This post is sponsored by NEW Spirit of Tasmania
When we were asked if we would like to cruise on the NEW Spirit of Tasmania, we were thrilled! We are always up for an adventure and were in need of a good old fashioned girls weekend!
With the NEW Spirit of Tasmania, half the fun is getting there! We got to explore some of what Tasmania has to offer and got some time on the road with beautiful Launceston.
After we arrived in Tasmania we went straight to the beautiful Country Club Tasmania. It is such a beautiful place. We were in awe of the perfectly manicured lawns and palatial suites. It is set amongst 300 acres of parkland, lakes and rolling paddocks and has plenty to do. There’s a Tennis & Squash Courts, Horse riding, Bingo, Golf and even a lake to hand feed Ducks and Swans. We thoroughly enjoyed doing that!
We then dined at their very swanky Terrace Restaurant. It’s actually Launceston’s favourite and Tasmania’s most awarded restaurant! Every girls weekend needs to include some pampering. We both enjoyed a delicious meal. The Ocean Trout and Oysters were to die for!
The next morning we headed to Cataract Gorge to experience the worlds longest single span chair lift.
The drive itself was already so picturesque so we knew we were in for a treat.
When we arrived, we took a walk through the gorgeous grounds and were very excited to see a family of Peacocks (including their babies) just so adorable! There were wild wallabies everywhere and they were quite happy for us to get up close and personal with them.
We took a ride on the famous Chairlift and had an absolute ball. Laughing all the way (as we do). The scenery from up there is simply spectacular.
We took a walk across the suspension bridge too. It’s like a postcard.
Then it was time for our Helicopter ride (*squeals). Another absolute must on a fun girls weekend. Go on a spectacular adventure! The lovely people at Heli Adventures Tasmania were two of the sweetest people we’ve ever met. Johan and Albert were more than accommodating and took us on a scenic tour of Launceston. Gosh it’s a pretty city! The ultimate way to see Tassie is from the sky.
After our exhilarating flight it was off to Leaning Church Vineyard for a spot of lunch (you can never have too much food on a girly weekend!). Nestled in a spectacular natural amphitheatre at the foothills of Mount Arthur, the grounds are simply stunning! We can highly recommend the Pork Belly too! Mmmmmm!
One vineyard is simply not enough for a girls weekend…so we THEN headed to Josef Chromy Wines,which again, was another spectacular place to see.
We had one of the best desserts we both have ever had and even had it hand delivered by Chef Matt Adams. Very exciting for a couple of ‘foodies’. It was ‘Caramelised White Chocolate Mousse with fennel, lime and blackcurrant’. Simply divine!
The next day we drove out to Ashgrove Cheese where we were met by the beautiful Anne – a bone fide family member of the Ashgrove Cheese clan. She took us on a tour of their amazing factory and showed us how they make their award winning milk, cheese, cream and butter… including a trip up to the milking area to meet the beautiful cows themselves. They were so gracious and gorgeous. They were quite flummoxed to see us. We seemed to interrupt their daily schedule and they were most amused. They were like a nosy neighbour peering over their fence to check out the gossip. Sooooo cute!
I just have to mention the original cheese they produce…I had the BEST cheese I have EVER tasted in my entire life! Behold the ‘Ashgrove Wild Wasabi’. A local Wasabi grower and Ashgrove cheese combined forces to make this unbelievable taste sensation! You can buy it online and also at your local ALDI store. I swear if you try it, you’ll never eat another cheese in your life…especially with a glass of bubbles.
Then it was time for lunch. We went to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm where we met the owner – self proclaimed ‘Scary Mary’. She actually wasn’t scary at all – rather the opposite in fact. She was outgoing, rambunctious and completely lovely! We enjoyed a chicken salad with raspberry sauce, a Raspberry Daiquiri and a mouthwatering pancake stack! The food was en point and the company a treat.
We figured we still had room in our tummies for more delicious treats so it was off to House of Anvers. The delightful chocolate factory. We met Todd…the delightful, funny and very ‘sweet’ (see what I did there) tour guide/marketer/avid chocolatier….he’s a jack of all trades really! A completely lovely man who has a wealth of knowledge and obviously loved his job. He gave us a private tour and more treats than we could handle! A definite must if you’re headed to Tassie.
We were inspired by the delicious chocolate at the House of Anvers and the Raspberrries at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm that we decided to put together some delicious ‘Raspberry & Pistachio Chocolate Bark’ Recipe.
Download your free Recipe Printable here.
Louise is a lover of fishing, so it was an absolute must that we visit 41 South Tasmania. We met the very vivacious Ziggy who showed us his farm, fed the Salmon and even let Louise hold one of his prized fish! We felt very honoured. The smoked Salmon (that everyone who visits gets to taste for free) was beyond amazing! If that wasn’t enough, we then were told to take a 2 minute walk to ‘Montana Falls’ which is right on his property. Ziggy is living the dream.
Now it was time to head to and board the NEW Spirit of Tasmania! We were super excited to see what all the hype was about. Here we go!
The vessel underwent a major refurbishment in 2015, and it’s now super modern and completely gorgeous!
Our first reaction when we boarded was simply “Wow”. It’s so sleek and spacious and there are so many things to do. The contemporary decor really sets the tone for an enjoyable trip!
We settled into our new humble abode and began exploring.
First up, we chose to have dinner at the Tasmanian Market Kitchen. The ambiance and atmosphere were very enticing to us. Featuring Tasmanian local produce, the food was fresh, looked amazing and was most of all delicious!
There’s a fantastic Kids Play Area which has a huge indoor playground to keep the little kiddies amused (always very important for travelling families).
There’s also a Game Zone that houses plenty of arcade games to keep the teens (and some fun mums) happy 🙂
To add to that there are not one, but TWO cinemas showing latest release movies on board!
There are three bars on Board too. Bar 7 is sleek and modern with local ciders and wine (that of course we sampled).
The Terrace Bar Lounge features live music, flat screens throughout and features a more casual dining area where you can order delicious pizzas & panini’s (oh and the staff are completely lovely and adorable).
The Top Deck Lounge is perfect for families. Situated right next to the kids play area it has plenty of relaxing deck chairs to unwind and gaze over the Bass Strait as you travel.
If you didn’t want to have a sit down dinner, you could always grab snacks from The Pantry. There is something for everyone.
The NEW Spirit of Tasmania really is a fantastic way to travel. You can ‘drive straight into your next holiday’. It’s perfect for those who like to caravan and take their cars with them. No need for expensive taxi fares or hire car fees. You can’t have a three course meal, enjoy spectacular ocean views and enjoy drinks at a bar on a plane! You can also pack as much luggage as you can fit into your car. It’s a super fun way to get from Tassie to Melbourne and back!
As always, we had an absolute ball on the NEW Spirit of Tasmania and Tasmania in general. It really is a beautiful place with amazing people, delicious food and so many fun things to do…
Yes, I got on stage and sang…that’s what you do on a Fun Girl’s Weekend! Right?!
When it was time for bed, the Bass Strait gently rocked our contented selves to sleep. What a wonderful adventure! We’ll be back soon…this time with our families.
We made a little video of our super fun time in Tasmania and aboard the NEW Spirit of Tasmania. Check it out below.
Ps here is another little tie bit from our trip…I can tell you, Louise and I have never laughed harder in all of our lives! Is it one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments or do you think it’s darn hilarious too?
Tips and tricks for sailing on the NEW Spirit of Tasmania:
- Take an overnight bag with you up to your cabin rather than taking all of your luggage, which can remain in your car.
- Take all medication with you (you can’t access your car once the ship has set sail)
- Remember to check which vehicle deck you parked on.
- Put your handbrake on when you park your car on the vehicle deck
- Pets can also travel in a kennel from $22 each way.
- National park passes and fishing licences (you need a licence to fish in Tasmania) can be purchased on board from our Tourism On Board shop.
- Have a boat load of FUN!
At the moment you can Sail together and save on the NEW Spirit of Tasmania with cabin & car package deals for sailings between 3 April and 31 May 2016. This offer ends 27 February 2016. Head here for more information! Happy Travels Fun Mums!
Jen x
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Looks like you had an amazing time, Tassie is just a beautiful and quiet place to holiday, we loved it when we went there.
Oh it’s so lovely to read about your trip as we visited many of the same places on our recent jaunt. I would have loved to visit 41 degrees and Josef Cromy too – how fab! x
What an amazing part of the world Tasmania is. You make me want to go even more now. Gorgeous photos.
This little trip around Launceston leaves you wanting more. A very interesting story about this little piece of paradise. The new Spirit of Tasmania looks great.
Wow girls, this is amazing, right let me get out my bucket list!!!
Oh you definitely had me laughing too with that turkey video. Hilarious! In fact, I was laughing at much if your other video too. Miss you two crazy cats! Looked like amazing fun. How good does that ship look now?