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Published: December 19th 2015
HOBART
Lovely walks around Sandy BayWell had this side trip booked for a few months to celebrate our mate Mark's 50th birthday...he hadn't been to Tassie, so it was about time to explore. We flew down with Tiger without mishap and have a lovely little apartment in Sandy Bay just a couple of hundred metres off the Sandy Bay shopping strip, a two bedroom two bathroom with everything you could possibly need in it...an old art deco home that has been renovated into 4 apartments..great spot! Flew down Sunday night so when we arrived decided to go to Solo Italian Pizza and Pasta...we were not disappointed one of the best meals we had in Tassie...linguini marinara was delish, as was John's spicy Calzone and Mark commented his pizza was the best he has had!! All washed down with a bottle of red..a great start to our getaway. It is quite noticeable as to how many art deco buildings there are in Hobart...some fantastic specimens around the local streets!
14.12.2015
Decided to explore the local area and walked the whole length of Sandy Bay Road down past Wrest Point Casino and found a great little breaky place Beach House, in the bottom of an apartment
MT WELLINGTON
Great views, it was snowing up her last week but today lovely and sunny! block overlooking the stunning bay in Hobart...eggs bene and omelettes .. recharged and walked all the way back to our apartment along the beach for some of the way, really is so pretty! Off to Mt Wellington before the 50th birthday dinner... we were very lucky there was no cloud today and we could see for miles around the beautiful bays surrounding Hobart. Took a few walks around the top of Mt Wellington. Then stopped at the Ferntree Tavern on the way back down for a beer. Were within a 20 minute walk of the CBD of Hobart so it was quite enjoyable walking through the suburbs enroute to the Ball and Chain, our dinner spot, had a walk around Constitution Dock and then headed over to one of the many pubs surrounding the docks for a cleansing ale...one thing we notice here prices are high for drinks and food!! Ball and Chain is a Hobart institution, best steaks in town they say...John ordered the 700gm rib eye and Mark had an eye fillet and I had a small scotch fillet..they would not cook them any more well done than medium...so Mark had to go with that! Steak came out
HOBART
View from Mt Wellington with blood on his plate...but steak was OK not too rare!! Had a great night with a couple of bottles of red to wash down the yummy steaks. Boys came to conclusion quite quickly that the Station Footscray still reigns supreme!
15.12.2015
First up breaky! Doctor Coffee and Mr Brew all only had premade, reheated type breakies! Hard to find gourmet breakies up in Sandy Bay so settled for an egg and bacon roll before heading down to the Huon Valley. Such a beautiful drive in this very pretty area of Tassie, drove down through Franklin and headed out to the Tahune Air Walk which had been recommended to us, well worth the trip down to do this attraction, had a yummy curried scallop pie here for lunch before embarking on the walk...the airwalk it self snakes its way high above the forest in the trees and there are so many lovely spots to stop and take some snaps. After that we did a couple of walks along the Huon River which was just soo nice! The day had just flown by and we headed back to Hobart and decided to head up to North Hobart where they
MT WELLINGTON
On way up, unusual rock formations are many, many restaurants lining Elizabeth Street, we felt like a pub meal so headed to the Homestead Pub on Elizabeth, bit of a different crowd gather here, singing contests etc, but the meal was great and reasonably priced. Then walked the length of Elizabeth Street checking out a dining venue for the next night.
16.12.2015
Had booked tickets for the MONA today so walked into Hobart and had a scrumptious breaky at the Harbour Lights Cafe opposite to where we had to catch the Mona Roma CAT out to the Mona Museum of Old and Modern Art at 11.00a.m. Had a great day out at the Mona with the boat ride being an interesting trip out there. From November til March there is an exhibition of Gilbert and George.... right out there!! We all enjoyed it even if it was a bit crazy and completely political incorrect....then did the rest of the museum and walked around the lovely grounds, checked out Moorilla Winery and of course had a couple of Moo Brews and the Moorilla Sparkling Riesling was a winner too! Headed back to Hobart CBD around 4.00p.m. and found the Telegraph Hotel near the wharf area...full
HUON VALLEY
Quaint little villages along the way of students and locals enjoying the happy hour...this would have to be the cheapest beers in Hobart...litre beers for $10..we had paid $10 for a pot out at the Mona. Then headed up Elizabeth Street to the Taj Palace Indian...fantastic meal and reasonably priced wines! Walked another 40 minutes to get back to the apartment.
17.12.2015
Up early to head down to Port Arthur which is about one and half hours from Hobart, so back to Harbour Lights for breaky and got down to Port Arthur just in time to take the 9.30a.m. guided walk around the complex. This is just a beautiful setting but as a penal settlement it would have been hell for a lot of people. We spent a few hours walking all over the site...couldn't believe how big it is...like a small town. 1.00p.m. we had a tour booked to out out to Isle of the Dead... was a great tour and we all thoroughly enjoyed it..our guide was a Canadian guy who was quite a good story teller. If you died at Port Arthur, then this is where you were buried, prisoners were not allowed headstones, though a couple have had them put
HUON VALLEY
Along the Huon River up and paid for by someone else, there are over 1100 people that they know of buried here. Caught the CAT back to Port Arthur around 2.15 and decided to go and check out the DooLishus Fish and Chips at the Tasman Blowhole on the Tasman peninsular before heading back for our flight at 5.45p.m.... apparently these fish and chips are legendary...yummm we were not disappointed a serving of lovely fresh fish, and a dozen scallops and 1/2 dozen oysters....just what the doctor ordered! Back to Hobart to get our flight home...saw a lot in the little time we had..will have to go back again!
We have been to some incredible places around the world but thought Port Arthur was right up there! Also Hobart we thought was one of the most gorgeous places we have been to with minimal graffiti, clean fresh air with its beautiful waterways!
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Norma....
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Lovely Blog
Your blog took me back a few years , & Yes ! Tassie is a great place ,lots to see Merry Christmas to you both.time slips by . I'm o.k. Gradually getting there , can't wait for January 23 rd to come . Off on Cruise to NZ. for 13 days , on Golden Princess . Bye Norma. ...