Meals in Tasmania - Day 8

Day 8 - Hobart - Richmond - Hobart

Richmond is about 30 - 45 min's drive away from Hobart and it is a really lovely town, quite quaint and tiny and is like a little English countryside.

This is St John's bridge, the oldest bridge in Tasmania.

Miniature Historical Town

Then we walked over to the Miniature town, where the entire town of Hobart is replicated in miniature. It is not really very big, but it was quite lovely with lots of attention to detail.

It was also very informative, as it told stories about the various buildings and historical events of Tasmania.

Cutie was very animated in the Miniature Town, and the girl at the counter was probably very enchanted by him... she went into fits of giggles every time he walked by... and kept saying how cute Cutie was...


Then we walked over to feed the ducks in Richmond.

DH and Cutie decided to take a break and play in the playground for a while...

Then we fed the ferocious ducks... Some of them couldn't wait for us to throw the pieces of bread... and audaciously pecked them out of our hands! Cutie and I both got nipped! Luckily they had no teeth and Cutie is a brave little fella who is not easily intimidated.

It was actually very windy and cold... but we stayed for quite some time because Cutie really enjoyed feeding the ducks...

We ran out of bread soon enough... but the ducks were still hungry... so we gave them our cornflakes...
Hee hee...



LUNCH AT BARILLA OYSTER BAY RESTAURANT

Our long awaited lunch.... we weren't able to eat here yesterday so we made reservations for today...
Our oyster starter platter (AUD68 for 3 dozen oysters): fresh and cooked oysters... doesn't it look lovely??? Yums! DM, is every so good at making sure we get our money's worth... so she counted and realised that there were only 34 oysters! 2 missing!! we mentioned this to the server and I think she added 2 more oysters to our lunch platter...

Our seafood platter (SGD88): which contained serving portions of all the restaurant's specialities... doesnt it look impressive?

Top layer: serving cups of seafood chowder, oysters and salad...

2nd layer: chili mussels, curry salmon, grilled fish, croquette, seafood lasagne, grilled lobster on potato patty...

We also ordered another serving of the curry salmon.. as it was served with rice and some Chinese veg.. and we were worried that Kong Kong was missing Asian food...

This was our best and classiest and nicest meal in Tasmania...

I miss Tasmania... sob!

Meals in Tasmania - Day 7

Day 7 - Port Arthur to Hobart

Good morning! We are leaving our serviced accommodation at Port Arthur and heading for Hobart, one of the 2 big cities of Tasmania.

We had a filling breakfast of banana pancakes - no photos cos the pancakes actually were very ugly, but I blame the pan! The pan was heating up inevenly!

From our bedroom window, we could see lots of cows in the adjacent field, so we walked out to visit the cows...

This is Cutie, still in his pajamas! He said he wanted to bring a brown cow home.

So cute!

Sorrell Fruit Farm

We went drove to Hobart via a little place called Sorrell, and diverted into Sorrell Fruit Farm and whoa, happily, they had strawberries for us to pick! We are so glad!

Cutie was really good at picking out the red and ripe ones, and he had a very good time!
Each of us paid AUD6 for the plastic punnet, and we could pick as many as we wanted.

See, they are very large and red!

Our loot!

Cutie wonders if the strawberry will taste sweet...

He takes a tentative bite....

And he likes it! look at his smiling face!

Lunch at Barrilla Oyster Bay Cafe

Barrilla Oyster Bay is a very very popular and well-regarded landmark near Hobart. We stopped here for lunch because all the guides recommended the food here. Fresh oysters, good food.

Unfortunately, the restaurant on the 2nd floor couldn't seat us because the kitchen was full, so we went to eat at their sister cafe downstairs. (and made a reservation to return for lunch the next day.... so watch out for the next post!)

1 dozen Fresh Oysters - AUD 10.50. They sold oysters, abalones, mussels to go as well, but we weren't really interested. In terms of fresh oysters, these tasted the best because they were well-cleaned, succulent, and not salty. Yums.

We each had a soup of the day - SGD8.50 - which is quite expensive. Can't remember what it was.

We also each had a sandwich - and I think the toasted turkish bread sandwich was the nicest. No photos, we were too busy gobbling it up.

Dinner at Mures Seafood Restaurant

Mures at Elizabeth Pier, is one of the famous landmarks of Hobart. Everyone, and I mean everyone, comes here for seafood.

We were contemplating whether to go upstairs to the 2nd floor - Mures Upper Deck for dinner - which was classier and more private, but in the end economic sense took over and we opted for the Mures Lower Deck (1st floor) which also serves seafood but is more bistro-like and we order at the counter and collect our food when it is ready.

Mures Seafood platter - collection of cold seafood and pates. I think the platter cost about AUD38. We couldn't finish it and kept the cubes of fish for the next morning to eat with porridge. and that was really quite nice cos the fish was salty.

Our half dozen fresh oysters - AUD 5.50. They were nice, but the oysters at lunch were better.

Our cooked oysters with garlic butter - forgot how much they cost but these were quite nice too. the oysters here are very large, so they are very juicy.

Chilled rock lobster with fries - a bit small, and nothing great.

We also shared a grilled salmon.

And a tasmanian blue cod? Not quite sure what this fish was but it was nice and oily and tender and it was supposed to be the most expensive fish on the menu.

We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine but didnt finish it. We brought it back but didnt drink much either. Cutie likes to participate whenever we clink glasses though. We dont want him to be left out so he uses his water bottle instead.

Oyster Shooter! I bought this for DH as a surprise because he mentioned that he had never ever had one!

Never?! oh that must be rectified! So I bought this for him.

Hee hee.

Meals in Tasmania - Days 5 and 6

Coles Bay, Tasmania

Freycinet Marine Park is a World Heritage site, and it is beautiful!

We went there after breakfast of porridge that Por Por cooked.. Por Por usually cooks porridge for Cutie, and cooks enough so that we can all have some.

Look at the pristine white beach with its beautiful azure blue waters! it's so tranquil and picturesque, that I am transported to a whole new world.


This is Oyster Bay walk, a scenic 15 minute walk from the visitors centre. We all walked here.

Then Kong Kong, DH and I decided to hike up to the mountain area (where no cars are allowed) to see Wineglass Bay. We must sign in before going up the trail so that the guides can look for lost people at the end of the day. It was supposed to be an hour's walk but it took longer since I am now so fat and unfit!

It was quite a tough trail also, since it was rocky and steep at parts.


But it was worth the climb! See how beautiful it was! Does it resemble a wine glass to you?

After that, we all went for lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm, where they harvest fresh lobster, oysters and mussels.

The place wasn't a restaurant, it was like a little caravan outside the farm, with wooden tables and umbrellas on top. I didn't take any photos since I was a little chilly.

BUT I WISH I HAD! The lobsters were huge and fresh and sweet, so we ordered 2 large ones to eat there and 1 to take home.

We also ordered oysters (which were not that well cleaned, as some had bits of shell in it) but which were so fresh that we overlooked the bits of shell. It tasted of the sea.

We also ordered 2 bowls of mussels, which were steamed and came piping hot. NICE!

This was our most low budget meal but it was the freshest and the most value for money.

Fairy Penguin Tour

That evening, we went for a Fairy Penguin Tour... it only takes place in the evening, as the penguins leave the sea to come up to the shores to sleep. We had to bundle up because it could get quite cold.

Aren't they cute? They are tiny, not like the big black ones of the north or south pole.

So adorable!



Cutie was so well-behaved and quiet throughout the tour... We told him that he had to be quiet so that the penguins wouldn't run away... and he was so obedient. He was excited too, but he was able to listen to instructions well.

Dinner

We made some sandwiches to eat on the way to the penguin tour, then came back for more a substantial meal.


We had the rest of the sandwiches, some blue cheese that DH bought, and the lobster that we tarpowed from lunch. This one we grilled in the oven to warm it up. It was nice because we just came in from the cold, but since it was already cooked, warming it again in the oven toughened it up, and so it wasn't as sweet.


Day 6 - Coles Bay to Port Arthur Convicts Trail

Leaving our Coles Bay accommodation, so we had to finish up our supplies of bread, eggs and other perishables.


So this was our breakfast: ham and cheese sandwiches with potato and ham omelette.


Everyone seemed quite pleased with our simple meal! I really like this shot... everyone looks slightly dishevelled from just waking up... but so happy!


We headed to Port Arthur, originally a convicts settlement. When the English decided to ship their recalcitrant convicts to Australia, this is where they first settled. Which is why Tasmania is decidedly more english (in terms of its architecture and street names) than other parts of Australia.



After checking in, we headed to Port Arthur Convicts Centre, which is an award winning tourist destination. As it should well be, it was fascinating.



We lunched at the cafeteria, called Felons, and it was disappointing - too tough meats, too salty pasta... it was forgettable.

Kong Kong and Por Por went back to the house since they've been here before. DH Cutie and I bought tickets and entered the place.

It was quite big and we didnt manage to explore the entire area because it started to drizzle a little in the late afternoon.

We did manage to catch the 3 pm cruise - last one of the day. We almost missed it because DH was disciplining Cutie, and wouldnt cut short the lecture to catch the cruise. He told Cutie, if we miss the cruise, it will be because of you. Cutie smacked DH (on the head!), and it was really inexcusable. I dont know why Cutie did it really. Maybe because DH took the pen that Cutie wanted... DH was going to sign for the tickets as he paid by credit card. DH took Cutie aside and told him off.. Cutie kept saying, "let go of me, let go of me, I want my mommy!" But he did apologise in the end.

Quite windy on the cruise ship! It was very educational!


Below is my favourite shot of Cutie and DH... I think they look alike! This was outside the chapel I think.

Cutie sure can pose!

DINNER at Fox and Hounds Tavern

We had dinner at the English themed Fox and Hounds Tavern - a black and white type of inn cum restaurant. It was the nicest restaurant in the area and so it was full but not crowded.

Por Por and I shared the Queen's Feast - it was quite nice although we didnt expect everything to be battered and fried.

Kong Kong had the King's catch - some grilled fish.


and DH had the steak I think. Quite tender and tasty.




Cheers!