A summer in Tasmania

[drron]

Then off to Breakfast.The waitress recognised us - she has been there for several years and knew our names.This is our 4th stay.
You get a plate of bakery items to share.
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Then a warm item.Mrsdrron just loved the banana bread.
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Whilst I had their take on eggs Benedict -Chorizo Benedicto.I loved it.
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[RooFlyer]

I managed to consume the gins with tonic and the Gala.

I hope you liked the Gala? From the Gala Estate between Freycinet and Swansea, run by the same family who first occupied the property in 1821.

Pronounced gal-a (rhymes with the first part of maladroit), rather than gah-la

 

[drron]

Indeed I did like the Gala no matter how they pronounce it.

 

[drron]

After breakfast on the way back this little fellow thought we couldn't see him.

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Back at the room the overnight rain set off a message in the sand.
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A totally different day so off to the beach.
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[drron]

A beautiful morning.
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A lizard with good camouflage.
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And Saffire's main building.
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[drron]

Naturally after that much exercise it was time for lunch.
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Mrsdrron had the duck liver pate and I the Mezze plate which was great.
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Then off on the oyster experience.
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I felt like souveniring the wadres and indulge in some fly fishing.That was until I remembered my fly fishing exploits catching trees with the only live animal caught a 3 foot goanna so I decided against it.
This is conducted at the Freycinet marine farm oyster leases.You can taste their produce here.

Local Seafood | Freycinet Marine Farm | Coles Bay

Our farmed oysters and mussels and locally sourced seafood, local wines dine in or takeaway. Fine us at Freycinet marine Farm whilst visiting Freycinet National Park

www.freycinetmarinefarm.com

But this is their operation.
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[drron]

We have done this experience every time we have stayed here.Just lovely especially on a fine day.
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Two of the 6 this time didn't eat oysters.more for us.They were each given a cheese plate with their Champagne.
We had a great feast.
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[drron]

Arriving back at Saffire I noticed their kitchen garden.
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Able to have a little nap before going to pre dinner drinks.It had turned into a great afternoon.Especially through a glass of Gin.
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Then to dinner and the nights menu.
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[jakeseven7]

Some interesting grammar there, clearly my friend is still there typing up the menus (I joking complained once and they were mortified)

 

[drron]

A lovely view from the office.
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The amusee bouche was a curried egg puff.Mrsdrron doesn't like curried egg so I had 2.Fortunately I don't suffer Major Dennis Bloodnok's problems.
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I mixed the menus up starting with the waygu beef tartare then the bay lobster and duck dishes.
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Mrsdrron wasn't feeling very hungry so had the scallops and the strawberry sorbet.I also finished with the sorbet...

Of the paired wines I enjoyed the blush rose and pinot noir but the Schonburger stole the show.Excellent.

 

[drron]

And more views from the dinner office.Included an avian chorus.
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[drron]

So to breakfast.Mrsdrron had the banana bread again and I had the corn fritters.poached egg and smoked ocean trout on top.delicious.
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Then off for our morning experience.Bee keeping.Protective suits all lined up

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Downstairs for a briefing.And yes we had to also wear a pair of plastic gloves to prevent the bees getting Covid.
I saw another interesting insect though.
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And here's mrsdrron all suited up.
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[drron]

Some bee food as we head towards the hives.
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The white flower is the leptospermum that gives the best Manuka honey.
Now to the hives.
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Then a hive is opened.
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[drron]

And the good stuff is revealed.
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[drron]

The Sky troopers were enthralled.
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Then it was off to the devil's enclosure for a honey and cheese tasting.Very nice especially the honeycomb.
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The apiarist is Rob barker.A really interesting chap.Here is his web page.

HOME | Wild Hives

Wild Hives raw honey from Tasmania's East Coast.

www.wildhives.com.au

 

[drron]

After this we obviously needed lunch.
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I was going to have the oysters and then the spanner crab salad.But the oysters had spawned after we ate our fill so not on the menu for ~ 2 weeks.So I was giver a couple of Mooloolaba king prawns instead.
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We didn't want a large meal.Mrsdrron had the Mooloolaba king prawn brioche.
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[RooFlyer]

Did your apiarist mention the flower/plant species that his bees get into on the east coast? Gorse is a blight on the pasture land on the east coast and I wonder if it affects honey production / flavour.

 

[drron]

He didn't mention gorse.Not so prevalent around Freycinet though and the bees forage 2-5Km.
December January in Freycinet is Leptospermum and Kunzea.

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, he's very local then. Gorse is rampant as soon as the Coles Bay Road hits the Tasman Highway.

 

[drron]

As we checked out I also checked out the kitchen garden.
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