G. Pump does Tasmania
This year G. Pump is hitting the road and brining you joyful workouts and good vibes from the beaches of the iconic coast lines of Australia.
You can enjoy them on your screens when you hit ‘PLAY’ on a G. Pump workout, but what’s the fun of all this travel if I can’t share with you all the cool places we visit in between?!
Below you’ll find a break down of the places to go in Tasmania, the beaches to see and the places that you can G. Pump at - just like me!
We started our Tasmania trip in February at Mole Creek (mainly because we hadn’t ever been camping and the caravan park at Mole Creek looked very nice - and it was!) we were perched next to the creek and I got to see a platypus up close and in the wild. It was our 2nd day there and I took it as a very good sign. However later that day, we tried to cook dinner with a gas bottle that was empty, because the people at Bunnings Warehouse don’t tell you that you need to fill it after you buy it, anyway…
Mole Creek is a fab place to base yourself if you want to check out Cradle Mountain, ironically we didn’t get to Cradle Mountain until 2 months later - but it was worth the wait. It’s an absolute must, all you need is a parks pass for your car, jump on a shuttle bus at the Visitors Centre which is a warm shelter when it’s snowing outside and pick a walking track that you want to do. It’s all boarded, well signed and there’s a high chance you’ll get to see some furry wombats! It was raining with snow and 3 degrees when we were there - the most magical day of our entire trip.
Then we went North to find a beach! And along the way we found Bridport, a great little beach town with everything you need, great wifi and good coffee. We found Barnbougle, an absolutely spectacular golf course that’s covered in Kangaroos at dusk, grab lunch at the restaurant for a very reasonable price considering the views. And lastly we drove through wine country where we (obviously) stopped to taste some of the best sparkling wines in Tasmania and arguably Australia. Pull in at Jansz for a tasting, an Australian cheese board and a little slice of regional brilliance.
When we finally got to Tomahawk we realised there’s no wifi, no phone reception and lots of wildlife - we’re talking wombats, snakes, tassie devils, echidnas, kangas, big hairy spiders and some crazy locals. Although we could only access bore water between 7:00pm -7:10pm (no joke) had to keep the tent zipped up at all times because of slippery visitors and had mice taking refuge from snakes throwing themselves at our tent - it was actually spectacular.
The beach is far and wide; pristine white sand, clear blue water, and not another person to be seen. You might recognise Tomahawk beach in some G. Pump workouts, it was G. Pump perfection!
While up north we took a day trip to Derby, famous for its rugged mountain biking trails and more recently the Floating Sauna Lake Derby. A wood fire sauna built on the lake designed for you to plunge into when the 80 degrees (Celsius) temperature gets a little too fiery. It costs $45pp and it’s an experience on par with some of the best in the world. We wish we had gone back for a second visit it was that special! You might also recognise the lake from the Strength and Conditioning workout in the G. Pump studio.
From Tomahawk we had to cut straight down to Hobart for a top secret G. Pump mission, a mission I hope to share with you very soon!
So while we were in Hobart, we did as the locals do; ate, drank and stayed warm. (Eat at Templo, Room for a Pony, Veg Bar & Born In Brunswick.)
We hit up the Salamanca Markets next to water, dotted with old buildings, charming stalls filled with hand made local things that you really don’t need but were lovely to look at. Hugh had this first ever Wallaby burrito and can confirm it tasted like chicken.
While I mourned the death of the wallaby Hugh had just eaten we got on the ferry to MONA and prepared ourselves for ’Shock & Awe’.
If you have the time and the dollars to get the Mona Roma ferry from the wharf, do it, you step into the world of David Walsh (creator) instantly and it was a fab way to get a feel for what was in store (you can also drink at 10am and I’m all about that). We started our MONA tour with a Bloody Mary and some live music before we wandered the walls of some of the strangest pieces of art I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t as ‘shocking’ as I was bracing for, but it certainly makes you think differently, an experience I highly recommend.
From Hobart we made our way up the East Coast (Get me outta this cold wind)!
The drive to Freycinet (Fraser-nay) National park was spectacular, the landscape throughout Tasmania is still so untouched and rural although heavily populated in some parts - it still holds it’s old world charm.
A stop you must make on the way out of Hobart is to Richmond. Ah the little town of Richmond, only an hour from Hobart and yet filled with antique delights! The buildings, the stores and the people. Enjoy scones with tea at a homestead cafe and wander countless antique stores filled to the brim with knick knacks that would cost x4 the price in Sydney. Stop past Pooley Wines cellar door, in the shape of an old castle, for some delicious red wines and beaut views.
Head to Freycinet with an empty stomach and fill it at the Marine & Oyster Farm on the way in and hydrate at Devils Corner (the largest Pinot Noir producer in Australia) and Gala Estate (award winning several years in a row).
Park your car and head for Wineglass bay, a walk to the view point will take approx 40mins where you’ll get the most spectacular views of the bay. Pack a lunch if you want to walk down to the white sands (something I wish we had of done). Hiking down to the famous beach is the only way to get there unless you want to cruise in and pay top dollar.
Further up the east coast we found Swansea, a little town that hosted our tent right on the water! Swansea was a great base for the East Coast and cost 1/3 of other ‘tourism’ towns.
Bicheno & St Helens all had similar charms, smallish coastal towns with one or two things to ‘see’. All beautiful and rugged coast lines, lots of fishing and the most EPIC seafood at The Lobster Shack in Bicheno if you can make the trip!
Then you’ll hit the infamous Bay of Fires - and famous for all the right reasons (including Swimcart, Binalong Bay, The Gardens, Cosy Corner North & South).
The most spectacular strips of white sand, blue water, red rock and uncrowded foreshores You’ll find one restaurant that’s pretty delicious but only open on Wednesday & Fridays between random hours and the best free camping in the state! Just outside of St Helens on the way up is Lease 65 an Oyster farm that produces the best oysters in Australia (seriously MIND BLOWING!)
The decent free camping spots are few and far between with a lot of locals setting up shop permanently but if you can squeeze in between the fishing rods you’ll open your eyes in the morning to the most magical sunrises and dolphin pods - completely dreamy! The Bay of Fires is typically pretty windy, we got lucky during our stay but pack thermals and a jacket regardless of when you’re travelling in Tasmania because you will need them! Mornings and evenings are cold but the sun is bitey!
We then went the weird way and cut through the middle to the North West coast. Stop for lunch in Deloraine and quaint little town with quirky eateries, a beautiful lake and perfectly manicured gardens.
The furthest we journeyed was Stanley to see ‘The Nutt’ which is, in all honestly, a large mountain rock thing covered in bush. You can get the chairlift down for the views or walk up a steep but well carved track. We instead opted for a drink at the weirdest little wine bar on the Main Street filled with antiques, velvet chairs, a warm fire and great wines. It was a fair drive from Boat Harbour where we were based on the north and I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to travellers with limited time.
Boat Harbour on the other hand…was beachside town PERFECTION!
The most beautiful beach, lined with grassy knolls dotted with dairy cows. A local cafe called the ‘Thistle Hut’ that cooked up cosy, home made meals and hundreds of amazing reviews. Go to Boat Harbour if you simply want to ‘be’. Be present in life and in sunshine and accompanied by the sound of the ocean.
Wynard is available for a good brunch, pub meal or Woolworths shop within driving distance or if like us you have fur babies, a great puppy day care too!
As we finished off our trip we drove through Penguin to see what all the fuss was about, and as to be expected there were a fair few cement penguins to go around. The locals will tell you if you stay up late enough, in the shivering cold, on the last Friday of the month you’ll see a penguin pod but they’re pulling your leg! Instead go to the Letterbox cafe for a delicious and so affordable breakfast before you leg it back to Devonport to catch the ferry back!
Should you find yourself in Launceston, you mind find yourself leaving shortly after. A very small but pretty city with an art gallery that I’m sure was divine (you’ll have to tell me!) and the Black Cow Bistro which is a must dine on everyone’s list!
FUN FACTS
Did you know that the Ozone layer is thinner over Tasmania because its closer to the South Pole?
Wombat poo is square so when they mark their territory it doesn’t roll away!
The most deadly Australian snakes can all be found in Tasmania (OMG G8!)
The west of Tasmania is wild and windy because there’s nothing between the west coast and South America.
SHORT TRIP MUST DOS
Cradle Mountain
Bay of Fires
MONA & Hobart
EAST COAST
Bridport
Barnbougle
Wine Country
Tomahawk
Waterhouse Point
Derby
Bay of Fires
Swimcart
Binalong Bay
Swansea
Bicheno
Frecinet
Piermont
WineGlass Bay
SOUTH
Hobart
Opossum Bay
Mona
Richmond
Pooley Wines
NORTH & NORTH WEST
Mole Creek
Penguin
Boat Harbour
Stanley
Wynard
Deloraine
Cradle Mountain
ON THE TO-DO LIST
Bruny Island
Maria Island
Flinders Island
Gorden River
Arthurs Creek
Strahan
Marrawah
If you’re heading to Tasmania and only have a week or two to spare these are the non-negotiable:
Cradle mountain
Bay of Fires
MONA & Hobart