Meet a new waterfront destination for gourmets

The popular southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet has new rustic chic waterfront accommodation.

It also has a new functions venue; a private dining destination and a providore producing jams, sauces and condiments showcasing local produce.

All these elements come together at Helms Bay Cottage, the brainchild of local Jenny Hassett, which officially opened this week.

Helms Bay Cottage is right on the water - with its own jetty no less - just a 10-minute drive from the township and its many cafes, galleries and artisan producers.

Guests can use the on-site sauna and hot tub, or enjoy supper by the firepit.

 The accommodation comprises one suite with a double bed and en-suite bathroom (above); two double bedrooms with a shared bathroom and a separate bunkhouse for four with its own facilities.

Hassett, former landlady of Cygnet's Commercial Hotel, also hosts private lunches/dinners for groups of between six and 10 ranging from Sunday roasts ($40 per person), to a three-course French banquet ($80 per person). Italian and seafood options are also available with diners free to BYO.

With local wine producers including Chatto, Sailor Seeks Horse, Elsewhere, Kate Hill, Home Hill and Hartzview, you are spoilt for choice.

Each of the rooms offers views of Helms Bay and there is a private veranda with a barbecue and outdoor setting.

On-site laundry facilities and fishing gear are on offer, and you can pluck oysters from the shoreline. There is also free parking.

The rooms are furnished in rustic chic style; old school but very comfortable.

The set-up is perfect for family get togethers and small weddings.

The providore side of the business is born from Jenny's passion for gardening and cooking and will be on sale at a roadside stall, as well as at local markets.

Think home-made jams, sauces, pickles, oils, and more -  all gluten free and all cooked in-house.

 

Private dinners start from $50 per person and are held in the cottage dining room, which has superb water views.

Call 0408 532 322 or for full details see https://www.helmsbaycottage.com.au/

  

Tasmania's latest drawcard is a working artisans studio

The small southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet is known for its many craftspeople, several art galleries and lively café scene.

Now Cygnet has a new attraction for lovers of arts: the The Artisan's Hand creative space in historic Balfour House, which specialises in multi-dimensional arts and crafts.

 


The brainchild of furniture maker Peter Rhodes and partner Kerrie, who have completely restored the lovely space, The Artisan's Hand opens today to give locals and visitors an inside look at creative arts and artists.

Among the featured artists are Peter himself, who will also offer classes in how to make items including wooden tables and stools, ceramicist Freda Bosgra from Raw Ceramics and her husband Aaron, a graphic artist and screen printer, as well as jeweller Emily Duggan.

 


One room has been put aside for pop-up artists doing temporary residencies, including the likes of weavers and wooden spoon carvers.

There will also be regular small group classes in the likes of pottery and weekly art classes conducted by Ruth Lindsell from Ripples Art Farm, who will hold both day and night sessions.

 


The Artisan's Hand will initially be open Thursday to Sunday from 10am until at least 2pm, and sometimes later, and offer the chance to see artists at work and talk to them about their skills.

If you want to follow the artists check out the artists in residence: @bosgray_at_glaziers_bay, @emmirejewellery and @petermarkrhodes_tas

The Artisan's Hand is at 22 Mary St, Cygnet, TAS 7112 - just a stone's throw from where I live.

Meet Tasmania's newest country retreat

Like a little luxury in your life?

Fancy a few days exploring one of the nicest small towns in Tasmania?

How about staying in a beautifully renovated 1930s home with sweeping views over Port Cygnet Bay?

There is room for six or eight people comfortably - and everything has been thought of at Woodland Bay Retreat.

A modern kitchen with all-new equipment. Tick.

A welcome basket of local produce, including a bottle of local pinot noir from Chatto Wines, or Sailor Seeks Horse. Tick.

Big fluffy towels. Tick.

A lovely deck with plenty of space to take in the views and summer sun. Tick.

An outdoor pizza oven. Tick.

A seperate studio with a private games arcade? Tick.  

But wait. There is much more.

There is your own personal gym.

A sauna with room for six people.

A hot tub and a cold tub.

A firepit with seating for taking in the amazing night skies.

We'd planned to enjoy the hot tub, but the changing lights and views at sunset proved mesmerising. 

And the busy little town of Cygnet with its many art galleries, cafes and eateries is just a five-minute drive away should you feel like picking up something to eat - although that would be a pity given the high-tech kitchen equipment at your disposal. 

Woodland Bay Retreat is a Hamptons-style home with a garden, free private parking and free wifi.

The kitchen comes with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave, as well as little treats like hot chocolate mix and loose-leaf teas.

There are two living rooms and a dining area, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms and for guests with children, the home features an indoor play area.

You are around a 50-minute drive from Hobart and all its attractions - but here you can enjoy silence and remoteness.

The house runs on a solar panel system and all products and amenities are locally and organically sourced.

 

Woodland Bay Retreat is bookable on airbnb, booking.com and readytotrip.com, or call 0401 190 606 to speak to the owners, who live locally.

One small town: one weekend, two festivals

The small southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet is known for its array of cafes, as well as several galleries and arts and crafts practitioners.

This weekend Cygnet is also hosting two very different festivals, one celebrating chamber music, the others the works of local artisans ranging from alpaca wool weavers to potters.

The Easter Chamber Music festival includes free and paid-for events at venues ranging from Cygnet Town Hall to an open-air concert in Loongana Park. It runs from Friday to Sunday.

The concerts will feature leading musicians including festival artistic directors Gwyn Roberts and Jenni Flemming. They will be joined by current and expat Tasmanian musicians.

For details visit https://huonmusic.au/

On Sunday and Monday, the Huon Valley town and surrounds are the venue for the Handmade in Cygnet Open Studio Art Trail.

Those featured range from textile weaver Karen Grady (top image), who creates garments from wool sourced from her own alapacas, to wooden spoon carver David Rauenbusch and potter and ceramicist Ian Clare.

From timber workers to jewellers and a range of visual arts, there will be 15 places to visit along the trail to watch artists at work and chat to them about their work. 

For details see www.handmadeincygnet.com

Cygnet gets a new adult retreat

The small town of Cygnet is one of Tasmania's tourism drawcards with its lovely waterfront location, many cafes and art galleries. 

But there is frequently not enough visitor accommodation at peak periods - particularly during the annual Cygnet Folk Festival and other major events. 

Overlooking the boats on Port Cygnet, the Huon Valley hamlet this week gained a new adults only holiday home: Port Cygnet House - just a couple of minutes' drive from the township. 

If you are looking for a spot to chill out for a few days, or a base from which to explore the southernmost part of Tasmania, Port Cygnet House might fit the bill. I took a sneak peek a couple of weeks ago and was impressed.

There are two bedrooms, quirkily furnished, and two bathrooms, both with underfloor heating for cooler nights - which are not unknown in this part of the world.

The owners, who also use the home as their holiday retreat, have extensive experience in the hospitality industry, so just about everything has been thought of. 

For anyone looking to cook up a storm with the abundant local produce, there is a gourmet kitchen with pots and pans, knives, utensils, crockery, spices, oils and condiments. 

All the tableware, crockery and silverware are provided - and you can dine inside or take in the expansive views from the deck. 

There is a laundry, plenty of parking and barbecue ready to be fired up. From the Espresso machine to USB points and fluffy towels, this is like your own private hotel - but with much more space. 

Rates start from $400 per night with a  minimum two nights, or three nights in peak periods. 

For full details see https://portcygnethouse.com.au/

 

A delightful taste of Thailand in the deep south of Tasmania

A small orange cabin in Tasmania’s far south - several kilometres from the nearest shop - is an unlikely venue where you can discover some of the most authentic Thai food in the state.

Ashcraig Farm at Nicholls Rivulet, outside Cygnet, is an organic fruit and vegetable farm that sells produce to several of Tasmania’s top eateries, but it is also home to a Thai restaurant that draws in locals and those in the know.

With a chef from Isaan (known for its spicy chili-accented food), Ashcraig serves up dishes like tom kha soup, massaman beef, basil chili and tom yum stir fries, and a range of curries.

 

My personal favourite is the stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts (above, ask for extra spicy if you like a bit of heat) and the green curries.

The food re-heats very well, so anyone staying in a B&B can pick some up on arrival and then enjoy at night as the Huon Valley is a short of evening dining destinations, particularly early in the week.    

Eat in or takeaway from Thursdays to Sundays. BYO. Call (03) 6295 0901.

This is one of a number of Tasmanian gourmet secrets featured on the Truly Aus website:  https://www.trulyaus.com/discover-tasmanias-best-kept-gourmet-secrets/

Three new reasons to visit Cygnet

The Tasmanian hamlet of Cygnet - in the Huon Valley south of Hobart - is a popular weekend day trip destination for both locals and visitors.

Now there are three more reasons to visit a laidback place known for its many cafés. arts and crafts shops, galleries and waterfront bird reserve. It also happens to be where I live.

Cygnet is well-known Matthew Evans' Fat Pig Farm, for eateries like the Red Velvet Lounge and the Conservatory at the Old Bank, as well as the Port Hole Café, Japanese Diner, Ashcraig Farm Thai, two pubs, and several good takeaways - but now there is a new venue for sweet-toothed Tasmanians and visitors: Little Lush Cakerie (above).

In its first week of opening, Little Lush has a wide range of Carmen Tibuliac's sweet treats, cakes, scones and biscuits and offers a tea-room style experience with barista coffee as well as takeaways. Think pear fans, apple pies and sticky date puddings.

There are also treats from the oven like savoury goat cheese tart and old-school rock cakes. Little Lush will be open 10am-3pm Sunday-Wednesday as it produces commercial wedding and birthday cakes towards the weekend.

Also new are the new-age and eclectic clothing store Sacred Space Cygnet (above) - which shares the former Ilha Restaurant space with Lush at 23c Mary St - and CuckoO Etc.

Sacred Space has a very Cygnet vibe and in addition to stocking crystals, candles and joss sticks, it has a collection of home wears and clothing in addition to a selection of colourful garments imported from Peru.

Just down the road is CuckoO Etc (below), a creative workshop space and artisan store. It will soon also have an artisan market space. 

Open Wednesday to Sunday in the former Commonwealth Bank space, it offers a collection of artisan goods, a small selection of art and craft supplies, plus an ever-evolving calendar of creative workshops.

CuckoO began when Caroline Davies Choi, a textile designer, artist and curator, created unique, curated artisan markets in Hobart.

Joining Caroline, and putting the ‘et’ in ‘etc’, are Emily Hill and Tiffany Hutton, who also share a love of art, making and design.

Chef pops up in Tasmanian gourmet hotspot

The Old Bank is a delightful bed and breakfast in the charming southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet.

It serves breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas seven days a week to an appreciative audience.

At night, however, its kitchen largely sits unused.

Enter Huon Valley local chef Tim Ditcham, who has just launched a series of pop-up degustation dinners at the Old Bank.

Ditcham has previously run popular spots like Bistro 31 at Ranelagh General Store and Jam and Bread.

Say When Bistro will open for three consecutive nights each month, with the second stint to run from May 13-15.

Dinner comprises a seven-course menu with a choice of desserts.

The opening menu featured standouts including oysters mignonette with pomegranate seeds; duck liver pate with tracklements, pickles and delicious brioche-style bread; gemfish "Diana" with peas, capers and hollandaise and rosemary panna cotta with lemon, bay and cape gooseberry.

Perhaps my favourite, however, was a delicate but flavoursome pasta dish with pecorino, egg, speck, parsley and lemon (below). Just divine.

Ditcham is a talented chef and the menu is well worth $85 per head. Drinks can be purchased from the Old Bank list or diners can BYO wine for a ridiculously reasonable $3 per person. Service was very helpful and our server even knew which boat had landed the gemfish.

We attended the second night and there were a couple of minor issues; slightly under-seasoned cauliflower soup; beef fillet served with a Yorkshire pudding that madly needed some Viagra, and no water bottle on the table.

All easily fixed, however. A dinner well worth a trip and an overnight stay in Cygnet, where you can also sample Matthew Evans' Fat Pig Farm, the ever-popular Red Velvet Lounge; Port Cygnet Cannery, Cygnet Japanese Diner and Ashcraig Thai, as well as popular cafes in Jacky's, The Porthole and the Lovett, as well as two pubs.

Here' are images of the rest of the dishes. 

For bookings and inquiries email: saywhenbistro@gmail.com 

#The writer paid his own way.