Prompt, friendly, efficient service. Knowledgeable and professional staff. Competitively priced. Has been in business for ages which is a good indicator of how good these guys are.

I came off the ferry on a cold, wet Devonport morning (is there any other type??) lol. Despite being given a voucher for the buffet breakfast at the Edgewater Hotel, past experience told me to give it a miss. Sure places can improve but didn't feel like buffet anyway. Funny enough there is a small cafe just on the road as you exit the ferry terminal too which also does an unlimited buffet but after a quick look at their offerings decided to stick to my original plan of heading to Laneway. This was based on it's highly positive reviews from Trip Advisor reviewers. Glad they got it right this time.

Now, don't make the same mistake I made first up. Turn into Steele Street, see a cafe at number 38, name very different (some French name), closed, and think ahh bugger it must have closed. Laneway is so named because it is down the Lane next to this building. Well i'm summising that's why it's named that. Note here too, there is no parking down the lane or in the car park. Park on the street, before 9am is free. After that Devonport's greedy council will charge you something like $1.80 an hour for the privilege.

On walking in I was offered a friendly greeting by one of the staff. The immediate impression of the place is positive. Ambience good, beautiful woman sitting at table reading paper (sure she was strategically placed), rustic decor (it is a building added onto an old two-storey bakery), temperature quite pleasant given the weather outside, some Tasmanian produce on sale at the front counter (nothing wrong with beer at 7am is there??) - the little touches that make it so much nicer than those sterile modern cafes with their plastic seating etc that we so oft encounter these days.

Coffee was rapidly offered, equally as rapidly accepted and again on being invited to seat myself where I would like and having selected the table closest to enable me to hug the heater, the coffee was equally as rapidly delivered. Now this is where half a star was lost this particular morning. Whilst very nice coffee, I thought it was made a little too cool in temperature. In all other respects it was a great coffee with a good head, and you can't beat a good head especially first thing in the morning or last thing at night (like you get with Kilkenny Irish Ale ;).

After browsing the menu I selected the popular "big breakfast". Now in all honesty i've had bigger (that's what she said!!;) hehe sorry couldn't resist, but i've not had better (also what she said HAHA). Sourdough toast perfectly cooked (crunchy on outside) and dressed, 2 poached eggs done exactly how I asked for them, some nicely cooked rashers of bacon, the absolutely best sauteed spinach ive ever had, the best hash brown i've ever had (actually has flavour unlike a certain fast food chains ones), a very tasty tomato relish and a half chorizo sausage. Quarter star loss here, a whole one would be good, it was very nice but just a tease at a half. Mind you my waist could probably have done with just the half anyway.

The last quarter of a star was lost because I personally think that they could have a bit more variety in their breakfast menu. Something like a nice hot porridge or bircher muesli for the cold winter months (and though it isn't spring or summer yet so they may have) a nice fruit and yoghurt platter in the warmer weather. Especially with the Tamar Valley so close by. Nevertheless they do have a reasonable selection that most people should be able to select something from. Pricing is pretty good as well, my big breakfast was $18 and normally comes with mushrooms too but I opted out of those.

Final word, glad I ignored all the buffets and made the trip here. Wont eat breakfast anywhere else when im in Devonport now and I recommend you do the same. Have since found out too that it's the favourite among quite a few work colleagues as well. And you must be good if you can satisfy a nurse (i'm sure there's a joke there somewhere ;)

Approximate cost: $15

Hellyers Road Distillery is a whisky distillery situated about 5kms outside of the township of Burnie on Tasmanias north-west coast. Producers of single malt and blended whiskies, vodka and cream liqueurs the distillery is a tourist attraction in it's own right with interpretive tours offered on a daily basis. These tours are relatively cheap and a good way to spend an hour or so and learn more about the history of the area, the distillery and whisky making. However, the distillery also has a cafe/restaurant and it is this I am going to concentrate on.

I have eaten there twice now, probably would have eaten there a lot more often but I would most certainly get fat!! But I do plan another trip in the near future, perhaps on my next days off.

The first thing I like about this place is that it is cosy and comfortable. Not overly large, but the tables and chairs aren't so packed in as to be crowded. I have my own table there already - it must be the lonely, single, middle aged man's table as both times I have been I was seated there and on the second time I just replaced another older man that had been sitting there by himself having a meal. Meh, never mind, I think it's the best table in the place, only for 2 and right in the corner by the window overlooking the lush green pastures and forest in the distance, watching the birds fly by etc etc. So yay for my table I hope to get again when I next visit ;).

Attentive (but unobstrusive) and friendly staff provide a great start to your dining experience. A bottle of water provided when you're first seated and a menu (which can be seen here if you so desire - http://www.hellyersroaddistillery.com.au/menu.html) and then you are left with a little time to ponder your choices. Whilst the menu isn't extensive I still found it difficult to choose as everything sounded so good. So far though I have had the slow cooked lamb and the house special pie. Now, it's very hard to choose a favourite but I would have to say if you're only there once and can't go back then really have to try the pie!! Everything about it was phenomenal, just the best gravy I have tasted and pastry so buttery, and I (embarrassingly) found myself licking out the inside of the ramekin and the pastry crumbs off the plate. Of course it's not the first time i've been caught licking something out in public........ (oh come on people, get your mind out of the gutter - it was just an awful incident with a cup of gelati in Melbourne which I wont go into ;) lol!!

Every day they have house made biscuits of the day and the first time I went they were white chocolate macadamia. Fell in love with these and was hoping they would have them next time I went. Unfortunately the second time was jam drops so I didn't have these. Will be looking forward to seeing what they have next time though. Both times I went I also had their house made whisky liqueur ice cream which comes in three flavours - original, hazelnut and coffee. Definitely recommend the original. Super creamy and comes with a piece of almond biscotti. Finally, every good meal must finish with good coffee and their lattes are worth going there for alone. Even better, served with a piece of house made whisky fudge which I really think they should sell retail!!!

Probably one of the biggest surprises about a visit to Hellyers Road (other than the amazing food) is the bill at the end. A main, dessert, biscuits of the day and coffee only cost me $29. Thought they had left something off but nope, double checked and it was right.

If you're in Burnie make the effort to detour to Hellyers Road, well worth it for a great dining experience.

Like the cruise on the Gordon River this is the second time I have done this journey. And i'm glad I decided to repeat the experience. A bit older, a bit wiser, different priorities in life and a greater appreciation of the environment, Australian history and it's significance made for a much more enjoyable and educational trip. And I did it by myself this time so wasn't held back from enjoying all the trip has to offer.

The first thing that you will probably think when you look into this further and go to book is that it appears rather pricey. That was my first thought too, especially as I was purchasing an upgrade to premier class. But really, the experience made the $210 worthwhile (so much so I would probably even do the trip in the same carriage again).

We departed Queenstown at 1100 am and started out journey to Strahan. An old 1934 steam locomotive pulling carriages made from Huon pine and expertly restored. Not to their original specifications of course given that there are a whole different range of rules for safety and everything these days and differing expecations of comfort but all in all the carriage was presented very well. It made me want to be back in time, to simpler days without mobile phones and all where the journey was more relaxed and strangers talked and the general ambience was so much nicer than the rail of today and those travelling with partners kept each other warm (this carriage was kept warm by the authentic and traditional late 1990s/early 2000s reverse cycle airconditioner lol) but blankets are also available.

I'm pretty sure I would have put on about 2 kgs by the time we finished but the food and drink that was provided in premier class was outstanding. From the time of arrival we were given the option of a glass of champagne or juice and plenty of offers of top ups were made along the journey or you had the option of soft drink, tea, coffee, juice, merlot, pinot nois, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, cider etc etc. All largely local, the wines all from Tamar Ridge, and absolutely stunning. Then there was the food. No sooner than we pulled away from Queenstown Station were we offered some very tasty chicken and camembert pies. Amazing. And plentiful. Would you like another sir was answered by a very enthusiastic yes. A variety of different flavours of chocolate brownies from Brownie Point at Launceston to try, I recommend the rocky road. The only downfall to these is they are so good but a bit hard to come by elsewhere in Tas. A platter of Tasmanian cheeses from Ashgrove Cheese at Elizabeth Town. The chilli cheddar is superb. And it just kept coming. My one negative about the food however is the lunch. Everyone on board, tourist and premier class, gets a "fettlers" lunch, a boxed lunch consisting of soup of the day (think today was spicy pumpkin and undoubtedly the nicest I have had), a small spinach and ricotta triangle, a crisp Tasmanian apple, some Anvers chocolate truffles (in Tassie you HAVE to go to Anvers even if just for take away coffee - I mean seriously, $4.20 for a proper cafe coffee with a truffle and piece of Anvers fudge, unbeatable)...... but I digress, this was all very nice. The let down was the very basic and average ham and cheese roll. A white roll with one slice of ham and one slice of cheese on it. Now again, in premier class you get provided with so much other food and drink that it probably doesn't matter too much about this (unless you choose not to indulge or cannot for dietary reasons in the other stuff). For those that choose the basic option though this is the only meal that is provided so I think for their $129 something a bit better could be served. Maybe some chicken and salad or some nice King Island beef. And maybe some beautiful Tamar Valley yoghurt as an after. I'm sure that some deal could be done with producers to showcase these high quality, world class foods for a reduced supply cost. But at the end of the day I was well fed and enjoyed everything.

The journey itself is thoroughly enjoyable from the scenery as you travel through the mountains and out onto the plateau looking through narrow gorges and along raging rivers. Several stops are made where you get out and go for short walks or do gold panning. Only other disappointment on this occassion was that unlike my last trip we didn't stop and do honey tasting and hear about Tasmanias honey industry, which I personally found really enjoyable when we did do it (chocolate honey!!! - combines 2 of my favourite things). It just adds another dimension to the experience (and provides another revenue stream as they offered the honeys for sale after the tastings). Apparently its a seasonal activity though so missed out this time around.

All in all this was a brilliant experience and one that I could easily do a third time round. It's a must do if you come to this part of Tasmania but I do recommend that to make the most of it you pay that bit extra and go for the premium experience, it's well worth it.

Finally, a couple of things to note though, there are no toilet facilities on board but plenty of stops are provided for this. Just ensure that kids go at these opportunities because it can be up to 45 minutes between stops. Also, if you have any special dietary requirements they are more than happy to provide for you, just make sure you let them know as much time in advance as possible. And take wet weather gear, this region has 300 days of rain a year on average and chances are you may get wet on the walks.

Approximate cost: $129 basic, $210 premier

Okay so the rooms may resemble something left over from the 70's but the prices are a lot closer to 70's prices too i'm sure. $70 a night for a double including free wifi and breakfast!! I was charged $60 for the night though because the room I stayed in someone had cooked in (against the rules) and the owner believed it to have a smell. I couldn't notice it!! But she even let me check the room out before I gave an answer!!

The rooms are basic but comfortable. Good bed with ample bedding plus electric blankets (very well received on this night). Small TV with inbuilt DVD player. Some available for borrowing (at no charge) at reception but pretty average films!! Breakfast (supplied) again is basic with juice, tea or coffee, cereal and toast but given the price (included in cost of room remember) not bad. Wifi is not blistering speeds but I was able to upload some photos more than easily, speedtest.net showed it had a 3.76MB download speed so low range ADSL2.

Ate in the restaurant as well on my stay. Sure the decor could do with some refurbishment but solely on the food, just like a home cooked meal (and i'm a pretty good cook if I must say so myself lol). Well priced and I definitely did not walk away hungry.

Why spend the extra money on one of the dearer and more upmarket establishments in town when this place is definitely more than ample?!

Approximate cost: $70/night

Went here one night after reading some reviews on Trip Advisor. They were mixed reviews, some of them quite scathing so I decided to find out for myself.

The Bark Mill is a tavern and bakery and museum rolled into one. I ate at the tavern one evening. Certainly a busy place. Good, means it has a good reputation. My advice here though would be if you are a larger group and plan on dining there maybe make a booking!!

5 stars for ambience. I love fireside dining and there are 2 fireplaces in this place, one upstairs and one downstairs. Very much appreciated on this cold spring night!! Place was packed but not really that noisy I thought. Could have comfortably held a conversation had I not been alone.

The menu here is varied, certainly should be something for everyone though I found it a bit difficult to choose from what they had on offer...... it all sounded so good. What's more is that they also had numerous selections on the specials board which made it even harder. Settled on the rib eye steak (regular menu)...... wise move!! Enjoyed every single mouthful of it!! Perfectly cooked too which is something a couple of speacialty steak houses I have been to lately haven't managed to do. Have one small complaint here and that is I thought it could have come with a few more vegetables. Pepper sauce that came with it was awesome. No room for dessert (so perhaps didn't need those extra vegetables ;).

Bakery attached also not bad. Went there for breakfast next morning. Coffee great but could have been hotter. Also could sell Tasmanian yoghurt (Tamar Valley) rather than the Ski or Yoplait they had available. A big disappointment when small businesses don't showcase their regional produce!!

On the whole if you're looking for a GREAT place to eat in Swansea don't look anywhere else.

Approximate cost: $28 average

OK I seriously think this has to be one of the best places to eat in Hobart. I only came across it by chance, it was around the corner from the hotel I stayed at (Mercure Hobart in Bathurst Street). Quite a small place just across the road from the Shamrock Hotel (another good place to eat btw).

If you go there (and I strongly recommend you do) you HAVE to start your meal with the mixed entree!!!!! Not negotiable seriously!! Next time I go there, and I will return, I think I will have that as a main. $10.50 for a tasting plate of 4 of their entrees. Each and every one of them was better than I have had at any other Indian restaurant. Especially the pakoras!! You have to try them.

The prices at the Tandoor and Curry House are more than reasonable and they have large and small serves of their mains so if you cant decide you can get a couple of different ones and it ends up being very well priced. And the small serves aren't that small. I struggled and didn't finish everything!!

Personally I would recommend (apart from the entree..... just do it) that you try the lamb and spinach curry dish!! And do it hot, the way it's meant to be. The lamb was so tender and the curry so flavoursome. The same could be said of the chicken tikka masala, except that I personally found it a bit "sweet".

Service wise I could not find fault. Seated within a minute of me walking in. Friendly and helpful staff. Pleasant surrounds, just sort of "cosy."

Approximate cost: $16

Have been getting coffee here regularly for the last few months and great coffee it is. Particularly as a) it is very cheap at $4.20 for a large and b) it comes with a free truffle and piece of fudge, made fresh on premises. Sure it's a ploy to get you to buy it but hey it works. And regardless even if it doesn't you get it each and every time you buy a hot drink!!

Aside from the coffee Anvers fudge is to die for. They have a "cellar door" there where you can buy their products, and it is substantially cheaper than buying it at some of the retail places you can find it. They also have a selection of their fudge and truffles, as well as their courveture chocolate available for free tasting. Very high quality and "moreish".

For the first time the other day I had breakfast at the cafe there. It took me about 20 minutes to decide on what to have and the selection isnt really overly large. Problem is it all just sounded too good. I had the specialty "Stollen" - four slices of belgian fruit loaf with a good splodge of almond paste through it and served with farm fresh butter, chocolate praline spread and fresh fruit. I like to try different things when I return to an eatery buy sometimes you just love something so much that you reorder that time and time again and I think this will be the case here. Oh and the coffee came in the most adorable mug, but no free fudge or truffles when you dine in :(

I stayed here for just one night while on a weekend off down the east coast. Upon arriving (I didn't have a booking) I was told that I could have the room for the same price as the current deal on wotif.com. This was $99 a night for a pool view room. What I couldn't have was the continental breakfast that was also included for the same price in the wotif deal. Couldn't quite understand that and I should have just jumped on my phone and booked through wotif while standing at the counter but couldn't be bothered.

That negative aside it's probably my only one. Nice modern room. Comfortable king sized bed. Glorius shower/bathroom. Best nights sleep in a while. Actually, another negative is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of noise abatement in the rooms so I could hear noise from adjoining rooms. Good thing im a heavy sleeper.

The stand out in this facility is the pub attached to the motel. WOW is all I can say. Absolutely the BEST seafood platter I have ever had and even though I was beyond stuffed after forcing myself to eat it all I also had the tiramisu trifle for dessert. If I could only eat the same thing for the rest of my life it would be the two meals I had here. You really have to try the scallops thermidor that are done as part of the platter. TDF!!!! And the trifle.

All in all I wouldn't stay anywhere else the next time
I was in Bicheno.

Approximate cost: $150 room + dinner for 1 person