The day is Monday. Early. It’s September fourteenth. In the dark of the chilly morning of our departure nothing could have dampened the excitement and sense of adventure that buzzed among the students [and Staff!] – even at five a.m.!

The adventure began immediately. As the Jetstar Airbus, Flight JQ703, departed Melbourne at 07.05, fifty two Burnet students from all Year levels, along with five Teachers, climbed high above the sleeping suburbs and out over Bass Strait towards the Apple Isle. Burnet was truly away on holiday.

In the blink of an eye (or so it seemed) we were descending into Hobart airport where we met our coach and our friendly [and most helpful] and funny bus driver – Kerry Dennis.

Once we landed in Tasmania, the itinerary kicked off with no time to waste! Within the hour of our landing, we were enjoying an exhilarating jet boat ride that left many saturated, yet begging for more of the adrenalin rush that only a speedboat climbing river rapids can generate. The pace continued at almost frantic levels, and within five short days, we perhaps had visited more of Tasmania than many Tasmanians would have seen of their own state. We saw the Cadbury factory in Claremont [and bought tonnes of chocolate], strolled through rainforest to the scenic Russell Falls, fought off not-so-wild camels and ostriches at the wildlife park called ‘Zoo Doo’. On our last day, we left our very comfortable City View Motel in the suburbs of Hobart, and travelled northwards to Mole Creek, where we went into the caves at Marakoopa, to experience the serenity of silence in total darkness – save for the glow of worms to shine like stars in the sky. And, somewhere in our travels, we even had time to enjoy a disco cruise along the Derwent River at night. Nothing like the pulse of a strong bass beat to let the locals know that Strathmore was in town.


Written by: Will & Keana (Burnet Team Leaders – with a little help from a friend)