Power Plant

The last day of March went out with R2-D2 background noise followed by some organ whistles powered by a vacuum. Confusing? Well to better explain, I along with 4 other international students attended another "Ten Days on the Island" event, held at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, called Power Plant.

This event was very popular with great reviews on the website and often had sold out shows. We wisely decided to book tickets ahead for the Thursday. Then it was just a matter of making our way to the gardens. Buses used to run, but they no longer go into the gardens, otherwise it's about a 2 km walk from the city centre. We decided to catch a bus to the base of the hill with the gardens situated above. From the stop it was just a bit longer to walk to the front gate than to the back one (about 10 minutes)...so taking the bus driver's advice, to the back we headed. Unfortunately, although there were cars parked outside the gate there was no open entrance. We may have miss-read the sign, as we managed to get in through the back anyhow..... Making our way to the entrance in the looming darkness, we crossed paths with a couple workers but they were pleasant enough to show us the way out so that we could pick up our tickets to get back in!

At the front entrance we picked up our tickets and waited in line for hot chocolate being sold from the back of a van. It was very busy, and well past our 8:10 entrance time before they shuffled our group in. It was basically a self guided tour and you just followed the path along, keeping some distance between you and the others along the way.

Lights highlighted some trees in green, or covered the tourist centre in the image of branches. R2-D2 must have been hidden somewhere in the greenhouse as beeping noises could be heard behind the flowers. Outside spinning lights stood like lollipops in the garden and a lit up gramophone played some eerie tune.

Spinning lollipop lights

Lit up gramophone

We passed under a tree with white swinging lights...almost as if it was full of faeries. Nearing what sounded like a haunted organ, we noticed trees being lit up in green as a sound echoed from them.

Under two trees with disco balls stood two more gramophones. What were they playing? Well the sound of trees and disco balls obviously!

Another gramophone

With the needle going round a chunk of wood

Smoke/light displays and lights flickering in tune to music made up some other displays. We even walked under a tree with lights flickering and making electric noises which sounded like they could shock you. Eerie old fashioned women's dresses lit by the lights, and benches lit by vintage lamps with a view of the fire display at the Japanese pond made for other interesting sights.

Fire display over the water

There were over 20 different types of sound and light displays set out across the garden. As we walked to the exit we remarked how relaxed we all felt, definitely having enjoyed our evening out.

Not knowing how to catch a bus back, we walked back towards the city centre, taking into account how quiet the city is after dark.