TRAVEL

Tasmania beckons with scenery, history, fine food – and whisky

Tasmania is awash in whisky and that’s a good thing, writes BRUCE McMAHON after his winter tour. But Australia’s island state is also a destination known for its breweries, fine fresh foods, mountain lakes, museums and scallop pies.

Explore new tastes in whisky at one of Tasmania’s distilleries.

IMAGE: SAMUEL SHELLEY

Two weeks touring in Tasmania, layered up for winter weather in one of those Aldi special merino undershirts, is almost enough time to embrace the scenery, history, foods and dozens of whiskies on offer.

Plus, there’s Hobart’s renowned MoNa museum, which is full of surprises in new and old art pieces. To the east is Port Arthur’s convict settlement ruins and then there’s those Tasmanian Devils.

Now add world-class distilleries and breweries to the list of reasons – excuses even – to take a tour. There’s no need to go walking with wombats in the wilderness to enjoy the island.

Hobart is home to the famous Salamanca Markets. It’s worth staying nearby for the short stroll to the bustling Saturday markets with tonnes of Tasmanian foods and crafts alongside the likes of (delicious) wallaby burritos and excellent coffees.

Leave some room for the rock lobster rolls at the 1829 Whaler pub. Or perhaps something fancier at Salamanca’s fine dining restaurants. And around the back here is the shelf-crammed Hobart Book Shop if an afternoon turns gloomy.

The historic waterfront is also close to the MoNa ferries’ berth. This museum is another must-do experience for entertaining and enlightening art in a spectacular underground space. The caverns alone are a work of art, carved out of rock to suit art pieces from dramatic modern installations to Sidney Nolan paintings and 17th century maps of Asia.

Allow too, a day out of Hobart for a trip to Port Arthur and the remains of the island’s brutal penal colony.

But out in the countryside, there are also the charms of early histories, such as bed and breakfasts on heritage sheep farms. The 1828 Rathmore at Hollow Tree in the Central Highlands is a most hospitable spot with accommodation from grand old bedrooms to smart shearers’ quarters plus sumptuous evening meals.

This isn’t a bad spot to headquarter for a couple of days as it’s handy for exploring New Norfolk and the overflowing Willow Court Antique Centre, with its lawns adorned with old cars, truck and tractors.

And for heading out to southern distilleries in the area for wee drams such as Shene’s Mackey whiskies, which are served up in re-purposed colonial buildings at Pontville.

From top to bottom, Tasmania’s fresh feeds – sea food and lamb in particular – alone are worth the tour. In between the chase for fine food and whiskies there are scenic drives all over, just remember winter roads may see snow and ice – C roads could well be unsealed, but the highways are quieter at this time of year.

Launceston’s National Automobile Museum of Tasmania is an easy walk from the city centre and, while small, has a top collection of road and race machines.

For the more casual tourist, flowing roads through midlands sheep country are enticing while the north-west coastal run from Devonport through to old-time Stanley is enchanting with scenery reminiscent of an Irish coastline.

And here’s a thing other states and tourist destinations may consider – there’s a distinct lack of unattractive roadside

Roadside apple store makes a pretty picture.

IMAGE: PAUL COUNTY billboards across the island where it’s mainly neat, and uniform, road signs to hotels and attractions and such.

For inside experiences, Devonport boasts the Antiques Emporium (maybe the biggest and best in any state), a good Irish pub with atmosphere in Molly Malones, and, a little south of town, the small Seven Sheds outfit, brewers of the finest of beers.

There are many great craft beers across the state, although the problem is some are small batch brews and, having moved to the next town, there’s the need to start again when the sun goes down. Bugger.

Hellyers, yet another distillery of note, is outside Burnie and over at the village of Stanley is the Angel’s Share, a small bar where all the best of Tasmanian whiskies can be sampled in style with Sam.

None are particularly cheap but are all varied and very good, further proof that whisky doesn’t have to be scotch.

There are of course, across the island, many fine gins and wines to be tried plus vineyards to be visited, though some may be closed for winter.

And there are wonderful cheeses at farm outlets such as Ashgrove plus rich chocolates and fudges at Anver’s factory (both in the north) and flavoursome pepperberry salts and roasted nuts and crisp apples and cider, along with fulsome scallops and crays and mussels and chowders and oysters and more, all over.

Much of this was known, some of it appreciated, before this tour. What brought fresh delight, was exploring new tastes in whiskies at places such as the Launceston Distillery.

It’s based in an old Ansett hangar where a short tour combines aviation history and an articulate explanation of how Tasmania’s fine waters and grains are today producing another chapter in the book of the island’s many attractions.

See discovertasmania.com.au

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Dine with Australia’s largest dinosaurs at Eromanga, the furthest town from the sea. IT’S time to start making plans travel plans for next year, whether you’re thinking about the southwest Queensland Outback, the rugged beauty and history of Tasmania or heading offshore to Norfolk Island.

CT Travel has released its itineraries for the new year, offering an exciting range of tours, from short getaways to two-week adventures. And the word for the wise, is to start thinking about it now before all the seats are snapped up.

“We have some really interesting tours lined up already,” says Paul Brockhurst. “One not to be missed is a fly-drive trip exploring southwest Queensland.”

The Southwest Loop will be over 12 days from July 19 next year and is an opportunity to cover the long distances the easy way. Taking a flight to Longreach and then back from Charleville means there will, literally, be no hard yards. But there will be plenty to see travelling by luxury coach through the heart of the Outback. After two nights in Longreach and another two in Winton, the trip turns west to Boulia and then south through Bedourie, surrounded by Eyre Creek at the base of a sand dune – population 140 – and on to Birdsville for three nights. “These are the little spots on the map that have so much to offer and are on

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The three-night stopover in Birdsville includes a day’s flight across the border to Innamincka in South Australia – population 44 – and a river cruise on Cooper Creek, famous for its role in the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition.

A monument to Sturt and Burke and Wills was erected in Innamincka in 1944.

The outback comes to life at sunset in a sea of red and orange and there’s no better place to see it than from Big Red, the first sand dune of the Simpson Desert, that stands at 40m high.

From there it’s through Windorah for a night in Eromanga – population 45 – the furthest town from the sea in Australia.

In another claim to fame, is that Australia’s largest dinosaurs have been unearthed here and visitors can “dine with the dinosaurs”. This area has been touted by scientists as the most exciting and prolific dinosaur site in Australia.

Then it’s on to Charleville via Quilpie, before flying home.

“These are the little Outback places we’ve heard of and now it’s time to find them and the many secrets they hold,” Mr Brockhurst says. “We know all the must-see places of interest, and fuel prices and accommodation aren’t your problem as it’s already sorted as part of the package.”

Also coming up next year is a 15-day tour of Outback New South Wales on the Darling River Run, from April 26.

It’s a journey across open plains and far horizons, visiting Goondiwindi, Lightning Ridge, Burke en route to Broken Hill and Silverton. Despite its name White Cliffs residents live underground to escape the heat, and that’s where visitors stay too.

Immerse in history, culture and natural beauty at Norfolk Island for eight days from February 16, or head to Tasmania for 14 days from November 7.

“There’s a lot planned and something for everyone,” Mr Brockhurst says. “We’re ready to go.”

Full tours details of upcoming tours are on the CT Travel website. Visit cttravel.com.au

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TRAVEL dreams can come off hold as adventure awaits the girls, with a diverse range of tours to look forward to next year.

Whether it’s gazing in awe at the vastness of Antarctica from the air, marveling at the glow worms at Mt Tambourine, waltzing with Matilda in Winton, rubbing shoulders with the Cunnamulla Fella, soaking in a hot artesian bath at Charlotte Plains Station, digging up dinosaurs at Eromanga or seeing the sun rise over Uluru, there are plenty of choices for Girls on Tour next year.

A Sunshine Coast resident for 30 years, Judy Polkinghorne from Girls on Tour has been making travel dreams come true for more than 15 years, providing small group tours for women only – single, widowed, divorced, married or just looking for a travel buddy.

“Those Aussie trips that you were planning on doing one day are out there waiting for you to do now,” she says. “Just because we can’t travel overseas at the moment, it doesn’t mean we have to pack away all our travel dreams. Girls on Tour is waiting to take you.” Call Judy 0409 057 417, visit girlsontour.com.au or follow girlsontouraustralia on Facebook

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