Thursday, January 23, 2014

The Whisky Trail

















Hello. What day is it again? It's all a bit of a blur at the moment. I hope you don't mind a picture-filled Post tonight. We're entering week 6 of the School Holidays and I'm finding I'm a bit short of conversation by the end of these long Summer days in which the 5 children continue to astound me with their boundless energy and massive consumption of food. Why do they seem to need more food when they are at home than what is provided in their lunch boxes for School? 

Anyway, these are just iPhone photos but are of the fabulous day trip we did to the Derwent Valley while the Grandparents were still with us. Just 30 minutes out of Hobart it's like a little piece of England was plonked on our Island. We followed what is starting to be known as the Whisky Trail, visiting Historic Redlands Estate & Distillery, the neighbouring Salmon Ponds and then a little drive further through beautiful countryside to Nant Distillery. The Whisky Industry in Tasmania is developing rapidly and is recently beating Scotland at their own game in global competitions.  Redlands was gifted to the outcast Son of King George IV in 1819 and until the 1970's was still one of Australia's largest hop farms. The out-buildings are beautifully preserved and the surrounding gardens are spectacular, a true credit to the current owners. It's a lovely day out if you are looking for something to do on a lazy weekend. [Edit: does anyone know what those strange looking flowers are in the 4th last photos?]

Do you have any plans for the weekend? We are going to attempt a camping trip, the first since Flynn was born. I'm particularly looking forward to trying to get a baby to sleep in a tent in broad daylight - do you know it doesn't get dark here until almost 10pm? May the force be with us!





37 comments :

  1. I wouldn't even worry about trying to get baby Flynn to sleep. We all go to bed late on holidays and sleep in and laze about. LOVE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

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  2. Its sounds as if you have had a very full school holiday! I think kids eat more over holidays because they are more active. Sitting at desks in school doesn't burn up nearly as many calories! My husband is a whisky lover. Do you know if they are exporting any?

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    1. I'm pretty sure Nant and Lark are exporting their Whisky but probably only in small quantities and not sure if they are exporting to Canada - let me know if you want me to look into it, I can send some over to you no problem :-)

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  3. My kids always eat more when they're not in school. Over the summer, or the two-week Christmas break, I feel like crying by the end of the day because of all the dishes and the fact that I feel like I never stop preparing meals and snacks. Good luck with the camping this weekend, I think you're very brave! :)

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  4. Lovely photos. The black and white one of your daughter and baby is worth framing! Good luck with the camping.

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  5. Very English! Wow. Good news re whisky industry well done Tassie! I hear you on the long hols. Enjoy camping and don't even try to put Flynn to sleep early I say xxxxx

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  6. And food...... We can't really afford all our kids anymore!

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  7. It is soo English. Incredible. I'd love to visit Tasmania one day. I have a colleague who visited last year and she said it is wonderful and perfect for a family holiday. Good luck camping! I don't think that kid will sleep at all!!

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    1. Bring the troops down, you'd all have a ball down here! x

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  8. Tourism Tasmania should have you on the payroll Mel. I have grand plans of bringing my brood down and touring in a Winnebago, Griswold style!
    And eat! We joke boarding school's the cheap option when it comes to feeding this crew.
    Enjoy what remains of your holiday.

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    1. Doing Tassie Griswald style is the best way to go I say Fiona!

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  9. gorgeous! we can hardly take two steps at the mo without sweating profusely and withering rather unladylike in the heat. oh how I love/hate summer....happy camping! x

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  10. Hope that you have fun with your camping trip! I have to ask, what are the plants in the 10th picture down? I am fascinated to know as I don't think that I have ever seen anything like that before. xx

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    1. I have no idea Amy! I meant to ask that question myself. Fascinating aren't they? I'll put an edit in..... :-)

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  11. Oh you are so making me want to have another Tasmanian holiday! Gorgeous, gorgeous photos. I am likewise tiring of the holidays (while simultaneously dreading the start of school) and I think camping this weekend is a brilliant idea. Hope it goes well. I never thought about having longer summer days in Tasmania, having only been there in April. Good luck!

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    1. It's the opposite in Winter sadly, dark before 5pm :-(

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  12. I've got Tassi envy too I think Mel! Lovely photos so very English and cool looking. I've been noting the temps down there while we're in the high 30's here! Enjoy the camping trip, sometimes they surprise you - sleep and all. cheers Wendy

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  13. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. I'm not 100% sure but I think your photo might be the seed pods of an Arum lily.

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    1. Thanks for this Jan, I would never have guessed an Arum Lilly! x

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  14. Hi Mel, the plant with the seed head (and has striking marbled leaves) in your photos is an Arum italicum also known as an Italian Arum Lily. The berries turn bright orange red toward the end of summer and start of Autumn. Unfortunately it is a bit of an invasive pest here and is poisonous as well. It is often found in old gardens. We have it in our garden and it is proving very difficult to get rid of!

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    1. Thanks Stella, this is not the first time you've helped me out on the flower front so I'll go straight to you next time :-)

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    2. I'd like to add my thanks here too; we have lots of these weird things and they're all turning red so we've been calling them the Jaffa Plant. (Lovely post and pics as always, Mel!)

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  15. Oh your family are just adorable! look at those proud grandparents too. This place looks amazing! we would love to visit Tasmania soon as a family and I'm putting this Whisky trail on my list….hoping the last week of the holidays is somewhat restful for you Mel and your children don't eat you out of house and home ;-) xx

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  16. I can not believe how much little snippets of Tasmania does look like England........I really think I could come on down and live in Tassie....its just so pretty (I presume its a beautiful place to live, haven't actually ever visited before!)
    I have that plant/flower in my garden too that pops up every now and again and I had no idea what it was, so thankyou everyone who knows what it is!!
    Enjoy the last of the Summer holidays! And have a lovely (long) weekend! x

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    1. I hope you get to visit one day. It really is a lovely place to live and holiday! x

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  17. These pictures are so pretty, looks like the perfect day x

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  18. Lovely pics! I thought you were off on an overseas holiday before I read the text :-) x

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  19. Your iPhone takes some great photos! Love all the shots of the old buildings. I thought those were koi in the water until I read "salmon". Busy summer holidays are the best ... don't want anyone getting bored. What a great shot of all the kids with the grandparents ... looks like they're all enjoying the day together. Have fun camping! All that fresh air will knock the kids out won't it? I know I can't wait to go to bed when I'm camping I'm just exhausted. Wendy x

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    1. Thanks Wendy. This particular pond contained huge Albino Salmon and the other ponds had other various types of Salmon, the Kids loved feeding them :-)

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  20. Beautiful photos ... I love the ducks one and those plants are amazing ... Bee xx

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  21. Hello lovely Mel, I'm just catching up on blog reading at the moment and always enjoy your posts. This looks like a gorgeous place to visit and I love the architecture of these fabulous buildings, wow!! You did a fantastic job with your iPhone, I wish I could say the same for my iPhone photos. I spent ages looking at them thinking wow, these are great and then read its a product of your phone, so needles to say I am even more impressed!! I didn't on wow that it only got dark there at 10pm, we have the same problem here in the summer and to be honest camping is a real problem with the little ones. I remember going camping when little Es was 3 months and J just turned 2 and we camped in the south of England for two weeks in the pouring rain, not my idea of fun and it was definitely a massive trigger for my illness as it happened shortly after. I hope your experience was a bit better at least he is a little older. I find my kids eat constantly when home, maybe it is comfort or maybe it's just because they are a little more active, I don't know, but I often wonder why. I hope you had a fabulous camping trip. Sending much love xoxo

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  22. I hope your camping went well. I loved hearing about you Xmas and I wish you plenty of stamina until the kids are back at school. Then you might get some down time.

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  23. That looks like a lovely day out. I really like your photos, I do think the iPhone takes a great photo. I wish I had one.Those roses climbing up that wall - gorgeous. x

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  24. What a lovely day out - and gorgeous photos! I never seem to be able to get any decent shots with an iPhone :-)
    I'm going to have to visit Tassie some day!

    Sarah x

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