Choo Sylvia
5/5
A Gamble that Paid Off
Imagine you are tourist guides cooked up for 6 full days in a SUV with 3 demanding, well-travelled, cost conscious Singaporean retirees on their first tour of Tasmania. That’s the challenge facing Daniel and Kurt from See Tasmania. We had always relied on big tour operators. So, it was a gamble, after surveying the net, that we decided on See Tasmania, a small outfit. Their replies to our enquiries suggested sincerity and dedication. They are Tasmania specialists. Strong points - but still a gamble.
But it paid off handsomely.
Five adults (3 travelers, 2 guides) separated by 40 years in age had to live in such a manner. We would be struggling to keep up with running commentaries, however, witty; we needed conversation rather than commentary; engagement rather than orders, laughter, give and take, the blurring of the guide and the guided. In a confined space an uneasy relationship would ruin the whole trip. How did Daniel and Kurt succeed?
The most important thing is that these guys absolutely love Tasmania. They grew up here, worked on the mainland, and returned to the island. In all our conversations, their deep affection of the land shone through. Love deepens and expands oneself and infects others. That love kept us engaged.
The next important thing is that Kurt and Daniel just love what they do. They are intrepid travelers in their own right, so their job is an endless vacation. They will regale you with their adventures in Asia, Europe, little known parts of Asia (Kyrgyzsomething, Assam. Assam? Who goes to Assam? And plans to return!) and the Middle East. They have travelled rough and they have travelled wide. We guess their previous jobs must have educated them on the deficiencies of big operators, so they are attentive to the needs of travelers. A tour guide sipping his coffee in his long bus while his charges wander in the forest is not an uncommon sight. In contrast, Kurt and Daniel are engaged in what you do. They did the entire trek with us at the Freycinet National Park, Dove Lake and the Nelson Falls. This is a tough job to be continually engaged. So, while we marveled at the Bays of Fire and the beach at Strahan, they dipped to refresh themselves in the Indian Ocean. Perfect synergy!
Local knowledge is important. Intimate knowledge more so. By focusing their considerable energies on just one island, and because lovers always want to know more of the object of their desire, they are very well informed. Tasmania is huge and wild and varied so nobody can claim expertise in all or even most of it. But, either Kurt or Daniel, or both, knew the horrors at Port Arthur, the transition of a mining town, the aboriginal settlements, the hardest trek, seasonal weather, how a bush fire destroyed and rejuvenated a small town, flora and fauna in the forest, the little museum, the best local beer (Little River!), best place for a scallop pie, the last ferry back, etc., etc. They are full of surprises but if they didn’t know, they let you know they don’t. No BS.
Small is beautiful. Because they run a tight outfit, their costs are low. You don’t get the waste and hidden cost of a half-filled long bus. Small is flexible. You can change your schedule within reason if the weather took a turn or you were tired. And, so it was with us when we skipped the steam train and wondered at the tessellated pavement at Eaglehawk Neck.
Knowledge, experience and flexibility are all important. But at the end of the day, you need love and sincerity. And when you are on the road for so long in unpredictable weather, careful driving.
See Tasmania is a young, small company in size (we think that’s why they try harder) but big in heart. It is ambitious in the best sense of the word. That means they want to succeed by being very good at what they do; in this case, focusing on giving a very good all-round experience at an affordable price. Catch them before they get big! As for us, we will return next year and enjoy the other bits of Tasmania with these two mates again.
Stephen, Sylvia, Eugene (Singapore)
Feb 2018
