Today was one of those I can recommend to anybody. I had been suggested to take the plane ride offered by Par Avion, a company based at the Cambridge aerodrome, which handles helicopters and small planes, it is about 13 km from Hobart following the A3 motorway.
My flight was scheduled for 9 am, and as soon the weather report was favorable, the atwin engine plane was loaded with 5 passengers, it can take 7, this flight charges $495.00 Australian dollars and it is well worth it.
The pilot was a young woman, Beck, very well trained and kind, well informed, after take off we followed the coast which shows views of a myriad of islands, beaches, coves, the cape that represents the farthest South point in Australia, all the coast exposed to the open Southern ocean is denuded of vegetation because the average size of waves in good weather varies between 3 and 5 meters, meaning: this is a turbulent ocean. The rocky terrain indicates the volcanic origin of these islands, forming vertical geometric columns that adopt that shape due to the type of lava and the way it cools off. This I have seen in the North-West of the US in the Columbia River gorge, and it is due to the same phenomenon according to the geologists.
The sky increases in cloudiness and rain as you fly to the South West and in about one hour we were landing in a 400 meters wet dirt runway, there are mountains of different heights all around.
The runway was constructed by Danny King, son of Charles King a rugged tin miner who left a clear footprint in the area, there are books written about them from the 1930 forward.The runway has a cover from the leftovers of a tin mining operation and so are some trails, it is needed because the ground is boggy due to the frequent rains.
A tea was organized by the young pilots at the Danny King museum, accompanied by biscuits and cheese, you could ask for coffee instead.
Afterwards we were taken in a boat along the channels leading to the Bayhorst that eventually communicates with Port Devey, an open ocean port famous for its large waves and suddenly changing weather.
We encountered several motor and sailboats that sometimes have to wait for days in order to get a break in the weather, and lunch was arranged in one of the coves with fresh salmon, wine and juices. Different people have built cabins in this remote area and they let travelers use them as refuge in case of need.
While lunch was prepared we followed a trail up three small hills that provided us with an opportunity to take pictures of the magnificent views.
The whole area represents a fragile environment and people take extra care to preserve it, one of these programs is trying to increase the numbers of the Yellow belly parrot that is the only one in this part of the country, but the plants are very delicate and there are many ways that people can hurt them, one of them with the dirt in their shoes that spread fungus.
The pilots decided not to fly over Port Devey due to the cloudiness and rain and we flew back following the coast again , showing us different views of the islands, like the man made neck of the Bruny island, the Southern most cape, the oldest light house in Australia, a stubby, odd shepe tower which initially burned whale oil, the isolated island where two volunteers live and make the weather reports.
All in all an excellent day in Tasmania, tomorrow I will go to Port Arthur which is full of history as well.
My flight was scheduled for 9 am, and as soon the weather report was favorable, the atwin engine plane was loaded with 5 passengers, it can take 7, this flight charges $495.00 Australian dollars and it is well worth it.
The pilot was a young woman, Beck, very well trained and kind, well informed, after take off we followed the coast which shows views of a myriad of islands, beaches, coves, the cape that represents the farthest South point in Australia, all the coast exposed to the open Southern ocean is denuded of vegetation because the average size of waves in good weather varies between 3 and 5 meters, meaning: this is a turbulent ocean. The rocky terrain indicates the volcanic origin of these islands, forming vertical geometric columns that adopt that shape due to the type of lava and the way it cools off. This I have seen in the North-West of the US in the Columbia River gorge, and it is due to the same phenomenon according to the geologists.
The sky increases in cloudiness and rain as you fly to the South West and in about one hour we were landing in a 400 meters wet dirt runway, there are mountains of different heights all around.
The runway was constructed by Danny King, son of Charles King a rugged tin miner who left a clear footprint in the area, there are books written about them from the 1930 forward.The runway has a cover from the leftovers of a tin mining operation and so are some trails, it is needed because the ground is boggy due to the frequent rains.
A tea was organized by the young pilots at the Danny King museum, accompanied by biscuits and cheese, you could ask for coffee instead.
Afterwards we were taken in a boat along the channels leading to the Bayhorst that eventually communicates with Port Devey, an open ocean port famous for its large waves and suddenly changing weather.
We encountered several motor and sailboats that sometimes have to wait for days in order to get a break in the weather, and lunch was arranged in one of the coves with fresh salmon, wine and juices. Different people have built cabins in this remote area and they let travelers use them as refuge in case of need.
While lunch was prepared we followed a trail up three small hills that provided us with an opportunity to take pictures of the magnificent views.
The whole area represents a fragile environment and people take extra care to preserve it, one of these programs is trying to increase the numbers of the Yellow belly parrot that is the only one in this part of the country, but the plants are very delicate and there are many ways that people can hurt them, one of them with the dirt in their shoes that spread fungus.
The pilots decided not to fly over Port Devey due to the cloudiness and rain and we flew back following the coast again , showing us different views of the islands, like the man made neck of the Bruny island, the Southern most cape, the oldest light house in Australia, a stubby, odd shepe tower which initially burned whale oil, the isolated island where two volunteers live and make the weather reports.
All in all an excellent day in Tasmania, tomorrow I will go to Port Arthur which is full of history as well.
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| Bayhorst |
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| Airplane tour company |
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| My airplane |
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