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Natural State News
Issue 8 2007
New Gordon River Cruise Catamaran
The largest passenger vessel ever to operate on the Gordon River in Tasmania has been christened.
The $5 million three-level catamaran Eagle can carry 222 people. The vessel is the latest to be built for World Heritage Cruises, which has been operating in Tasmania’s World Heritage Area for more than 15 years.
The 35-metre ship will begin service in early December. The Eagle was named after the first vessel built and launched in Strahan by the Grining Brothers in 1897. The first Eagle used to ferry cargo and passengers to various outposts on Macquarie Harbour and the King and Gordon Rivers.
www.worldheritagecruises.com.au
Designer Jewellery in Singapore
Jeanette James makes shell necklaces which are a traditional Tasmanian Aboriginal art form. Through her work the past alchemises with the present.
Aboriginal custom dictates that these prized necklaces are made only by women and the skills and tradition have been passed through generations though there are few practitioners of this ancient art. Most, like James, think their ancestors walk with them when they are out collecting shells. Mariner shells are the most prized. The process of collecting them and making a necklace can take up to eight months.
The shells James collects become pieces similar to those she sees in museums. “I am so lucky to be one of the chosen few that are taught this art,” offers the artist. James and her mother collect shells for four to five months each year. They spend many hours searching favourite spots. “Sometimes we find enough shells to fit in the palm of the hand and we think we have had a good day. It’s a matter of continually looking – doing it continuously over the years.”
James’ work has recently been exhibited in Singapore along with the works of nine other Tasmanian artists. The exhibition, Singular and Multiple, included traditional indigenous shell necklaces and hand-crafted pieces that are as much sculpture as jewellery.
Curated by Kate Rhodes (Craft Victoria) and Brian Parkes (Object, Sydney) the project explored the thread between exhibition and production jewellery, that is, the singular and the multiple. The exhibition considered the differences that emerge in the construction of a collection.
The catalogue can be seen at:
www.artsatwork.com.au/singularandmultiple.htm
New Passes to Port Arthur Historic Site
New entry and tour packages will help visitors plan their sightseeing at the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Experience Passes offer a variety of options and experiences depending on the amount of time visitors have to spend at the Historic Site as well as their budgets.
There are three levels of passes - Gold, Silver and Bronze – all offering good value for money and ranging in price from $25 to $90.All Experience Passes provide admission to the Site for two consecutive days and include a copy of the site’s 36-page souvenir guide book. Families also receive a free copy of the Port Arthur Journey children’s activity book.
The Gold and Silver passes include a variety of tour options as well as lunch and refreshments at on-site cafés, while the Bronze pass offers the same access and activities as the existing site entry – at the same price. The Gold pass in particular really requires a couple of days at the Site.
The Historic Site has also adapted its evening restaurant operation to become part of the Experience Pass offer and to better meet the needs of visitors and locals.
Tasmania scooped three awards in the annual The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards for 2007 as voted for by readers of The Australian.
Tasmanian accolades include:
• Best Lodge Accommodation - won by The Lodge at Tarraleah in Tasmania's central highlands.
• Best Echo/Wilderness Experience – won by the Bay of Fires Walk on the state's north east coast.
• Best Food Experience – won by Launceston's Stillwater Restaurant and The Mill Providore.
In other awards, Tasmania's Temptations Holidays has won the coveted Harvey World Travel network 'Brochure of the Year' award again. It is the 10th time Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays has won the award in the past 12 years.
The votes are cast by consultants at Harvey World Travel’s network of more than 600 agencies.
Lyn McGaurr : 6230 8174
Henry Jones Art Hotel Joins Pure Tasmania
Flora de Kantzow, Chairman of the Henry Jones Art Hotel, and fellow Directors Richard Crawford and Signe de Kantzow, have pleasure in announcing the sale of the iconic and multi-award-winning The Henry Jones Art Hotel to The Federal Group.
Mrs De Kantzow said the development and creation over the past three-and-a-half years of The Henry Jones Art Hotel had been a great passion and a very rewarding project, winning 62 international, national and state tourism and architectural awards.
“This has been truly amazing and we’re extraordinarily proud of the awards received. Importantly, these prestigious awards have played a valuable role in putting Tasmania on the world map as a significant tourism destination. Our warmest thanks go to all in Tourism Tasmania for their support and promotion of The Henry Jones Art Hotel,” Mrs De Kantzow said.
“The Federal Group’s impressive marketing initiatives and experience in the Tasmanian hospitality industry, combined with the continued commitment of staff, will ensure The Henry Jones Art Hotel’s ongoing success,” Mrs De Kantzow said.
The Henry Jones Art Hotel is to be marketed under the Pure Tasmania brand.
“On behalf of my fellow Directors, Richard Crawford and Signe de Kantzow, I wish The Federal Group every success as the new custodians of The Henry Jones Art Hotel,” Mrs De Kantzow said.
Paula Catchpole: (03) 6225 7556/0419 411 665
Next Devil Insurance Population
Planning is under way for the next major intake of Tasmanian devils from the wild as part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s Insurance Population Strategy.
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Manager Steven Smith said up to 100 devils will be brought in from the wild as part of the intake with the first stage to begin in late January.
Dr Smith said the intake is part of the Insurance Population Strategy, developed with the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA), which identified the need to build on the number of devils already in the insurance population.
“Last year and early this year 48 Tasmanian devils were sent to wildlife parks on the mainland as part of establishing an insurance population,” Dr Smith said. “The Insurance Strategy identifies a range of options that can be considered to build this insurance population up. These options include both intensively managed populations as well as extensively managed. However the immediate priority is to build up the intensively managed population.”
Lyn McGaurr : 6230 8174
Carole and John Furlow have created a 'Truly-Tassie Devil’ hat made from Tasmanian fine wool. Their working art studio at Beaumaris near St Helens opened on 1 December and will be open on weekends from 10am to 4 pm (other times by appointment only). A percentage of the profits from the hats and other products will be donated to a devil facial tumour disease fund operated by the University of Tasmania. The hats are proving to be quite popular and being sent around the world, including to the Danish royal family. The hats cost $125.
Carole & John Furlow: 6372 5395
Webber’s ChallengeF1-racer Mark Webber, Olympic athletes Tatiana Gregorieva, Michael Klim and James Tomkins, model and triathlete Grace McClure, television personalities Tiffany Cherry and Greg Rust, car racers Alex Waters and Chris Wootton, and corporate teams have completed this year’s Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge. The 2theXtreme Cup was won by Richard Ussher and his adventure-racing wife Elina. The corporate race was won by the Telstra team.
The race may have finished in Hobart on November 23 but the event is not completely over. Webber hopes to raise more than $500,000 for the Leukemia Foundation as well as the Save the Tassie Devil fund.
Donations can be made until the lead-up to the 2008 FI Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Moto Adventure TasmaniaMoto Adventure Tasmania opened for business in November. This motorcycle touring is a start-up company by local Ian Sylvester who refined the concept while touring in Mexico and the United States by motorcycle last year.
Moto Adventure is offering motorbike rental, fully guided, self-guided and custom tours; the business is based in Hobart. A nine-day guided tour will include:
• Airport pickup service
• Quality hotel accommodation, starting and finishing in Hobart (breakfasts included)
• Welcome and farewell dinners featuring local produce
• Quality BMW enduro motorcycle less than one year old (a choice of F650GS or R1200GS)
• Full-face helmet, motorcycle jacket and waterproof oversuits
• Daily strip maps
• A professional guide
• A safety vehicle equipped with a motorcycle trailer
Guests will stay at Port Arthur, Coles Bay, Launceston, Cradle Mountain, Strahan, and Hobart. All accommodation will be 3½ and 4-star.
Melbourne to Hobart Yachts Sail East Coast for First Time
The Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race will sail down the east coast of Tasmania for the first time this year.
This is the 36th year the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS), in partnership with the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, has run the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. In all previous years the yachts have sailed down the west coast.
Also this year, Events Tasmania will fund the design of a new medal to be awarded to participants who have completed a number (10 years for women and 25 years for men) of Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Races.
Lyn McGaurr : 6230 8174
Tiger Airways Flying to Hobart from January
Tiger Airways will begin daily flights from Melbourne to Hobart from 15 January 2008.
The inaugural Hobart flight will follow just a month and a half after Tiger made its first flight between Launceston and Melbourne (29 November 2007).
An innovative audio tour of the Heritage Highway was launched in November.
The iWalk audio tour of seven towns incorporates facts, landmarks, points of interest, historic information and story-telling scripted from historical records.
Visitors will be able to download the tour from the internet before they leave home or pick up a recorded copy at an information centre in Tasmania.
The iWalk has been developed by iWalk Tours, with assistance from the Heritage Highway Tourism Region Association and Tourism Tasmania.
Lyn McGaurr : 6230 8174
Penghana and QueenstownIn Queenstown, Penghana combines four-star bed and breakfast accommodation with fine dining in a National Trust Mansion (Queenstown).
Penghana was built in 1898 as the residence for the general manager of the Mt Lyell Mining company. Historic photographs, antique furniture and mine memorabilia document this Grand Dame’s existence.
Guests can enjoy a fine dinner in a stately dining room, a private guest lounge, a game of billiards or a complimentary glass of port. Breakfasts are included in the tariff and evening meals are provided by arrangement.
The Wilderness Railway, World Heritage rainforest areas, Strahan, Macquarie Harbour and the magnificent Gordon River are just some of the attractions nearby, making Penghana an ideal base to explore the West Coast.
Check the Events Tasmania website for upcoming events
For further information:
travelmedia.tourismtasmania.com.au
www.discovertasmania.com
www.eventstasmania.com