Taste of Tasmania

November 2024
  • Troys Travels
Terrific Tassie escape after a tumultuous two thousand and twenty four! Read more
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Beach, Car, City trip, Friendship, Nature, Photography, Short trip, Sightseeing, Tours, Vacation
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  • Gorgeous Gorge

    Nov 4–6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Olde worlde charm of the Grand Chancellor Hotel 🏨 in Downtown Launceston, where time has stood still since 1972 😜 greets us as we ask our Uber driver why Northern Tasmania has a public holiday today known as ‘Recreation Day’. He (and every other local) had no idea 🤷🏻‍♂️ but, believe me, when they say holiday they mean it: city a ghost 👻 town!

    No problem, because we made a B-line for Cataract Gorge: UPHILL 🧗‍♀️all the way! After trekking the 2km trail on foot we were happy to sit our weary legs on the very peaceful chairlift, with a central span of 308 metres; the greatest single span of any chairlift in the world 🗺️
    It takes you right across the shimmering water until we reached the other side and enjoyed the serenity of the quaint garden 🌳 cafe, with a coffee ☕️ and persistent performance from the peacock 🦚 parade… evidently highly in heat!

    Wandered around the CBD & Penny Royal before heading back to the comforting embrace of a bygone era for a well deserved & most appreciated afternoon nana 👵🏻 nap 😴… after a local beer 🍺 and wine 🍷…as you do!

    Happy Hour down at the bar before hitting 20,000 steps to dinner at Cataract on Patterson: Scintillating seafood 🦞 platter with fresh, succulent oysters 🦪 and pawns 🦐 mussel chowder, crispy skin barramundi, battered gummy shark 🦈 salt & pepper calamari, crumbed scallops, smoked salmon 🍣 washed down with a Devils Playground East Coast Tasmania Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious 😋 👅
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  • Driven to Drink 🍷

    November 5, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    The oldest vineyard in Tasmania, Velo, is where we began our wine 🍷 journey today! Tasmania produces 1% of the world’s wine but exports 20% which is up there with the finest in the world 🌍

    Tamar Ridge: won best Sparkling in the WORLD! (Yes! Including France🇫🇷) This was our second stop and lubrications were well & truly flowing by now: it was fabulous to meet Bob, our West Australian fellow wine lover and his lovely partner Carol who joined us on our private tour: we got along like a house on fire 🔥 Love that the winemaker from Tamar Estate affectionately dubbed us: The Northern Isle, when referring to the rest of Australia 🇦🇺

    Carol asked: “Why do all Tasmanian towns have 2 IGA’s? (She was 3 sheets to the wind by now…) The rest of us glazed over and decided we’d let that one go to the keeper because we couldn’t even make up a reasonable answer by this stage!

    Lunch platter ladened with delicious treats was delivered at our next stop and we exchanged pleasantries and travel experiences until Bob decided to recall the story of his time ‘holidaying’ in Bangladesh in the 80’s and, in less than glowing terms, described the local river as the “Avalanche of Shit” 💩 Needless to say, this was my most heartfelt laugh 😹 of the day!

    “Just shoot it”! was exclaimed by the Cellar door attendant when a question was posed as to the persistent problem of possums eating the grapes 🍇 of the vine! Gotta love an environmental disaster problem with a solution that is so simple! 😉😜😝

    This was not a tour for the faint hearted or the politically correct among us so, I loved it! 🥰 🕺🏼🍇🍷🤩

    Such a fabulous day with Valley Brook Wine on Wheels 🛞 Stephanie was the consummate host and we all had a ball!
    Wine 🍷 was devine and ensured that we were cosy & comfortable to the end!
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  • Wineglass Bay Day Hooray!

    November 6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Upon picking up Susie Suzuki Swift , we very ‘swiftly’ hightailed it out of Launceston. Nothing more to see here! To describe Susie? …Like a sardine tin on wheels with a transistor radio! 📻

    On approaching Campbelltown we realised, once again, nothing to see here either so we continued on to Milton Winery en route to Wineglass 🍷 Bay.

    With a rumbling tummy we noticed a sign for Freycinet Marine Park at Coles Bay: freshly shucked oysters 🦪 with a buttery soft burst 💥 of salty sea water🌊 with every mouthful! Yum 🤤 We perfectly paired these treats with Coles Bay Riesling & Chardonnay.

    Winding our way through to the Wineglass Bay Lookout we excitedly jumped out of the car only to realise that we should’ve paid $50 to enter the National park: we did not! Then, thinking the ‘lookout’ was a short stroll 🚶🏻 from the car park 🅿️ only to realise it was indeed a 1.5 hour return walk uphill! 😕 (…we were very hot 🥵 by this stage). We figured we were there, so we may as well put in the effort and reach the summit (..or, that’s what it felt like in 27 degree heat 🥵) Thankfully very worth it when we made it. Amazing views!

    Arriving in Swansea on the East Coast was underwhelming at first until we reached our beautiful little Retro beach 🏖️ shack AirBnB down a back road: this gorgeous little home had its own private track to the beach, two cute little bedrooms and all the modern conveniences you could need for an overnight stay; overlooking the pristine waters of Coles Bay… we enjoyed our chilled wine 🍷 booty while watching the sun 🌞 go down through the picturesque ceiling to floor widows. The rustling of the wind in the trees 🌳 and the crashing of the waves on the beach added to the charm of the surroundings and helped slumber arrive faster & more peacefully ☀️ 🌊 🪨🐚⚓️
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  • Retro Beach Shack

    November 6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    The Swansea AirBnB was such a delight that it needed its own special post! With a cute little track that meandered from the front porch down to the beach and pretty as a picture, I could see myself staying here for a week if it was possible. So cute, so charming and so retro! ☀️❤️🛏️🏡⛰️⚓️🍷🌊Read more

  • Gin with a Story & 1823 History

    November 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Reluctantly we departed from our ‘one of a kind’ beach 🏖️ shack. We both agreed that the beds 🛌 were extremely comfortable and waking up to those views could not be beaten! We made the most of the magnificent surroundings & views by staying in and enjoying dinner prepared by us, in-house: gourmet chicken 🐔 in bag alongside crunchy salad 🥗 also in bag 😜

    Winding our way along spectacular coastal views we arrived at our next stop: Waverley Distillery and met the Gin maker who was one of the passionate makers I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking with! The stories attached to his delicious gins were wonderful: Mr C.S. Agnew started a horse stud as part of the Waverley property operations. The horse stud was very successful with a particular horse The Assyrian, purchased after winning the Melbourne Cup in 1882.

    The Assyrian is buried today on the property in the paddock where the Rhubarb for the Waverley Gin is grown. The grave stone is erected in the paddock and reflects the rich history of the Agnew family, now instilled into the robust flavours of our Rhubarb Gin. The black with white dots are the distinctive racing colours of Waverley.

    Richmond was our next destination. The oldest bridge in Australia was built by convict labour in 1823. Such a lovely little town. We had to try the famous scallop pie 🥧 at the equally famous Richmond Bakery. It was curry flavoured and we wished it was a simple white sauce so our stomachs would thank us tomorrow 😜

    ‘Every man and his dog’ is the smallest boutique winery in the Coal River region. We partook in a leisurely tutored tasting of their whites while the dog 🐕 in question lapped around our legs. This winery started life as a Science experiment 🔬 with students growing the grapes 🍇 to see what grew best & which blended well together.

    Thought we’d drop in at Coal River Creek cheese 🧀 & chocolate 🍫 company. Sadly, the staff here were the opposite of what we experienced at Waverley! We bought the famous Ash Brie and box of 8 boutique chocolates to devour later tonight in our Salamanca Apartment right next to the famous Kelly’s Steps in Battery Point, Hobart.
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  • Whisky 🥃 Bar

    November 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Stumbled upon this atmospheric cozy & comforting bar in one of the alleyways off Salamanca Place. Enjoyed a Manhattan cocktail 🍸 in the shimmering candle 🕯️ light and chandeliers. Combining the rustic charm of this historic neighbourhood steeped in history & charm! 🥃Read more

  • Traditional Lime Spider 😋Roses 🌹 in bloom everywhere in Battery Point

    Barilla Bay Oyster 🦪 Extravaganza

    November 8, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Leisurely breakfast before wandering around Salamanca Place: through the alleyways and into the Square. Jackman & McRoss in Battery Point was our destination for coffee ☕️ and Lime 🍋‍🟩 Spider; only a 5 minute walk from our Apartment. Headed to Arthur Circus…

    “Summer nights in Arthur Circus were wonderful times. You could go ‘round there at night and you were really in the centre of Battery Point and you’d play marbles and the sort of cards you’d flick against the wall and toss up in the air a bit like 2-up. Just on dusk at tea time, you’d hear all the mothers come out calling for their kids ‘Tommy, Tommy time to come home!’ … We used to have a huge crowd there of kids … Yes they were very fond memories …
    - Bill Foster talking about his childhood in the 1930s

    Barilla Bay is surrounded by fully landscaped gardens and overlooks the spectacular scenery of Pittwater and Mount Wellington. The relaxed atmosphere of the seafood restaurant serving the BEST seafood 🦞 platter (only $99) which included fish 🐟 oysters 🦪 Kilpatrick with the delicious Worcestershire sauce made in house & natural, bugs, salmon 🍣 curried scallops, calamari, prawns 🦐 chips 🍟 and sauces: a totally fresh Tasmanian dining experience. 👍🏻🙌🏾😋
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  • Ta! Ta! Tassie! 👋

    November 9, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Salamanca Market today. Sun ☀️ out along with crowds. The largest outdoor market in the Southern Hemisphere.

    On 22 January 1972, the first official Salamanca Market was run at Salamanca Place by the Hobart City Council. Over 300 stallholders including food 🥘 crafts, wine 🍷 whisky 🥃 cakes 🍰 jams, plants 🪴 and more wood 🪵 art 🖼️ than you can poke a proverbial stick at! 🙅🏻‍♂️

    Who is Neil the seal?
    Neil is a 600 kg (1,322 pounds) Southern elephant seal in Tasmania, Born in Salem Bay in 2020, Neil was tagged by the Marine Conservation Program. He has been sighted at a number of locations in southern Tasmania, The local councils have to place traffic cones around him so locals are aware where is lays and slides across roads! 🦭 🚧🤣

    Thanks 🙏 Mark for a fun week of fun 🤩 and enough seafood 🦞 🦪 🦐 🐠 to last a lifetime!
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