HOBART – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

Perched atop a nine-storey office tower overlooking Hobart’s Salamanca Wharf is this: the newly-opened Avalon City Retreat. But it’s more than just your standard penthouse – please, this is a fully self-contained omnipod; a modular design that can be lifted and relocated to, well, anywhere. Not that there’s anything portable-looking about the interior. Two king-sized bedrooms with custom-made beds, ensuite bathrooms and a fully-stocked kitchen (we mean fully – with everything from wines and whiskies to seriously gourmet pre-made dinners if you don’t feel like venturing out). And while the art collection has been thoughtfully curated, and the complimentary champagne...

Owners of Castray Esplanade Food + Wine, Michael Roberts and his wife Karen, are both well-known Tassie foodies with over 30 years' experience in the business. Michael shares his dining tips  for dining experiences under $50 around Salamanca. Start the day at Tricycle Café. Housed in one of the striking sandstone warehouses that line Salamanca Place in Hobart, Tricycle is an excellent place for breakfast – spoil yourself with one of their delicious friandise to go with your second cup of coffee. Service is relaxed, yet professional. Grumbling belly at lunch time? Head to Jack Greene for a gourmet burger. This...

The design of Hobart’s newest hotel draws inspiration from the icy region of Antarctica, but does Stephanie Williams encounter a warm reception? Here’s something you probably didn't know about Hobart: it’s full of adventurers. And not the ‘weekend warrior’ kind who boast about that one walking trip they took years ago – the real deal. Hobart is the last port of call before the freezing waters hit, so it’s also the last port of call for the extremists who study and play in them. In fact, this city boasts the largest concentration of Southern Ocean and Antarctic scientists in the world. So...

Hotel hideaway for the landed gentry Villa Howden, Hobart, Tas With bubbles on arrival, antique furnishings, self-playing pianos and manicured gardens with croquet sets, Villa Howden is no ordinary boutique stay. “I wanted to buy everything in my room. Loved it!” says Rowntree, scoring it 10.  Prev<<<< Milk Beach, Sydney, NSW  Next >>>> Bouddi National Park, NSW  Villa Howden...

Tasmania is a hotbed of unique pieces and incredible finds – and nowhere more so than its thriving market scene. Here, some of the best spots to go treasure hunting. Words by Elspeth Callender. If there was ever a little island that could, Tasmania would be it. What other area, a good 240 kilometres out to sea, could produce all five food groups (that’s cheese, salmon, wine, stone fruit and cheese) to such artisan levels, to the loud and repeated appreciation of the rest of the country, with such little fanfare? But there’s a lot more going on here than...

Where is it? Tasman Peninsula, 95km south-east of Hobart How to see it for yourself? This view is at the end of the cape, which has a detached sea stack known as the Candlestick. These dolerite seacliffs are among the tallest and oldest in Australia. Kayaking is available with operators such as Roaring 40s Ocean Kayaking. To see it from the land, the Cape Hauy Track is a five-hour return trek that begins in Fortescue Bay, taking in heath and woodland before the views of the cliffs. Why I love it “This breathtaking view gives me a genuine feel for untouched wilderness. Even better is the experience of walking along the track...

Where is it? In Mount Field National Park, 85km north-west of Hobart How to see it for yourself? Just a 10-minute stroll from the Mt Field National Park Visitors Centre, Russell Falls can be accessed via a sealed path suitable for wheelchairs. The walk will also take you past some of the tallest hardwood trees in the world. Return by the same track or cross a bridge below the falls and follow the creek back. Why I love it “This unusual, angled view of the dramatic, twotiered Russell Falls has become quite famous, appearing in National Geographic and several other international magazines. I had to balance out on...

Where is it? 13km southeast of Hobart How to see it for yourself? This shot was taken from the banks of Tranmere Point in Camelot Park, looking towards the tip of the peninsula, directly across the river from Taroona. Follow the Tasman Highway from Hobart, turning off at Bellerive, and following Tranmere Road. There are paths leading down to the water’s edge. Why I love it “The best way to view Hobart and Mt Wellington is from the eastern side of the Derwent River. Just after sunset, the gentle city lights are majestic.” – Michael Walters Image by Michael Walters...

Where is it? About 20km west of Hobart, Pinnacle Road, Wellington Park How to see it for yourself? Drive to the summit following Pinnacle Road. In winter, the road can close due to snow or ice cover so check beforehand. The lookout is a two-minute walk from the car park. Various tracks allow you to bushwalk, cycle or horse-ride. Why I love it “The view facing west is like a trip back to the time of dinosaurs. There is something eerie yet beautifully breathtaking. When the sun is setting on you and the wind is still you couldn’t feel more at peace.” – Michael Walters Image by Michael Walters...

Aaron Smith finds out if a one-day whisky tour of Tasmania's premier boutique distillery is worth the cost. “I would prefer barley be fed to pigs than it be used to turn men into swine.” That’s what Lady Jane Franklin purportedly said of the production of whisky when her husband was governor of Tasmania back in the 1800s. The resultant prohibition led to a 153-year distillation drought in Tasmania until 1992, when land surveyor Bill Lark challenged the law. With the help of some whisky-loving MPs, Tasmania built its first legal distillery since 1839 and in the subsequent two decades,...

We countdown the ultimate Australian destinations where you can really unwind and indulge - #1 In Australia? Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tasmania WHAT TO EXPECT Still the new kid on the luxury lodge block, Saffire opened in June 2010. Since then, it’s the place everyone’s talking about – even Southern Ocean Lodge, the stunning Kangaroo Island resort to which Saffire can most closely be compared, hasn’t been lauded to quite the same degree as this by our readership. So I felt compelled to check Saffire out and see why it’s getting such great word-of-mouth. The first thing you’ll notice about...

The top five cultural experiences in Hobart 1 Museum of Old and New Art: Discover this eccentric, eclectic gallery now. 655 Main Rd, Berridale. (03) 6277 9900; www.mona.net.au. 2 Ten Days on the Island: This year’s festival takes place March 25 to April 3. Part of the program sees a light and sound installation transform Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens into a surreal power plant. (03) 6233 5830; www.tendaysontheisland.com. 3 Salamanca Arts Centre: A community of artists’ studios and galleries. In February, it hosts the Hobart Book Fair and an exhibition called All One, celebrating Warlpiri artists. March 3-13 hosts mixed-media...

 The top seven places to grab a feed in Hobart (because we couldn't stop at five): 1 Garagistes: An intimate fine-dining wine bar. 103 Murray St, Hobart.  (03) 6231 0558; www.garagistes.com.au   2 Fish Frenzy: They reckon they serve the best fish’n’chips in Australia. Could they be right? Elizabeth St Pier, Sullivans Cove. (03) 6231 2134; www.fishfrenzy.com.au.   3 Tavern 42 Degrees South: Great bar food or more serious lunch and dinner choices.  Elizabeth St Pier, Sullivans Cove. (03) 6224 7742; www.tav42.com.au.   4 Salamanca Market: Great Tasmanian produce stalls on Saturdays from 8.30am to 3pm.  (03) 6238 2843; salamancamarkethobart.com.au....