s new publishing arm – TSO House – shares the work of talented Tasmanian composers with the world.

Download With the Department of Health’s National Public Toilet Map app, you’ll always be able to find the nearest loo while on the road.

WHAT’S BLOOMING?

with SADIE CHRESTMAN from Fat Pig Farm Finally it’s tomato season. Are you harvesting from carefully trained leaders or foraging through sprawling vines? Did you side dress with compost and seaweed tea, or leave your plants to fend for themselves? Do you prefer to picnic on multi-coloured cherry tomatoes in the garden?

Or ripen sweetly acidic giant beefsteaks on the kitchen bench?

Sometimes the best way to garden is the way that suits the gardener. One thing we can all agree on is that if you can only grow one plant at home, make it a tomato!

Tomato season is also the season to prepare for winter. Delicious caulis, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts need to get established before the days shorten and the soil cools so we’re madly transplanting seedlings propagated over the summer with plenty of compost, worm castings, a sprinkle of aglime and a splash of fermented comfrey or seaweed.

Plant now Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts Harvest now Tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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lifestyle

Going

NoLo

L

o cal fr uit and vegetables – from rhubarb to elderflower – play a key role in Tasmania’s burgeoning low-alcohol and alcoholfree drinks scene.

Local rhubarb is the key ingredient in Rhubarb Sparkle, described as “an elegant low-alcohol sparkling beverage” by founder and maker Jane Dykstra, who farms at Lower Longley in the Huon Valley, south of Hobart.

Every bottle is wild fermented and free from added preservatives – and its pink colour is the natural colour of rhubarb. Rhubarb Sparkle is “fun, flirty and a little bit wild”, says Jane.

The Tasmanian Chilli Beer Company – which makes alcoholic and nonalcoholic sparkling beverages – boasts that all its products are gluten- and preservative-free, vegan friendly and

THIS PAGE

(left to right) Hobart’s Dier Makr pours non-alcoholic pairings; Ashbolt crafts sparkling from estate-grown elder.

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

low in sugar. Its drinks contain nothing artificial and are unfiltered.

While there are no lo-fi wines currently made in Tasmania, a lovely alternative is Ashbolt Medium Dry Elderflower Sparkling. It is fermented in the bottle and made from fresh flowers of the elder tree, which are harvested by hand. Free from additives, artificial flavours, colourings, or preservatives, this sparkling beverage uses Highland water from the River Derwent.

Ginger Chilli Beer Refreshment with a feisty tangy edge. $4.50 for 330ml

Tasmanian venues are also adjusting their drinks lists for diners seeking grown-up alternatives.

At the Red Velvet Lounge in Cygnet, co-owner Kate Sullivan caters to those who prefer non-alcoholic offerings with her own freshly made fruit and vegetable cocktails, often containing local apples and berries, and the Tasmanian Chilli Beer Company’s Chilli Ginger Beer.

Hobart’s hip Dier Makr serves its $120 per head tasting menu with an optional $60 matching of nonalcoholic beverages, with options such as ‘Sans Vin Jaune’, which the team at Dier Makr likens to a Jura white wine.

It comprises fermented apple juice cold infused with hojicha (green tea) for toastiness and tannin and Meyer lemon stock with a touch of kuzu (a natural starch) for texture and acidity.

Rhubarb Sparkle An alternative to wine with 1.5% alcohol. $25 for 750ml

Ashbolt Medium Dry Elderflower Sparkling Non-alcoholic bubbles. $90 for a case of six

Photos: The Tasmanian Tuxedo; Tourism Tasmania / Osborne Images

The NoLo (no and low alcohol) movement has picked up pace as more people seek to curb their drinking. If you’re a proud designated driver or looking to cut back after a big summer, these Tasmanian makers and venues are here to help, writes Winsor Dobbin.

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Some years ago, Sheena saw an article about the Forever Active program that Personal Best Fitness offers. She was already going to a gym but did not feel that they were catering for her needs.

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lifestyle

apiarist A mile in THE SHOES OF AN

THE BLOOMING OF the leatherwood has these Tasmanian beekeepers abuzz, finds Andrew Bain.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Sarajayne Lada; courtesy of Wellington Apiary

I

n the dark hours before dawn, Robin and Antonia O’Brien park their ute in a clearing in the World Heritage-listed wilderness near Strathgordon. They’ve driven for more than two hours from Hobart, with a trailer-load of hives and bees towed behind them. Their beekeeping suits are on, even as they drive, in case of an accident.

Before the heat of the day arrives, stirring the bees to life, the husband-and-wife team from Wellington Apiary quickly unload the heavy hives, fanning them through the clearing in the leatherwood-loaded wilderness. As they pull foam stoppers from the hives’ opening, releasing the bees, and dash for the ute, the darkness begins to buzz angrily around them.

“Transporting hives is the most stressful part of the job,” Robin (pictured left) says. “It doesn’t matter how friendly your bees are, if you drop a hive or shake it around, they get angry and ready to have a go at something.”

Robin and Antonia have been running Wellington Apiary since 2009, coming to the industry by chance. “I was a nurse and feeling pretty burnt out with that,” Robin explains. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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lifestyle

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Within a couple of hours of their hives being placed, the bees are at work... harvesting the nectar As they fill the ute with boxes of honey for the drive back to Hobart, where it will be creamed, bottled, labelled and delivered all by hand to more than 80 stockists around the state (as well as being sent interstate and abroad), the bees are stirring into a cloud around them.

“You’re surrounded by thousands of bees,” Antonia says. “It’s a black swarm; just bees everywhere. Then you get in the car, and there are bees all through it.”

It’s the Wellington Apiary office abuzz with activity.

THIS PAGE

(left to right) A ‘smoker’ is an essential tool for a beekeeper; happy bees mean calm hives.

Photos: Courtesy of Wellington Apiary

“A guy I worked with, his family were in cherries and apples, and he was complaining there was a shortage of bees for pollination each year.”

A week later, while out running, Robin passed a swarm of bees. It was a sign, he thought, and soon the couple’s Sandy Bay backyard was filled with hives.

Every December, they transport their hives into the south-west wilderness where they have two hive sites, each holding up to 30 hives and 1.5 million bees. The delivery is timed to coincide with the flowering of surrounding teatree and then the golden summer bounty of leatherwood, which represents about 70 per cent of their production each year.

Within a couple of hours of their hives being placed, the bees are at work, making circling orientation flights to get their bearings and then harvesting the nectar.

In a week, each hive will yield around 10kg of liquid honey, with Wellington Apiary producing about 10 tonnes a year – part of the state’s annual production of more than 400 tonnes from 22,000 hives (Tasmanian Beekeeping Survey 2019).

Each fortnight for the next two months, Robin and Antonia will return to the hives to collect and replace the boxes of honey inside them.

“That’s a simple job,” Antonia says. “A puff of smoke under the lid, lift the lid, put a box in.

You don’t even have to wear gloves… because the bees are happy. If it’s a warm day and they’re busy, they barely notice you’re there.”

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Wild

& wonderful Chef Analiese Gregory swapped a globetrotting life in the world’s best restaurants for a farm in the Huon Valley. And she’s never looked back.

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

lifestyle

LONG BEFORE FARM TO FORK became all the rage in the fine-dining world, it was simply a way of life in Tasmania. So it was only a matter of time before the island was first whispered, then shouted about, in foodie circles.

Analiese Gregory was initially drawn to Tasmania while working as sous chef at Sydney’s famed restaurant Quay. She had the world’s best ingredients at her fingertips, but it was the produce from Australia’s southernmost state that most intrigued her. “The crayfish, abalone, pink eye potatoes, the fresh wakame… I imagined Tassie as a pristine island full of ridiculously pure ingredients,” says Analiese.

Back then, the Auckland-born chef couldn’t have imagined that she would one day put down roots on that very island. But here she is, tending a herd of unruly chickens, goats and pigs at the century-old Huon Valley farmhouse that she bought almost on a whim. “It's the most settled I can remember being in my life,” she says.

Since donning the chef’s whites in her teens, Analiese has worked in acclaimed kitchens everywhere from London to San Sebastian and Morocco. But when she arrived to lead Hobart’s lauded Franklin in 2017, she found herself with access to a different realm of produce and producers. “It's taught me to be a lot more focused on the ingredient, on doing less to it.”

In Tasmania, Analiese has honed her woodfire cooking and foraging skills and embraced

“I wanted to communicate how special Tasmania is. How unlike anywhere else.”

THIS SPREAD

(left to right)

Analiese scores some wakame seaweed on a foraging trip; the chef at her farmhouse sanctuary.

diving – she can be regularly spotted in a wettie retrieving ingredients from frigid waters.

It’s a journey captured in Analiese’s new book How Wild Things Are: Cooking, fishing and hunting at the bottom of the world, which follows her from New Zealand, overseas and home to the Huon. Such is the recognition Analiese has found at the bottom of the world that she was National Geographic’s pick as the local guide when Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted visited Tasmania last year.

And show off Tassie she did; sending Gordon off to flame-grill wallaby, sip whisky and dive for rock lobster. “I wanted to communicate how special Tasmania is,” she says. “How unlike anywhere else; how the relationships with producers and the community are just as important as the produce; how utterly beguiling and varied this island is.”

Photos: Adam Gibson; iStock.com

WAKAME JAM “Seaweed jam has fast become one of my favourite condiments after discovering it in Kyoto, made with kombu and used in dashi. I make my own version from wild-harvested wakame (an edible Japanese seaweed that is an invasive species in Tasmania). I prefer to make it from the fruiting base of the plant, also known as mekabu. Umami-rich, sweet and salty, it’s a great base for many sauces or just as something to throw on grilled flounder.”

Makes approximately 400g •9 0ml light soy sauce • 1 10ml mirin •8 50ml water • 1 00g dried wakame (preferably mekabu) •4 0g raw (demerara) sugar

In a medium pot, combine soy, mirin and water and simmer. Add wakame, making sure it is submerged, then remove from heat and leave to rehydrate for two hours. Return pot, covered, to a low heat and braise seaweed slowly for 1.5 hours, or until completely tender. Drain in a colander placed over a bowl (you want to reserve braising liquid).

Finely chop or shred wakame and return to pot. Add braising liquid and sugar and cook for 30 minutes over a medium heat, stirring constantly. The liquid needs to reduce completely to form a thick, gelatinous, glossy sauce.

Take pot off stove, cool sauce and keep covered in fridge. If you want to preserve it for a long time, vacuum pack or process in sealed jars.

This recipe is an edited extract from How Wild Things Are by Analiese Gregory (published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $45). Available in stores nationally.

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drive Take a seat...

22 / AUTO NEWS 25 / 0–100 REVIEW: NISSAN JUKE 26 / ROAD TEST: MAZDA BT-50

The Palisade, a brand-new eight-seat SUV from Hyundai, is being promoted by its Korean car maker as “the most practical SUV on the market”. The extra perch is just one of the many benefits of the family-friendly flagship, which also boasts seven USB ports and 16 cup holders. Available in Palisade and Highlander trim grades and with a 3.8-litre petrol V6 engine driving the frontwheel drive, or as a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel all-wheel drive, the stylish new model is priced from $60,000 (plus on-road costs). With ample space and an impressively up-market fit out, the Palisade might just tempt families away from in-house rival Kia’s Carnival people mover, which is also due for an update in early 2021.

Photos: Hyundai

P For more, visit hyundai.com

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auto news.

The latest developments in the car world

Outback mounts comeback Tasmanians who relish the security of all-wheel drive on our often wet and slippery roads will be pleased to learn that Subaru is priming a new Outback wagon for release in March.

The brand has released teaser images of the sixth generation of its high-riding wagon, which promises more advanced levels of safety and driver assist technology plus a new level of interior refinement and luxury. All Outbacks will be powered by 2.5-litre flat boxer engine and boast a best-ever braked towing capacity of 2000kg.

THREE OF A KIND

Driving apps

RACT FUEL SAVER Save at the bowser with the new RACT Fuel Saver app and website. The free service collates real-time fuel price data to help you find the best value. Find out more from p.54.

KERB This app helps drivers find car spaces in cities around the world, including Hobart.

RACT members also save 50% on Kerb’s transaction commission for the first year and 10% on parking.

Cars ride free

In a win for road trippers, Spirit of Tasmania passengers will be able to bring their car or motorbike along for free between March and June this year.

Caravan and motorhome owners don’t miss out either, with an average $240 savings on a return trip. The news comes after the Federal Government supported the expansion of the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, to help bolster the recovery of the tourism industry. Camping trip anyone?

22

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

WIKICAMPS This handy app compiles a crowd-sourced database of campsites, caravan parks, hostels, rest stops and more (with 40,000 listings and counting).

The offline mode is ideal for remote wanders; just download and go.

drive

GM’s EV future and it’s AU past, by numbers

203

The number of cars GM Holden sold in November, (none of them EVs), as it winds down stock ahead of the closure of its iconic Australian division.

$27billion The amount GM CEO Mary Barra has committed the auto company to spend on electric and autonomous vehicle development through to 2025.

30

Nissan will launch the latest version of its D23 Navara ute here in early 2021, promising more payload, the addition of advanced driver assist technology, and a sporty new model grade, the PRO-4X. It’s the latest in a series of regular updates to the fifth generation Navara, with the PRO-4X intended to give the Japanese brand an up-spec rival for the likes of the popular Ford Ranger Wildtrak. Nissan describes the new model’s styling as “more extroverted and athletic”, with the Navara adopting exterior styling cues from the US-market Titan full-size pick-up. The interior is said to be quieter and more comfortable, too, while payload has been increased to a healthier 1200kg.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Sean Scott

The number of EVs GM plans to have launched worldwide by 2025.

New Navara a baby Titan

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

23

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Straight

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drive

0 -100 review

Nissan Juke ST-L SUV

Will Nissan’s new, more mature sub-compact SUV strike the right note with its youthful target audience?

Photos: Nissan

Story Harry Weller WITH ITS CARTOON-LIKE DESIGN featuring over-sized wheels, bulging fender flares and indicators that swept up into its high-set bonnet, the original Nissan Juke came about as close as most car makers get to putting a concept car on the road.

While it made for an eye-catching style statement, the sub-compact Juke’s sales never really took off in the Australian market – perhaps because it arrived in 2013, well before the compact SUV boom got underway.

Fast forward to mid-2020 and the new Nissan Juke enters a landscape where the category is now well established, with the likes of the Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3 all now attracting hordes of younger buyers.

This second-generation Juke draws many design cues from its predecessor but its styling is more subdued, with more sophisticated detailing and subtly expanded dimensions that suggest it’s also more practical.

That point is driven home inside the cabin of the ST-L version, which

THE SPECS PRICING • From $36,490 (drive away) SAFETY • ANCAP 5 Stars (2020) ENGINE TYPE (Cylinders, turbocharging, fuel) • In-line 3-cylinder, DOHC, turbocharged, petrol MAX. TORQUE • 180Nm @ 2400rpm MAX. POWER • 84kW @ 5250rpm TRANSMISSION • 7-speed automatic dual clutch with paddle shifts DRIVE TYPE • Front-wheel drive FUEL CONSUMPTION • 5.8L/100km (Combined); 6.8L/100km (Urban) 0-100KM/H: 11.8 seconds

sits just below the top-spec Juke Ti (interior detail pictured left) in the fourmodel lineup.

A wider and taller platform translates into more interior space, with more generous rear-seat accommodation and a usefully larger 422-litre boot.

Sporty mono-form bucket seats and a handsome mix of soft-touch materials on the dash, door trims and foot wells and splashes of leather, along with mood lighting, contribute to a classy cabin feel.

Equipment levels are excellent, extending to satellite navigation, digital radio, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and climate control. Likewise, the Juke’s safety credentials are topnotch, with every model boasting a 5-star ANCAP rating.

Under the bonnet is a tiny turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The combination feels a little jerky in low-speed traffic but smooths out on the open road where performance is adequate.

The Juke’s modest performance and compact dimensions mean it’s not a practical proposition for families, but its combination of saucy styling, generous features, keen pricing and long warranty should certainly place it on the consideration list of the millennial buyers it’s targetting. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Photos: Name Here

drive

ROAD

FEW TEST DRIVES put a vehicle through its paces like a surf trip. You need space

for salty bodies, sustenance, clothes for all kinds of weather and, of course, all the bulky surf gear. A dual cab ute ticks a lot of those boxes, as Shaun Wallbank found out when he took the new Mazda BT-50 chasing waves on the Tasman Peninsula.

Photos Stu Gibson

test

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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drive

C

hecking the surf at Clifton Beach at sunrise is a great way to start the day. We’ve parked the Mazda BT-50 at the south end, using the view of Storm Bay as a barometer for what the waves might be like down the Tasman Peninsula. The swell is pretty small, so we jump back into the ute, enthusiastic about the potential of good surf waiting further afield.

As a dual cab 4WD owner, I’m already pretty familiar with utes in this class, but it’s amazing how much like ‘cars’ they handle these days. As well as its on-road feel, features such as pushbutton start, electric power-assist steering and blind-spot monitoring makes the all-new BT50 very approachable for a regular road user.

Apart from the mechanical technology, nothing immediately stands out when you’re sitting in the cab, which is a good thing. The dash display is simple and a 9-inch touch screen doesn’t seem out of place. Most importantly, Mazda hasn’t compromised on function, with comfy access to controls and ample seat room.

A USB charger in the back is a handy feature.

The best thing about the interior of this model – the top-spec GT – is the front seats.

They give your shoulders a hug, indicating the designers have put decent thought into the shape. This, combined with the leather trim, makes for a pleasant experience travelling along the Tasman Highway.

By the time we’ve worked out a sounding alarm is actually the intelligent speed limiter, and tested the lane-departure prevention more than once, we’re at the breath-taking Tasman Bay National Park Lookout. We’re pretending we’re here for the view of Eaglehawk Neck, but really we’re satisfying our caffeine addiction at Cubed Espresso Bar. The quality of coffee that comes out of this little roadside silver van is a real treat this far from Hobart.

The stopover has alerted us to a curious feature of the BT-50 – surprisingly deep cup holders.

If you like large coffees or are using the holder for a drink bottle, you’re in luck. Otherwise you might find yourself fishing for short cups.

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JOURNEYS // DEC 2020 / JAN 2021

drive

THE SPECS PRICING • From $64,456* SAFETY • ANCAP 5 Stars (2020) ENGINE TYPE (Cylinders, turbocharging, fuel) • 3.0 litre in-line 4-cylinder 16 valve DOHC intercooled turbo diesel ENGINE CAPACITY • 2,999 cc MAX. TORQUE • 450Nm @ 1600– 2600 rpm MAX. POWER • 140kW @ 3600 rpm BODY STYLE • Dual Cab Pickup GT TRANSMISSION • 6-speed automatic DRIVE TYPE • 4X4 SEATING • 5 FUEL CONSUMPTION • 8.0L/100km (Combined); 9.8L/100km (Urban) *Drive away pricing based on MSRP and on-road costs.

Most importantly, Mazda hasn’t compromised on function As we wind on through the bends between Taranna and Port Arthur to check some preferred surf spots, the BT-50 handles gravel and tarmac equally well. As a lifelong ute driver, I have come to expect a bit of lightness in the rear end on gravel, but with the BT-50’s dynamic stability control you really don’t need to think about your right foot as much.

As we pull up at Remarkable Cave, the surf is picture perfect, with clean conditions and not a soul around (a rarity for a surf spot on the tourist

trail). Getting gear in and out of the tub tray is easy. There’s nothing ground-breaking about the tub – a tailgate with a mechanical handle in the middle that’s incorporated into central locking. It’s another tried-and-tested system that has become integral to the reliability of a ute. We don’t have a cover on the tray and our surfboards have made it safely this far (although a cover would be recommended).

After a few hours out on the waves, we retrace our steps to Eaglehawk Neck and tuck into the famous fish and chips at Doo Town. This is the first time we’ve encountered a crowd and the BT-50 gets a few comments. We show off the remote start function to a couple of interested folks before heading back to Hobart.

Despite this model representing a complete overhaul, Mazda hasn’t favoured flashy or exclusive additions at the expense of practicality. The new BT-50 has been brought up to speed with late-model vehicles, but it remains a simple ute at heart.

On the road Need help? Roadside assistance is there, 24/7, on 13 11 11.

Test drive Find the new Mazda BT-50 at Hobart Mazda, Launceston Mazda, Devonport Mazda and Burnie Mazda.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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17–21 FEB 2021

Tickets On Sale Now CLARENCEARTSANDEVENTS.NET

travel

Photo: Luke Tsarke

Paddle power

32 / TRAVEL NEWS 35 / THE PIT STOP

36 / OLD TOWN, NEW TRICKS 40 / QUALITY AIR TIME

Southern Sea Ventures has helped travellers explore paradise while paddling everywhere from Indonesia to Iceland. Now, it has added Tasmania’s Bruny Island and Tasman Peninsula to its trips. The four-day adventures are led by expert Tasmanian guides (who double as private chefs by night, rustling up feasts with local produce).

Kayakers on the Bruny trip rest their heads at the secluded Bruny Island Lodge in the island’s south while those on the Tasman expedition retreat to luxe new beach house The Bolthole Pirates Bay (see next page). By day, equipped with sturdy sea kayaks, the groups set out to encounter some of southern Tasmania’s most stunning scenery, including secluded bays, long empty beaches and soaring sea cliffs.

P For more, visit southernseaventures.com/australia ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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travel news.

Inspiration for exploring our state

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONA Mona might have spent most of 2020 closed, but behind the scenes the enterprising bunch was busy.

When visitors returned on Boxing Day, they found a major rehang of the subterranean gallery with more than 350 pieces from founder David Walsh’s collection, along with new outdoor sculptures House of Mirrors and Girls Rule (which doubles as a playground), plus open-air burger bar Dubsy’s. With Mona having just celebrated its 10th anniversary in late January, it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Watch this space for Moab – Mona’s proposed transformation of the neighbouring caravan park.

3 TO ADD TO YOUR

must-visit list

32

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

The Bolthole

La Sardina Loca

Wineglass Bay

The Bolthole Pirates Bay at Eaglehawk Neck is one of Tassie’s best new plush private house stays.

This new wine bar in the carriageway off Hobart’s Elizabeth St specialises in aperitivo and small plates.

A new second lookout on the Freycinet Peninsula will help ease congestion at the iconic destination.

travel

Strait ahead

For all aurora hunters

Photos: MONA / Jesse Hunniford; Natasha Mulhall; Rosie Hastie

Forget the Northern Lights – Tasmania is one of the world’s best places to spot Aurora Australis, or the Southern Lights. Member @whoishollyjean recently captured this elusive spectacle at Park Beach, Dodges Ferry. When chasing auroras, do as Holly-Jean did and head south, away from light pollution and towards a big, watery horizon.

Sea views don’t come much better than the ones waiting at brand-spanking new The Cove Tasmania, perched on a grassy rise overlooking Bass Strait a 10-minute drive from Devonport. When completed, the waterfront complex will offer a range of chalets and cabins with private-beach access and amenities including open-air bathtubs, communal firepits and private decks.

Villa Two.Five.Six is already welcoming guests, with the remaining eight self-contained accommodation offerings opening their doors soon.

Meander up north Just outside of Deloraine but miles away from everyday worries, the recently opened Cedar Cottage Meander is an idyllic country getaway on the fringes of World Heritage-listed wilderness. Nestling up to the kooparoona niara/Great Western Tiers, this two-bedroom cabin combines luxe styling with a restorative dose of fresh country air and mesmerising views over the paddocks (best appreciated from the cedar hot tub on the deck).

SAVE 10% as a member!

Open 7 days Visit the Airwalk, the Eagle Hang Glider or book the Twin River Rafting adventure PROMO CODE RACT

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Now is the perfect time for a classic Tasmanian road trip.

Something more than just driving from A to B, and then back again. For inspiration, we’ve put together a guide that contains all the information you need to turn meanderings into memories.

Hit the main roads, back roads and even dirt roads and Make Yourself at Home everywhere around our state.

Ross Bridge Ross

Š Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett

ROAD TRIPS MEASURED IN MOMENTS NOT KILOMETRES

travel

Everything seems a little sunnier in the north, and Devonport shines with Mediterranean weather, clean air and a maritime DNA. It’s the entry point for the Spirit of Tasmania and a perfect base for exploring the north-west and west coasts, writes Stephanie Williams.

Devonport The PIT STOP

EAT Spoilt for Bass Strait views, Drift is open daily for brunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.

Filled with lush indoor plants, the recently renovated cafe has a massive outdoor deck perfect for lazy cocktails and live music.

Brunch is a highlight – think pulled pork Benedict, shakshuka eggs and caramelised banana French toast.

Photos: Kylie Bell, Tourism Tasmania / S. Group

DRINK The craft brew explosion has not missed Tasmania and Empress Craft Beer is this city’s contribution to the

scene. After launching Launceston’s St John Craft Beer, the team opened Empress with 11 rotating taps including a solid line-up of IPAs, amber ales and stouts. Stop by Hill Street Grocer next door to pick up local cheese and deli supplies.

SHOP Tasmania’s largest antique store is in Devonport, stocked with incredible treasures across four floors. The Antique Emporium is home to 40 antique dealers – lose yourself while browsing among furniture, collectables, books and clothes.

ESSENTIAL STOPS

• Drift • Empress Craft Beer • The Antique Emporium • Bass Strait Maritime Centre • Compass Hut

SEE Tasmania’s coast is littered with shipwrecks of over-confident vessels battered by the elements. Bass Strait Maritime Centre explores the history of the Bass Strait islands alongside stories of European explorers, shipbuilding, wrecks and the port itself. Take the helm of the SS Woniora and virtually guide her in, or jump aboard the restored Julie Burgess ketch for a two-hour sail.

DEVONPORT

MERSEY RIVER

FORTHSIDE

STAY A 10-minute drive from Devonport, Compass Hut is a self-contained, off-grid tiny house with a double bed, kitchenette and bathroom.

The hut sits surrounded by veggie gardens and takes inspiration from the philosophical idea of phenomenology (with architecture that engages the five senses).

THIS PAGE

(Clockwise from above) Bass Strait washes ashore; tiny house Compass Hut; share plates at Drift.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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travel

Old

town, new tricks OATLANDS WAS ONCE KNOWN as a place

where time stood still.

But as Alice Hansen finds out, the times are changing in this scenic Midlands town.

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

travel

Photos: Raffah House / Natasha Mulhall, Nick Jaffe

T

here was a time when Tasmania’s Heritage Highway weaved through a sprinkling of Midlands towns – the Redline bus even stopped at the village of Oatlands so passengers could enjoy scones. Over time though, these townships took a back seat to a more direct route between Launceston and Hobart. Few drivers ever hit the indicator to visit Oatlands. But while commuters weren’t looking, the historic town has been quietly reinventing itself. Not just with a new High Street store or two, but in a world-class kind of way.

Oatlands is Australia’s sandstone capital, claiming the title with more than 150 intact Georgian heritage buildings; more than any town in the country. The streetscape is picture perfect – little wonder it’s been used for movie sets (such as 2018’s The Nightingale). But when we roll into town, it soon becomes clear that innovative longterm locals and new ‘Oatlanders’ have breathed new life into the timeless façades. And they’ve done so while retaining the town’s charm; with chic boutiques and coffee stops inside its thick sandstone walls.

Our first stop is Raffah House (above); home for the night. The 1850s-built High Street classic has lived many lives, including as a private hospital where many a local was born. Its thoughtful reimagining as a luxe three-bedroom stay is the work of the Weeding family, seventh-generation locals who live two kilometres out of town with their 7000-plus sheep.

Raffah House is arrestingly stylish. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary Poltergeist Gin from the nearby Shene Estate & Distillery garnished with sprigs from the kitchen garden.

A few steps from the front door is Oatlands’ bigticket new addition, the Callington Mill Distillery.

It’s not quite complete when I explore with general manager Rizk Mawass, the opening scheduled for March. The vision of developer John Ibrahim, the completed distillery will offer an elegant restaurant and immersive single malt tastings.

Raffah House

H IG H ST Oatlands Antiques The Imbibers

Callington Mill Distillery The Jardin Room

The Kentish Hotel

H

IG

H

ST

LAKE DULVERTON

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travel

Nearly 200 years later, whisky has returned, made from soft Tassie highland water and local barley.

Having fallen in love with Oatlands, John has invested around $50 million in the game-changing venture, which sits proudly beside the 1837-built Callington Mill – once used to grind flour and brew illegal whisky in the convict era. Nearly 200 years later, whisky has returned, made from soft Tassie highland water and local barley.

Back on the High Street on the hunt for coffee, we duck our heads into The Kentish, circa 1830s, and are met by the bright and bubbly Remy Potter, daughter of the owners. As she whips up three faultless coffees using Straight Up beans from Hobart, she chats about the ongoing hotel makeover that will soon include upstairs accommodation and a beer garden.

“During lockdown it was a massive family effort, including my brother, parents and even the grandparents. We each had a room. And we’re still family,” she laughs.

Further up the road we meet textile designer extraordinaire Rebecca Kissling. She’s working on 38

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Where: Oatlands is a one-hour drive from Hobart and one hour and 20 minutes from Launceston.

Tip: Mondays and Tuesdays can be quiet in Oatlands, with some businesses closed.

Camp: Travelling with a caravan or campervan?

Park up at the free campground beside Lake Dulverton.

a new shopfront and whisks us into her home to view her work. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with what Rebecca coins a ‘snuggle rug,’ made from the fleece of a Tasmanian ewe and backed with merino felt.

Next stop is The Jardin Room & Provincial Interiors, where owner Debbie Wilson has been sourcing tasteful wares and designing for more than 20 years. Having noted her gorgeous garden and interior pieces dotted around Raffah House, it’s tempting to scoop up a sandstone pear or two for our own garden. But this time we content ourselves with a horsehair brush from Germany (those pears are heavy!).

Just over the road – everything is close in Oatlands – we pop into wine, cheese and spirit merchants, The Imbibers, which opened its doors midway through 2020. Co-owners Brad Williams and Nathan McGiveron are busy preparing for the day ahead and fill me in on the tasting flights of all-local wine, spirits, beer and cider and gourmet platters on offer, giving us yet another compelling reason to return to Oatlands.

Inspired by our historic surroundings, we end our wander at Oatlands Antiques. Among the goods lining every wall, I discover a wooden tennis racquet and some bone-handled knives that I had to have. I leave wondering what I’ll do with the racquet, but oddly happy with my finds. And just like the response to a tennis serve, I know I will return to Oatlands. Consistently.

This town has recaptured my local heart.

travel

Hello history buffs Three ways to step back in time when you visit Oatlands:

Photos: Courtesy of The Jardin Room, Rebecca Kissling, Jodi Wilson, Courtesy of The Imbibers, Raffah House / Natasha Mulhall

• The Oatlands Key fob unlocks corners of the town’s historic Military Precinct, including the courthouse. Borrow a free fob from participating High Street businesses.

• Take a crash course in Pugin architecture. As well as designing London’s Big Ben, English architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin designed Oatlands’ St Paul’s Church.

• Pick up your copy of Oatlands: stories from the Sandstone for $5 at Northern Midlands Council in Longford or order online.

THIS SPREAD

(Clockwise from opposite) Jardin’s leafy entry; Oatlands Antiques; designer Rebecca Kissling; the historic mill precinct; on offer at The Imbibers; coffee from The Kentish.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Quality these incredible Tasmanian aviation adventures.

Story Andrew Bain

W

AIR T

hen the world was grounded by the pandemic last year, Tasmania still took flight. New direct air services from Hobart to King Island and Flinders Island started, and a host of ‘flightseeing’ experiences kept the skies beckoning. The ways to see the state from the air are now multifarious and multi-flavoured, with vast views often only part of an aerial adventure. Wine tastings, picnics on deserted beaches, private pieces of wilderness – these are the treats a bit of Tassie air time delivers.

40

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Photos: Osborne Heli Tours / Paul Hoelen

GET THE WHEELS UP with

travel

IME

Osborne Heli Tours Capes are meant for flying, right? So it’s appropriate that the best views of the Tasman Peninsula’s famous capes come from the air.

The scale of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, and one of the state’s most dramatic stretches of coast, are put in perspective on a 30-minute flight with Osborne Heli Tours.

Flights depart from Osborne’s helipad opposite Port Arthur Lavender, and quickly rise above the Port Arthur Historic Site to skim past the 300-metre-high cliffs at Cape Pillar and their spectacular finale at the Blade, the pièce de résistance for the Three Capes Track.

After circling over Tasman Island and its lonely lighthouse, it’s a quick trip across to neighbouring Cape Raoul with its dolerite stacks tapering into the sea. Shipstern Bluff brings the chance to spot surfers riding its legendary waves before the flight returns for a second peek at Port Arthur.

The 30-minute Two Capes and Tasman flight is priced from $285 per person. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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More adventures.

More often.

Burnie Central Town House is your perfect base, as you explore the fabulous North West of Tasmania. Come home to free parking, a comfortable refurbished room, then wine and dine in our bistro. Wanting to book an event or function? Take a look at the North West’s most versatile function rooms right here at our Hotel.

www.townhousehotelburnie.com.au

Ph 03 6431 4455 | 139 Wilson Street Burnie TAS 7320 | info@townhousehotelburnie.com.au

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03 6471 4300 GORDONRIVERCRUISES.COM.AU PROUDLY TASMANIAN OWNED AND OPERATED

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ABOARD THE WHISPER-QUIET SPIRIT OF THE WILD

travel

After taking off from Cambridge, the scene below is soon beaches and breakers.

Par Avion One moment city, the next wilderness. This is the happy paradox of Tasmania that is never more pronounced than on Par Avion’s Southwest Wilderness Experience day trip. After taking off from Cambridge, the scene below is soon beaches and breakers, as the Southern Ocean charges ashore

onto empty south-coast sands.

From the remote airstrip at Melaleuca and a visit to its orangebellied parrot observatory, the trip takes to the water, boating out through the dark seas of Bathurst Harbour and the Bathurst Narrows to Port Davey and the well-named Breaksea Islands, strung across the mouth of the narrows like a barrier against the Southern Ocean.

The return flight is a brush with Tasmanian mountain royalty, lifting off from Melaleuca to pass over the rugged Western Arthurs and the mighty summit of Federation Peak – perhaps Tasmania’s wildest sight to end a day in the wilderness.

The Southwest Wilderness Experience is $599 per person.

RACT members can save 10%.

Photos: Matt Glastonbury / Par Avion; Above & Beyond

Above & Beyond Get the upstairs view of Hobart on a seaplane flight with Above & Beyond. The 30-minute City Scenic flights, departing from Franklin Wharf, bring twin thrills: the views of Hobart, kunanyi/Mount Wellington and far beyond; and the landing and take-off on the waters of the River Derwent.

After lifting off the river, the amphibious de Havilland Beaver climbs above the city and follows the river to North West Bay, with the likes of Wrest Point Casino, the Shot Tower and the Alum Cliffs shrinking to scale models below.

Turning back, the flight crosses the beachlined northern tip of Bruny Island and heads upstream, with the Tasman Bridge stretched out like a finish gate ahead. It’s this water city’s best view, with a finish on the water still to come.

The City Scenic tour is $229 per person, quote your RACT member number for 5% off. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

43

travel

Tasmanian Air Tours Foodies get a side serve of history on Tasmanian Air Tours’ Private Beach Picnic flights. Taking off from Barilla Bay Oysters in Cambridge, the helicopter passes over Hobart’s southern beaches and Storm Bay, delivering ocean views, before landing for a wine-tasting at the Bangor Vineyard Shed outside of Dunalley.

From here, it’s a short heli-hop across the property to the empty white sands of Two Mile Beach, where a picnic hamper of fresh local goodies is suddenly at hand.

The picnic provides food for thought, because it was on this very beach that first contact was made between Tasmanian Aboriginals and European explorers in 1772, while Abel Tasman made his only landing on the island in the adjoining bay to the north some 130 years earlier.

Unique Charters In 2020, Bridport-based Unique Charters teamed with Clover Hill Wines to add some literal sparkle to its range of helicopter flights.

Tours now depart from the Lebrina winery, preceded by a wine-tasting and cheese selection.

Prime among the offerings is 44

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

the Vineyard Trifecta, a cellardoor crawl by chopper through the Tamar Valley. The trip begins with a tasting class of six sparkling wines at Clover Hill before flying through the valley to two more vineyards. From the air, the view is of perfect lines of vines and the rolling, rounded landscape of the Tamar. There are five wineries

to select from – stay close at Pipers Brook or Apogee, the small vineyard from pioneering Tamar winemaker Andrew Pirie; or fly out as far as Josef Chromy in Relbia and Tamar Ridge on the River Tamar’s west bank.

The Vineyard Trifecta starts at $750 per person.

Photos: Tasmanian Air Tours; Unique Charters

The Beach Picnic is $499 per person.

For member prices on flights to Friendly Beaches with Tasmanian Air Tours, see ract.com.au/activities-and-experiences

More road trips.

More often.

the Southern Edge Experience

A

s those of us lucky enough to call Tassie home know, there’s something special about our island. Now is the perfect time to bring back the Tasmanian driving holiday and discover what’s waiting around the next bend in the road.

This issue we take off on the Southern Edge - one of five new Tasmanian Drive Journeys.

Walk this way Park the car and pull on the hiking boots. Start at Australia’s southernmost point and follow the road to its end at Cockle Creek.

From here, hikers can follow the 16km South Cape Bay Trail through Southwest National Park to wavelashed South Cape Bay. Inland, the walk to Lake Osborne follows the path of ancient glaciers through Hartz Mountains National Park in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. For a big dose of sea air and scenery, set off on Bruny Island’s Cape Queen Elizabeth Track or climb the stairs to get your picture of the Bruny Island Neck.

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Travel south of Hobart to embrace all that is best about Tasmania – farm-fresh produce, empty coastlines, ancient forests and mountain vistas. From the pristine waterways and gourmet finds of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island to the Huon Valley’s farm gates and the grandeur of Southwest National Park, there’s something for travellers of all tastes.

brought to you by Tourism Tasmania

Be awed by nature

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Jess Bonde / Adam Gibson / Jason Charles Hill / Geoffrey Lea / Andrew Wilson / Jonathan Wherrett

In the southern reaches of Tasmania, the wilderness is never far from civilisation. The further south you head, the better your chances of sighting the elusive Aurora Australis – but even if you miss the light show, the star-studded night sky is its own reward. Or climb sky high at Tahune AirWalk, winding through the treetops above the Huon River.

Geology buffs can plunge into the subterranean dolomite labyrinth of Hastings Caves, before sinking into soothing thermal springs. To leave the modern world behind entirely, venture into Southwest National Park – one of the world’s last great wild places – on foot or by boat, kayak or plane.

Float away Tasmania has no shortage of incredible coastlines, but even by this island’s standards, the south is a spectacular place to get out on the water. Follow the curves of the Huon River to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel with Peninsula Cruising; sail out of Franklin on a restored wooden ketch with Yukon Tours; join Bruny Island Cruises to glide beneath soaring sea cliffs and spot locals including fur seals and dolphins; or take up a paddle and discover calm rivers and still bays by kayak with Esperance Adventures. Wherever the tides lead, you won’t regret following.

Stay a while From secluded retreats with water views to B&Bs in quaint country towns, there’s many welcoming places to rest your head in Tassie’s south. Gather your favourite people for a group escape to The Jetty House, a heritage-listed homestead in Southport hugged by a deep verandah. Cosy up to long-lashed Highland cattle and alpacas with a farm stay at Highland Getaway in the Huon Valley. Or make it one for the memory books by securing Satellite Island – one of Australia’s most coveted private islands, found just off Bruny Island.

Find a feast Tasmania’s south is a gift from gourmet heaven. Craft a picnic from Huon Valley farm gates or don an apron at Farmhouse Kitchen and Fat Pig Farm cooking schools.

Nominate a driver and hit some of Australia’s southernmost vineyards (better yet, book StelaVino Wine Tours so everyone can relax and enjoy the ‘fruits’ of the region).

Or follow the Huon Valley Cider Trail to Pagan Cider, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed and Frank’s Cider House & Café. For more local spirit, Hartshorn Distillery crafts vodka and gin with sheep’s whey from its organic dairy and cheesery, Grandvewe; while Bakehouse Distillery in scenic Dover offers house-baked bread and a smallbatch spirit made with native sassafras. On Bruny Island, step off the ferry and tuck into oysters at Get Shucked and cheese at Bruny Island Cheese, paired with a drop from Bruny Island Premium Wines.

To plan your Southern Edge road trip, visit discovertasmania.com.au/ southern-edge

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

47

slug

YOUR TASSIE AUDIOLOGISTS

Follow Us

t a suppor

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Stock Limited. Only 10 Devices available!

Local Audiologists, Nick & Heidi Modrovich

Earwax Micro-suction Online Hearing Aid Pricing* Free/Subsidised Pensioner Aids* Children's Hearing Tests

Call 6118 2723 Glenorchy Medical Centre NEW Kingston Clinic in 2021!

*Conditions Apply

Show your RACT membership card and save when you choose one pair from the $149 range or above

Book an eye test online In store only. Price includes standard single vision lenses. Discount available on the frame, lenses and lens options. Excludes reglazes and safety eyewear. Present your valid Auto Club card to redeem. Offer available to primary card holder and one immediately family member. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer including two pairs for one low price.

50/ THE LATEST 52/

MEMBER REWARDS

54/ CHANGING GEARS

community 57/ PUZZLES

58/ REAR VIEW

Calling all learners

Licence? Check. L plates? Check. Free Keys2drive lessons? Check! Thanks to a recent funding boost for the national Keys2drive program, learner drivers can now redeem an extra free driving lesson. The additional session, called Plates Plus, will give learners even more experience behind the wheel – and when learning to drive, the more experience the better. During the first 12 months driving solo, newly licensed drivers are 30 times more likely to be injured in a crash compared to when they’re supervised on L plates. Our accredited instructors will use the extra lesson to teach learners lifelong driving skills and hopefully reduce young driver crash statistics. And students aren’t the only ones set to benefit. Keys2drive and Plates Plus lessons help parents and supervisors to brush up on their own skills, so they can provide higher quality driving supervision.

P For more information, visit ract.com.au/keys2drive ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

49

the latest.

Member profile

The world is their oyster but Devonport is the pearl Meet David and Jill Critchlow, proud nomads and RACT members who found their home in Tasmania.

David and Jill Critchlow in Canberra, 1970

David and Jill Critchlow don’t really believe in settling down. The pair met on a bus trip to Alice Springs in 1968. “And as they say, the rest was history,” David says.

They’ve had 48 addresses together; travelling the world, working as teachers and spending their retirement volunteering has certainly kept them busy.

David still recalls his first impression of Tasmania back in 1964, during a visit to Lords Hotel in Scottsdale.

“I sat on the verandah and counted about 38 different shades of green.

I was amazed.” After years of “wandering” from place to place, David and Jill decided to return to Tasmania and put down roots in Devonport. And it’s still ticking all the boxes. “It’s beautiful!”

David and Jill’s passion for helping others shines through their impressive volunteering CV. They started off as cataloguers for the Robinson Collection at the Devonport 50

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

“I sat on the verandah and counted about 38 different shades of green.

I was amazed.”

Regional Gallery, before a long stint with the Devonport Visitor Centre.

“We’d meet and greet people on their first day in Tassie. We’d tell them all about the island and would help them organise their holidays,” David recalls.

Years have been spent protecting nature at the beautiful Tasmanian Arboretum, as well as preserving history at the Latrobe Court House Museum, Home Hill and Bass Strait Maritime Centre. Jill also spent 10 years driving dialysis patients to Burnie, while David (still a teacher at heart) gives talks to seniors’ groups along the north-west coast on all

things history and language.

Something that has remained constant over the years, addresses and countries is their roadside membership. Growing up in the UK, David’s parents were members of the Automobile Association, so when David moved to Tasmania for his first teaching job in the 1960s, signing up with us wasn’t even a question.

Jill, meanwhile, has been covered since she was 16 after her parents suffered not one but two flat tyres on the same stretch of road in the Adelaide Hills. Despite a two-year break between her membership with the Royal Automobile Association in South Australia and RACT, all up Jill has been covered by an auto club for more than 66 years.

We love hearing about our members and what they’ve been up to. If you’ve got a great story you’d like to share with us, please send it to onehundred@ract.com.au

community

Team profile

Get to know...

Amanda Sansom

IF YOU’VE CRUISED the Gordon River on Spirit of the Wild, you’ve probably met Amanda Sansom.

Amanda has been with Gordon River Cruises for 12 years now and has achieved so much and shown such passion and determination.

Working towards her Master IV qualification, Amanda is well on her way to taking solo command of our award-winning vessel. She also received the Tourism Minister’s Young Achiever Award in November last year – a well-deserved celebration of her hard work.

“I was very shocked. I definitely didn’t think I’d receive something like this doing what I do. But I’m glad that we do get noticed over here on the west coast, it’s such a highly underrated place.

“I really enjoy skippering.

Sometimes it feels a bit surreal.

It helps that I’m surrounded by good people and I feel very lucky that I’ve got the opportunity to pursue this career.”

Growing up on boats in a family of cray fishermen, Amanda has boating in her blood. It seems natural that she calls the spectacular Gordon River her office.

“No day is the same on the Gordon River. Different people and different weather make each cruise unique.

The reflections when you first enter the river are an awesome sight. I’ve been cruising for more than 12 years and I’m not tired of it yet.”

We’re so proud of Amanda and can’t wait to see what her future holds. The next time you’re on Spirit of the Wild come and say hello.

You’ll find Amanda as crew leader in the galley or upper deck, or as skipper in the wheelhouse.

Local knowledge is best. Here are some of Amanda’s west coast highlights…

What’s your favourite thing to do on Tasmania’s west coast?

I like to go camping, fishing and motorbike riding – anything outdoors.

The best beach? Strahan’s Ocean Beach. You can’t beat the sunset view.

Best place for a meal? View 42°– for the food and the view.

I also can’t start my work day without a coffee from The Coffee Shack. It’s the best coffee in Strahan.

Best bushwalk? Montezuma Falls near Rosebery or Hogarth Falls in People’s Park, Strahan.

Hidden gem? Sir John Falls on the Gordon River. It’s a beautiful place.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

51

feeling good

Member rewards to better your health and wellness

SAVE

5%

STRETCH IT OUT The Studio HQ Transform yourself at The Studio HQ’s two chic locations or enjoy the convenience of The Studio online.

Get five private sessions when you sign up for an annual membership at The Studio HQ or get a month’s free access to The Studio online then 5% off the monthly subscription.* Visit ract.com.au/the-studio-hq

PAY

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SPEND TIME ON YOURSELF endota spa

Let one of Australia’s top beauty brands heal you from the inside out at endota spa Hobart. With Australian-made products and an extensive list of beauty treatments and massages available, you’ll emerge as a whole new you.

Work out on your schedule at Zap Fitness 24/7. Using your personal key, you can zap in any time and enjoy clean, convenient gyms with all the latest equipment.

Pay just $9.99 per week for an everyday 12 month membership and skip the start-up fee of $69.* See ract.com.au/zap-fitness

Save 15% on treatments and products at endota spa Hobart when you show your membership card to the team upon purchase.*

PROTECT YOUR HEALTH HCF We’ve partnered with HCF, Australia’s most trusted health fund^.

Claim up to $300 with families and couples cover or $150 with singles cover when you take out Hospital & Extras with HCF and stay for three months*.

Call 1800 789 121 or enquire online through HCF corporate.

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SAVE

10% UPDATE YOUR KIT Intersport Whether it’s footwear, equipment or apparel, Intersport has all your sporting and fitness needs covered with four locations across the state.

Get 10% off when you show your RACT membership card at the instore checkout.* See ract.com.au/intersport

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see ract.com.au/member-rewards for more details. ^Roy Morgan Net Trust Survey 2018 and 2019. 2020 survey did not take place.

52

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Mauro Risch; iStock.com

Discover more at ract.com.au/endota-spa

everyday rewards Save with these day-to-day rewards

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Get a free Smart Meter when buying a solar energy system from I Want Energy. Just show your membership card in-store when arranging a consultation.* Visit ract.com.au/i-want-energy

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Get 6% off 1st Energy’s market usage charges when you pay on time. Call the RACT member line 1300 106 014 or apply online via the RACT portal.* See ract.com.au/1st-energy

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Save a minimum of 10% on your stay at RACV Resorts, plus enjoy exclusive offers for golf and spa treatments. Take your pick of eight resorts, including five in Victoria, two in Queensland and RACV Hobart Hotel. Book online with RACV Resorts and select RACT as the membership type.* Discover more at ract.com.au/racv-resorts

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Save up to 10% when you buy eCards via the member benefits section of our Member Hub.* Go to ract.com.au/ecards

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53

community

Fuel fingertips Changing gears

BEAT THE BOWSER

blues with our new Fuel Saver app and website.

Story Alex Luttrell

at your

W

e’re continuing to push for fairer fuel prices across Tasmania through the creation of a new smart phone app and website.

We’ve recently launched the free RACT Fuel Saver app and website, which uses real-time fuel price data collected through the Code of Practice for Fuel Price Reporting introduced in September last year.

Real-time fuel price reporting means Tasmanians can go online and find the cheapest price in their area. This leads to greater fuel retailer accountability, which helps put downward pressure on prices.

Our app gives members and the broader Tasmanian community more opportunities to shop around and buy the cheapest fuel.

This will further contribute to a competitive

54

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

fuel market, which will drive fairer prices for motorists.

Our app and website provide additional services for members who can view discounted member fuel prices at United fuel locations.

The RACT Fuel Saver app also has: • The capability to search for fuel by suburb or postcode • The ability to filter by fuel type and view retailer locations on a map or toggle to a list view • The option to tap on desired fuel retailers to see up-to-date prices for all fuel types • The cheapest price in any area indicated with a red tick • T he ability to provide distance and directions to your selected fuel retailer.

community

Our calculations show that... during the four months since the real-time fuel reporting price scheme was introduced, Tasmanians overpaid

$945,000

for unleaded fuel, a notable decrease from the

$1.7 million

they were overcharged in the four months before fuel-price reporting.

In fact, motorists were overcharged

$0

for unleaded fuel during December and the first two weeks of January, which is a great sign that the initiative is working.

However, diesel continues to be a big concern, with motorists overcharged

$5.2 million

in the four months since fuel-price reporting. While this was a decrease from the

$6.1 million

motorists were overcharged in the four months before the scheme, these costs still remain far too high.

Our app and website is another step in the right direction to fairer fuel prices, with our modelling (left) showing that real-time fuel price reporting has helped reduce the cost of fuel for Tasmanians since coming into effect in September 2020.

Since November in particular, retail prices have remained steady despite increases in the wholesale price for unleaded and diesel. This has resulted in a significant drop in unfair fuel costs.

Our calculations (left) tell us that more action is needed to further reduce diesel prices, while also keeping up the momentum with unleaded prices. We believe real-time fuel price reporting is the key to achieving this, with our Fuel Saver app to put even more pressure on retailers moving forward.

We know this because similar schemes in New South Wales and Queensland have worked. The NSW FuelCheck platform has saved motorists $111 million per year, while a Queensland price-reporting trial saved motorists $122.8 million in just 12 months.

Download Get the RACT Fuel Saver app via the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Online Read more at ract.com.au/fuelsaver

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

55

advertorial

Truly Tasmania Pure air, beautiful scenery and a laid-back vibe – is there anything better than life in Tasmania?

Make the most of it with these Tasmanian experiences, services and products.

TASSIE TUNES Clarence Jazz Festival brings Hobart’s Eastern Shore to life from Wednesday 17 February to Sunday 21 February 2021. For its 25th year, the festival celebrates Tasmania's most incredible jazz musicians over five days, opening with a special event at piyura kitina (Risdon Cove) with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. The Twilight Series visits a winery and seaside park, the Jazz Lounge hosts special ticketed events and masterclasses while The Big Day at Kangaroo Bay will have you dancing ’til the stars come out. clarenceartsandevents.net

How sweet it is Valhalla Ice Cream have been manufacturing quality ice cream in Tasmania for the past 27 years. The secret to our success is in our ingredients; we use fresh, pure Tasmanian cream and source fruit and flavours from local suppliers wherever possible. valhallaicecream.com.au

56

TASMANIAN MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

WANT MORE FROM YOUR HOME?

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is a unique cultural tourism attraction, embracing the diverse treasures of art, history and science.

Just a short walk from anywhere on Hobart’s waterfront, the site includes some of the most significant heritage buildings in the nation. tmag.tas.gov.au

In just five days, the Turnaround Home Challenge will help you design your home into one that works to get you what you love in life. RACT members enjoy 65% off.

Join the challenge now for only $10. turnaroundhome.com/challenge

JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

puzzles

hgc002 1

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5

6

7

8

Quiz

9 10

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16 17

19 22

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21 2 Who designed what was considered the world’s first car?

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1 Where is Tasmania's capital situated – in the south-east, south-west, north-west or north-east?

4 Which yachtswoman was named 1988 Australian of the Year?

27

28

3 What type of creature is a thorny devil?

5 What is a decapod?

29

6 In which European city is the Anne Frank House?

Crossword

29 Neurological Across(6) disorder 1 State emphatically (6)

7 Pertainint to race 26 Feeling of listlessness and (6)(5) arisingculture from boredom

21 Device in which 8 Waste matter conveyed in water is boiled sewers (6) (6) who became the first 9 Sailor

8 Waste matter school (9) woman to circumnavigate the Refers conveyed inwith flies and 22world 28 Contaminated in 1988 to (6) that 10 At no future time (9) their eggs (8) sewers (6) 15 previously Part of a newspaper that isn't 1 Person suffering 11 Not in any way (colloq.) (5) 29 Neurological disorder (6) advertising (9) mentioned (6) 12 Device makes a warning 9 First woman to partial orthattotal 17 A stoppered glass container sound (5) Down memory loss (8) spirits (8) (colloq.)

23forMiserly circumnavigate 13 Exhilarating (9) 18 An 1 Person suffering partial or (6)equestrian event typically the world in 14 Having no comforts or 2 Having for children (8) total memory loss (8) luxuries (7) 1988 (6) symptoms of A person used by another 2520Edible pulpy partas 2 Having symptoms of high 16 Unit of power (4) a tool; dupe (4-3) temperature high temperature 19 Computing based on a form15 Part of a fruit (5) of a(8) 21 Device in which water is 3 To show or perform again (5) (8)of microprocessor (4) newspaper that boiled (6) 5 Strip of hair growing above 21 Graham ------- an Australian isn't advertising 22 Refers to that previously the eyes (7) 3 Tocomedian showand orTV star (7) mentioned (6) 6 Town on the banks of the (9) 24 Equivalent retaliation perform again 27 Ancient Greek wrestling

4 Consider again with new

Down information (8)

(colloq.) (3,3,3)

Hunter River, NSW (9)

(5)25 A term for the side of an 17 A stoppered 7 Pertaining to race and animal's body (5) culture (6) glass container 5 Strip of hair for spirits (8) growing above

23 Miserly (colloq.) (6)

25 Edible pulpy part of a fruit (5)

Want to find out how you did? Find the answers online at ract.com.au/puzzles

the eyes (7)

6 Large town on the banks of the

18 An equestrian event typically for children (8)

7 What is another name for Chinese parsley?

8 In which South American city are the beaches Copacabana and Ipanema?

9 Who wrote the novel The Harp in the South?

10 Which former TV host restored the Cremorne Orpheum cinema in Sydney?

WIN Put your knowledge to the test this issue and go into the draw to win one of two $50 Woolworths WISH Gift Cards. Please complete the online form to make a valid entry. T&Cs apply.

Good luck! ract.com.au/competitions

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

57

rear view.

Tasmania as captured by our talented members

PICTURED (clockwise from above) // Gina Hummerstone faced Hells Gates at the mouth of Macquarie Harbour in Strahan; @scammphotography came face-to-face with a

quoll on Bruny Island; David Waters caught the waratahs in bloom on Mount Arthur near Lilydale; Mary Ellen Doty snapped Maria Island’s Painted Cliffs in all their glory.

Want to see your photo here? Send your shots of our beautiful island to journeys@ract.com.au or tag us with both @ractofficial and #yourjourneys on lnstagram, Facebook or Twitter.

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JOURNEYS // FEB / MAR 2021

Manage your insurance online 24/7

BC . 6986

RACT Insurance Pty Ltd, ABN 96 068 167 804, AFS License 229076, is the issuer. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to decide if it is right for you. Obtain a copy from your local branch, call 13 27 22 or visit ract.com.au.