11.19.19 Oyster Farm, Vineyard, and welcome to Hobart

This morning started with delight. At the Lodge, you can choose between dining in the restaurant for dinner or having a "hamper" delivered to your room. This morning, we chose the hamper and it was magical.

 

 

It was filled with yogurt, granola, fruit, rolls, pastries, butter, jam, meats, cheese, juice, and milk plus plates and bowls. We couldn't get over how nice it was. Of course we ate it all on the deck.

 

Check out is 10 am so we booked the Freycinet Oyster Farm Experience through Oyster Bay Tours for 10:00 am. This was such a great experience. We headed out to an oyster farm and got into the water to see how it all worked.

 

 

We even got to sample the oysters right in the water. Then, we headed back to dry land for more oysters, a shucking lesson, and to sample the mussels.

 

 

 

The owner started harvesting mussels when he noticed that mussels were growing naturally on the ropes that held the oysters in the bay. 

Back at the shop, we also tried Sea urchin. I'll let Glenn tell you about that on his blog. Spoiler Alert: It was not my favorite.

Then, we hit the road toward Hobart. We made one stop at Freycinet Vineyards. We met a nice couple from nearby and their guest from New Zealand.

Glenn did an awesome job driving. We passed farm lands, forests, coast lines, cliffs and rivers and then navigated through the city to our Apartment Hotel.

We enjoyed a happy hour with local beers, wines and spirits at Cascade Bar at the hotel. We also tried New Brunswick Hotel for a beer. We stocked up on water and breakfast food at Woolworths and then headed back to the hotel to do laundry and call it an early night.

11.18.19 Wineglass Bay

Today kicked off with the  included breakfast at the Lodge. It was very good.
 
Then, we headed over to Saffire - an all inclusive resort so I could meet with the Sales Manager and take a peek around.
 

 

 



The resort is stunning.

 

After that, we drove up the narrow, winding roads to the Lighthouse. 

 

 

 

Then, we hiked to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. I have to be honest. I tried everything in my power to avoid that hike. I looked into the 3 hour coastal cruise, but the timing didn't work. I booked us on the Aqua Taxi that drops you at a nearby beach so you don't have to climb over the really big hill to see Wineglass Bay. It was cancelled.

 

So up to the Lookout we went.

 

 

It's a 3 km moderate hike. You head uphill for about 45 minutes to get to this view.

 

 

 

Then back down in around 30 minutes - unless you are me and hate going downhill and freak out and whine and go slow as molasses. If you want to actually get to the beach, it's another  ONE THOUSAND steps down..and then back up.

 

The view was really nice. Wineglass Bay is lovely. I think the view from Wineglass Bay from the Lighthouse is good enough unless you really enjoy a moderate hike.

 

After the hike, we headed to Coles Bay to find lunch. We turned at the sign for "Town Centre". We had to laugh when it was two restaurants and a convenience store. We kept going and found Iluke Tavern. It was a tavern next to a large backpackers' campground. The food was great! Glenn got a burger, fries and wings.

 

I got a terrific beet and squash salad. We've been very impressed with the food in Tasmania. After all that, we headed back to the Lodge and spent the rest of the day enjoying the views from our Pavilion. I read a book. We had meats and cheese for dinner. It was so relaxing.

 

 

 

 

11.17.19 Samuel Pepys, Milton Vineyards, Devil's Corner and Freycinet Lodge

Our time in Launceston ended. It was time to head to the East Coast, specifically Freycinet National Park.

We started with breakfast at the 100% gluten free and #1 rated breakfast spot - Samuel Pepy's. Then we hit the road. Glenn took the advice of the people sat with at  Long Lunch and we planned stops at Milton and Devil's Corner along the way.

Milton is a lovely location.

Devil's Corner had a special event with a great guitar player so we enjoyed some oysters and wood fired pizza and a couple sets with him.

We headed  to Freycinet. I was absolutely floored when we entered our Coastal Pavilion at Freycinet Lodge. It's like a dream. Gorgeous views.

We spent the afternoon on the  deck enjoying some of the wine we bought. Then, we headed to the Lodge for dinner at Bay Restaurant. It was very nice.