Robin Cartledge's Tasmanian Travel Guide

Giant delivers Tasrail's new locomotives 'MV Parsifal' the largest car carrier in the world and the largest ship ever to call into Bell Bay, today navigated the winding Tamar River delivering Tassie's new Locomotives. The 265-metre long 'MV Parsifal' spans nine decks with a cargo deck area the size of eight soccer fields with a draught of nearly 9 metres. Just 35 metres shorter than the Eiffel Tower, with a ramp that can handle the weight of 100 elephants she has an anchor that weighs 9.2 tonnes and  an engine which has the horsepower of 180 cars. Despite her gigantic size, the Parsifal will actually use 15 to 20% less fuel per transported unit compared to her predecessors due to her optimised hull shape and other energy saving features like the streamlined rudder design and duck tail which make her one of the most environmentally friendly ships in operation today. In addition, electricity will be produced from the exhaust heat on board thanks to an a...

Bass and Flinders prove Tasmania is an island    The Replica of the Norfolk in George Town   The 25 ton Colonial sloop Norfolk was built on Norfolk Island in 1798 and was constructed from Norfolk Island Pine. Flinders had been doing some exploring on his own and believed that he could prove that Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) was an island. Bass and Flinders convinced Governor Hunter that another expedition should be set up with a bigger boat and more men. The Circumnavigation Governor Hunter quickly put the Norfolk under the command of Matthew Flinders to be used as a survey vessel. From the Bass and Flinders Centre In 1798, Bass and Flinders sailed the Norfolk through Bass Strait and round Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), proving that it was an island.   They sailed with a crew of 8  right into the Tamar River and anchored off what is now George Town. This was to be their last voyage together as Bass disappeared mysteriously in the Pacif...

Is There Life After Death? Tree sculpture at East Beach     If the George Town/Low Head area is anything to go by, there certainly is. This is my second Australia Day back in Northern Tasmania and as I enjoyed the experience at the Low Head Pilot Station last year, I decided to do it again. Sadly, despite the weather being near perfect, the event fell far short of last year's, in almost every respect. I did one quick circuit of the precinct and left - the problem was probably the result of the present depressed nature of the region. Discovering East Beach East  Beach overlooking the Low Head Lighthouse   Rather than waste an outing, even though it is only a few kilometre drive, I took a left turn on the way home to look at a beach. I can be a bit slack and although it is only a longish walk from the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, I had not seen it. The beach sweeps east, from the point that houses the Low Head Lighthouse, in a 1.5 km crescent fr...

Australia Day 2013 at the Low Head Pilot Station  An impressive day in a most impressive location Low Head Pilot Station is the oldest existing group of Pilot Station buildings in Australia with its ongoing Pilot Service dating from 1805. What better venue, then, in which to celebrate Australia Day? The weather was balmy, the music wonderful, the food plentiful and the crowd, when not taking part in the many events, were in a relaxed and happy mood. . This large, functional and historic precinct was the venue for this year's Australia Day celebrations and for a municipality of around 6,500 people the turnout was excellent. I write and produce a website for our Community Radio Station and went along to the event to grab some photos for its Photo Album section. Just a short drive, or a longish walk, from the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, the precinct boasts, along with its ongoing Pilot Service which guides ships through the dangerous entry and journey down the Tama...

 Tasmanian Devil From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a meat eating mammal. It is also a marsupial, which means they have a small pouch to carry their babies. It is the largest meat eating marsupial in the world. They are nocturnal which means they sleep during the day and are awake during the night. They now live only in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. The devil is the same size as a small dog with a wide head and a short tail. Male devils can weigh 12 kg and be 30 cm tall. It has black fur and makes a loud and very scary screeching noise. It will hunt other animals and also feed on dead animals. The devil has strong teeth and jaws and will eat all its prey even bones and fur. Extinction The Tasmanian Devil became extinct on the Australian mainland about 400 years before European settlement in 1788. They were hunted in Tasmania; in the 1930's the Van Dieman's Land Company offered 25 cents for e...