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Natural State News
Issue 13 2008
Mark Webber Racing to Tassie
It’s less than two months to the next Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge (19-23 November, 2008).
The fourth Webber Challenge will visit Cradle Mountain, Barrington, Launceston, Port Arthur and Hobart. Webber and Co. will mountain bike, kayak, abseil and trek over a 250km course. There are two races within the one event. Teams made up of professional athletes race for the 2theXtreme cup while corporate entries race for the Van Dieman Cup.
Webber and some 70 professional athletes, celebrities and corporate entrants will compete in the annual five-day challenge. AFL footballers Glenn Archer and Leigh Colbert (both recently retired), Michael Milton, multiple gold medal winning Paralympian, and rowers David Crawshay and Scott Brennan, gold medallists from the Beijing Olympics, will be on the start line.
Competitors are not spending all their time racing though. Each day the adventure racers return to a base camp where they reacquaint with masseurs and fuel up on local gourmet produce prepared by the event’s travelling chef.
The Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge is an event designed to take competitors out of their comfort zones and yet despite the sweat and blisters some participants enthusiastically described the 2007 event as life changing.
The Mark Webber pure Tasmania Challenge is also a fund raiser for charity. Since the inaugural event in 2003 the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge has raised over $1 million for Australian charities. This year the event will distribute funds to the Leukaemia Foundation and the Save the Tassie Devil Appeal.
Rob Pennicott’s Eco-adventures Team Wins National Awards
The Pennicott family’s journey to success in the nation’s most prestigious business awards began nearly a decade ago, when Rob Pennicott established the Bruny Island Charters eco-adventure. Last year he extended his operations to the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck with Tasman Island Cruises.
The quality and environmental sustainability of his team’s tourism operations were acknowledged in Sydney on 10 October, with wins in two major national awards – the Telstra MYOB Small Business Award for businesses with five to 20 employees; and the Telstra Sensis Social Responsibility Award for demonstrated leadership and contribution by a business to the environment, people, education or the community.
The majority of Rob’s employees live on Bruny Island or the Tasman Peninsula. “As residents, all of us have a special commitment to our home regions that only real locals understand,” he says. “In our first year, we carried just 1200 passengers,” Mr Pennicott says. “But last season we were privileged to show more than 28,000 visitors the wonderful remote coastlines of south-east Tasmania.”
Before establishing Bruny Island Charters, Rob Pennicott worked as a fisherman off the coast of South Bruny Island, so he knows every nook and cranny of the coastline. His love of the wild environment and its abundant marine wildlife encouraged him to share it with visitors – and to do so in an environmentally-sensitive way. His concern for the sustainability of the Bruny community and the island environment led him to direct growth into his new eco-adventure, Tasman Island Cruises.
As a key part of that initiative, he has carried through the company’s sound environmental principles, establishing the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund, through which a proportion of every ticket sold is used to conserve and protect the coastal environment that his cruises explore. Up to June 2007, the Pennicott family had donated $40,000 to the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund.
www.brunycharters.com.au
www.tasmancruises.com.au
Cradle Mountain Photographic Exhibition and Workshop
Award winning photographer Darran Leal will be holding a ‘Wild Visions’ photo exhibition from 31 October (2008) at The Wilderness Gallery, part of the Cradle Mountain Chateau.
Leal has travelled the world for over 30 years shooting spectacular wilderness and wildlife images. Variously he has been commissioned by Qantas, Australia Post and Australian Geographic and his images have been published around the world including over 100 magazines, calendars, and books. He writes regular features for Better Photography and Total Image Magazines.
This new exhibition was in part inspired by a shoot where Leal was one of 17 photographers from around the world who travelled to Tasmania on the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Adventure. The worldly snappers travelled across Tasmania trialling a new program for the software giant.
Tasmania provided plenty of material for Leal and his colleagues. “I have always been attracted to Tasmania’s stunning wilderness regions and its incredible wildlife”, Leal said. “It is a unique destination to shoot because it offers beautiful soft light with the many changes to both environment and weather conditions. Tasmania was the first place I travelled to after leaving school in 1979. I am excited to be back to showcase my exhibition in the Wilderness Gallery near Cradle Mountain – a place which I feel inspires creative people and adventurers to enjoy and appreciate nature.”
Leal will run a photographic workshop to coincide with the exhibition. The snapper has led over 300 photo events to several countries. The workshop will include three full and intense days of shooting Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain, as well as wombats, wallabies and other stunning creative subjects.
The photographic workshop will be held from November 1-3 (2008). The cost, $990 per person twin share, includes class tuition, three nights’ accommodation and breakfast. Airfares and transport are not included.
Leal’s passion for Tasmania has also inspired him to donate a percentage of all sales from his exhibition to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal – a fund established to help save the Tasmanian devil from the devastating effects of a facial tumour disease, which threatens to wipe out wild Tasmanian devil populations.
julia@safariwise.com.au
www.safariwise.com.au
www.tassiedevil.com.au
Happy Birthday Devil Park
The Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park celebrated its 30th anniversary in October with the opening of a new entrance walkway and the installation of 20 nest breeding boxes for the endangered swift parrot.
The developments are part of a revolutionary new rebuild of the park which will see visitors being put inside old animal enclosures and the animals in large habitats on the outside, innovative digital interpretation and more than 20 presentations and guided tours each day. The new concepts are part of a master plan by leading international landscape and zoo architect, Jon Coe.
When construction of the original park started at Taranna on Tasman Peninsula on 1 October 1979 the park was the world's first Tasmanian devil centre. It has been successful in breeding Tasmanian devils in most years since and presently is the only devil disease-free wildlife park in an isolated disease-free region.
During its 30 year life the park has hosted more than a million visitors including the King of Tonga, the Crown Prince of Thailand, the President of Ireland, former PM Gough Whitlam, ambassadors and TV crews by the score, media identities John Laws and Philip Adams and a host of movie personalities.
"The tourism industry has changed a huge amount in three decades," park director John Hamilton said. "I recall having a leaflet printed and being told by a rental car company - Oh, you have your own brochure. That's a good idea!"
The new park displays and six language interpretations will be progressively opened throughout late 2008 and 2009. The Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 9am to 5pm, later in summer. Entry costs $24 adults, $13 children, $59 for families. Call 1800 641 641 for bookings and daily details.
The Peninsula
The Peninsula is opening in November. The beautifully remodelled farmhouse, circa 1900, is at Dover, one hour south of Hobart.
An exclusive hideaway for up to three couples, this property’s charms include privacy and seclusion. It is surrounded by some 70 ha of wilderness. The only neighbours are long time local families of; bandicoots, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, echidnas and wombats and eagles.
The fully renovated farmhouse offers king-size beds in all three bedrooms (one with en-suite), an additional bathroom, a fully equipped modern kitchen, huge lounge and dining area and an expansive timber deck (complete with outdoor spa) on three sides of the house. There are views across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Port Esperance Bay to the Hartz Mountain Range and the South West Wilderness reserve.
The Peninsula is an ideal base from which to explore Tasmania’s south including Hastings Caves, the Tahune Airwalk and Cockle Creek. The fishing village of Dover is only five minutes away by car.
The Peninsula costs for $525 per night (minimum two night stay) for a couple. Extra adults are charged $40 per person per night.
Restaurant at Corinna
The Tarkine Hotel and the Tannin Restaurant opened at Corinna in September. The pioneer gold mining settlement of Corinna snuggles up next to the Pieman River and is on the southern fringe of the Tarkine, one of the world’s last remaining tracts of cool-temperate wilderness.
The opening of the Tarkine Hotel complements the refurbishment of miners' cottages and 14 new luxury wilderness retreats. The owners of the Corinna Wilderness Experience have developed their project to sound environmental principles. It is powered by an eco-friendly solar system (there are back-up generators) and all waste is removed from site. The owners have also given any new buildings a historical perspective. The Tarkine Hotel looks as though it has been around as long as some of the original miners’ cottages. A film set designer was used as a consultant to help make the hotel look suitably aged. It will become a new focal point for Corinna, allowing locals and visitors to mingle and add their own to the new/old hotel’s ambience.
Given that many of Corinna’s visitors use the place as base for forays into the parts of the Tarkine, the hotel’s food is, appropriately, far more hearty than haute cuisine. It’s simple, local and good.
The one bedroom retreats at Corinna cost $175 per night
The two bedroom retreats, suitable for four people, cost $225 per night
Eagles Nest II
Eagles Nest Retreat, 25 minutes’ drive south of Devonport, offers contemporary accommodation with sensational mountain views. The place takes its name from the local wedge-tailed eagles but the 186m² house is more known for its huge ceilings and massive windows. The two bedrooms have king and queen size beds. There is an outside spa. The sofa rotates 360 degrees.
This private luxury retreat, where guests are offered massages and a private chef, opened in 2002. A sister property has recently opened.
The new property, Eagles Nest II, cost some $1 million to build. Almost all of the 289 metres² layout comes with million dollar views of beautifully imposing Mount Roland.
This property is furnished with bespoke features and is finished with artisanal workmanship and creative design. The upstairs reading loft features Middle Eastern furnishings. The African wing has a king-size bed and rustic stone and wood work on the bed head and around the open fireplace. African artefacts and artwork adorn the walls. The African experience includes an outside shower featuring local stone. There are spas inside and one outside by a small lake.
Eagles Nest II was inspired by the owners’ travels; the world on the inside, Tassie on the outside. Former dairy farmer Des Brown built Eagles Nest I. Brown’s daughter and husband are responsible for Eagles Nest II.
Packages from $620 a night per couple include dinner. Three couples can stay for $1020 per night. The price is reduced by $100 for the second night and slides every night thereafter. 3-4 nights stays cost: $495.00 per night per couple. Those keen to linger over the beauty of Eagles Nest II pay $440 per night for seven nights.
Check the website for packages and prices.
Prized Platypus
Bernard Atkins regularly encounters what might be Australia’s largest platypus. Frederik is some half-metre long and weighs about 3kg.
Tasmanian platypus (apart from those on King Island) are definitely bigger than their mainland cousins. They might well be more productive. Frederik has a harem of three females. All three have been named Mary.
Frederik and Mary(s) are regularly seen on Atkins’ three hour platypus and penguin tour out of Stanley. Spotting a platypus, or any animals, on a wildlife tour can never be guaranteed but Aitkins thinks there is a 98% chance of seeing at least one of Frederik or Mary(s) with his tour.
Aitkins’ Platypus and Penguin tour leaves daily. Two hours are spent with the platypus and an hour is spent with the 60-70 little penguins on the reserve at the base of Stanely’s iconic Nut. The tour costs $50 for adults, $25 children (up to 14 years), $150 for a family of five.
Phone: (03) 6458 2038
www.wildernesstasmania.com
A New Targa
A new tarmac rally, Targa Wrest Point – a sister event to Targa Tasmania – will be held over the weekend of 31 January to 1 February (2009).
The short course event will consist of 13 stages around Hobart and the Huon Valley. The 30 km twisting road from Geeveston to the Tahune Airwalk will be closed and used for the Targa.
Event Director, Mark Perry, said access to the legendary piece of road was a major coup for the rally. “This piece of road has not been used in a rally since it was sealed some years ago, and competitors have been eyeing it off ever since,” Perry said.
Wrest Point General Manager, Mike Davey, says his company is right behind the new event. “We have been excited by this project from the moment it was presented to us,” Davey said.
Targa Wrest Point is expected to attract a top field that will use the event as their major preparation for Targa Tasmania (held annually in April). “We’re expecting all the usual big names, including eight-time Targa Tasmania champions, Jim Richards and Barry Oliver, at the start line on the last Saturday in January,” Perry said.
Mark Perry: (03) 6221 8888/0424 136 301 m.perry@octagon.com
New Luxe Walk
This summer Tarkine Trails, pioneers of guided walks in the Tarkine region, will introduce their six day fully accommodated, vehicle supported walk, the Tarkine Explorer.
The Tarkine is one of the last tracts of temperate rainforest in the world, a wilderness of international significance. Working closely with award-winning architects Morris Nunn and Associates, the owners of Tarkine Trails, Mark Davis (Darvis), Rob Fairlie and Simon Townsend, have designed and are preparing to install, light weight demountable structures at their remote Tiger Ridge rainforest camp.
Six large canvass tents, complete with beds and comfortable mattresses will rest on stylish timber
platforms hidden deep within the forest. The camp, complete with kitchen, lounge and dining space, will shelter guests under a thick forest, where the tallest trees tower some 80 metres above the standing camp. A fine setting for fine Tasmanian food and wine.
Two nights will be spent in the camp, two nights at the former gold mining town of Corinna near the mid-west coast of Tasmania, and the final evening stay will be at Arthur River, near the northern boundary of the Tarkine.
The itinerary for the six-day Tarkine Explorer tour includes:
Day 1: Travel from Launceston to hidden base camp (Tiger Ridge) deep within the Tarkine forest.
Day 2: Walk from base camp to the remote Huskisson River.
Day 3: Depart forest, day walk to Mount Donaldson for extraordinary views over the Tarkine. Night at Corinna.
Day 4: Pieman River cruise and day walk along a part of the Tarkine coast. Night at Corinna.
Day 5: Drive north on remote Western Explorer road. Night feeding of wild Tasmanian devils. Night at Arthur River.
Day 6: Short forest walks near Lake Chisholm, a sink hole lake surrounded by lush forests, and Julius River. Return to Launceston.
There will be a maximum of 10 clients on any trip.
The Tarkine Explorer tour costs $2299 and includes the services of two professional guides, food, accommodation, all transport and the devil experience. A back pack, waterproofs, bedding, torch and walking poles are also included. The tour starts and finishes in Launceston. It is anticipated the first Tarkine Explorer tour will leave on 15 February 2009.
Mark Davis: (03) 6223 8740
www.tarkinetrails.com.au
Ride On
A new free touring map for cyclists will be released at the GOBike Expo in Melbourne on 18-19 October.
This one-stop touring brochure will be gold for cyclists pedaling their way around Tassie. Elevations for individual sections are included. “It took a lot of work,” said Sam Denmead who coordinated the painstaking recording of elevation charts and route selection to produce the map in partnership with Tourism Tasmania.
The brochure covers touring routes all over ‘mainland’ Tasmania as well as on King and Flinders Islands. There are suggestions for side trips, alternate routes and ‘things to see and do’.
The brochure will also be distributed at the Adventure Travel Shows in Sydney on 15 November, and Brisbane 22 November and will be available for download from www.discovertasmania.com after its release.
Almost 22, 000 visitors enjoy a cycling experience each year in Tasmania. Given the eco-friendly ways of a pedal power holiday and the quality of the brochure the numbers might be on the rise.
Sam Denmead:0400 224 942
Media Contact:
Sonia Rendigs at Media Moguls: (03) 9836 2167
sonia@mediamoguls.com.au
Download: High-resolution images from Tourism Tasmania's Visual Library.
Check the Events Tasmania website for upcoming events:
www.eventstasmania.com
For further information:
travelmedia.tourismtasmania.com.au
www.discovertasmania.com