Walking In The Air
Nov 1 2007 | Views 555 |
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Tags: Tassie Huon River Airwalk beaches Huon Pine Tasmania Hobart Tahune Forest Blogprint
Tags: Tassie Huon River Airwalk beaches Huon Pine Tasmania Hobart Tahune Forest Blogprint
The existence of an air-walk on the itinerary during my recent visit to Tasmania
Never having walked more than a few metres in my normal routine, the entire idea of walking in the air didnt quite appeal my lazy self. It was my second day in the state ofTasmania Wine Glass Bay
Feasting on healthy organic food, wide variety of sea food and freshly ground aromatic coffee throughout the Tasmanian tour had rendered me rather indolent. I must have gained several kilos, I thought, so how would I walk in the air? Add to that the fact that the beauty and peace around me had lulled me into a dreamy stupor and you can well imagine my dilemma.
Never having walked more than a few metres in my normal routine, the entire idea of walking in the air didnt quite appeal my lazy self. It was my second day in the state of
Feasting on healthy organic food, wide variety of sea food and freshly ground aromatic coffee throughout the Tasmanian tour had rendered me rather indolent. I must have gained several kilos, I thought, so how would I walk in the air? Add to that the fact that the beauty and peace around me had lulled me into a dreamy stupor and you can well imagine my dilemma.
Tasmania
Anyway, here I was struggling with the information in my itinerary wondering if I should be carrying some parachute for safety when the tour guide announced take- off. From the harbour town of
The air was thick with the pleasant scent which was a cocktail of all kinds of pines and rainforest trees. Whatever it was, the odour was headier than any perfume I have ever smelt. I took deep lungfuls of the fresh, fragrant air and felt truly rejuvenated. It was all about being rejuvenated, after all
The densely wooded rolling hills and the verdant expanse before me lulled my fears and I relaxed. I was the responsibility of my tour guide and she wouldnt definitely put me to risk, I assured myself sinking into my comfortable seat. It was a feast for the senses the smells, sights and sounds of the forest were so unlike anything I had ever experienced in my normally noisy, dust ridden and polluted habitat. Before I could ponder deeply over the problem of air-walking, we halted at the Tahune Forest Reserve.
This is it, announced my bubbly guide with a flourish of her hands.
I climbed out of the chariot and cast a hopeful look around. This was hardly the place to walk in the air. The area was so densely covered with tall trees that the sky was barely visible. We walked into the Visitor Centre and bought our tickets. Tickets to walk in the air? I mused.
Well, lets take the walk in the air, announced Cheryl chirpily.
You take the walk, Ill study the forest, I dismissed her suggestion.
Oh no, you dont, she scolded. Just follow me.
Follow her I did and what a walk it was. Through the woods we wound our way across the gently flowing Huon River
Here is your air-walk, declared the guide. She had read my mind and the niggling doubts in it, quite clearly. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was going to be alright. As I walked over the riverside rainforest canopy on the Tahune Forest Airwalk right across the tree-tops, I
marvelled
at the reaches of the human brain.
Here I was, sauntering high up the forest, watching the windingHuon River
Here I was, sauntering high up the forest, watching the winding
From my guide I also learnt that
We passed above the topsofKing Billypine and Celery Top,Sassafras, myrtle, beech, blackwood and the flowering Leatherwood, at the confluence of two mighty rivers the Huon and the Picton. One walkway section extends over the confluence of the rivers and I felt as if I were suspended above it. The AirWalk is surrounded by re-growth forests and one is able to see the changing forest and its life cycle. The Huon Pinetrail takes one past rare Huon pines that range in age from 200 to more than a thousand years. These pines arerenowned for their sweet-smelling oils andhave traditionally been used in boat-building and feature in high quality timber crafts.
I didnt want my walk in the air to end. The
sensory experience of Huon pine and other native forest species was definitely
a magical experience; one that I am not likely to forget ever.
Fact File
Reaching There
You can fly to Tasmania directly from Melbourne , Sydney , Brisbane and Adelaide Melbourne Sydney
The Tahune Forest AirWalk is about 70 kms from
Admission fees for Tahune Forest
Adults - $8.00
Children - $5.50 (under 12 years)
Family $38.00 (2 adults plus children)
Timings for Tahune Forest
9am 4.15pm (April-Nov)
9am 7.15pm (Dec-Mar)
Getting Around Hobart
Staying at Hobart
There are a host of options for staying at Hobart, some of which are -
**** Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
****Salamanca Inn,
***Hobart Tower Motel
***Hobart Mid City Hotel
* Pacific Vista Hotel
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