Travel Guides 2024: Things to see and do from their trip to Northern Tasmania

It’s time to hit the road, the old-school way, with a Travel Guides caravan tour of Northern Tasmania!

“Tasmania is probably one of the best driving destinations in Australia, without a doubt,” grinned “travel snob” Kevin. 

Plus, you never know who you’ll meet along the way…perhaps a global superstar?

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Joining him was wife Janetta, the Fren family, hilarious duo Matt and Brett, best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng, plus newest besties Karly and Bri for an Aussie experience of a lifetime.

The Guides have a drink with ‘Taylor Swift’

It doesn’t get more Aussie than Pyengana’s Pub in the Paddock, a cosy country pub with a few surprises including one local named Taylor Swift.

Opened in 1880, the Pub in the Paddock is one of Tasmania’s oldest watering holes. While there, the Guides bumped into a famous face – or local fame, we should clarify.

Catch the epic moment in the video here: 

One local man walked into a bar towing a horse in hand.

“Who is this?” asked Kevin stunned.

“This is Taylor Swift,” smiled the local, unfazed.

“So I’m in a bar with Taylor Swift!” Kevin replied. 

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Pigs on the other hand, have to drink outside which is where Kev and Dorian tempted Teng to a drinking challenge.

Could Teng outdrink a pig? Catch the video above to see for yourself! Don’t worry, the pigs got very watered down beer

As the name suggests, it’s literally a pub in a paddock, it’s also where the Guides parked their caravans for the night. 

The boys race down Australia’s ‘most dangerous road’

If one challenge wasn’t enough, how about a mountain bike race down the spectacular Jacobs Ladder?

After zig-zagging their way up Tasmania’s second tallest mountain peak, there was only one way back down. Riding a mountain bike however, was totally optional. If only someone told Teng…

Catch the hair-raising race in the video below: 

“Oh god, how is this so fast?” Teng screamed.

Jacobs Ladder at Ben Lomond is quite possibly the most impressive alpine road in Tasmania. With hair-raising, hair-pin bends and a frightening sheer drop, it’s also known as Australia’s most dangerous road!

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“That was sketchy going down, it was so steep,” said Teng.

Dorian on the other hand, had a different approach. See who won in the video above!

The Guides are brought to tears by a ‘miracle’ moment

For a more moving experience, the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre is a must-visit destination, a tribute to the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine collapse.

“The whole word stopped when those miners were trapped,” Mark recalled.

One miner tragically lost his life, while two miners were trapped a kilometre underground for a nail-biting 14 days.

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The Guides stepped inside a replica cage, where the men were trapped for two weeks before being rescued.

Revisit the incredible moment right here: 

It was an experience so moving, it brought Karly and Bri to tears.

“How did they do it? Fourteen days, fair dinkum,” Mark marveled. ”How did they get them out of that small tiny spot? It was a real-life miracle I reckon.”

Janetta remembered the very moment the men made it back to the surface.

“Everyone was just glued on this yellow iron gate, waiting for the to come out,” she beamed.

“This is definitely a place you have to visit when you come to Northern Tasmania,” beamed Mark. “It really moved us, it really was just heartfelt to be there.”

Can their next destination top this memorable trip? Don’t miss next Sunday’s episode!

Travel Guides airs Sundays at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream new episodes of Travel Guides on 9Now.

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