Things to do Tasmania – Port Arthur Ghost Tour with Kids

Things to do Tasmania – Port Arthur Ghost Tour with Kids

Would you dare walk the night with the ghosts of convicts?

There is great weight that is carried by learning the heavy history of Australia’s settlement. The circumstances and conditions that surrounded many of the early convicts were beyond how I think any of us could imagine living today. The sordid conditions inflicted upon these “hardened criminals”, and purely just due to the era in which Port Arthur existed, meant that problems with illness and death were a constant reality. If you take time to breathe, soak in the surrounds, and imagine the hills back in those days, there’s comes an overwhelm of sadness and so much darkness.

So who would be crazy enough to walk the convict site at night, for a ghost tour then I hear you ask? Ummmm, it seems we would!

Port Arthur Ghost Tour With kids

Does Port Arthur Have Ghosts?

Whether you are a believer in ghosts or not, there is something a little daunting about experiencing Port Arthur at night.

Night Tours Port Arthur

Follow me, you’re standing amongst a site of tumbled ruins. You can see the separate prison where prisoners were punished with a life of silence and isolation until they broke, the asylum where the shells of broken men are cast aside, the woosh of the waters creeping in and out of the bay, the tall, looming trees that stand overhead that were once a forestry prison for “caterpillar gangs” of men carrying heavy logs on their tired shoulders. The gravel crunches beneath your feet, as you join a group of nervous people, cast into shadow by the low light of lanterns, stepping into the unknown. It takes some effort to walk on into the pitch black darkness.

 is port arthur ghost tour scary

What Happens at the Port Arthur Ghost Tours?

Trying your hardest to be brave, set off into the night with your guide and hear about the sightings, and experiences that have been reported at Port Arthur since the 1800’s. The ghost tour is a wonderful experience that brings to life a different range of stories filled with strange encounters both in the current times, and years long ago. You’ll walk with an experienced guide, and group of fellow daredevils, led by lantern light into a range of buildings, to learn about the history of the people who once lived there, and the ghosts who are said to still inhabit them today.

port arthur ghost tour kids

The ghost tour lasts for an hour and a half and offers an intriguing insight, that will have you jumping at shadows, listening for footsteps that don’t belong and there is no explanation for, and staying as close to the middle of the group as you can, for protection.

There aren’t any special effects used during the tour, so you won’t be spooked by pre-recorded sound effects or mechanical monsters jumping out of shadows, if you’re very lucky however, you’ll get to be a lantern bearer….. If you’re even luckier, you might get to meet, or hear some of the resident ghosts during your time in the darkness…

Is the Port Arthur Ghost Tour Suitable for Children?

For our kids, they are aged 7, almost 9 and almost 11 at the time of doing the tour and they coped with it just fine, even taking the role of lantern bearer very seriously to help light the group.

port arthur ghost tour with kids tasmaniaByron, being the youngest was a little cautious at first, clinging tightly between myself and Matt during the more scary stories, or buildings, he found his groove though, and they all enjoyed the night. Amahli chose to hang out up the front of the group with our tour guide, her theory being that she could run away the fastest if anything happened. The best part for the kids was learning the extra history and stories of people’s lives in the community. Each building we visited may have been dark and eerie, but it was also full of life and history of it’s past inhabitants.

For those not wanting to take the chance on the night time tour with kids, there is a Kid’s Ghost Tour that runs at Port Arthur during select times of the year, so if you’re little ones are a little sensitive to scares, then it’s a great opportunity for them to take part during the daylight hours. Be sure to check the website for that, and other children’s activities at Port Arthur.

Would we Recommend the Ghost Tour for Families?

A resounding YES! Whether you are a believer in spirits, ghosts, the afterlife or whatever other name you choose to give it, experiencing Port Arthur at night will give you a new appreciation for the lives and experiences of the founding generations of our country. I will leave it up to you to make your own mind up on what you see, feel, hear, smell or sense during your time at Port Arthur, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you do decide to take the tour.

Have you been scared by ghosts at Port Arthur??? Let us know below….

 

*Disclaimer: We were guests of Port Arthur, however all experiences and thoughts are our own, shared to give you our honest opinion on our experience.

Tasmania Things To Do – Port Arthur Kids Activities

Tasmania Things To Do – Port Arthur Kids Activities

One of the most exciting things that Tasmania has offered us as a family, is a deeper understanding of Australian history. Instead of just reading from books, the kids have been able to walk within the walls of convict buildings, see artifacts, historical records, and be immersed in wonderful interpretations of the life of convicts back in the 1800’s on “Van Diemen’s Land.”

We were really excited to learn that Port Arthur runs a wonderful program over the school holidays, that bring history to life, with a stack of child friendly fun. While our kids do really enjoy all the history of Tasmania, it’s even more special when there’s child focused activities for them to enjoy during our visits.

Gemma, the lovely Education Officer for Port Arthur greeted us with a ready-made challenge for the kids – To try their hand at brick making. What child doesn’t like to play with clay! Gemma explained that the kids would be using a process that replicated the way the convicts would make bricks, it was just on a smaller scale. In order to build all the structures around Port Arthur, convicts produced a constant supply of bricks, with each able to produce over 1000 bricks per day, which were then left to dry, and later used in construction of buildings around the site.

port arthur kids activiites

From brick makers to “Love Token” designers, a new story unfolded. I hadn’t heard of love tokens before our visit to Port Arthur, but those who were sent away, or had to leave their families would use things like coins, filed to a smooth surface, and engrave designs or messages in them so loved ones left behind would remember them. Such a beautiful gesture and so much fun for the kids to create.

making love tokens port arthur

It didn’t stop there! Our kids have had to become quite conscious of the amount of toys, and types of toys that they could bring with them on the road. They learned about children in the convict era making their own dolls from pegs and scraps of cloth that might be around the house. They each set about creating a peg doll of their own, and I’m sure Gemma will be pleased to know, they are still a daily feature in the van play time 🙂

kids port arthur

Lastly, another new item I’d not heard about before our visit – Fantascopes. These simple wheels are absolutely delightful and left the kids wondering just exactly how they worked. If you watch at the end of the video, you can actually see the fantascope working, in the mirror when Matt captured the footage on film.

port arthur with kids

The best thing about these activities were how mindful the kids became of how life might have been all those years ago, both for the convicts who spent their days with hard labour and jobs such as brick making, and for children, for whom flashy video games and even plastic toys were not a reality, more simple fun and creativeness would instead fill their days.

If you happen to be around Port Arthur while their children’s programs are running, then be sure to take the time to visit, not only is the visit itself a wonderful experience, but the kids activities add a different dimension which really offers something unique and exciting.

Australia’s Great Road Trips: Great Ocean Road Must See Tips

Australia’s Great Road Trips: Great Ocean Road Must See Tips

While hitting the road for a bit of family travel anywhere in Australia will deliver amazing scenery and wonderful destinations to explore, there are some road trips which offer an iconic drive that is extra special. For us, one of the greatest road trips in Australia is Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

You’ll meander along 245 kilometres of turquoise beaches, mouth-watering food to tempt the palate, luscious forest areas, national parks to explore, historic port towns to savour, spectacular natural wonders and an absolute abundance of native wildlife it offers a spectacular drive with many great places to explore along the way. Starting in Torquay, and following a coastal route through to Warrnambool, the Great Ocean Road offers something for everyone.

Bells Beach

The must-see first stop of the trip is right at the beginning, stopping in to the world-famous Bells Beach, which hosts the Rip Curl Pro each year around Easter. Towering rock faces offer a spectacular border to the surf beach, and a swim is a must. If you’re after a bit of history, there’s also a surfing museum in Torquay that gives an interesting insight into both the local region and some of Australia’s biggest surf heroes.

Split Point Lighthouse

If you grew up in the nineties then you might be familiar with the kids program “Round the  Twist”. If you’re nodding your head at memories of watching Paul Jennings’ stories brought to life on the TV screen, then I highly recommend a stop into Split Point Lighthouse, the very lighthouse that featured in the series. Even if it wasn’t in your viewing history it’s well worth a visit, and there are tours and a gorgeous tea house available for refreshments. You’ll find it located outside Airey’s Inlet.Great Ocean Road

Otway National Park

The Otway National Park sits waiting for adventurers to uncover its luscious and rugged beauty. One of the highlights of the Otways is the Otway Fly Treetop Adventure that takes you zip-lining through the forest, or takes you walking through the tree tops. For something a bit less height inspired, there’s plenty of walking tracks to get you up close and personal with the wildlife at ground level.

Twelve Apostles

Possibly the greatest icon of The Great Ocean Road drive is The Twelve Apostles, just east of Port Campbell.  Upon approach of these grand, rock structures I felt in awe, similarly to how I felt approaching Uluru from the distance. These limestone structures reach out of the ocean tucked along the shoreline in a row of grandeur. They sit within the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park running along 17km of shoreline, also providing visitors with the amazingness that is the Loch Ard Gorge and a range of other canyons, arches and spectacular ocean cliffs to view.

Don’t forget to take your time to enjoy the small coastal towns dotted along the way, Lorne, Port Fairy, Apollo Bay, Portland, Warrnambool, Torquay, Anglesea, Airey’s Inlet, they all offer their own taste of Victorian life, delicious food, and history to be uncovered. All are slightly different, and offer delights for the traveller that won’t be uncovered in a rushed one day drive. Allow yourself a couple of days, or more if you can to take in the real treasures of this iconic Australian road trip.

Planning your drive

If you’re looking to plan your drive, or share your experience with family and friends, then we recommend using the Shell LoVe Drives website, you can check out photos and tips from our own road trip along the Great Ocean Road, or you can start your own. This awesome site allows you to plot your trip in advance, see other people’s trips, notes and travels, then add your own photos and videos along with trip notes once you’ve done the drive. Then you can easily share it with anyone who might want to see, as well as other visitors to the LoVe Drives website. Give it a try, and get out there and explore Australia!

*Disclaimer – This post was sponsored by Nuffnang & Shell but all opinions and information contained within are our own experiences and opinions.

 

Must See Tasmania: The House of Anvers

Must See Tasmania: The House of Anvers

There are moments in life when things just fall spectacularly into place, and you feel all parts of the universe aligning, our visit to The House of Anvers was one of those times. One of the goals of our Australian travels is to uncover the hidden gems of the country, and our visit to Anvers is truly one I don’t think I’ll forget. The people, the atmosphere, the story and the must-taste product produced with so much love, by hand, on premises, all combine to form a magical world of chocolate.

House of Anvers Chocolate Tasmania

Todd, the National Marketing Manager is one of the people who help to make Anvers the company that it is, and is one of the most lovely people I think I’ve met! When we arrived, Todd was accompanied by 2 lovely ladies, Margaret and Virginia, customers of Anvers who had won the opportunity to make their own chocolate! It turned out that Margaret and Virginia were also some of the most lovely people you could possibly meet, and we chatted for quite a while about Anvers, and the world of home education for children, as both ladies had educated their own children via homeschool. It’s always nice to meet others who understand that real world education on the road can be a wonderful experience for travelling families.

Customers at House of Anvers Chocolates

Chatting aside, there was an entire world of chocolate awaiting us, and the kids tested a variety of fudges on offer, before Todd took us for a tour of the facility and explained the history of Anvers to us. After hearing the journey of Igor Van Gerwen, the founder of Anvers we realised that with the love and passion he has for his product, he may just be Australia’s most passionate chocolatier.

Anvers Chocolate Store

Igor developed a passion for chocolate as a young man in Belguim, training initially for six years, and then further continuing his education, Igor trained under some of the world’s greatest chocolatiers giving him a wonderful foundation for creating his very own Australian chocolate factory, which began in 1989. Today, the factory sits amidst 1.2 hectares of luscious vegetation, and boasts a small museum, viewing deck to watch the chocolate production, store complete with free tastings, and a spectacular cafe full of delicious local inspired cuisine.

House of Anvers Museum

The amazing thing about the chocolate making process at Anvers is truly with it’s hand-made focus and philosophies. Igor’s passion for chocolate, and traditional methods mean that the chocolate making process remains in balance with traditional techniques, with everything from the creation of the chocolate to the packaging being done on site, by locally employed people, using a majority of local produce. Having been in small business ourselves, I always love it when I hear success stories of people creating sustainable businesses that enhance the local region. You can hear Igor and see some of the processes in this great video:

As someone who is very fair-trade and environmentally concious, I was really excited to discover that Igor holds the Australian distribution rights to the worlds rarest chocolate, that was brought back from extinction! Fortunato No.4 chocolate is made from Nacional Cacao a plant that was thought to have disappeared 100 years ago, until it was found by chance in Peru. Through management and planning a crop has been developed into a commercial size that gives farmers and workers an opportunity at ethical pay rates and work conditions, while providing a premium, one-of-a-kind, pure chocolate to a growing number of customers worldwide through special licensing.

Worlds rarest chocolate

 Of course, the most fun part of visiting House of Anvers is the taste testing, and buying up lots of goodies while there. We grabbed a few gifts for friends and family back home, the main problem being we’ve already eaten half of them! Come along if you’re in Tassie and taste some of the mouth watering chocolate treats, superb truffles, or grab a bite to eat from the cafe, you definitely won’t be disappointed. The kids will enjoy roaming the gorgeous, tree-filled spaces too.

Family fun tasmania Anvers chocolates

 The most single, outstanding thing about this wonderful business is the love and passion behind the product. The chocolate here is amazing, and while the taste and quality speak for themselves, it’s the family and story behind the chocolate that truly make it something special. You can order House of Anvers Chocolates Online, and we can definitely guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Sailing Spirit of Tasmania with Kids (& a dog).

Sailing Spirit of Tasmania with Kids (& a dog).

It is with so much joy and excitement that I share with you the first amazing journey of our new life as full time travellers.  The hard work of getting ready to travel was swept aside in preparation for our trip on what the kids happily referred to as “the ferry”, known to everyone else as Spirit of Tasmania. Life doesn’t get much better than setting off on a road trip, knowing the end result will be exploring one of the most prominent destinations ever to feature on our must-see list.

The 14 hour trip to Melbourne was broken down into an enjoyable road trip with a variety of campsites at small towns we’d never visited before (more about that journey to come). The city greeted us with 40 degree heat, and upon arrival to Port Melbourne, the cool whisper of the ocean air was a relief not only because of its cooling effect, but also because this is the site we saw as we approached:

Spirit of Tasmania Port Melbourne

We were finally here!

Any friends we’d had who’d visited Tasmania previously had flown in for short trips and hired cars, so while we weren’t quite sure what to expect, we’d been showered with stories and yarns from other travellers who were more than happy to share their experiences at each of the campsites we’d stopped at on the way. One thing was for sure, Tasmania, they said, was amazing, and Spirit of Tasmania was a great adventure of its own. We haven’t met a single person who thought otherwise.

Boarding Spirit of Tasmania

Spirit of Tasmania sails nightly from Melbourne departing at 7:30pm, sailing overnight and arriving at 6am in Devonport, during peak times there are also day sailing options available. Around 5pm check-in opens, and stays open until 45 minutes before departure. It’s a smooth process, it may require a short amount of wait time, but we promise it’s worth it. It’s a great idea to make sure you have drinks in the car especially if Melbourne puts on the summer heat as it did for us.

Boarding the Spirit of Tasmania

One thing to be aware of when travelling to Tassie, is that the quarantine regulations are quite strict. This is in order to protect the farming and other industries that could be decimated by diseases carried over from the mainland. We were ushered through the security checkpoint after answering a range of questions about things we might be carrying, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, our fishing gear, and of course, about travelling with our dog, he had special requirements of his own.

Boarding Pets on Spirit of Tasmania

The entire process is really well co-ordinated and organised, but if, like us you are travelling with camp gear, a caravan and food, it pays to read up on the quarantine requirements before you arrive, there are a few simple things you can do to make the process a lot more smooth and faster. It didn’t take us long and we were boarding the majestic ship that is Spirit of Tasmania I.

One of the best things about Spirit of Tasmania, that is especially impressive if you’re like us and need to bring your vehicle, is that it is a drive-on, drive-off ferry, when you’re towing a caravan this makes things even more convenient. There’s no need for awkward reversing angles, it’s super easy to board and disembark, just follow the directions and drive forward.

Aboard Spirit of Tasmania

With the car secured, and Yoshi locked safely in his overnight kennel, we headed off to explore the ferry that had been the reason for so much excitement over the past week. The first place to head, of course, was the deck to see what could be spotted frolicking in the ocean waves. We soaked in the imagery of Port Melbourne, the waves alive with jet skis and swimmers all washing away the day’s heat. The eagle eye of the kids spotted opaque blobs in the water; jellyfish floating in the boat’s current as we left the shore.

family sailing spirit of tasmania

Inside Spirit of Tas

Spirit of Tasmania has everything you will need on your journey to Tassie, most of which is located on the central deck. You’ll find reception who can help with any enquiries, a tourist information centre which offers all the information you’ll need before hitting the shores, brochures highlighting must-see attractions and things to do in Tassie, as well as permits for National Parks, and fishing licenses. There’s also a store full of goodies such as souvenirs, toiletries, refreshments and for those who may need it, they also stock sea-sickness medication which Matt had to grab as just-in-case insurance.

family travel on spirit of tasmania

The lounge area has cozy seats and televisions showcasing movies for on board entertainment, the kids enjoyed taking some time out watching a movie while we kicked back to relax with a couple of refreshments. There’s also a movie theatre, which plays a range of the latest movies in an early and late session, as well as a kids play room, and games room along with a bar if you’d like to enjoy a drink while you sail.

Reception Area Spirit of Tasmania

Abard the Spirit of Tasmania

If you’re wondering about Byron’s not so impressed expression, it was because I set the camera to self timer, then ran up, incidentally bumping Matt’s beer all over Byron’s leg in the process, but, if you’ve ever tried to get kids in photos, you’ll know 2 out of 3 with ok looks is good enough haha 🙂

A Menu to Impress

For our trip over, we were treated to a delicious three course meal at The Leatherwood Restaurant. We can honestly say this is some of the best food we’ve tasted, and the best part is that it features Tasmanian produce, offering a tasty introduction to the state. For entrée, I enjoyed the “41 South hot smoked salmon, watercress and fennel salad”, while Matt indulged in the “Tasmanian tasting plate”:

Restaurants Spirit of Tasmanai

Mains of choice were “Nichols chicken breast marinated in sage and white wine” and for Matt “Tasmanian tenderloin of beef”, WOW! Desert consisted of “warm chocolate tart with double cream” and a “House of Anvers tasting plate”, some of the best chocolate you will taste anywhere, ever. The photos tell the story, the food tastes even better than it looks.

Spirit of Tasmania Family Dining

The great thing about The Leatherwood, is that the kids meals are a wonderful selection of healthy, real food. Byron and Amahli chose Nichols chicken breast and vegetables, while Jackson decided on the Roast of the Day with vegetables, and they all enjoyed ice cream and topping for desert.

Kids meals spirit of tasmania

Kids Meals Spirit of Tasmania

A Night at Sea

Our rooms aboard Spirit of Tasmania were 2, 4 berth cabins located at the front of the ship, meaning the kids could sit up near the port-hole and look out to sea as we set sail, and even more excitingly as we saw the Tasmanian coastline come into view. The rooms are comfortable, with plenty of room to unpack what you’ll need for the night, and a roomy en-suite complete with toilet and shower, which is a bonus to our kids at the moment after weeks of caravan travel. There are also power points to allow you to charge your phone and camera other gadgets while you sleep.

Family rooms on Spirit of Tasmania

The sensation of sleeping at sea wasn’t something I’d thought about before we set sail, but as soon as the kid’s heads hit the pillow, they were out like a light, rocked gently by the waves of the Bass Strait. Matt was a bit concerned about sea-sickness which he suffers from, but a couple of Kwell’s eased any worries, and our big days of travel leading up to our Tassie adventures ensured he was tired, and slept soundly until the captain’s wakeup call just after 5am.

 beds on spirit of Tasmania

 So it was, that we made our way down the stairs, back to level 5, to collect Yoshi from his kennel. Needless to say he was overjoyed to see his people, and head back to the car to begin our Tassie adventures. A short drive off the ferry and a quick check through quarantine and we headed off into the Tasmanian sunrise.

Tasmanian Sunrise

 

*Disclaimer: We sailed as guests of Spirit of Tasmania, however all experiences and thoughts are our own, shared to give you our honest opinion on our experience.

 

Family Friendly Tasmania: Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm

Family Friendly Tasmania: Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm

After waking at 5am aboard  Spirit of Tasmania, getting organised and finally, driving off into the Tasmanian sunrise, we found ourselves with 3 hungry munchkins in the back seat of the Patrol. Luckily for us, Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm was the first stop of our Tasmanian Itinerary. The café is situated between Elizabeth Town and Deloraine along the Bass Highway, which is only a short, scenic drive from Devonport. We’d been teased with stories of amazing Tasmanian produce via the tales of other travellers we met along the way, and the food on The Spirit had given us a wonderful insight into what to expect of Tasmania’s local food, yet we had no idea of the treat we were in store for here.

Established in 1984, the café caters to travellers, as well as locals, hosting events and special occasions in its spacious grounds. From the moment we stepped inside the front door we were tempted by delicious goodies waiting to be taken home to delight.

raspberry farm breakfast tasmania

The decision on what to have for breakfast didn’t come easily, with an array of raspberry delicacies begging to be ordered.

breakfast with kids in tasmania

The winners were:

Chocolate, raspberry French toast, which Amahli talked about for the entire day, overjoyed at being allowed to eat chocolate for breakfast.

best french toast in tasmania

Byron ordered a croissant with raspberry jam, and Jackson the home made crumpets with raspberry jam and cream.

raspberry breakfast tasmania breakfast cafe croissant tasmania

For myself, I couldn’t go past the poached eggs, with fried tomato and mushroom with wilted spinach and raspberry hollandaise sauce, I just can’t tell you how tasty it was, you’re going to have to come and try it for yourself!

breakfast in tasmania

Matt’s choice was The Morning Craving, pancakes topped with grilled banana, bacon, cheese and raspberry jam. I was a little envious looking over at his plate, I could have tried everything listed on the menu.

best tasmanian breakfast

While we were relaxing over our gorgeous, tasty breakfast, Matt spotted some really large bees out the window and couldn’t resist going to explore. We were told they were bumble bees, and everyone was a little amused by his explorations, but it paid off with this gorgeous photo.

Bumble Bees tasmania

The café is set on such a lovely property that we couldn’t resist taking a short walk around the lake to help burn off some of our breakfast, and we were delighted to discover the original farm house and take a look at the raspberry bushes being harvested.

history in tasmania Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm raspberries growing tasmania

For those travelling with a caravan, there’s plenty of space to park in the carpark just opposite the gate, it’s well signposted so you’ll be sure to find somewhere easy to pull up.

caravan parking breakfast tasmania

*Disclaimer, we were guests of the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm, but all opinions, reviews and thoughts are our own, honest thoughts.