Tasmanian Treasures 4.0

TASMANIAN TREASURES 4.0

After living in Sydney for almost a year, there are certain Tasmanian Treasures that I have been missing more than others. A recent trip home over the Easter break has prompted me to put them in writing for you!

My first stop after getting off the plane on a late night flight was Kosaten! A Japanese restaurant in Salamanca/Battery Point that serves the best soba noodle salad I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried many! They also serve the Volcano Sushi Roll, and while it looks slightly kitsch, you have to trust the process. It is delicious. Actually, their whole menu is! The restaurant is like a classy version of a sushi train and the staff are divine. Kosaten also have locations in Launceston, Geelong & Ballarat, if those are closer to you! Super affordable too!

As soon as I opened my eyes the next morning I beelined for Pigeon Whole Bakers in Hobart. Not to be mistaken for Pigeon Hole Café, which is still good, but not quite the same. I knew what I wanted - a plain croissant and a hot chocolate. Their hot choccie is amazing. A deep cocoa flavour without being sweet. They have the best croissant I’ve found in Australia. Period.

Post croissant, I headed up to the Bay of Fires - my happy place. I’ve been desperate to get up the East Coast for a spot of camping since I moved, so that’s what I did. Two nights at Cosy Corner. On the way up, some of my favourite swim stops are Cressy Beach in Swansea and Redbill Beach in Bicheno. The Bicheno Bakery also does an incredible kiss biscuit which gets you through the last hour of the drive. More on Bicheno in Tasmanian Treasures 3.0. Picking a campsite is easy. I used to take January off work every year to pitch my tent at Cosy Corner and bliss out. This trip was a mini version! Cosy Corner is a free campsite with no bookings required, which feels like restoring the balance after camping in NSW and paying $40 for a patch of ground for the swag. There are toilets, and reception if you want it. We switched our phones to airplane mode and didn’t look back. We had weather that facilitated breakfast on the big rock, a swim in the mermaid pool, a walk around Binalong Bay, and a Ninth Island rosé with a chunk of garlic bread on the balcony at The Hub.

On the drive home, our snacks were somewhat low brow, as drive day snacks tend to be… Banjo’s bakery is a Tassie institution with multiple locations dotted across the state. They make the best spinach and ricotta rolls, and they are cheap! Two please!

There were a few items on my list this trip that I wanted to tick off my list! Ogee in North Hobart was top of that list. Unfortunately I was too disorganised to snag a dinner reservation, however they did have space for a walk in. I went with three of my pals and we shared a bottle of red! Sitting out on the street watching the passers by is reminiscent of a European evening - a welcome memory. Also on my to-do list, is stay at Ogee Guesthouse. A thoughtfully renovated townhouse that looks SO up my alley.

This trip also took me back to Frank for a friend’s special birthday! We shared sparkling, steak, pumpkin, and ciabatta with jalapeño & lime butter. Wow wow wow. Frank is worth visiting for the space alone. Their interiors have such a fun flare. I was chit chatting way too much to snap any piccies so I’ve borrowed the one below from Frank’s Insty. LOOK AT THE STAINED GLASS!

Photo from Frank’s Instagram

I had a night with my girlfriends at Peppina, we started talking and did not shut up. We drank complimentary sparkling (birthday vibes) then ordered a bottle more. We shared gnocchi, pizza fritta, caprese salad, & anchovies and cucumber on toast. At the end of our meal we were blessed again with a complimentary birthday treat - tiramisu!! Peppina is a consistently good feed. The wait staff are so attentive, your glass ends up being bottomless.

Photo from Peppina’s Instagram

The last stop for the trip was Sauna Boat Tasmania. Saunas are quickly gaining popularity in Tasmania due to the invigorating water temperature and the serene spots to set them up. I loved this experience. The gentle rock of the sauna from the wake of passing boats was so therapeutic! I have to say, I was concerned that the water wouldn’t be overly clean due to being situated in a marina, so much so, that I washed my hair that morning - I was sure I wasn’t going under. When I submerged my body in the crispy water there was no way my head was missing out. Clean hair out the window! There were no glimmery bits of engine oil in the water, and no rogue ciggies floating by. I’m sure cleaner water exists, but I wasn’t concerned! A more in depth review of Sauna Boat Tasmania is in the works. Watch this space!

Back to the airport (via Pigeon Whole for one last croissant) with a carry on suitcase full of Jim’s Mum’s Hot Cross Buns (if you know, you know).

There will ALWAYS be more installations of Tasmanian Treasures. Until then, stray beautiful,

BEAR.