First posted on March 10, 2013
I didn’t have to go out of my way to spend a bit of time on the water in Hobart. There was the trip to Peppermint Bay, what is basically a commuter run up to MONA and back, and an hour and a half (with the Sara Lee cheesecake morning tea!) slowly chugging not too far from Sullivans Cove: a loop to Sandy Bay, around and under the bridge, and back again. The last was in lieu of my planned little jaunt up to the top of Mt Wellington. When I woke up on the Monday morning the mountain (more of a hill!) had disappeared. It finally showed itself about midday when the cloud/fog lifted but by then it was too late if I was going to make it to the airport on time.
Heading south to Peppermint Bay was scenic without being spectacular.
 |
| Hobart, south of Wrest Point casino |
 |
| A shot tower, of all things |
For the cruise we settled on the mid-price tickets but the cheapest would have been fine. And, if like me you like being outside on deck, the cheapest seats don’t matter at all. Whatever price seats, everyone had the same meal. There was a commentary most of the way there. We stopped at a few spots for various explanations. One was the composition of the rock. Can’t remember it all, of course, but in places there is a base of Jurassic dolerite, supposedly occurring in only a few places but Google seems to think a few more than a few. This base was a light charcoal grey and the rocks above were your usual dusty fawn/grey shades coloured with various lichens – not the gorgeous iron red of the Kimberley.
 |
| Not as colourful as the Kimberley |
At one point a camera was dropped into the water with video appearing on screens in the cabin. There were quite a few fish – of the ‘ordinary’ variety that untalented school children like me draw. Then we chanced upon quite a few very different fish whose name I can’t remember, but looking quite tropical in distinctly untropical waters! A rare sighting, we were told.
 |
| Fancy fish |
 |
| The good life |
As already noted, lunch at Peppermint Bay was superb. Afterwards we had about 20 minutes to “explore the town” - of note, the craft chop and the old fashioned lolly shop. No! The supposedly locally made craft had a horrible (and I mean that literally) resemblance to mass-produced Chinese junk. And the lolly shop – the local general store with some dusty jars of old-fashioned lollies were in the window. The short time would have been much better spent relaxing on the restaurant terrace, having an extra coffee or drink, soaking up the view, or strolling in the grounds and stumbling upon sculptures.
 |
Peppermint Bay restaurant,
including oh-so-pleasant terrace
|
 |
Sleeping Buddha
|
 |
Shell carved from tree stump
|
The return trip included a quick stop at Bruny Island to pick up some people who had been sightseeing there and then past some salmon farms.
 |
| Farming salmon |
The trip was done at higher speed and into the wind. I loved it but did go down from the top deck, where I was alone – I thought I could well be blown overboard and no one would know. Someone had left a glass there on a ledge. As I went to pick it up the wind got it and smashed it to the ground. I’m sure the steward I reported it to thought I dropped it! So the bulk of the journey was spent standing at the front of the boat with a couple of other hardy women. Occasionally someone would come and join us but they soon disappeared again – until they all came out for photo ops once we reached the shelter of Sullivans Cove.
 |
| Tasman Bridge |
