Tasmania, Australia - East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Tasmania, Australia.. if you like nature, turquoise beaches, colourful boulders, unique rock formations, and fresh raspberries in a bucket.. :)

To make this group trip successful, I imposed 2 "rules."

1. Small Luggage - Each person was allowed to bring only 1 "cabin" luggage. Sounds simple? No, it was a challenge for a 9-day trip. But it made it easier for us to load and unload, and not overload our mini van good for 8. 

2. Pre-assigned Roommates - A change in roommate for every change in accommodation, my husband and i, included. This allowed everyone to bond and become really good friends, and avoided any small group formations and conflicts.

It worked, and all 8 of us had a great time! :)

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Flight - Singapore to Melbourne to Hobart - Qantas Airways

Day 1 - Hobart

Car Rental - Collect from Hobart Airport - Avis Rent A Car

Accommodation - St. Ives Motels and Apartments - 1 Night

Mount Wellington

Day 2 - Hobart to Tasman Peninsula - 1.5 Hours

Accommodation - Abs by the Bay - 2 Nights

Tasman Island Cruise

Day 3 - Tasman Peninsula

Accommodation - Abs by the Bay - 2 Nights

Port Arthur Historic Site

Day 4 - Tasman Peninsula to Coles Bay to Chain of Lagoons - 3.5 Hours

Accommodation - Santosha at Little Beach - 2 Nights

Honeymoon Bay, Freycinet National Park

Day 5 - Chain of Lagoons to Bay of Fires - 1 Hour + Another 1 Hour back

Accommodation - Santosha at Little Beach - 2 Nights

Bay of Fires

Day 6 - Chain of Lagoons to Cradle Mountain - 3.5 Hours

Accommodation - Cradle Mountain Highlanders Cottages - 2 Nights

Dove Lake

Day 7 - Cradle Mountain

Accommodation - Cradle Mountain Highlanders Cottages - 2 Nights

Crater Lake

Day 8 - Cradle Mountain to Launceston - 2 Hours

Accommodation - Ashton Gate Guest House - 1 Night

Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe

Day 9 - Launceston

Car Rental - Return at Launceston Airport

Flight - Launceston to Melbourne to Singapore - Qantas Airways

Cataract Gorge 

Enjoy planning your trip guys! :)

Also check out: New Zealand - Road Trip Itinerary

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References:

Our Budget for 9 Days Per Person with shared rooms and car
Plane Fare from Singapore - SGD 1,150
Car Rental and Gas - SGD 255
Accommodations - SGD 680
Food - SGD 310
Activities - SGD 205
(Tasman Island Cruise, Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasmanian Devil Conservatory, and Cradle Mountain Pass)
Total for Per Person = SGD 2,600 / USD 2,000

My 2014 Travel Treasures

If I could share only 1 picture to sum up my amazing year, it would be this :)

Boracay, Philippines

My 2014 was full of unexpected life events and beautiful experiences..

And I would like to share with you the 70% of what made it one of the best years of my life! :)

In February, after days of riding reindeer and husky dog sleds in Finland..

Our dream came true when we stayed in a glass igloo, and the northern lights showed up!

"The Times we had."

We also had the chance to visit the medieval old town of Tallinn, Estonia..

And no, i didn't edit that. That was really on the wall :)

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In April, I quit my job :D 

And that made all the difference!

In May, I danced every night for 4 nights with my ex-colleagues in this paradise called Cebu, Philippines!

In June, my sister and I bonded in Osaka and Kyoto, Japan..

..and a baby elephant and I bonded in Phuket, Thailand ;)

In July, I finally succumbed to my friends' constant persuasion for me to update my old blog and share my travels..

I am loving the outcome of my revamped travel diary.. and it is now my treasure!

So before I continue, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you guys! You know who you are because your picture is there! Haha! :D

And to everyone who has been supporting me in this journey, also, thank you! :D

In August, my articles on Shark Cage Diving in South Africa and Northern Lights in Finland were published in the Travel Now Magazine, Bucket List Issue!

In September, a whirlwind street art hunt in Penang, Malaysia happened with these girls..

In November, my husband had to consume all his vacation leaves, and my wish of stepping foot on South America was granted..

We were mesmerised by the beauty of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil despite all the danger warnings.. and I never thought I could say yes to hang gliding! :D

The Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia was finally crossed off our bucket list..

And I eventually loved the country for all the experiences it gave us.. the high altitude, the 4WD vehicle breakdowns, the sunsets, the lagoons, the baby alpacas, the slums, the cable cars, and all the friends we gained..

Aside from seeing Isla del Sol, which was on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca..

We were also able to ride this totora reed boat and explore the manmade floating islands of Uros, Peru..

Then after a torturous journey of more than 40 hours from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo to Barcelona to Singapore to Kalibo to Boracay..

Jet lagged and exhausted.. we still had a wonderful time at the wedding of our friend in Boracay, Philippines :)

In December, we celebrated our wedding anniversary and my birthday at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore.. 

And I spent christmas with my family in Cebu, Philippines :)

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I am very grateful for all these beautiful memories of 2014. 

Facing my reality this 2015, I am starting my new job next week ;)

Have an awesome new year everyone!!

Amazing Northern Lights at the Glass Igloo Village

Yes, the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis again.. but this time, at the Glass Igloo Village from 7 pm to 5 am! :)

And even more spectacular!!

On this very beautiful winter day in February 2014, the most amazing thing happened..

It was my dream to be able to stay at a Glass Igloo in Kakslauttanen, Finland..

And I booked the igloos even before I booked our flights! 

Because for me.. no igloo, no Finland ;)

But it wasn't cheap.. so we only stayed for 1 night..

That 5th night in the Arctic Circle we were all waiting for..

And this is how we roll.. our luggages! ;)

To the igloos..

And here's ours.. big enough for 2 to 3 people.. with a toilet and sink but no shower.. 

The shower and sauna are at the reception building.. because they would not fit inside the igloo ;)

The door jamb is low, so you have to bow your head down when passing through.. and careful with your ice frosted boots because the tiled floor is slippery when wet..

It is warm inside.. with 2 reclinable single beds meant for watching the skies at night.. 

And to answer what all my friends asked.. "Is it see through?!"

Yes, it is a transparent glass dome, and you can see everything outside clearly.. the sunset, the sunrise, and your naked neighbours inside their igloos! But don't worry, nobody really peeps! haha! ;)

How did we change our clothes? We turned off the lights at night, and changed in the dark..

As for the toilet.. the glass is frosted at that area ;)

While waiting for the skies to get dark.. we roamed around and walked to the Celebration House..

That house that looks like it was plucked out of a Christmas movie!!

Where dinner would be served.. but only at 7 pm..

So we headed back.. some to the reception building to use wifi.. and the others to their igloos to relax while waiting for dinner..

While lounging at the lobby.. a Brazilian guest came looking for his wife, who was at the sauna.. 

He came to say something to her.. but since we all turned and looked at him.. he calmly shared..

"The lights are out."

As if we had not seen the northern lights the past 2 nights.. we panicked again!!

How could we not panic, if that "God, it's so beautiful!" was going on outside??!! :D

 Grabbed our jackets, scarves, neck warmers, ear muffs, beanies, gloves, cameras....

Then I ran to the igloos to call the others, but I couldn't find them..

Because.... I was at the wrong row of igloos!! They all looked the same!! ;)

Mesmerised once again by these dreamy green and purple lights..

Nobody wanted to leave for dinner anymore..

So when the lights started to fade a little, we forced everyone to pause and head to the Celebration House..

An hour after, we came out of the dinner hall to see the lights still dancing..

Getting stronger.. filling up the whole sky..

At -27 ºC, we forgot how cold it was..

We were shivering quietly.. overwhelmed.. constantly whispering to ourselves..

"Wow... Wow..."

"Thank you Lord.." 

It was all around.. we did not know where to look anymore.. it was so magnificent.. surreal.. unbelievable.. and I'm not exaggerating at all..

When the cold finally won over us.. and when our necks could no longer hold our heads facing the skies above..

We walked back to our igloos..

Snuggled up comfortably in our beds, and continued watching the dream through the snowflake speckled glass..

"I wish the northern lights will disappear now.."

Not that I wanted it gone.. but it was already 2 am.. and it was so difficult to close our eyes knowing the lights were still dancing outside.. you just wouldn't want to miss a second of it.. 

You know.. you try to sleep.. then you try to peep if it's still there.. it's still there.. then you try to sleep again.. then you open your eyes again to check if it's still there.. and it was there until 5 am..

And so.. did last night really happen??!! :D

Felt like everything was just a dream..

And this sunrise from my bed.. is love x 100!! :)

And now, out to the Celebration House once again..

For a lovely breakfast.. 

And really.. to celebrate!!

I finally understood why they called it the "Celebration House!" :)

This has been my most amazing travel experience so far.. 

And I could not thank God enough for it.. for everything! :)

Related Stories: Northern Lights Over Lake Inari, Husky Dog Sledding, Reindeer Sleigh Ride, First Glimpse of the Arctic Circle, and Medieval Old Town of Tallinn. Enjoy! :)

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References:

Full Trip Itinerary and Budget - Finland and Estonia - Northern Lights Itinerary

Glass Igloo Kakslauttanen - www.kakslauttanen.fi

Aurora Forecast - www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast