A Tasmanian Tastecation with Travelodge Hotels

Tasmania has always been known as the apple isle but today it is their superb food and wine that is bringing people to the island.
This makes it the perfect place for a tastecation….a gourmet vacation tasting the delights of a city….and there’s no better place to indulge your love of world renown food and wines than in Tasmania’s capital, Hobart and its close environs.
The minute you arrive, you can start your tastecation!
The Coal River Valley is a short drive from the airport and this is one area you would not want to miss! It has a little bit of of everything…..wine, food and history.

From the turnoff near the airport, Richmond Road winds through the valley towards the historic town of Richmond, a beautiful old village dating back to the early 19th century where many of the original houses now showcase local artisan industries.
Along this road, you will find makers of fabulous chocolates, delicious cheese and world class vineyards who have opened their doors to those eager to learn and taste these gourmet delights.

Coal River Farm started business in August this year. The cafe is already busy and their chocolates, made by a french chocolatier, are very popular. Cheese production will start soon and in the summer months you will be able to pick your own berries.
A bit further up the road, Wicked Cheese is well and truly established. The cheese room is behind glass so you can see how the cheese is made and then taste their award winning cheeses.
Frogmore Creek Winery’s restaurant has just won the Tasmanian Hotels Associations award for the best regional restaurant in 2015. I can see why! The food is sensational with the award winning wines matching perfectly to each course. There’ll be more written on this great lunch spot but it is one not to miss!

Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport

Arriving late into the city, it made sense to stay at the Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport for our first two nights. This allowed us to head off early in the morning to spend the day exploring the Coal River Valley and to walk around Richmond.
It would also be a great idea to stay here if you were wanting to head to Port Arthur, Coles Bay, Freycinet or Launceston the next day. Even better….arrive in the morning, book a car and explore Richmond, stay the night and head off the next day!

Rooms

The rooms at the Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport are light and airy, all featuring the Travelodge’s smart signature colour blocking. The windows are double glazed so you don’t have to worry about the noise from the airport or the road. You feel as though you are already in the country!

The guest rooms and executive rooms have all the amenities you need but if there’s something you’re missing, the friendly staff will be able to help! Rooms for the disabled are also available. If you’re not picking up a car, a free airport shuttle is available.
The hotel was full of surprises:
Surprise No1: The beds! I don’t know what their secret is but our bed was one of the most comfortable hotel beds I had slept in for a long while!
Surprise No 2: The spinach, mushroom and feta omelette I had for breakfast was sensational….so tasty, so light and fluffy. What’s the secret chef?

Surprise No 3: The start of a small boxed vegetable garden! It had obviously just been planted but very soon the spinach for your omelette could be home grown!
If you are spending the night here, two minutes from the hotel is the Barilla Bay Oyster Farm where you can watch the sun set eating delicious Southern Bay Oysters.

Travelodge Hobart

The next day we continued our tastecation in the city moving to the Travelodge Hobart. 

I love the way the hotel has used colour…the foyer is bright and cheerful and the rooms feature a strong coloured wall.
A well placed desk saved the computers and ipads from decorating the bed! Talking of wifi, at both hotels, your first 100MB of wifi is free every 24 hours but charges of $9.95 for unlimited use every 24hrs apply after this.

The rooms have a small fridge, sink and microwave should you need then. Irons and ironing boards are waiting in the cupboard. Gone are those days of ringing and waiting an hour till housekeeping remembers to bring it to you!
The bathroom is small but we had a bath as well as a walk in shower (executive rooms only) Another feature of the executive rooms is the lounge area.
The higher floors have a wonderful view……

Position, position, position! 
Whenever we travel we always try to stay in the centre of a city…it makes life so much easier… and the Travelodge Hobart is in a great position close to everything we wanted to see in the short time we had!
The sun was shining as we walked the block down the street to Saint David’s Park and then to Salamanca Place where Hobart’s famous Salamanca Markets are held every Saturday. The markets showed the kaleidescope of produce available. Fresh vegetables, crates of apples, local truffles, chocolates, award winning whisky and Tasmanian gin were all on show together with locally made handicrafts.

Salamanca Place is near the waterfront. The ferry to the Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) leaves from nearby Brooke Street Pier taking you straight to the museum. MONA is one gallery you won’t want to miss. The architecture is as fascinating as the art!

Further along the wharf, Franklin Pier is the place to meet for Pennicott Wilderness Journeys to Bruny Island, another fabulous gourmet destination which we visited the following day.

The old historic area of Battery Hill is a five minute walk back to the hotel if you’ve walked there via Kelly’s Steps in Salamanca Place. This is a fabulous area to explore with beautiful old homes lining the streets and great views over the water. Look for Jackman & McRoss, a popular cafe which you can find in Hampden Road.

Fabulous restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance in Hobart.
You will be spoilt for choice in Salamanca Place …don’t miss Salamanca Square with its entrance along side the old Fruit Market. Here you’ll find Machine Laundry, a casual stop for lunch and Smolt, a restaurant that I’d recommend for dinner! In Murray St, opposite Parliament House is Daci & Daci...pastry heaven!
Close to the pedestrian mall, you’ll find Ethos, an excellent, small restaurant that offers a six course degustation of local produce. We stopped for drinks at two places I’d love to return to for dinner….The Franklin and Hobart’s latest restaurant and bar opening, The Glass House. The Frank is another restaurant that was highly recommended to us.

Our Itinerary

I’ll be writing more about the places we visited but if you’d like to plan your own Tasmanian tastecation in Hobart, you may like to follow our itinerary that was organised by TFE Hotels:
Day 1:
Arrive in Hobart. Check in at the Travelodge Hobart Airport Hotel. As time was short and the restaurant list long, we drove into the city for dinner at Ethos
Day 2:
Explore the Coal River Valley and see the small historic town of Richmond.
Stop at Coal River Farm, Wicked Cheese and then head into Richmond.

Lunch at Frogmore Creek…Winner of the Tasmanian Hotels Associations best regional restaurant in 2015
Visit Coal Valley Vineyard…as from the end of October, the cellar door will reopen for tapas style dishes and wine tastings
Dinner at Barilla Bay Oysters, two minutes from the hotel

Day 3:
Head to the city for an early check in at the Travelodge Hobart.
Visit the Salamanca Markets.
Lunch at the market stalls….Scallop pies, Gypsey rolls and burgers are readily available or eat at Machine Laundry Cafe in Salamanca Place. Leave room for dessert from Honey Badgers Dessert Cafe next door!

Explore Battery Point.

Catch the ferry to MONA. We caught the 2.30 ferry and spent the afternoon here, staying for a delicious dinner their restaurant, The Source.
Day 4:
Take a day trip to Bruny Island….We loved our Pennicott Wilderness Adventures, Bruny Island Traveller tour that had exploring the delights of the island.
Option: See the sights you haven’t already seen ……maybe visit the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, The Art Gallery and Museum or take in the view from the top of Mount Wellington

I’m now inspired to take more tastecations.
It’s a great way to enjoy a city…it’s easy, it’s fun and it’s delicious!
Have you been on a tastecation? Where would you like to visit for a tastecation?

Disclaimer:
Thank you to TFE Hotels who invited me to experience the gourmet delights Hobart offers and to stay at their Travelodge Hotels.
Toga Far East Hotels (TFE Hotels) operate 70 hotels across Australia, Asia and Europe.
Many will be familiar to you: Vibe Hotels (I love the position of the Vibe Hotel Rushcutters in Sydney!), Rendezvous Hotels, Medina Serviced Apartments, Adina Apartment Hotels, The Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra as well as Travelodge Hotels.
All opinions conveyed here are my own….I loved every minute of this tastecation and I will definitely be back to see and eat more in Tasmania.