Fat Pig Farm

Earlier this year, we made a booking to visit Matthew Evans' farm, Fat Pig Farm, however unfortunately our initial booking had to be postponed due to covid. So, when the farm reopened mid-way through the year, we were very excited to venture down south for a long lunch feast.

Hobart's latest Japanese restaurant - Yamashita

When we heard that a new Japanese restaurant had recently opened in Hobart, we were very keen to try it out, so made a booking for last night at Yamashita, located on Criterion St in the CBD.

Hobart's 10 best takeaway options during lockdown

As someone who loves to dine out on a regular basis, these past few weeks have thrown a bit of a spanner in the works in respect of that matter. However, I have put my mind to the task of discovering the best takeaway/delivery services available in Hobart and its surrounds, so that I can still get my weekly fix of a meal or two cooked by someone other than myself or Dave. My top 10 picks are set out below.

A day trip to Bruny Island

It is often not until we have friends visiting us in Tasmania that we spend time exploring many of Tasmania's beautiful locations. Last weekend was no exception. My friend Davina came to stay with us for a few days, and as it was her first time in Tasmania, I wanted to take her to one of my favourite places in Tassie's south - Bruny Island.

A family holiday to Lord Howe Island

In mid-December, my extended family (all 9 adults and 3 children) set off on a trip to Lord Howe Island, a spot that we used to visit as a family when we were younger (however we realised that it is nearly 20 years since that last occurred). Lord Howe Island is a unique place, with no mobile phone reception and limited internet access, and a maximum of 400 guests allowed on the island at any time. It is known for its exquisite natural beauty, including an array of unspoiled beaches, incredible mountains to hike, and many amazing snorkelling, diving and fishing spots to explore.

My Tasmanian travel guide

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from friends who are visiting Tasmania is "what are your must-see places in Tasmania?". While I try to point them to the best towns, sights, cafes and restaurants, my thoughts can be quite scattered, so I wanted to put my top tips into one central blog post. I have written travel guides for Hobart and Launceston in the past, however I wanted to condense all of the best of Tassie into one spot. Hopefully the below tips will be useful to anyone visiting Tasmania, or who have friends or family visiting and would like a local's tips on what to do and see.

Dier Makr, Hobart

Dave and I have tried to hit up as many of Hobart's amazing restaurants as possible over the past couple of years, so I'm not too sure how it took us so long to discover Dier Makr, located on Collins St in Hobart's CBD. After reading an article about the top 10 places to eat in Tasmania, and seeing Dier Makr on the list, we knew we had to try this restaurant, and ended up heading there on a Friday evening after work.

Hobart's top five baked goods

It's been nearly two years since we moved to Hobart, and over that period, I have tried and tested many baked goods. I have put a lot of thought into which cakes, donuts, slices, cookies and tarts have been my favourite, and I think I have finally narrowed down my top five must-try patisserie items (which are in no particular order). If you ever visit Hobart (or if you live here) and feel a sweet craving coming on, I'd recommend any (or all) of the below items to get your sugar fix.

Syra, Hobart

After a few of our friends had recommended a new restaurant that opened earlier this year in Hobart, we decided that we had to check out Syra. This Middle Eastern restaurant is tucked away in Salamanca Square, and if you're keen to head to dinner here, I definitely recommend booking a couple of days in advance, as it can be hard to get a table at this popular spot.

A week in Queenstown, New Zealand

One of the places that has been on my travel bucket list for many years is Queenstown, New Zealand. When we discovered that we could both take a week off work at the end of August, we decided to book in some flights and accommodation for 7 nights in the magical town of Queenstown. Even though I had pretty high expectations, the beauty and magnificence of this town definitely exceeded them. I've provided a guide below of our favourite activities and places we ate and drank, as well as a bit of info on where we stayed.

The Source Restaurant, MONA

One of the restaurants in Hobart that I have wanted to visit for a while now is The Source Restaurant at MONA. As it was my birthday last weekend, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try this special venue, so I booked in a table for lunch last Saturday.

Where I ate and drank in Melbourne for a week

A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I were in Melbourne for 8 days while he attended a work course. As I was still working throughout the week, I took the opportunity to wander around this incredible city and explore some of my favourite cafes from which to work, while also discovering a few new places.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

 

A few months ago, one of my friends who lives in Melbourne posted a photo to Instagram of her lunch experience at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, and as soon as I saw it (and asked her about her experience there), I jumped on their website and made a booking, knowing that we would be in Melbourne for a week in June.

My favourite cafes and restaurants outside of Tasmania's main cities

I have written a few blog posts on my favourite cafes and restaurants in Hobart and Launceston, however there are a number of awesome spots scattered around the outskirts of Tasmania that I have loved discovering when I have found myself outside of Tasmania's two major cities. If you are exploring Tasmania and are in search of some good food, coffee, beer or wine, then continue reading.

Cascade Brewery, Hobart

Located just a few minutes' drive south of Hobart's CBD, Cascade Brewery is Australia's oldest operating brewery, and is a beautiful spot to visit if you are looking to do some beer tasting on a brewery tour, or if you are just after somewhere to sit in the sun for lunch and a drink.

My favourite cafes and restaurants in Byron Bay

 

Having just spent this past week in Byron Bay, I had the opportunity to try out a range of cafes and restaurants over the five days I was there. This was my second visit to Byron Bay, my first being for my birthday last August (you can see my Byron Bay travel guide here), so there were a number of places I wanted to revisit on this trip, but there were also a few new discoveries which are worth a mention.

Where to eat and drink in Brisbane

This week I visited Brisbane for the first time, and as is the case with any new place I visit, I wanted to hunt down the best cafes and restaurants in the city. After doing a bit of research over the past few weeks, I came up with a bit of a list of places to hit up, leaving a bit of room for any spots that I stumbled across on my travels that looked interesting. If you're heading to Brisbane in the near future, or are just interested in what I ate, continue reading.

Ginger Brown Cafe, South Hobart

Located in South Hobart, Ginger Brown is one of those cafes that I had on my Hobart 'to try' list for quite a while, but it took me a good year of living in Hobart before I finally made a trip there earlier this year. Tucked away at the southern end of Macquarie Street, Ginger Brown is the perfect nook to head to if you want to escape the cold winds blasting down from Mount Wellington and cozy up with a good coffee and feed.

Willie Smiths, Huon Valley

Located about half an hour's drive south of the centre of Hobart, Willie Smiths Apple Shed is a gorgeous spot to head to if you feel like grabbing a delicious lunch while sampling some fresh apple cider in semi-rural Tasmania. We first visited Willie Smiths for the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival in July last year (a festival full of amazing food stalls, mulled cider and live music), but it wasn't until springtime last year that we made a weekend trip out there for lunch.

Another visit to Templo, Hobart

Even though I've previously written a review of Templo in Hobart, I wanted to write yet another positive review of this incredible, authentic Italian restaurant, after having dinner there again on Friday night.