Side trip to Tasmania?

MCD

I'll be taking this trip in the fall of next year. I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone has done a pre-tour visit to Tasmania. If so, what did you do, and how many days did you spend there? Do you recommend it or not? Thanks for your comments.

Golly Gee

MCD I took this tour two years ago and did stop in Tasmania before the tour started. I flew into Melbourne and had a connection to Hobart. I spent three days and did a couple of Gray line tours. The one out to the Port Arthur Convict prison, was very eye opening and because it takes a while to get there, you see different areas of the island.
They have a relatively new art museum MONA which has a fabulous setting in a winery on a peninsula on Hobart.
On Saturdays there is the fun Salamanca market located by the port.
By my comments, I think you can tell I think this is a very worthwhile stop off.
As a side note, there is a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotels in Hobart. As for hotels, there are a number of nice ones located at the port at reasonable prices.

MCD

Thanks, Golly Gee. I recently read "The Tin Ticket" and it was the convict history that intrigued me about Tasmania. Your other suggestions are quite helpful, too.