Travel to Tasmania

[irv]

Hi Guys

Will be landing in Hobart on 3 February and the travelling all around the island for three weeks before flying home.

As we will be essentially visiting all of the major tourist towns (and quite a few of the towns in between ) can you please provide recommendations for out of the way tourism spots and dining. We intend to do the well publicised visitor spots as well but in terms of eating we expect value for money rather than the "in spot" to dine especially if you come away hungry rather than being merely poorer. :shock:

This however bears in mind the recent events in the state and what we can do to support them.

I look forward to any recommendations

 

[drron]

I work fairly regularly in Tassie.Often start my TRs with a little(or a lot) of Tasmania.Particularly this one-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ip-photos/bass-strait-to-black-sea-40761.html

some more here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/up-the-amazon-without-paddle-44469.html

Another re restaurants-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-restaurants/tasmanian-restaurants-35580.html

Then a world class gallery in Hobart-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....and-trip-photos/mini-tr-a-day-mona-28110.html

staying at cradle mountain-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....wilderness-village-cradle-mountain-26814.html

And I apologise for this one-it was before I worked out how to make pictures stick-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....p-photos/from-the-mersey-to-mekong-19767.html

You can also google my name on Trip advisor as I have posted a fair bit in the Tassie forum.
Enjoy Tasmania.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hope you have the hire car already booked! Major accommodation wants should also be booked ahead if possible.

Road to Port Arthur (Tasman Peninsula) being opened tomorrow (Sunday 13th). Businesses down there will welcome you with open arms

Hobart: Can't miss Salamanca Market on Saturdays (morning); its on the waterfront. Best in Australia?? In February (I think?) you may catch the biannual Wooden Boat Festival. Even if your not a boatie, don't miss it!!

East coast Tassie, in order driving north from Hobart:

Orford - Scorchers gormet pizzas (coming from Hobart, go straight on instead of left onto the bridge; its immediately on your right.

Between Orford and Swansea (just before Swansea; signposted road heads left off highway): Kates Berry Farm (fresh berries with everything and home made chocolates; relishes etc)

Swansea: Banc great for lunch (probably also dinner). Onyx cafe on the main street (great snacks/coffee and light lunches) on left in main street as you drive north. Check out the new visitor info centre/museum/history centre (white building on the left driving north, in middle of town). Accommodation: Meredith House and Mews (turn left at the museum; up the hill on the right.

Coles Bay Freycinet National Park: On the drive in, the Oyster Farm (shucked fresh straight out of the water!). Tombolo cafe in Garnet Ave Coles Bay is good. Dinner at Edge of the Bay Resort (book ahead; check if the chef is cooking that night). Accommodation in Coles Bay might be tight in February. Self contained accom is popular - try Freycinet Rentals. Or, for the best experience ever, go to Saffire at Coles Bay. A snip at $1,500+/night !!!! If you can get in. Or Freycinet Eco Retreat.Wineglass Bay walk is fantastic, but also Cape Tourville Lighthouse boardwalk, and even Mt Amos climb if you are feeling perky (and its fine).

Bicheno. The bakery is very good. Sir Loin Brier a fantastic deli / butcher.

Good luck!

 

[UP4014]

Can you tell us some of your interests? Might help with suggestions.

matt

 

[mrfreeze]

There is a range of Restaurants in the Salamanca area.
The Ball & Chain Grill and Rockwall are good if you like steak.
Drunken Admiral (close by) speciality is seafood, though I was not all that impressed last time we went there.
Grape (can walk through to James Squire), Cargo and Jack Greene all next to each other have range of wine, beer and food.

For the best pub meal go to the Ocean Child on the corner of Melville and Argyle.

 

[Shelf]

Bay of Fires and Wineglass bay are highly recommended.

 

[Sprucegoose]

There is a range of Restaurants in the Salamanca area.
The Ball & Chain Grill and Rockwall are good if you like steak.
Drunken Admiral (close by) speciality is seafood, though I was not all that impressed last time we went there.
Grape (can walk through to James Squire), Cargo and Jack Greene all next to each other have range of wine, beer and food.

For the best pub meal go to the Ocean Child on the corner of Melville and Argyle.

Ball and chain has great sausage and the drunken admiral try the hot rocks salmon.

Grape good for agood red

 

[JessicaTam]

Might have to file a few of these away for AFF #7!

 

[irv]

Thanks for your responses. Our interests are varied however my wife is into craft and quilting, I'm a keen fishermen however whether I get the chance to indulge we shall see.

When ever we go somewhere new we are also keen to walk and enjoy the surroundings including off the beaten track. I am also into photography and I am keen to try out a new lens and ND filter that santa left, I know I shall have no shortage of lanscapes to photograph.

All our accommodation and carhire was booked months ago and we have planned our itinerary starting in Hobart then heading west towards Strahan then up north via cradle mountain. We will then explore the north of the state before heading east and eventually heading dow the east coast before arriving back in Hobart.

Salamanca markets is pencilled in for our last Saturday before flying out on the Sunday, all up 21 days to explore.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for your responses. Our interests are varied however my wife is into craft and quilting, I'm a keen fishermen however whether I get the chance to indulge we shall see.

<snip>.

Craft and quilting! I'm not into it, but just about any country town in Tassie is. Take extra suitcases.

Ask at the area Tasmania Visitor Information Centres (TVIN, big yellow 'i' displayed) and they'll direct you. As I said, I'm not into it, but I'm aware of Bothwell, Ross, Deloraine, Westbury all have big annual fairs.

Remember that on the west coast (eg Hobart to Strahan and onwards to Rosebury and up to Burnie), driving will take much longer than you expect due to winding roads. But the slower speed is great for taking in the scenery.

Fishing heaven down the east coast. Big game and tuna fishing with charters (St Helens and Eagle Hawk Neck/Pirates Bay especially) down to tinnie hires to get a few flatheads locally. At Strahan in the west, see if you Atlantic Salmon in Macquarie Harbour (they escape from the fish farms ;-) )

 

[mrfreeze]

In Deloraine drop into the Folk Museum there and and check out the "Yarns" display / show.
Yarns Artwork in Silk

All I remember is sitting through the show over and over as the lighting guy programmed and adjusted his bit and I changed the automation part of the show.
Being a male and not into that type of thing it was quite boring but your wife should love it.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

This is my favorite place in Tassie - a few days here is fantastic. You can have dinner at night in the pub restaurant. The cruise is great. A photographers dream.

Corinna - At Home In The Wilderness

You need to take breakfast / lunch supplies with you ( cereal/bread/cheese) as the pub sells some supplies but they are pricey.

We will be going back there next time I go to Tassie with drron.

 

[irv]

Thanks for that, as we have already booked accommodation we will be staying elsewhere, however looks an ideal place. Will definitely go there and do the river cruise.

This is my favorite place in Tassie - a few days here is fantastic. You can have dinner at night in the pub restaurant. The cruise is great. A photographers dream.

Corinna - At Home In The Wilderness

You need to take breakfast / lunch supplies with you ( cereal/bread/cheese) as the pub sells some supplies but they are pricey.

We will be going back there next time I go to Tassie with drron.

 

[drron]

Nice to know what I will be doing next.:shock:

 

[irv]

Showed her the link which raised some interest, what can I do on that day

In Deloraine drop into the Folk Museum there and and check out the "Yarns" display / show.
Yarns Artwork in Silk

All I remember is sitting through the show over and over as the lighting guy programmed and adjusted his bit and I changed the automation part of the show.
Being a male and not into that type of thing it was quite boring but your wife should love it.

 

[drron]

There is a lot to do around Deloraine.Food wise you have the Christmas hills raspberry farm a few kilometres down the Bass highway towards Devonport-great for a morning or afternoon tea but do a reasonable lunch.A few kilometres further is the Ashgrove cheese factory.
I always like to go to 41 south on the Montana road not far from Deloraine-great hot smoked salmon and salmon rillette-they do lunches with their products and it is nice sitting out in the bush.They also sell ginseng which they grow there.Also on Montana road are Tasmanian truffles but it is not season.Also the three Willows winery run by an ex Queenslander.Pinot gris is nice but they have a very unusual wine-a Baco Noir-a red that goes very well with game.
Three Willows Vineyard handmade cool climate wines, Deloraine, Tasmania
41 degrees Tasmania salmon fish farm ginseng wetland acqualture fish farm in Australia

Unfortunately the softgoods place closed last year-had the best bacon in Tasmania.
Also in Deloraine go down to the river-beautiful spot,may see a platypus and some sculptures on the banks of the river.Though September is better with the cherry blossoms.
Out of town is liffey falls-we go in to the upper car park-
Parks & Wildlife Service - Liffey Falls

There are several galleries in Deloraine which can be worth a visit.We always visit this gallery-
Artifakt Gallery [ Deloraine | Tasmania | Australia ]
We actually bought a beautiful sassafras hall table from here.
The Tasmanian govt will actually give you an interest free loan if you want to purchase something more expensive-
Collect Art Purchase Scheme

 

[irv]

Thank you drron

It is obvious you have a deep affection for the place and I appreciate your feed back.

You have touched on a subject that I was just about to broach, recommended wineries. I am of the opinion we have some of the best wine in the world (especially cooler varieties) and intend to use the visit to reinforce my belief. Any specific recommendations in this part of the world warmly received.

There is a lot to do around Deloraine.Food wise you have the Christmas hills raspberry farm a few kilometres down the Bass highway towards Devonport-great for a morning or afternoon tea but do a reasonable lunch.A few kilometres further is the Ashgrove cheese factory.
I always like to go to 41 south on the Montana road not far from Deloraine-great hot smoked salmon and salmon rillette-they do lunches with their products and it is nice sitting out in the bush.They also sell ginseng which they grow there.Also on Montana road are Tasmanian truffles but it is not season.Also the three Willows winery run by an ex Queenslander.Pinot gris is nice but they have a very unusual wine-a Baco Noir-a red that goes very well with game.
Three Willows Vineyard handmade cool climate wines, Deloraine, Tasmania
41 degrees Tasmania salmon fish farm ginseng wetland acqualture fish farm in Australia

Unfortunately the softgoods place closed last year-had the best bacon in Tasmania.
Also in Deloraine go down to the river-beautiful spot,may see a platypus and some sculptures on the banks of the river.Though September is better with the cherry blossoms.
Out of town is liffey falls-we go in to the upper car park-
Parks & Wildlife Service - Liffey Falls

There are several galleries in Deloraine which can be worth a visit.We always visit this gallery-
Artifakt Gallery [ Deloraine | Tasmania | Australia ]
We actually bought a beautiful sassafras hall table from here.
The Tasmanian govt will actually give you an interest free loan if you want to purchase something more expensive-
Collect Art Purchase Scheme

 

[drron]

The two I like close to Latrobe where I usually work are Ghost rock-
Tasmania Wine, Tasmanian Wines - Ghost Rock Vineyard Tasmania Pinot Noir

and Barringwood Park with a variety of pinot noirs from different blocks that are very different-
Barringwood Park Vineyard

Over at the Tamar we like the Ninth Island with a very good restaurant with views over the Tamar-
Ninth Island vineyard » Kreglinger Wine Estates

And in the same company Pipers Brook has good wines and a rustic cafe-
Pipers Brook Vineyard » Kreglinger Wine Estates

but there are plenty of large and small vineyards around the Tamar.

In Launceston I want to try the cooking school put on by David Alps-he used to own the restaurant at Ninth Island and his food was fantastic.On one occasion had a vegetable platter for mains-it was impressive and i still remember fondly the taste of the radish,just heavenly.he has a store in Lonnie now-
Alps & Amici foodstore and kitchen, Launceston. Tasmania.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thank you drron

It is obvious you have a deep affection for the place and I appreciate your feed back.

You have touched on a subject that I was just about to broach, recommended wineries. I am of the opinion we have some of the best wine in the world (especially cooler varieties) and intend to use the visit to reinforce my belief. Any specific recommendations in this part of the world warmly received.

Can't go too wrong looking at this: The Wine Route | Wine Tasmania

Down the East Coast, my favourites are all between Swansea and Bicheno: Spring Vale, Freycinet, Milton and Gala; reislings and pinot noirs especially. For the most part, you'll find tasting rooms a little less 'commercial' and more 'homely' than, say in SA or the Hunter Valley. Try the Dalrymple sav blanc in the Tamar Valley.

At Coles Bay you can go on the Long Lunch Wine Tour! In fact here's a link for all things 'touristy' in the freycinet area: Freycinet Wine Glass Bay Coles Bay, Tasmania - Freycinet National Park, Accommodation Activities & Events

 

[irv]

Thanks for the heads up, much appreciated.

Can't go too wrong looking at this: The Wine Route | Wine Tasmania

Down the East Coast, my favourites are all between Swansea and Bicheno: Spring Vale, Freycinet, Milton and Gala; reislings and pinot noirs especially. For the most part, you'll find tasting rooms a little less 'commercial' and more 'homely' than, say in SA or the Hunter Valley. Try the Dalrymple sav blanc in the Tamar Valley.

At Coles Bay you can go on the Long Lunch Wine Tour! In fact here's a link for all things 'touristy' in the freycinet area: Freycinet Wine Glass Bay Coles Bay, Tasmania - Freycinet National Park, Accommodation Activities & Events