After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrived to embark on our Australian adventure starting in the island state of Tasmania. As I secured my window seat on the 7:40am flight from Singapore to Melbourne, the Pacific Ocean shimmering in the early morning light below, I could hardly contain my excitement for the experiences awaiting at our first stop: Hobart. In this post, I share my Day 1 (Singapore – Melbourne – Hobart) experience.
The 7-hour nonstop from Changi Airport offered a smooth journey, fortified by a welcome breakfast of fruits, eggs and coffee. I tried to nap between bites to store energy for the action-packed day of transit ahead.
Transiting in Melbourne
We touched down at Melbourne’s sleek Tullamarine Airport around 3pm local time. While many flights provide relatively quick connections to Hobart, ours had a lengthier layover of several hours.
Rather than languishing at the airport, we opted to leverage this Australian interlude by storing our luggage and embarking on a whirlwind introduction to Melbourne’s city center using the efficient SkyBus shuttle service.
In under 30 minutes we were disembarking at Southern Cross Station in the heart of the Central Business District, surrounded by a wonderfully eclectic panorama of historic Edwardian facades, modern skyscrapers, lush parks, and iconic Melbourne culture like street art and sidewalk cafes.
With about four hours to stretch our legs, we started with a leisurely stroll down tree-lined Collins Street, admiring magnificent architecture like the breathtaking Gothic Revival Flinders Street Station. We bypassed the tempting laneway cafés and graffitied alleys for now – we’d return another time to delve into Melbourne’s famous foodie scene and urban art culture.
Our vision quest took us to the Yarra River’s lush south bank, where we soaked up sunny autumnal vistas along the promenade before coming face-to-face with one of Melbourne’s most iconic sites: Flinders Street Station. The remarkable French Renaissance Revival edifice dating back to 1909 is capped by a soaring green dome and showcases a kaleidoscope of ornate details like glazed arched windows and a cheery yellow main façade.
With phone batteries fading, we ducked into the bustling Federation Square complex to recharge both our electronics and ourselves at Aunty Peg’s. This rustic Aussie joint offered much-needed nourishment with plates piled high with smashed avocado toast and savory “brekkie” dishes like corned beef corn fritters. Refueled, we waddled over to explore more of Fed Square’s mixed-use buildings and striking modern architecture ready for the next leg to Tasmania.
Arriving in Hobart
We arrived back at Melbourne’s airport promptly to check in for our evening Qantas flight bound for Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania. After transiting seamlessly through security, we settled into the cozy lounge to brace for the short 1-hour hop across the Bass Strait.
As our aircraft banked over the dark shores of the remote island, we caught our first glimpses of Tasmania’s rugged and rural beauty – waves crashing against sheer coastal cliffs followed by twinkling sprawls of settlements surrounded by rolling farmland, vineyards and wilderness.
The positive first impression only grew as we deplaned at Hobart International Airport, which evoked the intimate, no-fuss charm of a bygone era. Easy-breezy immigration and customs allowed us to promptly collect our bags and hit the ground on this idyllic island.
While it was around 9pm by the time we secured our rental car and merged onto the Tasman Highway, the late sunset/early sunrise cycles of the Southern Hemisphere afforded us incredible dusty-pink twilight views of Hobart and the River Derwent as we drove into the city center. I also marveled at the crisp, fall-tinged air and starry night skies – a bracing slap in the face compared to Singapore’s year-round swelter and humidity.
We rolled into the historic heart of Hobart just as the sandstone-colored Georgian buildings and leafy squares were bathed in moody evening shadows. Even at this late hour, the city’s convivial pub scene spilled out onto the streets with cheery young revelers enjoying open-air drinks and live music.
Settling Into Hobart
My initial instincts were proven correct – Tasmania’s second-largest city instantly charmed with its friendly village ambiance and pristine natural setting cradled by Mount Wellington and the Derwent River estuary. While I wished we could have hit the cobblestoned nightlife corridors on Elizabeth Street that evening, our cozy hotel in Salamanca Wharf beckoned after the long journey from the other side of the world.
The Longo hospitality staff cheerfully greeted our bleary-eyed crew and quickly guided us to our chic guest room overlooking historic Sullivan’s Cove. In an instant my travel fatigue melted away as I flung open the windows to breathe in the bracing sea air and immerse myself in Hobart’s atmospheric soundscape of lapping harbor waters and distant Maritime Museum fog horns.
Although the included continental breakfast awaiting us in the morning was tempting, my soul craved something heartier and more quintessentially Tasmanian to kick off our adventures. I made a mental note that our first priority tomorrow should be to hunt down a classic Aussie breakfast.
As I cozied up under the plush down duvet that night, lulled to sleep by the hypnotic hum of gulls and burbling fishing boats, I felt worlds away not just physically but spiritually: embraced by Tasmania’s pristine natural splendor, historic charms and laidback pace of life. In just under 30 hours we had traversed over 5,000 miles from Singapore’s frenetic tropical heat to the idyllic island serenity of Hobart – and our epic Australian odyssey was only just beginning.
Travel Tips for Singapore to Hobart
For those plotting a journey from Singapore to the remote wilds of Tasmania, a few helpful tips based on our experience:
• Hydrate well and get extra sleep before the long 7+ hour nonstop flights
• Take advantage of long layovers like in Melbourne to stretch legs and get a taste of the city
• Book evening flights to Hobart so you can enjoy the scenic sunset vistas on the final descent
• Allow 30+ minutes to drive from Hobart Airport to the CBD – more if jetlagged!
• Pack warm layers for the cooler nighttime temps and sea breezes even in “summer”
• Do research to pinpoint ideal breakfast spots to refuel the morning after arriving
• Make lodging reservations well in advance during peak travel seasons
While the transit process from The Little Red Dot to the island of Tasmania may seem grueling at nearly 24 hours door-to-door, every second was worth it to wake up in the pristine natural wonderland and captivating historic harbor of Hobart. Even if just for a quick overnight introduction, this enchanting city already worked its magic – leaving me desperate to explore more of Tasmania’s world-class scenery, culinary delights and outdoor pursuits. I hope you enjoyed my Day 1 (Singapore – Melbourne – Hobart).