Tasman Island Flying Fox & Tramway

On our final day in Tasmania Kelly and I rented a car and drove down to Port Arthur. We'd booked an early morning Tasman Island Cruise, run by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, and were looking forward to seeing some of the rugged Tasmanian coast up close. Our captain for the day was Mick, ably accompanied by Damo, and without a doubt their enthusiasm for this part of the world interspersed with a big heaping of humour made the trip extremely enjoyable.

For the cruise I had 6 GoPro Cameras in a Freedom360 rig. They were all triggered in time lapse mode and shot 360˚ panos on a 30 second interval throughout the trip. This panorama of Tasman Island is the first one I've stitched and if you look closely you can see the old Flying Fox and Tramway.

For the lighthouse keepers it was one of the most isolated lighthouses in Australia and the most difficult to reach. Lightkeepers’ stores and other goods had to be transferred from the lighthouse steamer to a launch, then a flying fox (a conveyor suspended from an overhead wire), then hauled up a steep tramline up a cliff, before being transferred to a horse-drawn tramway to the lighthouse. Not a place to just pop out to the shops.

Wellesley Studios Dance House

Wellesley Studios Dance House

On the way to join the Ponant L'Austral, for my recent photography project, I had the opportunity to catch up with my dear friend Katrina Todd. Before I left Auckland I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Katrina's remarkable dance studio, Wellesley Studios. Built in a converted 60's printing warehouse she has put so much blood, sweat and tears into it's development. It is an amazing location and a testament to her hard work and vision.

 

Z Ward - Men's Toilet

In addition to the cells lining both floors there are other rooms intended for communal use. In the early days of Z Ward prisoners uses a rubberised bowl in their cells for ablutions or toilet use. However after complaints about human waste making it's way to the parklands toilets were installed at one end of the wing. 

Men's Toilet - Level 1