We are thinking of a Tassie trip sometime soon (Winter - suckers for punishment) and hope to be lucky enough to see an aurora (never seen anyone).
Has anyone got any tips/pointers for this? Locations, photography, etc?
We should be doing a fly/drive style trip, so getting to places shouldn't be too hard. Also open to any suggestions for day time stuff as well - we tend to do nature and tech related items the most; maybe a little bit of history. Not really interested in art, music, entertainment that much.
Sounds like a great trip! I did a couple of weeks around Tas in a camper van a couple of years ago and it was awesome (no aurora though).
Anyway my small bit of advice would be get an app for your phone to alert you if there's a chance of aurora. I used "aurora buddy" on my Android phone on a recent trip to NZ and I was lucky enough to see the aurora then. I wasn't expecting to see it so if the app hadn't been hassling me I probably wouldn't have got out and checked when I did.
Going down past Margate seems popular. Also the signal station on Mount Nelson - anywhere away from the city that has a horizon view really. Sun alerts from the BOM are useful. Also there is a Tassie Aurora group you could contact (I think they are on FB)
Travel South from Hobart past Kingston on the Southern Outlet and continue.
There is a Facebook group called Aurora Australis Tasmania (follow the link) with close to 12,000 members. Worth requesting to join the group, introducing yourself and asking the same questions there. They also have an alerts group(strictly alerts only, zero general chat or photo's) that you might like to join too.
The Cascade brewery is worth a lunch stop - good food nice gardens lovely old building with tours available of the brewery.
Moorilla and the MONA worth a visit if you are artistically inclined.
Wrap up its getting cold down here
Sounds like a great trip! I did a couple of weeks around Tas in a camper van a couple of years ago and it was awesome (no aurora though).
Anyway my small bit of advice would be get an app for your phone to alert you if there's a chance of aurora. I used "aurora buddy" on my Android phone on a recent trip to NZ and I was lucky enough to see the aurora then. I wasn't expecting to see it so if the app hadn't been hassling me I probably wouldn't have got out and checked when I did.
That's a good idea. I'm on an IPS aurora mailing list, but I'll look into an Android app as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by graham.hobart
Going down past Margate seems popular. Also the signal station on Mount Nelson - anywhere away from the city that has a horizon view really. Sun alerts from the BOM are useful. Also there is a Tassie Aurora group you could contact (I think they are on FB)
Travel South from Hobart past Kingston on the Southern Outlet and continue.
My Tassie geography is pretty lame - thanks for that - I'll look on the map to understand your directions more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monstar
You could also visit the breweries and wineries, that should lose a day or two!
Some extra info for you: I'm the only driver; my wife can't drink (medical issues); and I hate beer and wine. Other than that, no worries!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrB
There is a Facebook group called Aurora Australis Tasmania (follow the link) with close to 12,000 members. Worth requesting to join the group, introducing yourself and asking the same questions there. They also have an alerts group(strictly alerts only, zero general chat or photo's) that you might like to join too.
Thanks for that, but I don't use facebook at all. Heresy, I know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by graham.hobart
The Cascade brewery is worth a lunch stop - good food nice gardens lovely old building with tours available of the brewery.
Moorilla and the MONA worth a visit if you are artistically inclined.
Wrap up its getting cold down here
While Vanessa is artistically inclined (I am not :p ), we generally don't bother with these things unless they're super special. Your mention of food reminds me that there's a chocolate factory down there, right? Might have to visit that.
I found an Aurora Australis Tasmania website (http://www.auroraaustralistasmania.org) and signed up for the mailing list. No other option other than facebook, which as I previously mentioned, I don't use. Thanks anyway.
One of the regular and popular spots is Tinderbox, approx 30 mins south of Hobart. The views to the south look down D'Entrecasteaux Channel with Bruny Island on the left. The attached photo provides the view from the beach on a windy day. There is one lone street light behind the spot where this photo was taken that does illuminate the jetty and yachts.
There are many excellent more elevated views without lights on the approach roads to this beach.
Of course experiencing auroras whilst you are here is pot luck - you needed to be here this last week as we were treated to extensive activity over two nights.
This is my backyard and the small classic wooden racing yacht, second from the left is my other passion!
One of the regular and popular spots is Tinderbox, approx 30 mins south of Hobart. The views to the south look down D'Entrecasteaux Channel with Bruny Island on the left. The attached photo provides the view from the beach on a windy day. There is one lone street light behind the spot where this photo was taken that does illuminate the jetty and yachts.
There are many excellent more elevated views without lights on the approach roads to this beach.
Of course experiencing auroras whilst you are here is pot luck - you needed to be here this last week as we were treated to extensive activity over two nights.
This is my backyard and the small classic wooden racing yacht, second from the left is my other passion!
Sounds great. I'm getting the idea that there's quite a few decent places around to get a good view.
As for getting an aurora - pot luck, yeah I know it, but at least I can try. I think we'll be in Tassie for about 10 or 11 nights I think, so we're giving ourselves a decent attempt at it.
As for yachts - well thanks to an inner ear infection many years ago, I just have to look at a boat and get sea sick these days. Very annoying when trying to do the tourist thing.
I was over for six nights in October last year. Not a thing happened.
Then, I landed back in Sydney, and sure enough, Aurora Forecast started going spastic on my iPhone. They were having a show as I moped back to my car at the airport!
She's a cruel mistress. Though, I had the last laugh; being treated to aurorae in Iceland on 75% of my trip.
Ha, nice "revenge". I admit one of the reasons we're doing this (besides wanting to see Tassie) is to get some cold weather travel experience before doing Europe in winter some time in the future, where I hope to see aurora as well.
Graz fromTAz!
Very annoying when trying to do the tourist thing.
