Tasmania. Tassie. Tazza. What an amazing state. Although, just a warning, beware of the wildlife on the roads. I noted down the amount of times I saw roadkill: 50 times.

Exactly one year ago, during a typical night of rummaging through dozens of unread emails, I had stumbled upon a subject line that read “Jetstar 10 cent flights.” My adrenalin immediately came kicking in. However, to my dismay, all flights were already booked out except those to Hobart. It took 15 minutes for the Jetstar website to load due to the heavy traffic, but I managed to book 3 return tickets for a total cost of $30 return. The extra $29.70 was due to taxes. This was by far the cheapest flight. My traveling companions had thought I was joking!

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Piggie at Salamanca Market (should I be in here? :))

Being an urban dweller, I was looking forward to the 3 hour long mountain treks and seeing ghosts at Port Arthur. But most importantly, I was really excited about devouring the infamous delights that Tassie was known for – scallop pies, Valhalla ice cream, farm fresh juicy apples that make you slurp, oysters and cheese.  One of my friends is an extreme perfectionist, so of course a daily if not hourly agenda was put into place.

To avoid this turning into a college thesis, I have kept this post as short as possible.

Bruny Island

Located in the south east tip of Tasmania, is made up of two islands. Bruny Island, known for its penguin and seal inhabitants, has only 600 residents! There are vast deserted beaches and wildlife. Most spectacular is the scenery- make sure you have enough memory in your camera. There were many berry plantations near the dock, so we grabbed a bag and started picking, as you do. Nothing beats freshly picked fruit.

Bruny Island BerriesFresh berries for picking

It was highly recommended that we try out the award winning Bruny Island Cruise. For $100, wearing a large poncho, we were taken for a 3 hour eco cruise around the coastline at high speeds. It felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. The best thing about the experience was seeing ‘”the breathing rock” blowing out water like as if a giant was living in there and watching countless smelly seals sleeping on the rocks. Too bad we had  forgotten the camera in the damn car.

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Salamanca Markets

Rain, hail or shine, the Salamanca Market runs every Saturday from 8:30Am to 3Pm. Eagerly arriving at 9am, we started our venture down the crowded stalls. I was amazed at the amount of fresh local produce- from Gandvue Cheeses, glorious Valhalla Ice-cream , organic veggies to deep fried battered mushrooms, leather flat fruit and homemade fudge.

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DSC01988 Bagpipe entertainment followed by dancing demonstrations

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Mind blowing Valhalla Ice-cream. This sent me to rehab. I want more! Blueberry flavour was luscious and creamy indeed. Since the trip, in sheer desperation, I had called up up Valhalla to find out where I can grab a tub in Melbourne. One store, yes only one store sells them- Leo’s Fine Food in Kew. My mission has been attacking one tub on a weekly basis.

DSC02003Succulent tempura mushrooms with a ginger beer washdown

DSC02004Up close with the mushroom disguised beast. It was so juicy, there was overflow.

DSC02024Cherry and Raspberry  Leather (think Roll-ups but with more tang)

From a scale of 1 – 10, how much do I like fudge? Take wild guess!  The House of Fudge stall (located near the the entrance) have tastings available across their whole range. Of course I tried each flavour whilst my friends looked upon me with shameful disgust. Nonetheless, my top pick went to Rum and Rasin. Juicy pieces of fruit in amongst a sea of smooth rummed up fudge.

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Need I say more?

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DSC01965Bagged me one of these jams. Makes me crave Ribena.

Where do I begin with these Apple Pies. Firstly, they are to be consumed at room temperature with a dollop of double cream. For $5, you could be eating one of these golden crusted gems filled with an abundance of sliced up cinnamon spiced apples. It tasted so fresh, as if it just baked that morning. The lovely lady at the stall later confirmed this was the case even offering me a free cupcake! I was actually quite shocked as I was just picturing myself hoovering down one of their cupcakes seconds beforehand. Could this be the Law of Attraction working its wonders?

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I felt so grateful for the cupcake, that I bought some Almond and Chocolate Meringues. They immediately melted upon tongue impact.

Bratwurst Stall

There were accolades lined up throughout the stall so I had to try it out. I went for a Mild Bratwurst with all the trimmings. Served on a fresh crusty wholemeal roll,  I can see why so many awards have been won.

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DSC01964Tiny gingerbread men are seen guarding the entrance stall. Don’t be fooled by their smiles. They’ll cause an addiction.You have been warned.

DSC02006Herb garden

Jackman and McRoss Bakery

Details: 57-59 Hampden Rd, Battery Point 7004 TAS Phone: (03) 6223 3186 Map

Teaser: Scrambled eggs wrapped in smoked salmon on danish pastry served with rocket and aioli.

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The rest of the Jackman and McRoss entry to come soon. I thought that it deserved its own post.

Cascade Brewery

Details: 140 Cascade Road, South Hobart Tasmania, Australia, 7004 Phone. (03) 6224 1117  Tour costs: $20 p/p which includes beer tokens
 

Tour: After a hearty breakfast at Jackman & McRoss, it was time for beer at Cascade Brewery. I mean, we were on holiday so why not?!

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Our friendly tour guide took us through the various components that make up this beautiful beverage. One thing to note was the strict safety rule: no drinking during the tour. A rule that was extremely hard to follow. My friends were distraught.

The size of the brewery, which was founded by Peter Degraves, an entrepreneur who emigrated from England, is actually quite deceiving. What looks to be an enormous castle like structure, it is in fact just a thin facade! The surrounding gardens however, were stunning. Fertile and full of hedged bushes, roses and sculptures.

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My tokens were used on my personal favourite, the Cascade Blonde- which is a premium beer made up of various barely and wheat malts. A perfect summer drink with a very subtle citrus taste. Through the tour, interestingly, we got to taste the actual barley that goes into the end product.

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DSC01639Yep, who knew I can do this with a glass of water? Genius.

Wineglass Bay @ Freycinet

After all the food we had eaten so far, we were all keen as mustard to do the 3 hour trek to the secluded beachfront of Wineglass Bay.

The weather was around the 32 degree mark which was actually pretty hot considering we were in Tassie. Clad with sunscreen, the walking trail was definitely challenging with rugged pathways, rocks and bushes to dodge in amongst the sounds of huffing and puffing emitting from the worn out fellow trekkers. But the reward was about to come.

Like a mirage, Wineglass Bay appeared. Boys being boys, despite our tiredness, we immediately stripped off leaving behind a trail of clothes plunging into the crystal blue waters in our boxer shorts.

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I can see why they named it Wineglas Bay- with the spectacular surrounding mountains encasing the area forming a wineglass like shape.

Grandvewe Cheese

Grandvewe Cheese being Tasmania’s only sheep’s milk cheesery, was also the first organic only sheep’s milk cheesery in Australia.

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Two quick facts about Sheep’s Milk:

1. Dairy Intolerant friendly

2. Reduces cholesterol

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There was plenty to do at the farm that included sheep petting (they were surprisingly pet like loving the chin tickles), milking demonstrations, feeding and of course what we came here for- cheese tasting homeboy!

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Farm overlooking the bay

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Lazy days…

DSC01820Sheep petting

My personal favourite was the Primavera- slightly sweet, smoothly buttery and a little crumbly. Liking it so much, I couldn’t leave without buying any. What was supposed to be used for the next day’s road trip, I ended up finishing it all that night in the hotel room. Bad boy.

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On the way back from Freycinet, hungry and sore, we came upon a miracle. A sign that read: Oyster Farm.

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The very casual outdoor dining only establishment, was impressive. Straight to the point, there are three things available. Of those we oredered too many oysters and a bowl of delicious steamed mussels.

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I have to admit, the mussels were the winners. I’ve never had mussels so juicy and soft that there was hardly any need to chew.

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DSC01857Sunflowers line the entrance

Scallop Pies!

Whilst the rest of Australia pawns over the good old beef pie, It seemed like Scallop Pies were the local choice. They were seen prominent in supermarkets, cafes, Salamanca Market and on the road to Bruny Island.

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Encased in golden pastry, the abundance of generously sized scallops, were juicy, tasted quite fresh and served in amongst a mild curry gravy. Just a tip, when you get the chance to treat your taste buds to these delights, make sure you ask if the pie is piping hot. I had one that was a little luke warm which didn’t taste that appetising.

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Apples, Apples and Apples

Hearing so much about how unbelievable the apples were in Tassie, sinking my teeth into one was vital. After a few stops at various farms in Huon Valley, I can confirm that they are in fact, amazingly good. The first bite being the best part, I love hearing that ‘crunch’ as you try and open your mouth as wide as possible almost giving yourself lockjaw!

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Another worthy stopover was the Apple Museum, located in Huon Calley. Filled with apple jam, apple juice, wooden apples, memorabilia and other exhibits. We didn’t have time for tour though. Next time.

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Last but not least, Port Arthur

Not to extend this post out any longer, I thought it would be best to let the pictures taken at Port Arthur speak for themselves. I was hoping for some ghost shots…didn’t happen.

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Can you see the ghost? Shadow on the right window.

It’s a wrap

Ten cent flights. A chance to walk off all the food eaten. Hardly any traffic. The wilderness. Scallop pies. An abundance of ginger beer. The best mussels ever had. Let’s just say that Tasmania was full of welcomed surprises.

Apart from the amount of roadkill and a rental car which had no power- with a well planned itinerary, we were able to see Tassie in its full glory. Launceston is next baby!

Did I miss out on any other great things to do in Tassie?

31 thoughts on “Taste bud pampering in Tasmania

  1. Wow an epic post indeed. Have yet to get to Tassie but when I do it’s gonna be a food tour all the way! Those apples sound amazing! And I presume you didn’t spot Matthew Evans at the Salamanca Markets? lol.

  2. I would fly to Tasmania (never been) in a heartbeat if I could get my hands on some 10 cent flights! It seems like you’ve eaten everything on offer. And yes, definitely saw the shadow on the right window. There’s one under the table too 🙂
    .-= foodwink´s last blog ..What I ate in Ipoh =-.

  3. That winking apple is quite disturbing.

    Very encouraging to hear that if you imagine hard enough that you are about to eat a delicious cupcake, the universe will deliver unto you a delicious cupcake. I wonder if you need to be eating an apple pie at the time for this to work.
    .-= Conor @ HoldtheBeef´s last blog ..The most popular of all slices =-.

  4. Whoa! You seem to have had alot of food there. But hey, that’s whay holidays are for. Cheers for visiting ‘our hood’, how good was Andrew’s burgers right?

    Dave & Mel

  5. Hey Michele- hehe, yep, stuffed me face silly! I wanna go back as well.

    Hey Mark- Tell me about it. So hard to come back.

    Hey Sarah- Yes, I’m missing the ice cream already. Help!

    Hey Helen- Ha! Yes, food tour it! If I wasn’t with friends, it would have been all about the food.

    Hey April- I know huh- so cheap! hehe, I may also contributed ssshhh!

    Hey Vee- LOL, a whole cake!? You’re one brave blogger. I heart freebies!

    Hey Foodwink- Me too! I’m always looking out for cheap flights…I’m now hooked. At the time I wanted to see a ghost, now, I’m glad I didn’t!

    Hey Conor- The universe will give you whatever you focus on. hehe. I wanted cupcake, and I got it! Now, let me think about what I want now….

    Hey Belle- tell me about it. I look back at my photos just to build an appetite.

    Hey Dave- Andrew’s burgers was amazing. I could eat 2 at a time. Holidays are the best! Wish I could turn back time.

  6. Adrian, how the heck did u find room for all those food? And how many hours do you spend at the gym to burn off the calories?

    We’ve just booked our next Tassie trip for December. Woohoo! Freycinet and cradle mountain here we come! Looking forward to the oyster farm trip and pigging out on one of my fave seafood – oysters. Thanks for the mussels tip. Have added this to my to do list. We will also hunt down the Valhalla ice cream as my hubbie is a huge ice cream addict.

    1. Hey TruffleMe- I ask that same questions all the time. I just make the commitment to walk 30 mins a day…gues it’s working! LOL Nice you will love Tasssie. In terms of restaurants, I would def suggest hitting up North Hobart. Central Hobart has no good places to eat apart from a few a Salamanca.

    1. Hey Betty- Oh the mushrooms were so juicy. Although volcanic hot, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into them. I want a labrador now…:P

  7. I LOVE scallop pies! I went to Tassie years ago, and after trying my first one in Launceston, sought them out all over the state on our roundabout way to Hobart. I remember being a fan of the curry variant, but not so much the plain creamy sauced one.
    .-= Billy´s last blog ..Lanna Thai =-.

    1. Hey Billy- Yeah, I heard about the creamy variant, but was lucky I got the curry version. It was goood! I still wanna go back and hit up Launceston. Hobart city itself isn’t the greatest, but Bruny Island and cradle mountain were awesome.

  8. I will be there this December with my wife and 3 teenage children (an oxymoron – :0).
    I will most definitely try all that you have mentioned, walk the 30 minutes and do the fountain with cold cold ginger beer!
    A great blog!
    Cheers!

    1. Hey CMR- Yes, the walk is worth it. Nothing is better than an icy Ginger Beer after a long walk. Although, most would argue that a real beer would be much better suited :O

      Have a great trip and a good time to go there as well when it’s not as cold.

    1. Hey Heather- I loved Tassie. There is so much to do…and eat of course! Make sure you go to Jackman and Mcross Bakery in Hobart. 🙂 Oh, and Bruny Island for the Oysters!

  9. Hey – I stumbled across your post this morning searching for a good brekkie place to go (ended up going to Demitri’s Feast – sad that I live a couple of mins away & have never been….) anyhow, I’m originally from Tasmania, Launceston specifically. If you do head down there some of the best places to go for food are:

    – Stillwater at the Mill, near Penny Royal World for fine dining
    – Hallam’s fish and chips – either go to the restaurant or the take-away place next door
    – Josef Chromy vineyard in Relbia (near L’ton Airport) for years he was involved with Pipers Brook, but now owns his own place. The sparkling is divine
    – Black Cow for great, grass fed steak – the best in town. In central Launceston
    – Pierre’s for lunch. I still had the best steak tartare I’ve ever had here….you’ll need to book, but it’s blooming marvellous!

    Hope they give you some good ideas of places to go 🙂

    Cheers!
    Casie

    1. hey cassie- wow, what a list you have here! Glad to went to Demitri’s Feast. Pretty good there.

      Unfortuntately, I haven’t been to Launceston, but looking at this list, I really want to! I have heard good things about Stillwater at the Mill. Thanks for this info. 🙂

  10. Hi there!!

    Oh how I love to see a visitor enjoying the local produce we are all so proud of! Perhaps you might like to look at renting your own cherry tree in Tassie – your very own Tassie produce picked from your very own tree for the season, if you’re in the state you can even enjoy picking it whilst taking in the views and a picknic. Check it out – http://www.platinumridgetas.com.au .

    Looking forward to hearing stories of North Tassie when you’re back in town.

    Janelle

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