Posts Tagged ‘AFL’

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston promote themselves as the city’s premier 4.5 star hotel.  My mission (one I did choose to accept) was to put that theory to the test the night before my Bay of Fires Walk with Life’s an Adventure.  And I’m happy to report the accommodation was pretty special.  The service and the meals were first class, and I would definitely choose to stay there again.

Make a grand entrance: stay at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston!

Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston: A Grand Entrance

I arrived in the evening, and as I entered the lobby, I was suitably impressed.  You expect a certain decor in the foyer of an upmarket establishment, and over the years I’ve done my share of corporate trips.  The Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston would not be out of place in Melbourne or Adelaide.

The reception and lobby/foyer area of the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston

Avenue Restaurant & Lobby Bar

The in-house Avenue Restaurant and Lobby Bar were both busy with customers.  Several couples and one larger group were dining in the restaurant, and appeared to be tourists.  The bar looked to be the place for business executives relaxing at the end of their day!

The Avenue Restaurant at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston

Broadband Internet for the Corporate Traveller

With a little work still to be finished for the day, I went to my room and set up my laptop.  The room itself was comfortable, clean and quiet – the three most important things to me when I’m travelling alone.  I like to have a dedicated desk so I don’t have to juggle the newspaper and my dinner around my computer.

My deluxe room at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston, with desk and lounge

Room Service… and then a Smile!

For dinner, I ordered room service from the Avenue Restaurant.  The menu was predominantly Tasmanian food and wine, and I chose roasted Cressy lamb rump, which came with a sweet and sour Sicilian dressing; slow cooked carrots, green peas, and a Romesco sauce.  Now I’m not claiming to be a food critic, but I know a good meal when I eat it… and this was good!!  The glass of wine from the Freycinet wasn’t bad either.

Room service from the Avenue Restaurant: Cressy Lamb

Travel to Launceston for Work and Play

While I was at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston only briefly, I can understand why tourists would use this property as a base for their holiday.  It’s centrally located;  many of the popular attractions of the northern capital of Tasmania are within walking distance.  The Brisbane Street Mall (the main shopping precinct), the CBD and Launceston City Park are all on the doorstep; and you can see Aurora Stadium (the home of AFL in Tasmania) from the window.

Aurora Stadium, home of AFL in Tasmania, from the window of the Grand Chancellor

Why Stay at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston?

Nearby Things to Do in Launceston include…

• Tamar River Cruise
• Cataract Gorge Reserve Basin Chairlift
• Old Launceston Seaport Marina
• Tasmanian Design Centre
• J Boag & Son Brewery and Museum
• Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Phenomena Factory & Planetarium)
• Elegant Victorian streets & Georgian architectural buildings
• Antique shops and specialty boutiques

Driving a little further afield…

• Award-winning vineyards in the beautiful Tamar Valley Region
• Nearby historic villages of Evandale & Longford
• Seaside township of Bridport
• Hollybank Treetops Adventure in the Tasmanian forest

The writer was a guest of the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston
For more information visit their website or phone (03) 6334 3434

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Map: Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston…

Eastlands.  What is that exactly?

Eastlands is the largest shopping centre in Tasmania.  And because I’m always banging on about markets in Tassie and how fabulous they are, I thought it was about time I mentioned some good things about another form of retail therapy.

Retail therapy at Eastlands Shopping Centre

Eastlands, Rosny Park – Location

Eastlands is east of Hobart (go figure!) in the suburb of Rosny Park.  Located in Bligh Street, the shopping centre is about 4kms from the Hobart CBD.

There is a Metro bus interchange on the doorstep, so shoppers can use public transport.  I always take my car, though.  Unlike shopping centres in Melbourne, I’ve yet to encounter a problem finding a car park.

Eastlands Shopping Centre: Rosny Park, Tasmania

For short-term parking by the supermarkets, you can enter from Bligh Street near the bus mall, opposite the Village Cinema and Entertainment Complex.  If it’s raining, there’s plenty of undercover parking in the multi-level car park on the western side near Rosny Farm.  Failing that, you can park near the entrance to Big W on the roof top and make a run for it!  The main entrance opposite the Bellerive marina (Kangaroo Bay) has the remainder of the parking spaces (a total of about 1,450).

KMart and Wendys: inside Kangaroo Bay entrance to Eastlands

Shopping Centre – Trading Hours

Eastlands is open seven days, with Coles and Woolworths open from 7am to 10pm every day.  Smaller stores seem to set their own hours, but most are open at least until 4pm each day.

The larger national chain outlets (like KMart and Big W) are open until 9pm weekdays.  For exact hours, check the shopping centre trading hours on the Eastlands website.  They also have a great store finder page.

Eastlands: national chains have stores at Rosny Park

Markets v Eastlands Shopping Centre

There’s no denying it: scouring a market is high on the list of fun Tasmanian things to do.  But sometimes you need mass produced goods!  Please don’t take that the wrong way – when it comes to buying jocks and socks, you don’t think market, do you?  And the true AFL supporter wants the official gear, not something from the “Knitted by Nana” stall (no matter how cute!).

Eastlands stock gear for the keen AFL supporters in Tasmania

When it comes to food though, I’m inclined to lean towards the market scene.  We all need staples from the supermarket, but there’s such an amazing range of Tasmanian products to eat and drink, why would you choose the shopping centre variety?  Maybe when it’s raining; and you’re at Eastlands to stock up on underwear; and you get a little peckish…  At least there’s options!

Supermarkets & specialty food retailers at Eastlands

If you’ve shopped so hard you find yourself in need
of a massage, Kings Healthcare at Eastlands can help you.
But be warned – just because the masseuse is a tiny Chinese woman,
don’t expect a gentle, relaxing little rub.
She’s much tougher than she looks!

Map: Eastlands, Rosny Park Tasmania…

Burnie Tasmania has been transformed.  Well… apparently.  This being our first visit to the northern Tasmanian city, we can’t comment on its reputedly tainted past.

These days, it definitely makes a positive  impact.  The industrial port zone somehow adds character to the region.  And cruise ships bring their passengers here during the summer, so they obviously approve.

Burnie Tasmania: industrial port & visiting cruise ships combine!

Burnie Tasmania: History & Factory Shame

There’s no attempt to ignore the history of the town.  At one of the lookouts over the port, there’s even a memorial stone declaring that Burnie in Tasmania was once Australia’s most polluted city.  The words obnoxious odour, polluted air, noxious smell, factory, stained the sea red… aren’t exactly what you’d expect from tourism promotion.  But the city is intensely proud of the gigantic improvements made since those nasty days in the 1960′s.

Reminders of Burnie's notoriously polluted past

Other lookouts paint a rosier picture.  Rising from the surrounding bushy hinterland, versions like the Roundhill Lookout offer views over the city and Emu Bay.  On a sunny day, Bass Strait sparkles bright blue along the coast with Ulverstone to the east and Table Cape to the west.

Roundhill Lookout: views over Burnie Tasmania

Burnie Tasmania Workshop Makeover

The recent resurgence of Burnie Tasmania includes several new visitor attractions.  The Makers Workshop is located in a very impressive building that was opened in November 2009.

Combining history and innovation, the tourist information centre promotes the makers and artists of the area.  We’ll go into more detail about the Burnie Makers Workshop in a separate article.

The recently opened Makers Workshop in Burnie Tasmania

The Burnie Little Penguin Observation Centre and Habitat** goes some way towards proving the new environmental stance of the city.  The adorable creatures could choose to live elsewhere.  But they have taken up residence on the rocky foreshore practically on the doorstep of the town’s CBD.  We have more photos of the penguin habitat, and we’ll share them one day too!

(20/04/11: we’ve written that article now, click link above**)

Observation: Little Penguins in Burnie Tasmania

North West Coast Sporting Hub

Adjacent to the Makers Workshop and the Penguin Observation Centre, is the West Park Oval.  The park is home to the Burnie Dockers team in the Tasmanian State League (Australian Rules football).  It’s also a venue for cycling, cricket and athletics.  The Point’s indoor complex opened last year and has a function room, offices and corporate seating with magnificent views of both the sporting field and the sea.

The Point West Park: home of the Burnie Dockers

We mentioned another sporting triumph, the Burnie Tennis Club, in a previous article about the North West Coast.  Following an upgrade to the centre court lighting and scoreboard, and resurfacing of all 16 courts, the facilities are now of international standard.  The refurbishment and extensions to the club house are nothing short of brilliant.

The Burnie Tennis Club

And while elite level athletes are well catered for, leisurely recreation and families have not been forgotten.  Views from The Point function centre extend over the Burnie Park.  Landscaping combines bright flower gardens with established trees and a large expanse of lawn.  The park is not far from the city centre, and features playground equipment and free barbecues.

North West Coast Tasmania: Burnie Park

The Factory Taste of Burnie Tasmania

To taste refreshments of a different sort, you can head to Hellyers Road Distillery for some whisky tasting.  Not in Hellyers Road as you might expect from the name, but in Old Surrey Road, Burnie.  Open seven days (excluding public holidays) from 10:00 until 4:30, there’s a cafe and gift shop on site.  You can book tours of the distillery which include tastings of the whisky.

Burnie Tasmania: Hellyers Road Distillery

Likewise, you can visit the Tasmanian Cheese Tasting Centre, also in Old Surrey Road.  Using the premium milk produced in the north west of Tasmania, the factory churns out a range of products.  In addition to the free samples, the factory outlet sells odd-shaped seconds (and perfectly ripe, top-quality!) cheese to the public.

Tasmanian Cheese Tasting Centre in Burnie

Improvements to the town’s facilities benefit both tourists on holiday and locals.  Burnie has recently unveiled a brand new walking and cycling track along the beautiful coastline.  Connecting the boardwalk near the penguins, pedestrians now have a safe and flat link from Emu River to Cooee.

Boardwalk along the beautiful beach in Burnie

The walkway was actually very convenient for us.  During our visit, we stayed in cabin accommodation on the beach at Cooee.  Apart from the freezing temperature of the supposedly heated pool, we didn’t have any complaints.  The cabins were neat, tidy and the place was pretty quiet;  except for some crowing roosters in the mornings.

Seems like everyone is crowing about the new and improved version of Burnie Tasmania!

Cabin accommodation in Burnie Tasmania

For more information, visit the Discover Burnie Tasmania website.

Map of Burnie Tasmania…

Family Friendly Travel to Launceston

We travel to Launceston to research articles for the website. We’re very lucky at Think Tasmania.  It can hardly even be classed as work.  Although if you’re the Tax Man and you’re reading this, then it’s definitely all work!!

Travel to Launceston & play golf at the Country Club

Country Club Villas & Golf Course

During our latest visit, we chose to stay at the Country Club Villas.

A sister property to the casino & golf course resort version of the Country Club, Villas offer self-contained and family friendly accommodation.  There’s even a secluded playground with grass and shady lawns for the smaller ones.

Playground at the Country Club Villas, Launceston

There’s plenty of room for older kids to run and ride and play between the stand-alone cottages.  The local traffic is slowed with speed humps, and the large windows offer a good view to the outdoors from the villas.

Room for the kids to play at the Country Club Villas

Travel to Launceston for Tennis

You can see the friendly reception staff to book the tennis court for a set or two, if you’re looking to work up an appetite before dining at Bolters (the Country Club Villas’ Pizzeria and Bistro).  The bistro is reason enough to travel to Launceston – the serves are generous and main courses cost about $20-00.  There’s also an Italian restaurant on site.

Travel to Launceston for Italian at the Country Club Villas

But with each villa having cooking facilities, there’s also an opportunity to prepare your own meals and enjoy the lovely gardens.

Outdoor seating is provided at each cottage – a great arrangement when staying with groups.  There are also conference facilities in the grounds, so everyone can meet for a function while still having their own space near the picturesque golf course.

The gardens at the Country Club Villas, with outdoor seating

Country Club Villas Gym & Pool

And finally, if you do travel to Launceston and stay at the Country Club Villas, you can run a few K’s on the treadmill in the gym.  Maybe you’ll be inspired after an AFL match at Aurora Stadium or a tournament at the Launceston Indoor Sports Arena?

Travel to Launceston for work and you can still work out!

Or you could do what I did, and skip the running and go straight to swimming a few laps in the heated pool.  Okay, so lazing in the hot spa is actually more honest!!  The choice is yours…

The pool and spa at the Country Club Villas - a real feature

Map: Travel to Launceston Tasmania…

Arriving in Devonport Tasmania

Devonport, a coastal shipping port in Tasmania’s north, offers up a surprise or two.

Spirit of Tasmania arriving in Devonport

Devonport and the Spirit of Tasmania

My first encounter was very fleeting:  arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania in the wee small hours of the morning before exiting via the main highway towards Launceston, about an hour’s drive away.  The town was still in darkness and the inside of the quarantine shed was about the extent of any sightseeing.

In my defence, there was  a pressing engagement at a house sit  at Geeveston in the Huon Valley, (so the other end of the island) and time was limited.  But since then, I’ve started to make amends… Vehicle and passenger ferries named Spirit of Tasmania cross Bass Strait daily, sometimes even twice, between Melbourne on the mainland and Devonport in Tasmania.  It is a leisurely alternative to flying and a convenient way to bring your own wheels and lots of extra luggage.

The authorities have made the most of their town’s attraction with perfectly placed viewing and photography platforms on the Mersey River.  While taking photos of the Spirit docking, I couldn’t help but be amused by the passengers all waving madly – obviously they were happy to arrive.  Hopefully this was a sign they were keen to start their holidays, and not that the seas had been too rough and they were glad to arrive one piece!!

Melbourne to Devonport

Latrobe and the House of Anvers

About 10 minutes from Devonport along the Bass Highway is the small township of Latrobe, home to the House of Anvers.  Housed in a Californian bungalow with lovely garden surrounds, the boutique Belgian chocolate factory has an adjoining cafe.  My visit happened to coincide with Mothers Day, and the place was packed.  Next time (well, any decent chocoholic would return for a follow up taste test), I will make it a week-day so the factory is operational.  The static displays are fascinating, and I can definitely recommend the product.  Yes I did taste, but all in the name of research, of course!

House of Anvers near Devonport (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Devonport and Mersey Bluff

The extensive recreational precinct at Mersey Bluff includes a large tennis complex offering great facilities; and there seemed to be hundreds of children involved in soccer and football on the adjacent fields.  The whole area gave the impression of a council with excellent planning and community pride – there was just a really nice vibe about the whole town.  For anyone interested in lighthouses, there is a very impressive version at the top of the cliff facing Bass Strait.

Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, Devonport

Penguin Tasmania

Exploring some of the surrounding townships from this home base is easy.  The coastal drive between Devonport and Penguin is brilliant:  it is Tasmania: what would you expect?  And the family-oriented attractions partway at Ulverstone foreshore included pedal cars, a wicked playground and a water slide.  Keep the kids happy on the drive, always a good thing!

Penguin Tasmania, North West Coast (Photo by Dan Fellow)

The Penguin community gardening project on the foreshore is quite inspiring.  And if you feel the need for an inflated monument, there is a big penguin – apparently one of the most photographed statues in the state… so I add to that statistic with my snap.

Yep, The Big Penguin in Tasmania

Penguin Tasmania is the home of former Melbourne Demons AFL legend, Russell Robertson.  Thanks to Kylie Makin for this photo of Robbo, with her son Lachie.

Robbo!! Photo by Kylie Makin

Nothing else puts a town on the map like a superstar, although… the local colony of furry namesakes might have something to say about that?

What else is there to know about Devonport?

• you can view penguins in the wild, free of charge, nearby
  (another Tasmanian wildlife encounter)
• there’s the Imaginarium Science Centre
• the Penguin market is very highly regarded
• Devonport was the marital home of Joseph Lyons and his wife
  Dame Enid Lyons
• and the Australian Weaving Mills Factory Outlet

But then who needs more incentive to visit Devonport?
Did I mention delectable chocolates…?

Selection of Anvers Chocolates (photo by Dan Fellow)

Devonport Cabin Accommodation

A day-trip may not be sufficient to uncover all the delights, edible or otherwise, of the area.  Think Tasmania paid for a cabin in East Devonport, which turned out to be exceptional value, very clean and had all the essentials for anyone travelling with a family.

Map: Devonport Tasmania…