Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day Two: Ashgrove Farm Cheese, House of Anvers Chocolate Factory, Sheffield, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain Chateau

Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day Two: Ashgrove Farm Cheese, House of Anvers Chocolate Factory, Sheffield, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain Chateau

The first day is all about Launceston and I can’t wait for the second day! The second day starts with a trip for cheese tasting. From Launceston, we drove East to Elizabeth Town to Ashgrove Farm Cheese.

The cheese tasting is at Ashgrove Farm Cheese. It was a brisk drive from Launceston to Elizabeth Town. Along the way to Elizabeth Town, you will be treated with the beautiful views of the farms. When you have farms, you will the cattle and cows and it is hard to resist yourself to pull over and take some pictures of them.

Ashgrove Farm Cheese

Superb traditional English country cheeses, such as Cheddar and Lancashire, are produced by a family that lives close to the land, at the Ashgrove property, near Deloraine. Cheesemaker Jane Bennett honed her skills in England before putting them to good use in the family business. Despite adhering to traditional techniques, she has not been afraid to push the boundaries, producing niche products such as wasabi cheese and lavender cheese.

The cheese-tasting area is set in green pastures that sustain the 700-strong herd. The wasabi cheese is a getter. For your info, wasabi is home grown product of Tasmania. Tasmania is one of the few places in the world that farm wasabi roots for consumptions.   Read more at Ashgrove Cheese Farm Elizabeth Town Tasmania

Ashgrove Farm Cheese Address:

6173 Bass Highway, Elizabeth Town, Tasmania 7304

Phone: 6368 1105

Email: [email protected]

After having our cheesy encounter in Ashgrove, we travelled to Latrobe for another famous Australian product, chocolate! We drove north for House of Anvers Chocolate Factory to taste Tasmania’s finest Belgian chocolates!

House of Anvers Chocolate Factory

Acclaimed chocolate-maker, Igor van Gerwen, claims to make the finest chocolate in Australia so the House of Chocolate is a feast for the senses. This is serious chocolate territory, with a tasting centre, the chance to watch chocolates being made and a museum that highlights why chocolate has always been so popular.

The café offers French-style breakfasts, light Tasmanian lunches, and morning and afternoon tea. The chocolate truffles is a must buy product!   Read more at House of Anvers Chocolate.

House of Anvers Chocolate Factory Address:

9025 Bass Highway, Latrobe, Tasmania 7307

Phone: 6426 2703

Email: [email protected]

When you look at the maps, you will find driving in Tasmania is such a fun. We drove South East for a little town of Sheffield. There, they have a little surprise for you!

Sheffield

The town is nestled under Mt Roland, in Tasmania’s north-west, and is known for a series of colourful murals telling the story of the district’s pioneers and wilderness explorers. Many of the murals, painted by professional artists, are on the town’s heritage buildings.

I have never seen something like this. The most similar place I can relate to is La Boca in Buenos Aires. Other than that, I never seen a town painted with beautiful murals. There is also a Hong Kong celebrity who came down and created his own mural in Sheffield. He is no other than the versatile singer actor Eason Chan from Hong Kong. He painted a mural on his own at Sheffield a few years ago. Read more at Eason Chan and Town of Murals, Sheffield Tasmania

From Sheffield, we battled the wet weather and drove Southeast to the most popular area in Tasmania, the Cradle Mountain National Park!

Cradle Mountain Lodge

On the edge of one of the world’s last temperate wilderness areas, Cradle Mountain Lodge provides indulgent experiences surrounded by nature that includes unusual wildlife and forests linked to Gondwana. It features the Waldheim Alpine Spa, providing relaxing treatments in four therapy rooms complete with dramatic river and valley views; guided tours; a restaurant serving fine Tasmanian food and wine; bistro; bars; general store and accommodation that includes spa cabins and suites with hot tubs.

It was not the best day. Rain was getting heavier but I find comfort at Cradle Mountain Lodge. Be impressed with the interior of the restaurant as well as the food too. Read more about our lunch at Lunch at Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Cradle Mountain Lodge Address:

Cradle Mountain National Park, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania 7306

Phone: 6492 2103

Email: [email protected]

Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park

While dramatic Cradle Mountain (1545 m), named by explorer Joseph Fossey in 1827, is the well-known feature of this National Park, it has many wild faces that are breathtaking in their beauty.

Stands of native deciduous beech are a rich orange in autumn, rainforests and alpine heathlands have links to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, icy streams cascade down mountainsides, glacial lakes abound, and at the southern end of the park is Australia’s deepest freshwater lake, Lake St Clair. Like I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t the best day at all. The rain didn’t help as the thick clouds blocked the view of the Cradle Mountain. On a fine day, you can view the peaks perfectly. There are a few walks available there so you can take hours venturing the area. Bring towels and drinking water if you are planning to venture to other areas of Cradle Mountain. Read more at Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Clair National Park of Tasmania

Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park Address:

C132, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania 7306

We also ventured to one of the short walks around the area, this beautiful picture was taken there, read more at The Enchanted Walk at Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

Cradle Mountain Chateau

Situated just moments from Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness, Cradle Mountain Chateau with all the modern comforts of hotel accommodation: tea and coffee making facilities, heating, electric blankets, television and telephone facilities. Twenty-four hour room service and laundry services are also available. Wander around the pristine glacial waters of nearby Dove Lake or walk the legendary Overland Track.

It was like a night in the wilderness. It was just a wall separates us with the wild and you will be entertained by the natural sounds from the wild.

Cradle Mountain Chateau Address:

Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania 7306

Phone: 6492 1404

Email: [email protected]

The night is still young and we were scheduled for the spotlight wildlife tour.

Spotlight Wildlife Tour

For the spotlight wildlife tour, all us sat on a coach and the driver will slowly stroll around the mountain area and trying to spot the wildlife with a special spotlight. It was like wildlife hunting but without the killings. We were surprised to find more than a dozen wildlife animals during the tour.

This is something everyone should do at night. Nightlife wildlife tour is really fun and entertaining. Finding wild animals at night could never been better! Read more at Night Wildlife Tour with McDermott’s at Cradle Mountain Tasmania

McDermotts Coaches Address and Phone:

35 Legana Park Drive, Legana, Tasmania 7277

Phone: 6394 3535

Email: [email protected]

The second day in Tasmania is an unforgettable adventure. Even though, it was raining heavily for the whole day but I still managed to travel to as many places as I can. Cradle Mountain is a must visit place if you traveling in Tasmania.

Read the Tasmania 2012 7D 6N Travelogue below:

Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day One: Cataract Gorge Reserve, Basin Café, Country Club Tasmania 

Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day Two: Ashgrove Farm Cheese, House of Anvers Chocolate Factory, Sheffield, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain Chateau 

Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day Three: Honey Farm, Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company, Ross, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Wrest Point 

Tasmania 2012 Travelogue Day Four: Salamanca Market, Sorell Fruit Farm, AWU Delicious Food, Mako Seafood at Constitution Dock, Sweet Envy, Lark Distillery and Pier One Restaurant 

Wilson Ng