Endeavour Sailing 10/02/25 Monday: 1st day in Hobart

10/2/25 Monday

This is my first morning in Hobart after a long day yesterday just getting here. I woke around 5:30 a.m., or 7:30 a.m. NZ time. I tried to stay asleep as long as possible but by 6 a.m. I was up and about.

The problem for me this morning is that I have no breakfast with me since I arrived so late the night before.

I had two options:

1) Find a cafe nearby

2) Find a supermarket and buy me some Weet-Bix (which is what I normally eat at home).

I went for option 2, to save some money as I need three breakfasts here in Hobart and a box of Weet-Bix will get me through until I board the Endeavour on Wednesday.

The closest supermarket is one km away and opens at 7 a.m.

So, with plenty of time to spare I had a refreshing shower, washing away the old sweat and stress from yesterday’s flying dramas, shaving and by 6:45 a.m. I was walking the 10-minute kilometre to the supermarket on an empty stomach where I brought Weet-Bix, orange juice, milk, fruit and some lunch. I then walked back to Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse as quickly as possible for breakfast as I was so very hungry by now at 7:15 a.m., which is 9:15 a.m. to my jet lagged stomach.

By 7:30 a.m. I was very full and ready for my first day in Hobart. On the plane yesterday a number of people were all highly recommending I visit MONA; the Museum of Old and New Art, the number one tourist attraction in Hobart apparently - a large maze warren of different styles of art.

After breakfast I booked the very first dedicated ferry to MONA which included my entry ticket, leaving at 9:15 a.m., which is further along up the harbour.

By 8:15 a.m. I was down at the harbour walking around looking at all the tall ships (a tall ship, is a ship which uses square sails). It’s simply mind blowing to see five large tall ships with all their masts in one outstanding impressive line against the wharf and another four (smaller) tall ships on another wharf. Considering there are only three tall ships in New Zealand, seeing nine together was damn impressive.

Five large tall ships in a row, with the Endeavour in the front

Four smaller tall ships in a row

And of course, the Endeavour was by far the most impressive looking ship. The Endeavour looks so more primitive and old fashioned being made completely from wood compared to more modern ships. And back in the day, the Endeavour was actually quite a small ship for the Royal Navy, compared to the massive HMS Victory for example, a 104 gun first rate ship of the line in Portsmouth, UK.

The Endeavour, my home in several days time

The Endeavour is quite a small tall ship, compared to the much later period James Craig

By 9 a.m. I was on one of the MONA large dedicated ferries, and the 25-minute harbour ride was a nice addition to see more of Hobart on the way to MONA. The MONA art gallery was unlike any I have visited in the past. Massive iron art structures out the front, before you descend underground where the entire art gallery is buried.

He Xiangyu’s Tank Project, a lifesize tank made entirely of leather which took several years to make, 

The eerie life-like girl in a box

Melted red Porsche, and yes it is a real Porsche

You to start the experience at the lowest level and work your way back up to the surface using your phone to find out the art. MONA use an app which identifies art near you so you can find out more about it. I spent the next 2 ½ hours seeing some impressive art, of all shapes, materials and sizes. I enjoyed seeing the 2,000 to 3,000 old historic pieces all mixed in with modern art while underground, through it was quite strange.

David Bowie original Starman lyrics

Wall of Vaginas

Ancient script

Then a simple picnic lunch before taking the ferry back to the CBD.

I then tried to get on board several of the tall ships but they had all stopped taking visitors as they were getting ready to sail out for 3 p.m. final large sailing to close the Wooden Boat Festival.

As such I headed into the Tasman Museum and Art Gallery instead, the local council museum/art centre.

Modern art showing how the First Peoples used to live

I especially enjoyed reading and learning about the first peoples, the aboriginals of Tasmania who have an impressive history going back 10,000 years and were treated very very badly by the British settlers. They had all their land taken away and many were killed, a very different more violent story, but with similar overtones to how the Māori were treated.

Tasmanian tiger

Large lego ship used to travel to Antarctica

I also found the room on the Tasmanian tiger fascinating, I didn’t realiase there was this large marsupial that looked like a dog with stripes, and very sad they were all killed by the Europeans less than 100 years ago. The last known zoo Tasmanian tiger died in 1936

On leaving around 3:30 p.m. my feet were very tired and sore, a combination of new shoes and still recovering from the Heaphy Great Walk from several weeks ago.

Early painting of the First People of Tasmania

I started exploring the Wooden Boat festival for an hour then found somewhere to sit, rest my feet and read for the next couple of hours. I am finding my new Kindle Scribe perfect. I can read a book or write my diary so easily and it’s so light compared to real physical books.

By 5:30 p.m. I was getting very hungry so went for an early dinner, fish and chips of course, after the nautical theme from the Wooden Boat Festival.

I then simply walked back to Montacute boutique bunkhouse which is only 10 minutes away for a relaxing evening writing my diary, a bit more reading and making new friends, including someone else who is going on the Endeavour as well.