On Tuesday 22 April, nineteen Year 8 students and three staff participated in the Tasmania Cultural Immersion Tour. Over five days, the group enjoyed fresh Tasmanian produce – including oysters, chocolate and cheese – beautiful national parks and World Heritage Sites and exceptional weather while exploring Tasmania. Some of the key attractions visited were:
- Port Arthur Historic Site
- Tahune Airwalk
- Museum of Old & New Art (MONA)
- Barilla Bay Oyster Farm
- Mt Wellington
- Mt Field National Park
- Salmon Ponds
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
- Richmond Historic Town
- HyperDrive Kart Racing
- Hobart Cenotaph (ANZAC Day Dawn Service)
- Cataract Gorge Reserve
The tour offered memorable moments, and every student had a different highlight, weather it was through the beauty Tasmania has to offer, the rich history or the adventure.
Two students shared their personal reflections:
Ava described her experience as, “I was fortunate to take part in this year’s Cultural Immersion tour in Tasmania. This trip allowed me to grow my independence to travel away for the first time without my family. Our trip enabled us to try new things that I haven’t experienced before like Go Karting, new foods and interesting places. A place that really stood out for me was the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. It allowed me to see animals I haven’t seen before like a Tasmanian Devil and a Cape Barren Goose. I was also very lucky to take selfies and pat kangaroos. We were also able to meet a wombat named Bingo who was very soft and clingy. I even learned that when wombats turn two years old, they become quite aggressive. I recommend you participate on this trip to experience the wonders and joys of Tasmania.”
Isabella also offered her own different perspective of the tour, “Before coming on this trip, I was worried and nervous to go considering I would be so far away from home however I was also excited to travel with friends and explore all the different activities in Tasmania. My favourite part of the tour was visiting Port Arthur. During the day we were able to see all the beautiful, historical landscapes and buildings and learn about the convict history in Tasmania. At night we attended a ghost tour which was enjoyable, educational and petrifying all at the same time.”
