Tasmania Trip in Four Days

It has been so long I have not written about my travelling journal. So, here I am writing it again. 😆

Alhamdulillah, I officially finished my first year of the degree. This semester was tough and challenging for me. To appreciate myself, I plan a trip to refresh my mind. Directly after I finished my last exam, I planned this trip with Kak Dina and Kak Anin. We had a plan to have a trip together after the exam, but hadn't planned anything, even about the destination. Thus, this trip was only planned a week beforehand. Overall, I am so glad that finally we chose to go to Tasmania. This place is really beautiful!

Day 1: Hobart City

We departed from Melbourne at 7.15 AM from Tullamarine Airport and landed in Hobart, Tasmania around 8.30 AM. We booked the Airbnb in West Moonah and went there directly from the airport using Uber. I can recommend my place to stay as it was really convenient and clean. The host was so nice as well. Click the link for more information: Airbnb West Moonah, Hobart .

On the first day, we spent the time to explore Hobart city. As we hadn't rented the car on the first day, we tried to use public transport (bus) to the city. The bus stop is located near the homestay. However, the bus frequency is very rare considering the small city. Most of people use their own car. We did not need to buy the card as we can pay the bus driver in cash. For one ride, we payed $2.4.

Our first destination was MONA Museum. To get there, we should transfer to the other bus route and need to pay twice. Thus, actually the price of using Uber was not too expensive compared to using the bus. MONA Museum is a very cool museum I've ever visited in Melbourne. With only $27, we can explore so many things. This money is so much worth it. The building seems to be so small from outside, but actually it has a broad place inside as it uses underground level. It offers exhibition from a wide range of theme. We were provided with a device to learn more about the exhibition. 

After MONA, we went to Salamanca to have lunch. Since the bus frequency was less, we decided to take Uber which was more convenient. On Sunday, this area is occupied for Salamanca market. However, on the other day, we can enjoy many restaurants along this area. After looking for a place, we finally decided to eat fish and chips around the pier. 

We then took a bus again to visit Tasmania Royal Botanical Garden. For me, this place is very beautiful compared to the other royal botanical garden that I have visited before. Or maybe because it has been spring while my visit to the other garden was on the winter. However, this garden offers different style from Japanese to French garden. I really like it. 

Day 2: Mount Wellington - Port Arthur

We rented the car from Europcar for the trip onwards as the locations are hard to be reached by public transport. The car rent in Tasmania is very convenient since we can book it in Hobart and return it in Launceston which was suitable with our trip route. We got a brand new Baleno car which the initial distance was only 10km. Our first destination in the second day was Mount Wellington where we could see Hobart's view from the top. From Hobart city, it took about half an hour to reach Mount Wellington. The view was soooo magnificent!! And we did not have to pay anything for this.

Our next stop was Port Arthur. It was a small area for former convict settlement built during the British Empire. We reached there in 2 hours from Mount Wellington. In Port Arthur, we had a walking tour and listened to the story about this heritage area. This site is very wide and we can take a look to the buildings and houses there. The place is very beautiful and really put into a good care. We also took a ferry to see small islands around the site which includes the cemetery island and other important site. We paid $32 for all this package. Exploring this wide site took a lot of time, but I really enjoyed it.

Day 3: Wine Glass Bay - Cataract Gorge

On the third day, we went to the north. Our first destination was Wine Glass Bay. I drove around 2.5 hrs to get there. The view along the way was soooo beautiful. I really enjoyed my drive since the road was not full of cars, thus it was not boring at all as I could drive smoothly. Things I realized when I was there, I saw so many dead animals on the road. How sad. They must be out during the night, while the road has no road lighting. 

Once we arrived, we went to the visitor centre to buy the ticket. We paid vehicle ticket which includes the passengers, $24. Wine Glass Bay is a part of Freycinet National Park. Unfortunately, we arrived at Wine Glass Bay when it was so cloudy. It was even raining at first. To get to the lookout, we did trekking for about 1.5 hrs return. Maybe because it was so cloudy, the view was not as good as I thought. The water was not that blue. The view reminded me of Pulau Padar, Labuan Bajo, which for me is way more beautiful hehe. However, I really enjoyed my trekking there. We also found several animals such as wallaby and echidna! How cute!

After that, we continued our trip to Cataract Gorge in Launceston. From Wine Glass Bay, it took around 2 hrs to get there. It is a free big public reserve. There is a sky lift there to enjoy the view from the top. However, when we got there around 5.15 PM, it had been closed. Thus, we just walked around to enjoy the scenery. We even found peacock there! And he was set free. This place is very suitable to relax with family. It has a big pool and even public BBQ spot.

We had a dinner in Launceston city before going to our Airbnb. The city was small and quiet at night. Although we did not have a lot of options for dinner, luckily we found a good Thai restaurant. We then took about 1.5 hrs to get to our Airbnb in Barrington. We wanted to save our time by choosing the place which only 1 hr away from Craddle Mountain, our next destination. Barrington area is in the suburb. As we drove at night, we just relied on our car light. Our Airbnb is quite unique. We stayed in eco-friendly homestay which even has composting facility for their toilet. It was like back to nature since this place has no wifi and there is no data signal in that area. Click this link for more information: Airbnb Barrington.

Day 4: Craddle Mountain

This was our last day in Tasmania and I was so excited to go to Cradle Mountain. It took about 1 hr from Barrington. In the morning, we could see so many farms with many cows, sheeps, and Llamas along the way. It was so cold in the morning and little bit cloudy. Once we arrived, we purchased the ticket in the visitor centre. Since on the other day, we had gone to Freycinet National Park, here we could get the discount since Cradle Mountain includes in Tasmania parks and wildlife service. We got $10 discount which was not too bad for us.

In Cradle Mountain area, there are several points to explore. People usually spend days to explore this place. However, we had no time for that. Thus, we just picked the most popular ones. There was a shuttle bus which brought us to several different points from the visitor centre. First, we went to Dove Lake which is the most popular destination. We took 3 hrs walk around the lake. I really enjoyed my walk and the view I could see from the different angle of the lake. We entered the bush and forest, went up, and went down again.

Actually I would love to walk around wombat area, however we did not have time. Thus, we just took another 20 minutes in Enchanted Walk to enjoy the river. But, we did see wombat from the bus! We then had our lunch in visitor centre and directly went back to Launceston Airport which took 2 hrs from there. It was not that surprising that our speedometer had reached more than 10,000 kilos when we returned this new car hahaha. 

Alhamdulillah I got the opportunity to go to Tasmania this year. This place is so adorable. All the nature beautiful scenery are so enjoyable. One of the best thing is that all the places are super clean. Thanks to Kak Anin and Kak Dina who made everything was so easy and absolutely fun. In total, we drove more than 10,000 in four days and at least walked 15,000 steps per day. I love this trip so much! Really want to go to NZ next year. Hopefully I have another opportunity to go! :)

Melbourne - Home for Two Years

I realize that I haven't updated my blog ever since I came to Melbourne for studying. I came here on January 2019 and after almost a year, I am pretty much enjoying my life. Well, this is my first time living far away from my parents. Let's say that my time in Jakarta was not counted since my parents visited me often while having their business trip and I came home often as well. I spent my whole life with them and living far away from them becomes my major challenge which I have learned to manage. 

I come here for pursuing my 2 year master degree which hopefully will be finished by the end of the next year. This is my second time coming to Melbourne, but this time for a little bit longer. I wanna share a glimpse of my life during the past few months and of course about this lovely city. I also wrote for myself so that I can look back and see how far I have taken this journey at this point in life. 

Marks Sisters

Here, I prefer to live in neighbourhood area which means that I need to take about 40 minutes for commuting to uni by tram. Sometimes it is really annoying when I feel so tired or when I have to rush for securing my place at uni library. However, living far from the city somehow is very peaceful. I can hear bird chirping every morning to wake me up and I can also exercise by running along the neighbourhood. 

One of the best thing is I can have spacy room with a very affordable price hahaha. I share this house with my lovely housemates. All of them are very nice. We celebrate each others' birthdays, share meals, do groceries together, and share house chores cooperatively. They become the people I can run to whenever I want to stay away from uni stuff. Glad to have them here with me!

My housemates : Kak Tantha - Mba Uni - Kak Adis - Kak Vania

Uni Life

Coming from different study background obviously becomes my main challenge for doing this degree. I am not accustomed to write any essay or do subjective matter with a lot of arguments for my assessment. In my first semester, I got a bad mark which forced me to ask a consultation session to my lecturer. Having conversation with him made me realize that I need to push my self more which I tried to do so for the next semester. As I did my undergraduate in Indonesia, I experience a whole new education system and learning which I really grateful for that. So far, I really like the course that I take and so happy for the options it offers. Other than that, I had good lecturers so far who are really open for any question and concern.

There are so many Indonesian at the uni which makes it easier to find support system who are in the same page with me. Other than that, I met a lot of new friends who enrich my journey here and I am really grateful for that. 

My AAS mentoring group

My preparation class from AAS before commencing my study

My good companies during my post grad life...

Best teammates ever - 

when joining Melbourne Business School Case Competition

New experiences

Other than studying, I took several chances to do some activities, which some of them became my first time experience. Luckily, here I can still devote my spare time to do volunteering activity which I passionate about. In order to fully commit with it, I participate in several one-off volunteering events. I met a lot of new people who sometimes brought a totally new story for me. I also did volunteering activities at uni.

Volunteered for Coburg Open Table

Volunteered for Run for The Kids Event

Became a mentor for students who were going to Yogyakarta for an exchange 

Some highlights of this year would be becoming a committee for Indonesian general election which was a really rewarding experience for me. Furthermore, I participated in an engagement program from uni, namely Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Program which help me to get to know my self even better. I met a lot of inspiring people who are very passionate about what they do and what they really want to achieve in life. I literally learned a lot from every single moment during the program. This program also encouraged me to do something that I have never done before in order to challenge us to step outside our comfort zone. I did rock climbing for the first time!

Assisted Indonesian General Election

My LEAD Coaching Group

My very first snow - when I had my LEAD retreat

Lovely Melbourne

Despite of its crazy weather, Melbourne is indeed a lovely city. With its diverse residents, I can easily find a range of food from many countries. Thus, I can easily find Asian food and grocery which can satisfy my needs. With its diversity, I am feel respected. Australian are so nice and friendly.

Melbourne also holds so many events throughout the year. Sometimes its worth it, but sometimes I feel like the advertisement is quite exaggerating for even a small festival hahaha. But it's alright, I always enjoy Melbourne and its range of events and stuff.

Free Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Concert

St Kilda Music Festival

KAWS Exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria

Melbourne White Night

To manage my study life which is sometimes so monotone, I can get out somewhere to visit beautiful places around Melbourne. Mostly, I joined a trip offered by my scholarship club, but otherwise sometimes we rented the car and drove by ourselves.

Although, I need to push myself for the study, I am so grateful that I can breathe a fresh air and enjoy my healthy life here. I guess it will be something that I wanna miss the most when I officially come back next year. I will certainly miss that I can easily find a green space to relax and exercise. I still have one more year to go, hopefully I can gain a lot more and enjoy my time here!!!