The name of the place is itself magical. I was very much looking forward to stopping by this place for breakfast on a day trip to Cradle mountain.

The place is easy enough to find being well signed along the main highway out of Launceston.

We arrived there quite early and ordered breakfast. They had the usual eggs bacon toast pancakes etc but most with a slight berry twist like Raspberry chocolate french toast, Raspberry sausages (these were divine!) Hot chocolate with raspberry syrup.

Even the non berry items were really good I had the sweet potato hashbrown waffles with scrambled eggs and curly sweet potato fries. And they were sensational.

The attached shop sold all things raspberry and even had a generous sample plate with chocolate covered raspberries available.

We went home with the mandatory raspberry jam and had to purchase their raspberry brandy once we tried it (smooth and sweet) they also had lip gloss, raspberry dust, raspberry syrup, raspberry wine, raspberry chocolate, lots of other stuff I can't remember ... and of course raspberries!

There was also a decent children't play area outside the cafe and even thought it was a cold morning, we had a hard time prying my 18 month old away from the toys and equipment.

Definitely a must see if you're in the area. If I lived there I'd be getting all my jam there because you can really taste the raspberries in the jam (not just sugar like in supermarket stuff).

Price wise I think they are very reasonable for a tourist stop.

Approximate cost: $15

My Little Boy and I got a 3 week trial and I'm already convinced to sign up for a full term.

The equipment at the gym is varied and well maintained and the staff engage the kids in very fun and educational activities which develop their physical and social skills through games and songs.

My Little Man loved playing with the bubbles and dancing under the parachute. A whole hour for a 18 month old is usually a long time but time flew by.

Unlike some other play groups, the classes at Chattergym allow the kids some free play time to explore and play with the equipment on their own.

From a parent's point of view this was great because I got to talk to some of the other parents and have some social time out of the house with other grownups even though we were surrounded by small people and playground equipment.

The classes were also quite small (contrary to the pictures on the website). I considered this a huge bonus. Our class only had 4 kids which meant the kids got to spread out and have a great time.

The staff were also great and helpful from an administrative point of view.

Overall I really enjoyed taking my boy to this class. And will return there as a paying customer after our trial ends.

They also offer free trial classes on their website so you can try risk free.

The very place for a pleasant dinner after a long day of sightseeing. This restaurant was pretty packed on a Saturday evening even though the streets were quite empty. The ambiance was semi formal without being too stuffy.

Special mention needs to be made of their antipasto appetizer plate which was very generously filled with local cheeses, olives and sliced meats, even when shared between 2 people (and one baby). We all ordered different dishes but 2 mains really stood out. First was the sesame crusted salmon fillet on a bed of wilted green veggies and sweet potato mash. Second was a stuffed mushroom and cheese which really cannot be described properly to do it justice. You just have to try it.

The restaurant also does their own vestal sparkling water, which is served free flow at $6 per table. Which is a bargain compared to getting bottles of San Pellegrino for a table of 4.

There were many patrons there who weren't there for dinner but just at the bar area with friends and this looked quite pleasant and yet the noise did not seem to be an issue to those of us who were dining.

I was also quite impressed that for a classy restaurant, they had quite good baby changing facilities available. This came in useful for us because we didn't have any other choice but to bring our 1 year old with us for dinner that night.

Approximate cost: $30

This is a great place to stop when travelling around the Valley. The location is just off the Melba Highway so definitely not out of the way.

Don't expect to see cows being milked or cheese being made. But if you doubt the authenticity of the working dairy just take a breath of air perfumed by the cows in the paddock next to the carpark. Fortunately this smell does not follow you into the store/cafe.

The Dairy store does have a great selection of the cheeses that are made right there on the farm. Mostly the dairy deals with soft cheeses made from cows or goats milk. Their cheese sampler plate is highly recommended and really should be split between 2 people (even enthusiastic eaters). It comes with 4 cheeses and a plateful of various bread and crackers (tell your dining partner to avoid the olive bread because you're going to want all of it for yourself, so delish)

If you order more than one plate the staff at the dairy try to give you a good mixture of the cheeses they offer so fewer double ups.

The dairy store also sells produce from around the valley like wines and jams. Try the licorice ice cream from the freezer section if you still have room after all that cheese.

Approximate cost: $30

The atmosphere at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is fresh clean and modern. Like what you would expect Willy Wonka's chocolate factory to look like designed by a contemporary architect.

The grounds are gorgeous and well tended. Then you go inside and it's a a chocolate wonderland. The first thing you see are three GIANT bowls of chocolate Dark, Milk and White chocolate buttons. Free flow taste and they don't seem to run out. We were there on a Sunday and it was packed and STILL those bowls of chocolate were kept piled high.

The Cafe serves up all sorts of chocolaty and ice cream treats. We were there as a party of 6 so we ordered a selection, The Ice cream sundae, Waffles, Vanilla Scone with cream and jam, the chocolate brownie and I also ordered a Hot Chocolate (Dark).

Everything was great and the Sundae was HUGE. The prices weren't on the cheap side but pretty much expected for a touristy specialty shop location. We unanimously agreed that the Scones were the best in taste and value, followed by the Sundae then the waffles and brownie (which was a little on the over sweet side... but then again it's a brownie!)

The shop sells the usual chocolate bars, pralines, chocolate freckles etc... but I was very impressed to find a range of chocolate teas! We bought 2 to try but was very impressed at how delicious they were. Flavours in Peppermint Choc and Exotic Choc (the only one we didn't get was the Chai Choc) they are on the pricy side for tea ($10.95-$11.95) but very refreshing and quite yummy.

We grabbed a few handfuls of chocolate buttons on the way out. Feeling very chocolate satisfied and delightfully buzzed from all that sugar.

Approximate cost: $12

Although it is a Teppenyaki restaurant we've mostly come here for their a la carte menu, especially their bento boxes. These are exceptional and give you a variety of authentic Japanese tasties to sample.
The ambiance at this restaurant is very nice as well with 4 large teppenyaki sections (for those so inclined) and very nice decorations. The service staff area also uniformed in traditional Japanese costume which lends a bit of authenticity to their product.
Portions are generous for the a la carte menu. The one time my brother-in law got the teppenyaki I thought the portion was a little on the small side, but I guess it's more the entertainment factor when you get teppenyaki.
This is a high end restaurant so meals are going to be pricey but it is worth it if you're looking for a good fancy meal. Bookings are recommended because they are quite popular and tables fill up fast.

Approximate cost: $45

Unlimited free Slurpees and chinese tea already means that they get a 4 star in value from me because that means a savings on buying drinks which at any other restaurant can run into about $3-$5 per person.
The food here is on the better side of average, but as a restaurant that boasts about their dumplings, I found them quite disappointing. Hubby fancies himself a bit of a Shanghai Dumpling (Shao long bao) connoisseur and he reckons this place has a below average offering of that dish.
The menu is not very innovative, the usual noodle and rice dishes that one can get in any Chinese food stall at a food court but I have not had any reason to complain about my orders.
I've always made my way straight to their upstairs serving area where there is a much smaller customer to staff ratio. As a result I've never had to wait very long for service. I have noticed that the downstairs area gets pretty crowded and chaotic during dinner times so I can understand why some reviewers have found the service lacking.

Approximate cost: $10

Once in a while we'll come here for yum cha on lazy weekends when we don't want to drive to some of the really good yum cha restaurants. The variety here is passable but on the pricey side.
That said, I think the food is good and the plating and tables are reminiscent of traditional Chinese restaurants. It's just too bad that the restaurant is in an open arena area right in front of the cinemas and every table is right next to passing foot traffic.
I've never come here for anything other than yum cha because Kingsway is chock a block with Chinese restaurants which are more affordable and produce some really good quality food. So this place has some tough competition.

Approximate cost: $20

You don't usually expect such good quality food from a shopping center cafe but Arena Cafe has some really excellent dishes that you would expect from a proper restaurant. The meals are well portioned and excellently seasoned.

Top recommendations are, The Arena Risotto (Bacon, Spinach, Chicken, Mushrooms), The Seafood Risotto,The Fish and Chips, The Vegetarian Breakfast (ask for their Dark Rye toast). Don't forget to leave room for the cakes which are served in deliciously huge portions with cream or ice cream.

It can take a while to get your food, but I think this may be on the side of the kitchen than the floor staff, who are quite attentive and helpful. The layout of the restaurant around the central serving area makes it hard for them to see across the restaurant so it may be hard to get someone's attention when they are on the other side of the serving bar.

We've come here for date nights and sometimes with the little guy in tow and have found the location quite adequate for either situation.

Approximate cost: $20

Gorgeous estate to sit and sip a glass of wine at the restaurant and watch the clouds roll over the mountains.
Yering station is a good one stop shop to sample the bounty of the Yarra Valley. A lot of the produce from the area is sold here as well as getting to taste the wines from the winery. There is no charge for wine tasting which is a huge plus because a lot of wineries now charge a small fee for tasting.

I would recommend Matt's Bar for great food and a nice view but they aren't open very long hours and you have to be there on specific days and times to catch them open. The on site restaurant serves fine dining food but is pricier.

Overall a nice stop to do some gourmet food shopping and to enjoy the view. We always stop by when we're in the area.

Approximate cost: $35