Best of TASMANIA – This is the way life should taste

Few destinations can pull off what Tasmania does in combining the world’s freshest and finest produce with the most adventurous wilderness. Their forests, agricultural lands and pristine seas provide a natural supermarket of deliciously fresh produce.

During my trip to Tasmania, I have met many smaller producers who are passionate foodies. You spend time shuffling between these farm-gate suppliers, boozy cellar doors and local providores. After sampling the produce, book a table in a restaurant and see how the local chefs transform it. Dine on succulent seafood like oysters, trout, lobster, abalone, scallops and salmon.Here are some of the Best Kept Secrets of TASMANIA.

Get the freshest catch from Tasmanian Seafood Seduction

Tasmanian Seafood Seduction has been one of the most amazing gastronomical experience in my life, thus far. Their day-long journey by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys brings us past some of Tasmania’s most spectacular coastal scenery surrounding Bruny Island and gives us an opportunity to taste the best of the state’s produce. Enjoy oysters shucked straight from the water and your guide will dive for abalone and sea urchin.

The Pennicott Wilderness Journey’s guides know these waters intimately and their local knowledge is second to none. During the tour, we gained an entertaining insight into the surrounding wilderness and their animal inhabitants, while soaking up unparalleled views of picturesque landscapes and beautiful deserted beaches.

Smell the flowers at Bridestowe Lavender Estate

Want to get 100% Pure Bridestowe Estate lavender essential oil? This is the place. Rich in history and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, Bridestowe Estate is a must visit for all visitors to the North East of Tasmania. It is spectacular all year round – from the vast, vibrant purple haze of summer, to the moody mysterious landscapes of winter. They produce lavender products all year round. I particularly like the essential oil, they are grown, harvested and distilled at the Estatel. After walking around the farm, chill out at the cafe to enjoy lavender tea, lavender ice cream and lavender scones.

Feed the Kangaroos at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Get close to the native animals like Tasmanian Devils Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats and Echidnas at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the place to share special moments with Australia’s unique wildlife. The animals all look very happy and very well looked after here. They have 80 free-roaming kangaroos that you can hand-feed with complimentary kangaroo food provided on entry and they love a scratch under the chin! Also, you must meet Maria, the orphaned wombat! She is lucky to be alive after her mum was sadly hit by a car. Don’t be deceived by its heavy body as wombats can run at speeds of up to 40km/hr.

Pick your favourite fruits at Sorell Fruit Farm

Bring your kids to Sorell Fruit Farm as you pick the fruit in season. It costs $20 for a punnet which you can fill with fruit. To be honest, I find it a little pricey. But the strawberries we picked were really huge and sweet. We also grabbed a bite and a coffee at the coffee.

December to January: you can pick 10 different kinds of cherries
November to May: strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants etc

Pop a berry at Kates Berry Farm

Kates Berry Farm is charming, From spring to autumn, try fresh raspberries, strawberries and other berries picked the same day. Kate started the business close to 30 years ago after moving to Swansea from Victoria. She created her own berry farm (yes, she is very hands-on!) and sells berry ice cream and jams all year round. You will be happy to know that she uses organic fertilisers on her farm and she has a range of sugar-free jams.

Devils Corner wine tasting

Chill out on the deck and take in the panoramic views of the majestic Hazards and Freycinet Peninsula while enjoying a glass of their award winning wine.

Freycinet Marine Farm for lunch

Freycinet Marine Farm is no frills delicious. Enjoy a glass of Tasmanian wine with a dozen freshly shucked oysters, isn’t it heaven? There are oysters – fresh, cooked, mixed plates (you decide) – as well as garlic scallops, abalone, mussels or salmon (for the non-oyster eaters). We sat in one of the benches and waited for our food to arrive. Nothing pretentious, it’s that simple. The hardest thing was to decide what we should have.

Walk up to Wineglass Bay Lookout and Cape Tourville

Freycinet National Park is on the east coast of Tasmania. There are trails leading up to a lookout for panoramic views over Wineglass Bay. The short walks are suitable for all abilities and will lead to secluded bays, clean beaches and bird-filled lagoons.

Shop at Salamanca Market

Every Saturday, Salamanca’s Place’s two street blocks are packed with stalls selling food, music, arts and crafts, collectables, books, clothing and jewellery. Located next to the Hobart waterfront, it’s free admission. This is one of Australia’s most loved outdoor markets. You shouldn’t miss this is you are at Hobart.

Up your Instagram game at Cradle Mountain

This national park has many wild faces that are breathtaking in their beauty. We hopped onto McDermotts Coaches for a full day Cradle Mountain tour which explores the wild landscape, ancient forests and alpine heathlands of the most stunning natural areas in Tasmania. The tour was handled by a very experienced driver who is also well conversed in history. We spent a relaxing time taking tonnes of pictures at Cradle Mountain. I suggest taking a 30 minutes boat shed walk to the most photographed location on Cradle Mountain. Don’t rush to go back, spend a night at Cradle Mountain Hotel after your Cradle Mountain National Park visit. The dinner at the hotel is amazing. And there after, we went on a Wildlife Night spotting tour to see some wallabies, wombats, possum and maybe even a devil in their natural habitat.

Open your mind at MONA

The best tip I would give before your visit to MONA- GO WITH AN OPEN MIND. While not my normal cup of tea, this private museum is thought-provoking and very different. There are more than 300 art pieces so take your time to wander through the three levels of subterranean art space.

Drink Raspberry Latte at Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm

After leaving Cradle Mountain, head to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Café at Elizabeth Town for a meal. Using the freshest local ingredients, sit in the garden to enjoy your lunch while overlooking the beautiful lakeside. Some of my favourites include raspberry & coconut risotto, raspberry waffles, and wallaby & bacon patties with marinated ashgrove fetta and pepper berry relish. Fresh raspberries during the season and frozen raspberries in winter are sold along with a pantry full of products made from raspberries.

Grab the best sauces from Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company

Located just outside of historic Evandale, just minutes from Launceston airport, Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company is a MUST visit. By now, you should know that Tasmanians grow some of the finest fruits in the world. The owners Tim and Julie Barbour chooses the best of them for her recipes, hence creating some of the best sauces, conserves and condiments for more than 20 years.

Surrounding the centre is the renowned open garden and topiary nursery. They provide gourmet barbecue lunches and cooking demonstrations for groups of ten or more, all prepared with local ingredients. We made some salad from scratch. By scratch I really mean picking the vegetables and eggs from their garden. They also conduct jam making workshops are held on weekends and all participants leave with their very own jar of jam!

It is worth the little stop off to experience such yummy delights. You get to have generous tasting of all the finest jams, sauces, chutneys, relishes and mustard. Prepare to buy several little bottles of joy for your friends.

Best Farm Stay: Curringa Farm

If I would recommend a place to stay in Tasmania, it would be Curringa Farm. Curringa Farm, which offers fully self-contained farmstay cottages near Hamilton, is about an hour’s drive away from Hobart in central Tasmania. Tim and Jane Parsons are 6th generation farmers of Curringa Farm. This 300-hectare property has a strong ecological focus. You can see a sheep being sheared, watch farm dogs working a mob of sheep and have an enjoyable BBQ lunch here. They also have very beautiful self contained farm-stay cottages.

Getting to Tasmania

Fly to Hobart/Launceston, Tasmania with Qantas, only approx. 10 hours flight with a stopover either Sydney or Melbourne. These flights are available every day of the week.

Four Seasons at Tasmania

The average maximum daily summer temperatures are between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius and winter daily temperatures sit between 3 and 11 degrees Celsius. There is always something to see every season!

Spring (Sep to Nov): Fields and gardens burst into blossoms and bulbs
Summer (Dec to Feb): Visit lavender farms where the landscape is rich with purple flowers
Autumn (Mar to May): Spectacular displays of vibrant autumn colours
Winter (Jun to Aug): Truffles are in season

Self Drive

Tasmania is easy to explore by car as the roads are uncrowded. distances are relatively short and traffic is generally light. As you make your way around, you can journey at your own pace, pausing as and when you want and making discoveries. The scenery along the road is amazing, you will stroll through the farmlands and into the wilderness (just have to keep a lookout for wildlife on the road).

Tasmania Tour Package

Grab a Tasmania Tour Package at Jetabout Holidays and tempt your taste buds at Coal River Farm, Tasmania’s hub of handmade cheese, chocolate, farmgrown berries and fruit. See Tasmania’s finest gourmet cheese and chocolate being made onsite, pick some of the world’s tastiest strawberries and other orchard fruits, enjoy oysters shucked straight from the water, have a taste of fresh rock lobster AND see your guide dive for abalone and sea urchin. Be delighted as your catch is turned into a delicious seafood feast accompanied by gourmet local produce and Tasmanian wines, boutique beers, ciders and juices.

Buy now: http://jetabout.com.sg/tasmania-tour-package