The Perfect Taste of Tasmania in Hobart

A little while ago I brought you along on my journey around Tasmania and I promised you more from this epic Australian state. Well I’ve kept my promise and want to share with you everything there is to know about travelling around Tasmania’s capital, Hobart. Not only is Hobart itself a great little city to explore, but also, its central location along the Southern Coast offers access to some of the world’s most beautiful places, and trust me, I’m not exaggerating.
Stay
The Henry Jones Art Hotel: This boutique hotel is an attraction in itself. Originally a successful 19^th century jam factory overlooking Hobart’s harbour, it was transformed into a tasteful, modern space, which blends world-renowned art with luxury accommodation, definitely worth the splurge.
See and Do in Hobart
Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
MONA and Hobart have become synonymous since MONA first opened in 2011. It is the largest private museum in Australia and houses the largest private art collection in the Southern Hemisphere, courtesy of David Walsh. From antiquities to modern art and everything in between, your senses will overload as you creep through the labyrinth of galleries buried in the cliffs of Berriedale peninsula. I’ll try not to get too museum geeky, but this progressive museum exposes us to what museums will be like in the future. An experience to say the least, even if art isn’t your thing. The easiest way to get here is by the MR-1 Fast Ferry from the Hobart’s harbour, a 30-minute journey for $20 return. Salamanca Market
This is one of Australia’s most famous markets. Every Saturday 300 stalls line the historic, Salamanca Place, overlooking Hobart’s harbour. Here you’ll find mostly local artisans and antiques, along with a few food and produce vendors. It’s definitely worth planning your schedule around this market. Cascade Brewery
Take a short drive to South Hobart and tour around Australia’s oldest brewery, founded in 1831 on the banks of the Hobart Rivulet. Not only is the beer good and the history rich, but the bar itself, nestled under Mount Wellington, is a beautiful setting for patio drinks on a sunny day.
See and Do Surrounding Hobart
I think this is the best aspect of Hobart, natural beauty and rich history at your fingertips, all within an hour drive of Hobart. Richmond
A 30-minute drive northeast of Hobart, you’ll find this historic town full of charm on the Coal River. Grab an Australia meat pie from the famous Richmond Bakery and wander down to the banks of the Coal River to see Australia’s oldest bridge still in use. It’s hard to take a bad photo in this town when antique shops, museums, and tea rooms occupy 19^th century buildings. And on the way, visit one of my favourite Australian vineyards, Frogmore Creek Winery, to try their premium selection of Coal Valley wines. Bruny Island
Located within an hour drive southwest of Hobart, load your car on the ferry from Kettering, to explore this majestic island for the day. This island has a bit of everything, gourmet food, beautiful beaches, and epic bushwalks. It’s fun to drive around, explore the rugged coast, and visit the cheeseries along the way. Speaking of cheese, take a 10 minute detour past Kettering to try my favourite cheese from the source at Grandvewe Cheeses. Specialising in sheep cheese products, you can’t go wrong with their award-winning Sapphire Blue. Port Arthur
Like I said in this post, there are a lot of spots worth checking out along the way, but the historic site of Port Arthur is a great day trip to familiarise yourself with Australia’s convict history.
Eat
Surprisingly, this small city at the edge of Australia is a foodie’s dream come true, as most produce is locally grown and restaurants pioneer truly unique dining experiences.
Pilgrim Coffee: The best coffee in Hobart.
Pollen Tea Room: If coffee isn’t your thing (like me), this cute spot serves it’s own loose-leaf teas and gourmet hot chocolates.
Machine Laundry Café: Yes it’s a café inside a laundromat, but it’s not what you think, serving some of the best breakfasts in town amongst retro furnishings.
Pigeon Hole: Another great breakfast spot, with an ever-changing menu, using seasonal, local produce.
Daci & Daci Bakers: A great bakery for breakfast or lunch with Ottolenghi vibes.
Mures Lower Deck: While in Tasmania you must try fresh, local seafood, so head here to get classic seafood meals.
Sweet Envy: The best place to find sweets of any kind, so much so they’ve released their own cookbook.
Jam Jar Lounge Café: Located atop Battery Point, this lounge is inviting with a mix of Japanese tapas and Australian wine in a jazz setting.
Small-fry: This is my sister in law’s favourite restaurant, as they’ve redefined the dining experience, serving unique food in an intimate setting with the chef and barista creating in front of you and a handful of other people. They’re famous for their doughnuts, along with providing an immersive dining experience. For example, some dishes are served with an iPad full of classic cartoons for you to scan through while you enjoy your meal.
Ristorante Da Angelo: For the best Italian in town head to this classic eatery.
Capital: The new kid on the block, which is quickly becoming the go-to restaurant in Hobart.  The space was once Marti Zucco’s restaurant, one of the first restaurants in North Hobart. It has since been converted into an industrial style with a lot of non traditional Italian dishes, including three cheese beet root gnocchi, yum.
Ethos Eat Drink: Like everything else in Hobart, this restaurant is full of history, in the converted stable yard and carriageway of the Old Hobart Hotel. Come here for the modern set menu and wine pairing from Sommelier, Alice Chugg.
Garagistes: Ranked as the best fine dining restaurant in Hobart, this unique, industrial style restaurant serves modern Japanese, using local wagyu beef among other delicacies.
Preachers: A cute little pub with outdoor seating on picnic tables, bean bags, or a bus.
Go
Like I said in this post, it’s easy to fly to Hobart from Australia’s hubs. On arrival, I suggest renting a car to easily access Hobart’s beautiful surrounds. But once in Hobart itself, most places are easy to walk to, especially around the harbour, Salamanca, and Battery Point.
Capital photo by Graziano Di Martino and for source click on photo/link.

 

An Epic Tasmanian Road Trip

I’ve been meaning to write about my road trip around Tasmania during February 2013 for a while now. You might notice my blog is full of photos from Tasmania. There’s no denying that it’s working its way to the top of the best travel destinations in the world. It’s still a bit of a mystery though, as my mom keeps asking what all the hype is about. Well I’ll try my best to show you what an incredible destination this forgotten island at the bottom of Australia truly is. I was lucky that my boyfriend attended university in Tasmania, so he was able to plan the best route; we covered the entire island, literally.
Stay
By far the best way to see the state is by 4WD (aka a heavy-duty SUV), which is outfitted for camping with a propane powered cook top, water tank, power stations, a bed and fridge, along with all the fixings. We have nothing but fond memories of our home on the road; we ate like kings and slept like babies!
The state caters for campers, as some of the best spots in Tasmania can only be accessed via camping, ranging from popular campgrounds to secluded oceanfront hideaways. Reserve camping spots in advance (they fill up), for a small fee per night. Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service manages most of the camping grounds.
See and Do
Day 1: Strahan
Starting in Hobart, we made our way west through the Derwent Valley toward Lake St Clair to pick up our National Parks passes. We then drove to Queenstown, where the diversity of the Tasmanian environment is evident. Picture walking on the moon in this mining ravaged town. Finally, we arrived in Strahan and set up camp for the night at Macquarie Heads Camping Ground overlooking the entrance to Macquarie Harbour. Arrive before sunset to snag the best spots for a small daily fee.

Day 2: Corinna
The next day we tested the 4WD along the coast, arriving at Corinna’s wilderness experience. This outpost provides access to the most beautiful hideaways on Earth, but also is historically rich, in the heart of the Tarkine and one of the few remaining towns established from the gold rush during the late 1800’s. Camping sites can be reserved for $40 per night, but the Pieman River barge crossing from the south costs $20. The on site hotel includes a great restaurant and bar, along with public washrooms with hot showers. And the cruise down the Pieman River isn’t to be missed!
Day 3: Cradle Mountain
The following day we made our way to the world-famous Cradle Mountain National Park. We set up camp at the Big 4 Holiday Park, which was surprisingly private for its large size. It was a short drive from here to the Dove Lake Circuit. This was the perfect morning walk to marvel in the views of the Cradle Mountain.
Day 4: Walls of Jerusalem
We packed up our backpacks, said goodbye to our 4WD, and started our overnight hike to the Walls of Jerusalem. Alex has always wanted to hike this trail, but unfortunately I rained on his parade, as I found the walk too difficult. We only made it half way for the night. Though, after the initial incline, we couldn’t ignore the beauty and creatures around us. But the giant mountain possums brought back childhood nightmares and I almost stepped on a black tiger snake.
Day 5: Devonport
We then drove to the North Coast of Tasmania to visit a friend. We checked out the small towns along the way and made sure to catch sight of the Spirit of Tasmania (the ferry between Melbourne and Devonport). Devonport isn’t much of a cultural centre, so head to Launceston instead if you don’t mind seeing the North Coast.
Day 6: Launceston
Located at the base of the Tamar River, this charming town offers riverside treats and expansive valleys views. Our timing worked well, as we attended Launceston’s food and drink festival. We also took in the sights of Cataract Gorge, where the Tamar River and South Esk River meet. Finally, we celebrated our friends’ wedding at Joseph Chromy Vineyard, on the outskirts of Launceston. But I regret not visiting the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
Day 7: Bay of Fires
Next, we made our way east through St. Helens to the Bay of Fires. This was by far my favourite stop on our road trip; setting up camp on the beach. The area acquired its name from an explorer who saw the fires of the Aboriginal people on the beaches, contrary to what I thought of the orange coloured granite boulders. The turquoise water and white sand brought me back to Caribbean vacations, although the water temperature was a bit cooler.
Day 8: Freycinet National Park
We continued south along the East Coast and set up camp overlooking the Hazards, a mountain range located between Coles Bay and Wineglass Bay. We cooked up fresh, local scallops at our beachfront campground; it doesn’t get better than that. But we came here to see the famous, Wineglass Bay, which is accessed by a trail through the Hazards. The walk was worth it to bask in this pristine cove.
Day 9: Port Arthur
Finally, we drove farther south to our last stop, Port Arthur. Along the way, we stopped at the Tessellated Pavement (what happens when you date a geologist), Eaglehawk Neck, and the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. But Port Arthur was the highlight, perfectly documenting Australia’s brutal convict history. The Bronze ticket, with a walking tour and harbour cruise, gave us a great overview of the vast site, but I enjoyed the Ghost Tour the most, as Port Arthur is said to be the most haunted place in Australia. We set up camp at Fortescue Bay Camping Ground, once again overlooking a beautiful beach.
Day 10: Hobart
We then made our way back to Hobart, ending this adventurous and memorable road trip! But since this trip we visited Hobart again and I feel it deserves its own post, as it’s perfect for a taste of Tasmania if you’re short on time. Stay tuned…
Eat
I credit my friend for her Australian road trip tip: grab lunch at local bakeries. They’re usually the most affordable option and it’s fun to try all the different meat pie options. Other than that, don’t miss out on all the local seafood while on the road!
Go
Fly into Tasmania’s largest hub, Hobart, direct from most Australian cities, and easily pick up 4WD rentals at the airport. Give yourself about a week or two to see most of the state, as most of our drives averaged four hours each day.