Mackie and the Chocolate Factory (Hobart)

Member Name: kirstymack80

Product:	Hobart
Date:	07/05/05 (334 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: pretty, cheap, plenty to do

Disadvantages: nightlife a bit quiet

While I was planning my trip to Melbourne to visit my best friend, she was busy far away planning a short trip for us. Every year we try and spend a few days away and this year we decided on Tasmania. Why? Because the cheap flights go there and it was a bargain price!

After an hour in the air we took the airport shuttle to our hotel, the Corus. It was centrally located in Bathurst Street but it was too dark to see anything. However I did notice that considering it was 9pm, there were very few people on the streets. The few pubs we passed seemed to be bursting at the seams, indicating that perhaps there weren’t too many evening establishments to frequent! This didn’t bother me – we were only there for two days and this was going to be a whistlestop tour!

* Shopping *

My friend and I are self-confessed ‘shopaholics’ and we love a bargain or two. Hobart won’t disappoint – it has all the major chains seen in other Aussie cities such as Myer (although a very small one!), Sportsgirl and well known book stores. From our hotel the shops were easily accessible and within walking distance.

* Food *

Always an important part of my holiday – restaurants are plentiful! Our breakfast was taken at Kafe Kara which was five minutes walk down the hill from our hotel. This was a relaxed coffee shop in Liverpool Street selling muffins, omelettes and gorgeous hot chocolate! Breakfast is served til 11.30 so if you have a late one and decide on a lie in, this would be perfect to recharge your batteries. There are also magazines and newspapers in there to catch up on the daily gossip!

My friend was recommended a restaurant by one of her colleagues and we decided to treat ourselves to a slap up meal there. Located at Salamanca market, this was a 10 minute walk away and is called ‘The Ball and Chain Grill’. It’s located at Salamanca Place (number 87) and is an absolute must for steak lovers! They are cooked on real charcoal grills and the smell will draw you in. Seafood and chicken are also served and there’s a free salad bar. There’s a wide range of wines and yummy desserts too!

There are also Indian and Thai restaurants dotted around the main shops and you’ll be spoilt for choice! There’s something for everyone here.

* What to do in Hobart? *

As I said, our stay was very short at 2 nights. We decided to do one tour which lasted all day and I think 9 out of 10 people will want to know about it if I say the word ‘Cadbury’ to you! Yes indeedy peeps, there’s a choccie woccie factory here!

Tours can be booked at your hotel and you’ll be picked up there. Our tour was called ‘Hobart Deluxe’ which was run by Gray Line and cost $94 (around £39). This includes the factory tour, seeing the Tasmanian devils (!) and Richmond.

We were taken to the harbour (about 5 mins drive away) and then our cruise commenced up the Derwent River at 10am to the chocolate factory. We were lucky – considering our trip was in April the weather was a sunny 28 degrees. My friend and I went out on deck lapping up the rays (and getting a beautiful new hairstyle thanks to the wind!). The cruise lasted one and a half hours and we were called to the front to be given a packed lunch (which we started on early as .. ahem .. hunger was calling!).

So, onto the good bit, the chocolate! Firstly all visitors have to remove their jewellery. This includes wedding rings and even earrings – they are all safely locked away or you can keep them upon your person in a pocket. Then you are given a fetching new plastic outfit – a pretty new coat dress and an attractive cap to squash your newly blow dried hair. Men - if you have a beard even this has to be covered up! Once you are made to look extremely foolish, you are then ready to go get those free samples!

You see every kind of chocolate being made or zoomed along on conveyor belts and the smell is sugary, sweet and at times over powerful. Every so often your tour guide will dip into a humungous box and you are told to take ‘two or three’. Ehm the greedy Aussies were taking off their caps and filling them (!) and one lady found an envelope “just by chance” in her handbag she told me – and began filling that! Each to their own - I just filled my boots! ;-) Afterwards I counted at least 10 different samples including Twirl, Flake and Freddo.

The actual tour lasts about 30 mins then you can buy more choc (bleugh) in the shop. It’s fairly cheap and some of it is sold in packs of 5 or 10 but without the Cadbury wrapper, just in plastic but these are the best deals as they can't be sold in the shops due to some imperfection.

At the factory there is a small café, toilets and a rather measly shop selling key rings, postcards and t-shirts. We had lots of free time before the pick up for the wildlife park.

So the next stop was Bonorong Wildlife Park. We had just over an hour there, which was just about the right amount of time. I love the unusual animals but after 8 trips to Australia, I have been there, done that but hadn’t seen a Tasmanian devil so I was quite excited! Other animals included koala, possum, wallabies and kangaroos (which were roaming free). We were given food in a packet and encouraged to feed the kangas and I loved that! The Tassie devil didn’t disappoint – he was a snarling, ugly, solid black thing running round and round his pen like an absolute mad man! The keeper was feeding him and he was ravenously tearing apart some rabbit – still with the fur on. * ewwwwwwwww *

After the animals it was on to our final destination, Richmond. This is an olde worlde type place with Australia’s oldest existing and best preserved colonial gaol and convict built homes. We were again given a short time here so my friend and I found a tea house and sat outside enjoying the scenery with a cake and a cold drink! Other shops included a lace shop and a lolly shop which had fantastic licorice and all your childhood sweets served from the glass bottles and measured out for you. Well worth a look!

20 minutes later we were back in Hobart and back at the hotel by 5pm. It was a fab day full of different experiences and I can highly recommend the tour.

* Salamanca *

This is one of Hobart’s famous markets which is every Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm. A brilliant atmosphere, music, food and shopping all in a short space! We got there early and enjoyed an omelette in a roll for a paltry 4 bucks (£1.60). Stroll around and pick up a bargain or three. There's everything from jewellery to leather goods to local arts and crafts. And try the world’s smallest pancakes – there’s enough for two people! I bought some gorgeous apple butter, hand made earrings and some designer sunglasses! Salamanca is an absolute must – even if you don’t like shopping the food and music will ensure you stop by! We visited just before we had to go to the airport but I’m so glad we were there on a Saturday to enjoy this!

* Finally *

As this review is bordering on the obscenely long that is really my very brief look at Hobart. I so wish we’d had more time to explore Port Arthur and learned about the convict era, visited Mt Wellington and the gorgeously named Peppermint Bay. But that will be for another time. And I do hope to go back.

If you are planning a trip to Tasmania, Hobart is definitely worth a look. Small and pretty, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but if you like quaint and quiet with beautiful scenery then you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you check the weather – it’s notorious for being much colder than mainland Australia! The full five stars and a big recommendation. People are helpful and friendly and there’s so much to do and see.

Thanks for reading!

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