Category Archives: Australia

Wild Island Tastes

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Tasmania is renowned for its clean water, fresh air and rich soil. This, of course, means quality fresh produce in abundance. Now, imagine those unique flavours of fruit, honey and lavender and add…chocolate. This week, I was fortunate to witness the launch of a fabulous new Tasmanian product, Wild Island Tastes Chocolate Bark.

1.table

Mingling for a while with the benefit of wine and cheese,

the Mayor then introduced the creators of this fine concoction. Anna and Joan have been firm friends for thirty years and have worked hard together to realise their dream. They shared with us their journey from inception to induction of their wonderful handmade chocolate bark.

4.Anna & Joan

I shall acquaint you with these taste sensations. Tarkine Treasures

5.Tarkine Treasures1

is a treasure trove of Tasmanian flavours, plump freeze-dried raspberries, natural leatherwood honey-roasted almonds nestled in the finest dark chocolate with a crunch of exotic cacao nibs.

6.Tarkine Treasures2

Summer Love

7.Summer Love1

delivers delicious Tasmanian freeze-dried strawberries on a bed of the finest white chocolate, sprinkled with Tasmanian lavender flowers, exotic coconut flakes and white chia seeds.

8.Summer Love2

Shipwrecked is my favourite.

9.Shipwrecked1

Shards of premium milk chocolate and delicate white chocolate swirls enhance the flavours of Tasmanian freeze-dried blueberries, earthy pepitas, crunchy caramel and Tasmanian sea salt.

10.Shipwrecked2

It is impossible to describe the fusion of flavours, a mouthwatering and memorable taste experience.

11.Taste

I should mention the very talented graphic designer who, when presented with the name Wild Island Tastes, created the identity, encompassing logo design, packaging and promotional material – my husband, Michael Cannon.

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I hope you have the chance to experience Wild Island Tastes Chocolate Bark for yourself.

https://www.facebook.com/wildislandtastes/

Sounds of Silence

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One of the highlights of our stay at Uluru was the Sounds of Silence dinner. It began with a bus ride to a sand dune in the middle of nowhere. We indulged in canapés and sparkling wine

1.us

as we watched the descending sun

2.setting sun

change the hues of Uluru.

3.Uluru4.Uluru sunset

Behind us, Kata Tjuta was transforming

5.Kata Tjuta

as the sun sank lower. Sol finally slipped below the horizon

6.setting sun7.sunset

and while trying not to take our eyes off the spectacle around us,

8.Uluru sunset9.Kata Tjuta sunset

we made our way along a path to our restaurant. The kitchen was well equipped

10.kitchen

and the formal table settings contrasted sharply with the surrounding landscape.

11.table setting

While we got to know our fellow travellers

12.tables

we listened to the stirring sounds of a didgeridoo

13.didgeridoo

and enjoyed some of Australia’s finest wines. The bush tucker inspired buffet included barbecued barramundi, kangaroo, emu & crocodile. The last glow lit up the horizon

14.sheoak sunset

and the dark sky came alive with stars.

The resident star talker introduced us to the wonders of the universe and we had the opportunity for a close up view of Saturn and the Earth’s moon through his amazing telescope. The lighting around the perimeter created a warming ambience

and as the desert evening cooled down, the gas heaters were welcomed.

Replete with food, wine and good company, it was a very quiet bus ride back to the resort.

The Bridge

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Whichever way you look at it, Sydney Harbour Bridge is spectacular.

1.The Bridge2.The Bridge3.The Bridge

When it was opened in 1932, after eight years of construction, it was the longest single span steel arch bridge in the world.

4.The Bridge

Today, there are eight lanes of traffic, two railway lines, a pedestrian pathway and a cycleway connecting the city of Sydney with the North Shore.

5.The Bridge6.The Bridge

The closer you look, the more fascinating it becomes.

7.The Bridge8.The Bridge

Six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel come together with artistic precision.

The Bridge Climb was on our bucket list for quite some time and we weren’t disappointed.

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Dressed in regulation climbing gear, we had a safety briefing and practiced climbing narrow, steep ladders before the real thing. The climb started below the highway and after navigating catwalks with ease, we had to ascend four ladders that took us up through the traffic to the start of the upper arch.

The jelly knees soon settled and the rest of the 1,332 steps was quite leisurely. We weren’t allowed to take cameras or anything else that could drop to the roadway but we had a few photos taken by the leader.

21.bridge climb

Though a tad windy and overcast, it was pleasant for walking.

22.bridge climb

134 metres above the harbour, we lingered for a while to admire the breathtaking panorama.

23.bridge climb

Too soon, we returned to solid ground, vowing next time we will do a sunset climb. There is certainly something magical about that bridge.

24.The Bridge

Sails in the Desert

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We knew our trip to Uluru would be a ‘once in a lifetime,’ so we decided to indulge ourselves with a three night stay at a luxury 5 star resort. We arrived at our oasis, ‘Sails in the Desert’ on a rather warm afternoon,

1.entrance

the majestic Casuarinas eagerly awaiting sundown.

Welcomed at reception with a refreshing lemon myrtle drink, we surveyed the stylish lobby.

Our room décor was stunning, the mystery of local Anangu creation stories splashed across the carpet,

6.our room

dotted along cushions

and revealed in artefacts. The Punu (wood carved animals) are hand carved by the Anangu people and decorated with walka (burnt patterns).

9.our room

Our balcony was small but we really didn’t have time to make use of it. We had a lovely, leafy view across the grounds

11.view from balcony

and along the balconies of the Terrace Rooms.

12.view from balcony

We couldn’t resist a closer look at how the other half live.

13.Terrace Room balcony

The grounds were beautifully kept

14.grounds

and a serpent path snaked its way through the trees.

The Ilkari Restaurant had an amazing buffet and a central grill station that cooked to order. At breakfast, the grill station offered freshly cooked eggs, pancakes and omelettes.

17.Ilkari Restaurant

For a casual meal or relaxing beverage, The Walpa Lobby Bar

and Pira Pool Bar were enticing options.

After spending a morning exploring The Olgas, the boys went in search of a beer while we girls chose some well earned pampering at the Red Ochre Spa.

22.Red Ochre Spa

After a cooling glass of lemon myrtle infused water,

23.spa

we were ushered to a double room, forced to endure a skin softening foot bath, followed by an invigorating Sea Salt exfoliation, ending with a decadent foot massage.

I enjoyed a relaxing herbal tea in comfort while Kay tortured herself further with a pedicure.

27.spa

We had a wonderful escape at ‘Sails in the Desert’,

a lifestyle I could definitely get used to.

Hobart

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Hobart is Australia’s second oldest capital city, after Sydney. It is an intriguing mix of old and new and the waterfront precinct is captivating. The Georgian sandstone warehouses lining the dock were built in the 1830s. The IXL Jam Factory is now the Henry Jones Art Hotel and others have been converted into businesses, galleries and restaurants.

1.Waterfront

There are many fabulous restaurants to choose from, with seafood the specialty. The Drunken Admiral is very popular,

2.Drunken Admiral

unfortunately we missed out without a reservation.

Looking across Victoria Dock,

5.Victoria Dock

Mures Lower Deck offers casual dining while the Upper Deck is a unique experience with fresh seafood caught, prepared and served by this local family owned business.

6.Victoria Dock

Strolling along Franklin Wharf, we encountered a series of bronze sculptures, a tribute to the Antarctic Expedition of 1899. Louis Bernacchi was raised in Tasmania and is immortalised in this, “Self Portrait, Louis and Joe”.

7.Bernacchi

Nearby are other sculptures depicting the penguins and seals of Antarctica

as well as some of the supplies and other animals present on the expedition.

Sullivans Cove, on the Derwent River, was the original landing point in 1804 of Hobart’s founder, Lieutenant Governor David Collins and the site of initial European settlement in the area.

13.Sullivan's Cove

Further along the wharf is Constitution Dock, the finishing line for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. We were very excited to be there for the celebrations.

14.Sydney-Hobart

Wild Oats XI had claimed its third consecutive line honours. Even for someone who doesn’t know a thing about yachts, I think she is a magnificent vessel.

17.Wild Oats

The dock was bustling

but this gull had seen it all before.

22.seagull

This heritage travelling steam crane, built in 1899, sits proudly on the wharf since retirement in 1969.

23.steam crane

Elizabeth Street Pier underwent a transformation in 1997

24.Elizabeth St pier

and now comprises an apartment style hotel, conference centre and eateries.

Moored at the pier is a full size replica of the Lady Nelson, one of the vessels arriving in 1804 with the first free settlers. She now spends her days sailing the River Derwent with passengers who wish to enjoy a tall ship sailing experience.

27.Lady Nelson

A short walk across the lawns of Parliament Square is Salamanca Place. Each Saturday there is a very busy market

28.market

offering a great variety of wares, mostly from local artisans.

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Even the world famous can be seen busking in Salamanca.

34.market

Behind the market stalls are rows of sandstone buildings built in the 1830s to house grain, wool, whale oil and imported goods. They have since been converted into restaurants, galleries, craft shops and offices.

35.Salamanca

There are many laneways and squares to discover around Salamanca

and the new is starting to encroach on the old.

38.Salamanca

When a break is needed from the shopping and exploring, Irish Murphy’s is the perfect spot

39.Irish Murphy's

for a light refreshment

40.Irish Murphy's

to give you the strength to carry on.