A serious heli adventure in Tasmania

So you are visiting Tasmania. You are feeling energetic and are cashed up.

Life’s An Adventure, the company that offers a range of multi-day walking experiences across the island state, has just announced an addition to its Walk Three Capes three-day itinerary - the opportunity to heli hike on Tasman Island.

Guests can select from three experiences as part of their Tasman Peninsula pack-free adventure: a boat cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, a 20-minute scenic flight over Cape Pillar and Tasman Island, and now the chance to land and walk on Tasman Island.

“We are thrilled to partner with Rotor-Lift Aviation to offer this once in a lifetime experience as part of our Three Capes adventure,” says Mark Norek, CEO of Life’s An Adventure.

“It is an extraordinary opportunity to walk on an island few have ever had the opportunity to see up close.”

The Tasman Island helicopter landing is available to four guests on each tour.

It includes a flight over the dramatic coastline with its dolerite capes, before landing on Tasman Island for a guided tour led by a Rotor Lift pilot. Tasman Island is home to sea birds and seals as well as offering views of dolphin pods and migrating whales.

The island is part of Tasman National Park and Rotor Life has exclusive permission (you have to ask how and why) to touch down on the outpost.

Guests who land on the island then enjoy a direct scenic flight back to Hobart by helicopter, skipping the two-hour bus return. This is followed by transfers to their desired hotel.

For more details see https://www.lifesanadventure.com.au/tours/three-capes-walk/

Image: Richard Bennett

Tamar Valley wine standout sold

Tamar Valley winery Moores Hill has been sold, but will continue to operate.

Owners Julian Allport and Fiona Weller and their business partners confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry when they announced the change of ownership, saying: "It's been an intense but satisfying 14 years and we're planning a bit of a break."

Young winemaker James Oliver, most recently of Yering Station in the Yarra Valley, and his partner Constance will take up residence at the start of July. 

Allport and Weller told customers: "Be assured that Moores Hill will be in safe hands. Delicious wines, a friendly cellar door and our commitment to sustainability will continue.

"We’re very grateful to the customers, industry colleagues, suppliers, venues and staff who have supported us on our journey over the past 14 years. We’ve learnt so much, made many firm friends and enjoyed rewarding experiences.

"We look forward to assisting James and Constance as they settle in over the next few months. We plan to stay in the Launceston area, spending time with our family while we consider our next adventure."

Hong Kong icon hits rock bottom

Hong Kong’s famous Jumbo floating restaurant is no more.

The restaurant - shuttered through the Covid pandemic - sank in the South China Sea while being towed to a new location.

The Jumbo had been a famous landmark at Aberdeen Harbour in Hong Kong since 1971. Noted past guests include the Queen, President Jimmy Carter, Tom Cruise and Richard Branson.

It mysteriously sank near the Paracel Islands due to "adverse conditions" owner Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said.

The massive three-storey vessel had an exterior styled after a Chinese imperial palace.

Look out for a Martini glass neon sign

Backroom, tucked away from Melbourne’s Toorak Road, will launch on July 1, offering a space for a post-dinner tipple, late-night snack, or cocktail. 

Adjoining Latin-influenced Lona Misa restaurant, the venue will be led by Ovolo Hotel’s group creative culinary director Ian Curley; group creative drinks director Andrea Gualdi (ex Maybe Sammy); Lona Misa’s executive chef Isa Raku and bar manager Jordan Tredennick.

With entry via a discrete concrete door on Toorak Road, identified only by a neon Martini glass sign, Backroom will be a 45-seat underground venue. 

Backroom will open every Friday and Saturday evening - and I must say it sounds a little pretentious. 

Andrea Gualdi says: “We’re lucky enough to work with leading innovative minds in the beverage industry, and so with the launch of Backroom we wanted to flip the concept of a bar on its head, providing a platform for these brands to shine. 

"The product comes first and sets our team the exciting creative challenge of reinventing our food and beverage menus with each new collaboration, drawing inspiration from what these brands are all about - their unique flavour profiles, heritage and ethos. We couldn’t think of a better way to kick things off than with an all-Australian line-up from Feels Botanical, Regal Rogue and Capi.”

This, apparently will not be just about drinks but be "a sensorial journey through flavour, colour, texture and sound". So there. 

Highlights from the cocktail menu will include a Regal Rogue Wild Rose Ricky (Regal Rogue Wild Rose, Feels Vivify, Capi Soda), a Feels Botanical Vivifying Martini (Feels Vivify, Regal Rogue Lively White, Orange Bitters), a Red Ricky highball (Regal Rogue Bold Red, Feels Vivify, Topped with Capi Grapefruit and Rosemary Soda Water) and Regal Revel Negroni (Feels Revel, Campari, Regal Rogue Bold Red, Orange Bitters).

As part of Ovolo Hotel Group’s Plant’d initiative, Backroom will showcase an entirely vegetarian menu aligned to the brand’s ongoing pledge to ethical eating, conscious cuisine and cutting-edge veg. 

How very, very hip. 

Backroom will be located at 234 Toorak Rd, South Yarra. Look out for that Martini glass sign. 

Dining differently in Vancouver

Vancouver is probably my favourite city in Canada - a beautiful and lively waterfront city with plenty of gourmet options.

I will be missing out on a Vancouver stopover during my upcoming trip to Canada, but the folks at Destination Vancouver sent me a list on some of the diverse dining attractions I will be missing out on.

As a city with a diverse population, Vancouver’s dining scene ranges from classic West Coast cuisine, and seafood joints around the seawall, to exotic ethnic neighbourhoods and famous bakeries.

If you are lucky enough to be visiting here are a few local eateries with a difference that the locals recommend.

H Tasting Lounge – This waterfront restaurant at the Westin Bayshore (above) offers dishes that can be enjoyed in one of their themed outdoor domes. Afternoon teas featuring sweet and savoury bites served on a golden Ferris wheel are another attraction.

Glowbal – This luxurious restaurant offers plenty of photo opportunities while dining on West Coast fare. Installations include an oversized mirror with dramatic floral backdrops, lush greenery and florals, vibrant patterned fabrics and birdcage booths surrounded by foliage and ambient lights.

Dark Table – Something very different. Non-sighted servers guide the sighted, offering a culinary experience into the unknown.

Sushi Aboard – This Japanese restaurant makes fresh sushi delivered by a conveyer train connecting your table to the kitchen.

Hello Nori – Pull up a chair in this 24-seater architectural space and enjoy a fresh hand rolled nori offering prepared right in front of you.

Octopus Garden – Although unassuming from the outside, this restaurant transports you to a small shop in Japan with many references to the culture and octopi. Feast on the omakase – a set meal selected and made by the chef.

Collective Goods – Visit this part-grocery, part-wine shop and part-bistro establishment to get your Parisian fix in store and to take home.

And should you wish to splash out, the 2022 list of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants was announced in late May and a Vancouver restaurant took the coveted No. 1 spot for the very first time. Opened in 2019 on the cusp of the pandemic, Published on Main is a fine dining eatery with an elaborate 11-course tasting menu.

See https://www.destinationvancouver.com/

A town of art and wine

For the first two nights of our trip to the Prosecco DOCG wine country we are staying in the lovely town of Conegliano in the Veneto region of Italy.

It bills itself as “a town of art and wine”.

We are around 30 kilometres north by rail from the lovely town of Treviso, the regional capital.

The population of the city is of 35,000 people. The remains of a 10th-century castle are situated on a hill that dominates the town.

I took a quick walk around town this afternoon and took some photos, as well as of the Hotel Canon d’Oro - our first lodgings.

I hope you like the images. More info and pics to follow.