Nov
16
2012

Cascade Female Factory Historic Site

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Much is shared about one of Tasmania's biggest attractions, the Port Arthur Historic site, but what about the other piece of the island's history at the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site?

The World Heritage-listed historic site is located a short way – about a ten minute drive – from the Hobart CBD and is Australia's most significant spot associated with female convicts.

The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site was ranked eighth out of 53 Hobart attractions on TripAdvisor, with a large majority of reviewers ranking the site as 'excellent'.

More than 5,000 female convicts were known to have spent time at the Cascades Female Factory from 1828 to 1856, with the institution intended to reform convicts.

Up to a thousand people were said to live at the factory at any one time, including children, nurses and guards.

The factory was established on the site of a failed rum distillery, eventually expanding to five conjoined yards.

Three of the original five yards make up the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, with a number of tour options available to explore the different experiences of the site.

You can get a 'dramatic interpretation' of life at the Cascades Female Factory with the tour 'Her Story'. This runs from 11:00 every day with adults $20, children $12.50 and families $60.

John P of Adelaide visited the site in October and in his review on TripAdvisor, he said that the performance of 'Her Story' was "one of the best things we did during our week in Hobart".

"I strongly recommend 'Her Story' (45 minutes) and the short mini-tour afterwards of the superintendent's cottage. Without these we would not have properly understood the significance of the site and would probably have left disappointed," he added.

The memorial to convict women and the site's viewing platform

Museum Pass - worth exploring for entrance to all Properties in the Historic Collection

Interior yards of the Cascades Female Factory - Photo credit - Think-Tasmania.com

Fountain and Mill Stones at the Site Photo Credit - Adrienne Bartl (Flickr)

The Casades Female Factory pictured in 1892 Photo Credit - University of Tasmania Collection

Cascades Wall and Entrance - Photo credit: Dragi Markovic and DEWHA

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Nov
15
2012

Cook with Masterchef Finalist Ben Milbourne

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Mexican food is all the rage at the moment and it no wonder when you realize that the Mexican food-culture introduced the world to chocolate, corn, chilies, tomatoes, vanilla, avocado and guava. Australians are just scratching the surface of Mexican food it is one of the oldest cuisines, yet it is one on the newest trends.

Masterchef Australia finalist (2012) Ben Milbourne will be cooking up a storm in a class for budding enthusiasts, experts on brush up, or if you would like to spend an intensive day with Ben taking on those extra skills. Book now for 25 November at Tranquilles at Port Sorell.
Yes, you can stay – it is also a luxury B&B.
The cost is a modest $150. Accommodation is extra.

Ben says “It is the perfect food for sharing, which I think is one of the reasons I like it so much. Its packed full of flavor and healthy and makes great use of seafood, another reason Tasmanians should be into it. My love of Mexican food was developed at a young age through, of all things packet Mexican. During summer holidays packet tacos were a staple diet so for me growing up, Mexican was always connected to long hot summer days and good times playing backyard cricket, swimming at the beach and fishing off the jetty. So as my culinary interests and skill developed, as I got older I started to venture away from the packet and started to experiment with more varied flavors and ingredients”.

“The recipes we will cover in the cooking school are a great introduction to Mexican food, if you like what you see and taste then let your imagination run wild and come up with some recipes of your own. I look forward to seeing you over the summer, to experience the fun and enjoyment food brings to family and friends”.

Menu:

Appetizer – King Fish Tequila Slammer
Entrée – Popcorn Chicken Tostadida’s with assorted garnishes
Main – Chipotle Braised Beef Cheek with Pome Puree and Mixed Mushrooms
Dessert – White Chocolate Mojito Shortcake with Rhubarb and Vanilla Compote
Cocktail – A Surprise

Book now.

Ben dockside at Hobart's Sullivans Cove

Ben at Devonport Food & Wine Festival Event in 2012 - Image Credit: The Advocate

The location for the cooking school Tranquilles in North West Tasmania

Ben Milbourne MasterChef Australia 2012 finalist at Oatlands - Image Credit: Herald Sun

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Nov
14
2012

Vodafone Test Series: Australia vs Sri Lanka

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Enjoy the return of international cricket this summer with the first Vodafone Test Series in Tasmania's Blundstone Arena in Bellerive.

The cricket season indicates the return of long summer days, so remember to pack up your sunscreen, straw hat and plenty of snacks and drinks for an entertaining day of sport.

Australia takes on the Sri Lankans from Friday December 14 to Tuesday December 18 – with kids getting free admission on day three of the Vodafone Test!

The third day of every Vodafone Test match is marked as Toyota Family Day, with one child (aged 15 and under) getting free entry with every full-priced adult ticket purchased in the same transaction.

So make sure to treat the kids to a trip to the arena for a day of cricket on Sunday December 16.

Tickets for the Vodafone Test Series are available now from Ticketek, with single-day tickets for adults from $38, juniors (aged four to 15) $15, concession $25 and a family of four (two adults and two juniors) $83.50.

There are also test match passes available to catch all five days of action, with adults from $152, concession $100, juniors $60 and family $334.

Gates open at 09:00, with the match kicking off at 10:30 – so head down to Bellerive Oval this December to catch the first Vodafone Test Series with Australia taking on Sri Lanka.

Bellerive Oval and the view down the harbour - Image Credit: CricketTas

Bellerive Oval now named Blundstone Arena scene of Internation Cricket Games in Hobart. Image Credit: The Mercury

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Nov
13
2012

Fabulous kids holiday entertainment with Disney Live!

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Mickey Mouse and his band of friends will be rolling into Tasmania this summer – so treat your kids to some prime entertainment with the Disney Live! show in January.

Free up the dates of January 30 and 31 for Mickey's Rockin' Road Show at Launceston's Silverdome and February 2 and 3 for the shows in Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre, where Mickey and friends such as Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Tigger and Cinderella will take Disney fans on an adventure-filled journey.

This is also the first time in Disney Live! history that Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story join in with the show, where you and your little ones will be taken on a 'thrill seeking journey'.

Expect an entertaining 90 minutes of adventure with 'unexpected twists and turns and exciting encounters along the way' where you can have a boogie along to the hip music and fun choreography.

Launceston will be holding three shows with the first beginning on January 30 at 10:00, followed by another on January 31 at 10:00, and ending on the same date in the afternoon at 13:00.

There will be four shows in Hobart, with both February 2 and 3 holding sessions at 10:00 and 13:00.

Tickets for the Launceston shows are available from the Silverdome website, with Hobart tickets from Ticketmaster.

A-Reserve tickets are $37.50 each (children over 12 months require a ticket), B-Reserve tickets are $29.50 and a family pass (four people)  is from $110.

Disney LIVE! Graphic

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Nov
12
2012

A Day On The Green – Hoodoo Gurus & The Angels

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Welcome in summer with a glass of wine and some of Australia's finest rock acts at A Day On The Green in Tasmania.

The music event will take place at Josef Chromy Wines among the beautiful vineyards on Saturday December 8, with legendary Australian rock band Hoodoo Gurus set to take the stage as well as The Angels with Dave Gleeson, Baby Animals, James Reyne and Boom Crash Opera.

ARIA Hall of Famers The Hoodoo Gurus mark a special milestone this year, celebrating the 30 year anniversary since the release of their debut single Leilani.

The Gurus – as they are often coined by their fans – are known for providing the soundtrack for many Australians in the eighties with hits such as My Girl, I Want You Back, Bittersweet and What's My Scene?

To celebrate their 30 year anniversary the Gurus have put together their top singles and 'fan favourites' to release an album compilation of hits, Gold Watch: 20 Golden Greats.

Get in on a stellar experience of A Day On The Green by purchasing tickets for the concert and dining package!

This is an all-inclusive concert and hospitality package which is positioned in the winery restaurant or hospitality marquee, where you can enjoy an exclusive dining experience while also enjoying the concert.

Treat your tastebuds to delicious gourmet food and avoid toilet queue lines outside with designated private toilets, where you have the opportunity to experience the concert in a seated sectioned off area.

If you're wanting to get amongst the crowd, but still have a good view of the stage, you can choose from platinum, gold or silver tickets.

Platinum tickets give access to premium reserved seats in front of the stage, gold tickets give access directly behind and to the side of platinum seats and silver ticket holders are seated behind the gold seats.

Wanting to just relax on your picnic blanket and deck chairs? Then you can purchase a general admission ticket that allows access to an unreserved area that operates on a first come, first served basis.

Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster with general admission $89.90, gold reserve $129, platinum reserve $149 and the concert and dining package $295.

Stage and location for Day on The Green at Josef Chromy 2011

DOTG Poster

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Nov
12
2012

App for Tasmanian Tourism Awards 2012

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For the first time this year’s Tasmanian Tourism Award winners are showcased by a brand new Smartphone And Tablet App showing the very best of Tasmania’s tourism offerings to potential travellers.

The free downloadable e-magazine style app features compelling information and beautiful imagery of each of the award winners from the luxurious accommodation at Saffire Freycinet and the family friendly Big 4 St Helens Holiday Park, to the delicious Taste Festival and thrilling Bruny Island Cruises.

The App also features website links, YouTube footage and location maps.

Profiling our very our finest tourism experiences the App allows easy reference when researching a visit to Tasmania, or travelling around seeking out the winners.
Luke Martin, CEO of the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania said “On an iPad, tablet computer or smartphone, the App looks simply gorgeous and is very easy to follow. Visitors to Tasmania can download the App when they are travelling to check out all of the award winners around the State.”

This year’s Tasmanian Tourism Awards received more entrants than ever before including a number of new products and first-time entrants.

Screenshot Array from the App

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Nov
11
2012

Australian Wooden Boat Festival

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Sullivan's Cove waterfront docks are set to come to life in February with the Australian Wooden Boat Festival!

A huge collection of wooden boats – numbering over 500 – fill the docks in a lively weekend of food, music and water activities.

This four day festival allows festival goers to learn essential nautical skills, how to build a boat and also enjoy the fine entertainment on display – it's a fun event for the whole family!

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is a 'celebration of Australia's rich maritime culture, heritage and craftsmanship' attracting local and international visitors to view the boats on display at the Hobart docks on the Derwent river.

You don't have to worry about finding money for tickets, with entry to the festival absolutely free.

The festival takes place from February 8 to 11, and is recognised as the 'most significant event of its kind in Australia'.

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival begun in 1994, with Cathy Hawkins, Ian Johnston and Andy Gamlin and the Tasmanian state government helping to bring the event to life.

Last year's festival was the 'biggest and best yet' holding the theme of "Celebrating our Maritime Culture' and showcasing international villages from Japan and Indonesia.

Over six hundred boats were showcased in the 2011 festival, including tall ships Enterprize, James Craig, Windeward Bound And Young Endeavour – Gretel 11, the famous seventies America's Cup Challenger was also present too!

Ensure you follow them on facebook.

Hobart Waterfront transforms at the time of the show

Wooden Speedboat of an earlier era

Dining on board a vessel - image credit: Tomislav Nikolic

Superb wooden lighter style craft

Just a few boats moored and on show

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Nov
10
2012

‘Wreck & Ruin’ comes to Tasmania

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One of Australia's finest country duos Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, will be bringing their tour to Tasmania for three dates this November.

The ARIA award winners will be touring their second album released in October, Wreck & Ruin, featuring single Adam and Eve.

The duo will begin their Tasmanian shows at Hobart's Wrest Point Entertainment centre on November 23, followed by two shows on November 24 and 25 at the Country Club Show Room in Launceston.

Their debut album Rattlin' Bones was released in 2008, taking the number one spot on the ARIA albums chart in its first week.

Chambers and Nicholson have won a number of awards including an ARIA for Best Country Album in 2008 for Rattlin' Bones, APRA's 2009 Country Work of the Year and were recipients of five awards at the 2009 Country Music Awards of Australia.

The married couple spoke to Kate O'Toole of ABC Darwin about the blend of music that they created with their latest album.

"We kind of wanted to make an album together that was sort of like a band with two singers," Kasey told Kate O'Toole.

"We didn't really have anything specific though that we wanted to achieve…we wanted it to be fresh and exciting so we got a lot of musos we've never played with before."

Tickets for the shows are available from the TixTas website – so make sure you get in quick to secure your seats!

The duo before their tour

Kasey Chambers & Shane_Nicholson

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Nov
09
2012

2012 Tasmanian Tourism Awards – Winners

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Tourism Operators on Tasmania’s East Coast have swept the 2012 Tasmanian Tourism Awards winning 10 categories, while tourism icons the Port Arthur Historic Site and Pennicott Wilderness Adventures confirmed their status as Tasmania’s leading tourism experiences, with multi-awards across categories, and appearing again in this years awards after previous year’s winning spots.

From a local tourism industry’s ‘night of nights’ at Hobart’s Wrest Point Casino the majority of awards went to nominees from outside the capital, proving that for the visitor to our State, there is a wealth of experiences and choice in regional Tasmania.

Look out for these 2012 award winners during your journey planning, or pick up the Smartphone and Tablet App:

Major Tourist Attractions – Port Arthur Historic Site
Tourist Attractions – Bruny Island Cruises
Major Festivals & Events – The Taste Festival
Festival & Events – Festival of Voices
Ecotourism – Bruny Island Cruises
Heritage & Cultural Tourism – Port Arthur Historic Site
Specialised Tourism Services – Austrips
Visitor Information & Services – TVIN Hobart
Meetings & Business Tourism -The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel
Major Tour & Transport Operators -Spirit of Tasmania
Tour & Transport Operators – The Maria Island Walk
Adventure Tourism – The Maria Island Walk
Tourism Marketing – Pure Tasmania
Tourism Education & Training – Rosny College
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services – Cable Station Restaurant
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries – Puddleduck Vineyard
Tourist & Caravan Parks – BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park
Hosted Accommodation – Sheoaks on Freycinet
Unique Accommodation – Rocky Hills Retreat
Standard Accommodation – Sandpiper Ocean Cottages
Deluxe Accommodation – Avalon Coastal Retreat
Luxury Accommodation – Saffire Freycinet
New Tourism Development – Port Arthur Paranormal Investigation Experience
Sustainable Tourism – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Health and Wellbeing Tourism – Bay of Fires Lodge Walk
Tourism Student of the Year – Emily Bremner
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual – John Hamilton
People’s Choice – Sandpiper Ocean Cottages

Port Arthur Historic Site

The Bruny Island Cruise

The Taste of Tasmania

The Festival of Voices

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Port Arthur Historic Site's Heritage Experience

Australian Trips

TVIN in Hobart

The Old Woolstore

Spirit of Tasmania

Maria Island Walk Adventure

Pure Tasmania's Heritage Railway on the West Coast

Rosny College's Training Program

The Cable Station Restaurant

Puddleduck Winery

Big4 St Helens

Sheoaks Hosted Accommodation at Freycinet

Rocky Hills

Sandpiper Resort on the East Coast

Avalon

Sapphire at Freycinet

Pennicott Wilderness Tours Awarded in Sustainable Tourism

Bay of Fires Walk

Young Tourism Talent Emily Bremner

Veteran Tourism supplier John Hamilton

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Nov
08
2012

Cascade Brewery Tours

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If you're making your way to Tasmania this summer, make sure to visit Australia's oldest brewery, the Cascade Brewery in Hobart.

The historic brewery boasts a variety of world-class beers including Cascade Premium Lager, Cascade First Harvest and Cascade Pale Ale.

In your visit to Hobart you can taste the Cascade Bitter, Cascade Draught and Cascade Lager only available in Tasmania!

The brewery has an interesting history indeed, with English-born Peter Degraves drawing up his designs for the Cascade Brewery in his cell at the Old Hobart Gaol.

World renowned travel guide, Lonely Planet, put the Cascade Brewery tour and visitor centre in its Bluelist, topping the Best Brews section in 2008.

The brewery has two different tours to embark on, the heritage tour and brewery tour, as well as a fantastic food and beer experience.

The heritage tour will have visitors strolling around the surrounding areas of the brewery that include the three acre heritage 'Woodstock' gardens and the Cascade museum.

The tour will share stories about its eventful past and creator, with a beautiful backdrop to capture your memories.

The tour includes tastings and is suitable for families with adults $15, children under 18 $12 and a family ticket for two adults and two children $42.

The brewery tour has been called a 'must-do Hobart experience' where you will get an inside look at the brewing process of Cascade's finest beers.

You'll also get the opportunity to try these brews for yourself, fresh from the taps!

Brewery tour visitors must be over 18, with adults $22, students and seniors $17.

Try a selection of Cascade beers and gourmet foods at the visitor centre restaurant in the Cascade 'Ale & Hearty' beer and food matching experience.

You'll also get a special gift to take home, a beer with your face printed on the label, with the experience $55 per person, with a minimum of six in a group.

Historic Cascade Brewery in South Hobart

Cascade Brewery bar in the Reception/Visitor Centre

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