Tasmania is a food lovers paradise.

There, we have said it again.

Fresh, wonderful, locally produced, tasty, delightful, scrumptious. The superlatives are never ending.

But, is it true?

Well, we are biased, as we love anything Tasmanian and especially the, well let’s say in an understated way, the yummy food.

But what do others think? What about someone who loves great food, loves taking food photographs and loves writing about her foodie adventures?

Let us introduce The Pickled Cumquat.  Melinda is her “real” name and her site is all about food.  Food she has tasted, places she has visited,  food lovers she has met and  food she has created. See what we mean, she loves food!

Recently she and Mr Pickled Cumquat visited Tasmania and basically ate their way around the Island. She then wrote it up with lots and lots of great pictures.  It is a terrific article -  Tasmania – Through my hungry eyes.

Please check it out, the Pickled Cumquat team visited many places on their Tasmanian holiday including:

• Ashgove Cheese
• Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm and café
• The Cherry Shed
• Turners Beach Berry Patch
• Boags Brewery
• Fish ‘n Chips – Seaport, Launceston
• The Pantry – Launceston
• Tasmania Flour Mills
• Velo Wines, Legana
• Van Diemens Land Creamery,  Deloraine
• Salamanca Market
• Da Angelo – Battery Point
• Jackman & McRoss – Battery Point,
• Mures Upper Deck -  Hobart
• Bruny Island Premium Wines
• Bruny Island Berry Farm
• Bruny Island Cheese Co
• Salvete -  Battery Point

See what we mean, these guys love food!

The link to the article again?

Tasmania – Through my hungry eyes.

Enjoy.

So you are planning a visit to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania.

You love walking and exploring.

You are on holiday to get out and absorb  everything Cradle Mountain National Park has to offer.

You want to explore, get up close to Australian native animals and enjoy the wilderness.

But what is it like?  Where do you go first? How many days will give you the full experience at Cradle Mountain?

There is a lot of information on this site about day walks at Cradle Mountain.  Spend some time, explore the site and be well prepared for your adventure.

In addition, we recently discovered a fantastic article at Hike Bike Travel by Robyn Waher.  She spent a year exploring Australia and the highlight?

Tasmania!

Robyn loved the Cradle Mountain National Park.  She enjoyed exploring, walking and doing some challenging tracks.  She is also a great writer.  Her article Cradle Mountain hiking in Tasmania is inspiring.

Over three days Robyn really got out and exploreed the area.  She tackled the summit of Cradle Mountain, explored the Dove  Lake Circuit and, her personal highlight, hit the track into Lake Rodway then back to Twisted Lakes and Lake Hanson/Hansons Peak. An awesome three days!

If you are planning to do some day walks on your visit to Cradle Mountain, this article: Cradle Mountain hiking in Tasmania, is a great resource. Enjoy!

If you are after detailed free maps of the Cradle Mountain walking tracks, don’t forget to grab them and the free Cradle Mountain Travel guide we here created. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Leigh from Hike Bike Travel for agreeing to share this article.  Hike Bike Travel is a terrific resource for anyone planning a hike….bike…. or travelling around the world.

 Image: brewbooks via Flickr

Hartz Mountains National Park is 85km south west of Hobart. Follow the signs to Huonville and Geeveston, then turn right into the Arve Road towards the Tahune Airwalk and look out for the left hand turn uphill to the national park. The last part of the road is unsealed and may be closed if there’s snow. You will need a National Parks pass to visit, which you can buy online from the Parks and Wildlife Service website, at their shop on the main street in Huonville or at the Huon Valley Visitors Centre on the way.

It’s not a difficult walk for anyone of average fitness, and takes around 3-4 hours return, allowing for breaks. From the car park and registration hut, it is a 400 metre climb to the top. Much of the first part of the walk is on boardwalks, keeping your feet safely above the water flowing all around you. Towards the end it is steep in parts and there’s a short section of scrambling over loose rocks to the summit.

A short way along the track lies the memorial to Arthur Geeves and his cousin Sidney who perished here from hypothermia in 1897 in harsh blizzard conditions. They were only a short distance from the shelter hut. Let this be a warning – the Hartz area is particularly prone to sudden thick fog and snow. The track is well marked but in those conditions navigation may become difficult. I have seen several people walking up in light pants and a sleeveless top with just a water bottle in hand. This might be fine in summer, but even then the weather can turn very quickly. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and take warm clothing, food, water, compass and map just in case.

The glacial landscape and alpine vegetation in the Hartz Mountains National Park is beautiful. Dolerite rocks sport bright orange and white lichen. Bright green cushion plants, mountain pinkberry, snowgums, pandani and King Billy Pines abound. From the number of cube shaped wombat droppings it seems that many live here, but you’d have to be lucky to spot one. Platypus, echidna and wallabies live here too.

There are several nice spots to stop along the way. First is Lake Esperance, a glacial lake overlooked by a jagged ridge. The boardwalk and bench seats make for a comfortable rest, provided the wind is kind. Last time I visited the water was calm, clear and glassy, but on a previous visit the wind whipped up white peaks on the lake’s surface and waves broke on the shore. A little further on lies Ladies Tarn, which also has a path to protect the surrounding vegetation.

From the top of Hartz Peak, you can see down into the surrounding valleys dotted with tarns and for many miles into the distance on a clear day. For the more adventurous, nearby Mount Snowy is a great side-trip to add to this walk.

For more information: www.parks.tas.gov.au

Image: Dames via Flickr – The South-Western Silhouette (ie: the back) of Mt Wellington from Hartz Peak, Hartz National Park Tasmania

Susan Moore lives in the Huon Valley of Tasmania. She shares a glimpse of daily life in, as written by a “blow in” from the mainland, on her terrific site Houn View. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive her regular articles, they are great fun.

Coffee is a personal thing.

What one person loves, another… anyway, I have chosen this sample of places to visit during your stay in Hobart for their coffee or location or both, with five more listed at the end that I haven’t been to but have been highly recommended to me by locals as having fantastic coffee.

Tricycle
Salamanca Arts Centre

This cafe hidden at the end of an arcade in the Salamanca Arts Centre is a real gem. It’s surrounded by art galleries and stores and just a few steps from the bustling Salamanca Market on a Saturday. Breakfast is highly recommended – try the fruit-and-yoghurt ‘trifle’ or the chilli beans on sourdough.

Fullers Bookshop – Afterword Cafe
131 Collins Street

In the centre of Hobart’s CBD, the bright and airy cafe at the rear of the Fullers Bookstore is a good spot to stop and leaf through your latest book purchase. You must buy the book first!

Pigeon Hole
93 Goulburn Street, West Hobart

At the bottom of one of West Hobart’s very steep hills is this tiny cafe known for its wonderful bread and coffee.

Jam Packed
27 Hunter Street

The courtyard at the rear of the old IXL Jam Factory building is a good spot to shelter for a while when you are wandering around the Constitution Dock area of Hobart. There is often an exhibition in the courtyard to look at while you wait, such as art or furniture from a nearby store.

The Cupping Room
105 Murray Street

Choose from a wide range of coffee blends in this warehouse style cafe.

Five on my list to try next:
1) Villino Espresso – 30 Criterion Street
2) Island Espresso – 171 Elizabeth Street
3) Pilgrim Coffee – 48 Argyle Street
4) Oomph! – 60 Liverpool Street
5) Jam Jar – 45 Hampden Road, Battery Point

Do you have a favourite spot for coffee in Hobart?
Shoot us a comment below so other readers can follow up on your recommendations.

Susan Moore lives in the Huon Valley of Tasmania. She shares a glimpse of daily life in, as written by a “blow in” from the mainland, on her terrific site Houn View. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive her regular articles.

Image: Tonx via Flickr

No one we know.

Everyone delights in gobbling up the sweet topping of a beautifully decorated cupcake. That’s why when we came across 22do’s Facebook page we knew we had to share the cupcake love.

We contacted Meg and Amy and they agreed to write up their story. We hope you like it as much as their yummy cupcakes!

22do is a cupcake business which not only bakes and sells delicious cupcakes to the people of Launceston but also share the secrets of baking and decorating our mini-masterpieces through online video tutorials.

We (Amy and Megan) are self-taught cupcakers and, after receiving encouragement from family and friends who enjoyed our cupcakes so much, we decided to go into business. We now sell our cupcakes at local markets which is great fun,  because we get to meet lots of wonderful locals and visitors to the area and we love experiencing people’s enthusiasm when they see and taste our cupcakes.

As interest in our product grew we also began to take bookings for private orders. Our cupcakes are very popular for birthday celebrations, anniversary gifts, weddings and other occasions. We also hope to start selling our cupcakes in a few Launceston shops throughout 2012.

We take pride in using natural and local products to make our delicious cupcakes, and we especially love the amazing Meander Valley Dairy products and strawberries.

Making and selling cupcakes is not where it ends…

Hearing people compliment our work and express wonder at how we make such beautiful cupcakes, we decided to show people how easy it is to make stunning cupcakes using everyday ingredients and equipment. We upload a tutorial video onto our YouTube channel each week which demonstrates how to decorate cupcakes. Each week we focus on a particular technique or style of decoration.

You can purchase our cupcakes at local markets and check out 22do’s Facebook page for upcoming stall locations and dates.

Whilst visiting Launceston you can also place a private order by contacting us by email: 22docupcakes@gmail.com

Seen better days - Binnelong Bay

Tasmania is an amazing place for photography. So many wild places, so many undiscovered opportunities to take the “perfect” image. In this aricle we share 23 of the best black and white images of special places in Tasmania we could find.  They highlight the beauty of this amazing Island and  take you there to enjoy the best of Tasmania.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy Tasmania in black and white, you won’t be disappointed!
Image: Brentbat via Flickr

Lake Pedder, one foggy winter's morning.

Image: ToniFish via Flickr

Loop System Quintet by Conrad Shawcross - Mona Tasmania

Image: Fraser Mummery – via Flickr

Cascade Brewery - Hobart

Image: Bill Higham via Flickr

Vertical Retort - Launceston Tasmania

Image: Mugley via Flickr

Wreck of the Otago - Derwent River, Hobart

Image: Bill Higham via Flickr

Road to Black Island

Image: Gajman via Flickr

The swimming school - Hobart

Image: Hani Amir via Flickr

Footsteps - Seven Mile beach

Image: Hani Amir via Flickr

Mt Wellington Hobart - Clouds

Image: GimmeFood:-) via Flickr

Waterfalls Track, Cradle Mountain National Park

Image: Martin Canning via Flickr

On the way to Cradle Mountain

Image: Liv Ellingson via Flickr

Hilltown Gothic - Launceston

Image: mugley via Flickr

Strangers on a bridge - Launceston

Image: mugley via Flickr

Boat Shed - Crater Lake - Cradle Mountain National Park

Image: Richard Munckton via Flickr

Incipience, Freycinet

Image: Stefan Karpiniec via Flickr

Friends - Sisters Beach

Image: Leonrw via Flickr

Boat Shed - Dove Lake Cradle Mountain

Image: Ozjimbob via Flickr

Nelson Falls

Image: **Sasho via Flickr

Start Boardwalk to Dove Lake

Image: dr.r.lam via Flickr

Confused at Cradle Mountain?

Image: vanlaar via Flickr

Gum Trees from the top of Mount Nelson

Image: Vanlaar via Flickr

Organ Pipes - Mt. Wellington in Winter

Image: ccdoh1 via Flickr

Which was your favourite black and white photograph?

Do you have any images taken in Tasmania you would like to share here?

Shoot us a comment below telling us which one you loved or that you have a picture to share here. We would love your feedback.

If you want to improve your photography and learn to take amazing images like these,  then check out the new guide Pick your gear – Outdoor Photography for Beginners. Created with the beginner in mind, it takes you through everything you need to know about choosing the best camera, gear and photographic equipment. It’s simple and really easy to understand!

One of the saddest regular sights I see on the road around here is snakes which have been run over. I’d like to think that these accidents were unavoidable, but anecdotal evidence would suggest otherwise: a common local catch phrase goes something like this: ‘the only good snake’s a dead snake.’ The people who use this phrase obviously don’t know that there hasn’t been a death by snake bite is Tasmania for decades.

Too many Tasmanians don’t respect these important animals. Because they are so (potentially) dangerous, fear takes over, especially for those that have lost pets to snake bites or had unwanted contact with them.

Every Tasmanian has their own personal snake story: there was one in my mother’s bedroom recently; the big black tail he saw flick under the bed was enough to turn my brother, a born and raised ‘country kid’ who once caught a baby tiger snake and was most upset when told he couldn’t keep it as a pet (‘But he’s so cute!’ he had exclaimed), white as a sheet. A few weeks ago a friend’s elderly grandmother received a nice surprise from the one camping out in her pantry.

A lovely group of young Americans on a hiking trip stayed at our hotel a few weeks ago, when the weather was just starting to warm up. One of them asked a very prudent question: which snakes should they look out for? Her face was priceless when I replied, ‘All of them.’!

I was not joking.

There are three different species of snake found in Tasmania: the aforementioned Tiger Snake, the Lowland Copperhead, and the White-lipped Snake. All three are highly venomous, but so long as you are smart about your bushwalking attire and do not try to catch any snakes you happen upon, you should be fine.

Tasmanian snakes will try their best to stay out of your way, as all three species are very shy. If you do get bitten, apply pressure bandages as far up and down the limb as you can, remain calm and seek medical attention ASAP. There is no need to identify the snake that bites you, as the anti-venom used to treat snake bites is the same regardless of the type of snake. Remember, more people die from eating peanuts than from being bitten by snakes in Tasmania!

I like this except from the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment webpage on Snakes of Tasmania:

Get Real!

If you are concerned about the danger that snakes pose to you or your family, there are many other things you can do to increase life expectancy far more realistically than not bushwalking for fear of snakes. These include:

• Stop smoking.
• Install smoke alarms in your house and make sure they are working.
• Do a first aid course and keep your certificate up to date.
• Do a defensive driving course and apply what you learn.
• Practice safe boating.

When it comes to snakes in Tasmania, remember: be careful, not fearful.

Koby Blizzard is a  born and bred Tasmanian who has grown up around snakes (and other Tasmanian wildlife). She lives and works in the Cradle Mountain area of Tasmania and always avoids any snake on the road.

Image: Arthur Chapman via Flickr

I admit it, I had a jet boat ride on the Huon River and I liked it.

Since I’ve lived here I’ve driven past the Huon Jet pier on many occasions and seen many other people going for a ride. It was on my “we should do this one day” list. I elevated the priority by purchasing my wife Susan some tickets for her birthday this year.

I had to go with her right?

I’ve not been on the river much. I am not particularly “boatie” or a swimmer (especially not when there is even a hint of the water being cold). I’d not even ventured under the Huonville Bridge and further inland on the river. I’d driven along the river and seen various points of it from bush walks and other towns. I was looking forward to a new perspective on it.

We arrived for our appointed ride a little early so we decided to have a snack at the Huon Jet’s cafe on the pier. That may not have been a good idea. The coffee and homemade scones were good but clearly I hadn’t thought this through. In fact, I only realised my mistake while writing this article now.

The ride takes about 35 minutes. We put on our lifejackets and joined the rest of the folk doing our run on the boat. The boat fires up and immediately the rumble of the 5.7 litre Chevy V8 makes its presence felt. “Holy crap, this might be quick!”

As the boat leaves the pier and heads under the bridge we get a briefing “We’ll do some spins.” The driver explains. “I’ll let you know…hang on with both hands.”

As we clear the bridge the boat accelerates to about 80 kilometres per hour. It feels fast. We are up on a plane and skimming over the water using less than 10cm of it depth-wise.

The river is wide, tea coloured, glassy and very calm today. Not much can be seen below the surface and as we approach the first set of rapids, without any deceleration, this seems like a distinct problem.

The boat turns on a dime and we clear the rapids easily. The river gets noticeably narrower and more hazards appear. Trees, logs, rocks, rapids…bloody hell this guy can steer the thing. Every now and then we get the “spin” signal and we hang on, “woo hoo!” Great fun.

After about 14kms we reach the point where we turn around to head home. Titbits of information are offered throughout the trip. The obstacles don’t look any easier to navigate on the way back but we miss them all and have a blast. Susan grins the whole way like a Cheshire Cat.

As we pull into the pier I’m thinking “Hmm, I kind of fancy having a jet boat…”. I didn’t tell Susan.

THE VERDICT: great fun, much better than I had imagined. Definitely worth doing for visitors and locals alike.

NOTE: No scones or kayakers were harmed in the writing of this article.

For more information check out Huon Jets website (if you are brave enough!)

David Moore lives and works in the Huon Valley. He runs a computer business, I Hate My PC and writes computer/tech stuff for a couple of online magazines but his real passion is comedy. Keep an eye out for him doing “stand up” somewhere near you soon!

Image: kadj via Flickr

The weather around Cradle Mountain and across the whole of Tasmania can be , let’s say, unpredictable.

Snow in summer, bluebird days in winter, rain then sunshine and snow all in one day! That is what makes Tasmania such a great place to visit. You never know what will happen next.

Thankfully the Bureau of Meteorology has created a weather forecast especially for the Cradle Mountain area and the Overland Track. Yes, the Cradle Valley has it’s own seven day weather forecast. To check out the forecast, visit the BOM Cradle Valley page, it’s a winner!

Now you know what the weather forecast is,   what clothes should you pack for a visit to Cradle Mountain?  Well, we have an article just for you – What to wear at Cradle Mountain Tasmania. It will help you decide and keep the weight of your suitcase down!

Image: Our Hiking Blog – Sunset New Years Eve out the back of Cradle Mountain

There are two ways in to Cradle Mountain by car. You can find step by step directions for either of these on the Directions page of this website. It is extremely important to be aware that both of these routes are windy, unpredictable, and potentially very dangerous for those who don’t know the roads and/or aren’t familiar with Tasmanian roads in general.

Our fantastic Parks and Wildlife crew, along with McDermott’s Coaches, introduced a very important initiative two summers ago – a free shuttle bus service in and out of the National Park, running all day, every day, all year round. The road to Dove Lake is sealed, but it is understandably narrow and can prove difficult to navigate safely, particularly for the many visitors who travel in hire cars. This service also provides the opportunity to minimise the environmental impact vehicles can have on our delicate ecosystem.  The service runs from approximately 8am to 7pm from the Visitor Information Centre and Café. The huge car park is free for you to leave your vehicle in for as long as is necessary, all you need to access your free bus ticket is a valid National Parks Pass for CMNP.

The road home to Cradle from my native North West Coast has become something of a wildlife minefield, due to it being baby season at the moment. I counted 4 devils within 1 kilometre on Wednesday evening, all alive, but all crossing the road without looking! I lost count of the wallabies and saw two mother-with-baby pairs of possums. Not only is it important that we preserve our wildlife by making every effort not to hit them, but if we do hit them, they often pay us back. Hot tip: wombats and radiators don’t get along.

Once, I asked a guest if they had enjoyed seeing our native wildlife. ‘Yes’, they replied, ‘however, most of it was dead on the side of the road.’ Any Tasmanian will attest to the fact that road-kill is not isolated to the more rural areas of the state, and is not a rare occurrence. Anecdotally it is suggested that the more road-kill in an area, the healthier the local animal population. I don’t know about that, but I do know that it doesn’t provide visitors to the state with a warm welcome, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, it is something that is difficult to avoid, but the slower you drive, the better you’ll be for the animals and potentially your radiator.

Last week one of our receptionists turned rescuer when two guests who were booked to stay in our hotel ran their hire car directly into a tree. Apparently, the sun was in the driver’s eyes. The car was totalled, and they walked away unscathed, much to our surprise. Not the ideal start to their holiday.

Tasmania is awe-inspiring, and Cradle Mountain is a must see. Make it a highlight, not the low point of your trip. All you have to do is (you guessed it): drive carefully.

Koby Blizzard works on Cradle Mountain and enjoys observing the world around her. She loves all things Cradle and Tasmania and enjoys sharing her thoughts and tips about travelling around Tasmania here.

Image: Leo Laporta via Flickr