Tried and Tested Tasmania's East Coast

Food

1. Kate's Berry Farm, Swansea

Well worth the pit stop for its über delicious and creamy home-made ice creams. Their berry jams are just the right balance of saccharine and tartness. In the shop, there is a counter where you can grab a taster spoon and start sampling the interesting variety of jams.
The scones are just so-so, I prefer mine with more substance and less airy, served with clotted cream, not whipped.
Propped on higher ground, the views of wild daisies, crops and the ocean beyond while you relax and feast are a real bonus.

Location: Spot the sign on the way to Swansea.


2. Bark Mill Tavern & Bakery, Swansea
A good place to get hearty pub grub - burgers, lamb shank, fish & chips, pasta and the likes. The chunky fries are commendable, while the rest of the dishes deserve a reasonable 6/10 rating.


Location: spot the sign on the way to Swansea.








3. Hog's Breath Cafe, Hobart

"The best a steak can get." And I agree. You'd think they would name a steak house Cow instead of Hog but otherwise everything about this place rocks. With such good meat, you'd always be thankful for their huge portions.


Location: 2 Macquarie St.






Accomodation

1. Edinburgh Gallery B&B, Hobart
This place reminds me of art school. The simple kitchen benches, the colourful brochures, the leopard skin upholstery, the collection of quirky, contemporary art placed between retro furniture. At A$160 for 4 persons in a family room, this place is very affordable and meets all our expectations of a clean and kempt B&B.

Location: 211 Macquarie St




2. Old Tram Road, Bicheno
This was such a fab place we didn't want to move anywhere else for the rest of our trip.
Perks: the beautifully manicured garden; accessibility - a private path that heads straight to a sandy white beach; the helpful and friendly host, the port and chocolates and the gourmet breakfast!
They have 2 cosy, country-style furnished rooms available. If possible get the bigger one with a sofa and direct access to the gardens, it's better!




Any other suggestions to try and test in Tasmania's East Coast?

Ode to Tas

Top 5 things to do (in no particular order) when driving up the East Coast of Tasmania:

1. Pigging out at Oyster farms! You see a sign by the road, you drive in, you indulge. At A$14 per dozen, this is where I had the most extraordinarily fresh and wonderfully inexpensive oysters ever.


2. Kangaroo feeding at Natureworld, Bicheno. My heart turned into goo when these cute little darlings gently held my hand while I handed out their feed. I could spend a whole afternoon just watching. This reserve also houses Tassie devils, wombats, wallabies, a myriad of birds and reptiles and mammals that had been saved from further injury.






3. Loitering around Honeymoon Bay at Freycinet National Park, and be surrounded by the most inviting, and amazingly clear blue waters in the world. Uggggh, I know I could never get enough of this. Once at the Freycinet National Park, there are various other trails with different levels of difficulty and length that you can try out. Wineglass Bay is another famous spot which would take up to 4 hours of hiking to and fro.


4. Penguin watching at the blowhole, Bicheno. At about 8pm when it gets pitch dark, the Little (a.k.a. Fairy or Blue) Penguins come out to play. You could go on an organised tour but we just stayed low at the blow hole and waited. Sure enough these cheeky little creatures would animatedly creep up the shore into their breeding burrows, between bushes and stone cracks. Watch out for them on the road too. Switch off your headlights to allow them to crossover, and you can see them up close and personal. I still get the giggles each time I think of how they wiggle their furry little bodies.


5. Charter a boat at Louisville and you can marvel at Tassie's landscapes of undulating hills, raw vegetation, and tumbling cliffs. Maria Island which sits right across the sea is also nice to look at from the waters.


Remember that where ever you are and whatever you do at Tasmania, just take your time...

Tried and Tested Melbourne

Food

Mealtime

1. Dzung
This place is the reason why I think that you can just walk into any Vietnamese restaurant in Melbourne and it'll taste great. Wholesome and delicious helpings at A$8 - 15 per person per meal.

Location: Russell St.

2. Flower Drum
Great service and above average Chinese food. Most dishes are down to earth, authentic and does not surprise. Pricey at A$45 per head. On the Overated side since most food guides point you to their direction.

Location: Market Lane

3. Red Spice Road
This one I totally recommend for Thai/Asian fusion cuisine. Everything from the cocktails to the decor to the tasting menu were yummy. Less well known but I think it kicks Flower Drum's ass. It's cheaper too at A$35 per head including cocktails.

Location: McKillop St.

4. Vegie Bar
Go crazy please! I never thought I'd love a vegetarian restaurant and this place brings veg to a whole new level. Dishes range from soy burgers to Malaysian street food, delish! A$20 per person incl. drinks for gynormous portions.

Location: Brunswick St






Comfort Food

1. Berth
How about having French toasts at a seat overlooking the harbour? I found my brunch place at Waterfront City.
Not everyone can perfect the art of French toasts like Berth. The raisin bread was crusty on the outside and mouthwateringly succulent on the inside. Served with an abundance of maple syrup on the side. And icing sugar dustings? ooooh.

2. Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man

A Chocolate cafe! need I say more? Head to QV (shopping centre) where you can delve deep.

Top Tip: try everything.

3. San Churro
This is the place to get piping hot, crispy churros to dip with melted chocolate of your choice. Of course with the original ones in Spain the hot chocolate accompaniment was a thick drink, but whoever said innovation was bad? Heaps of good things you can find there: the atmosphere, the good looking staff, the quote on the tissues, excellent churros...

Location: Brunswick St at Fitzroy, and Carlisle St at St Kilda.





Accomodation

1. Knightsbridge Apartments

Cheap and clean is probably its forte. A bit further away from Melbourne CBD, a short walk to Fitzroy Gardens. Located in a leafy and residential area if that suits.

2. Oaks on Lonsdale

I can't praise more about this serviced apartment. At an avg of A$155 per night for a 1 bedroom, you get maximum luxury and ample space. It is central, convenient, comfortable, cool and has courteous service - all the 5 Cs you ever need.

If I had to dislike something, then perhaps the internet charge is ridiculous!

3. Pensione Hotel Melbourne
If you're willing to pay A$130per night for a small bedroom with bathroom drainage that didn't work all that well (at least mind didn't), then do yourself a favour and pay 25 more for something so much better at Oaks. Otherwise, I suppose it has all the facilities and decor of a mini boutique hotel. And it's very close to the Direct Factory Outlet and Southern Cross station so it's not bad. Free wireless is thrown in too if that matters to you.

Any other suggestions to try and test in Melbourne?

Recuperating in Melbourne

I had been going through what could be the roughest time of my life and so I jumped (probably even pounced) at the opportunity of extending my stay in Melbourne. Just so I could lick my wounds a little.

The city surprised me in that it proved to be the perfect place for rejuvenation, and I have 4 solid arguments for that:

1. Excellent retail therapy

You'd want to watch out for signs like these that screams "shop til you drop". There is one along Spencer St. (at the end of Bourke St, Melbourne Central Business District i.e. within the city centre) and it served to be my one-stop shopping paradise. Different people shop differently and I love effortless shopping. Here, all the high street shops are lined up for me in one building, the stuff are so cheap and yet I don't have to actively bargain.

Another great place to venture to would be Brunswick St (Carton & Fitzroy suburb - just a little North of Melbourne CBD).

This place is so edgy, colourful and refreshing that even merely window shopping could give you the same amount of pleasure.

Needless to say, I enjoyed looking out for quirky benches...

...graffiti and stencilled art at every unsuspecting corner.

2. An Abundance of Food for the Soul

The variety, the piquant freshness, the hearty portions, the variety, the creativity, the flavours...and did I mention the variety? Please read Tried and Tested Melbourne for more.

The selection of fruits and vegetables and meat and fish at Queen Victoria Market was really inviting. Perhaps people who would compare it with the fisherman's wharf at Sydney or San Fran would be disappointed, but it has its merits. Besides, the 4 mangoes we purchased from there certainly proved a point with its bursting juiciness and fragrance. So I'm well convinced.

And don't get me started on comfort food.

3. Unique Bookshops


Bookshops and libraries are my hideaways ever since I was a kid. The smell of newly printed paper is for me the smell of comfort. And what better place to hide where there are hundreds of books in languages that you could never have imagined. At 259 Collin's St (Melbourne CBD), there stands a shrine that stocks 125 languages and gives diversity a whole new meaning.

At 235 Gertrude St, Books for Cooks! And in it a plush sofa for your browsing leisure.

4. Beauty - The city reminds me that there is just so much of that to capture.

When I'm standing atop the 88th level of the Eureka building, taking in the fantastic view;

or when I'm taking a breather close to nature at one of the many parks and green spaces within the city;

the buildings...

...the people...

...all made me feel alive. And I end this piece with my favourite quote found on a tissue paper that says "Better to have enjoyed and made a mess than to never have enjoyed at all." Kudos to that.