One of the intentions we set when we decided to move to Tasmania was to have a house where we could have people (family and friends) come and stay with us.
Before we found our current house we had looked at a number which had quite a few bedrooms – there was even a six bedroom place.
While these were comfortably within our budget they didn’t quite work as living spaces for us – so we kept looking until our Don residence turned up.
Since being here we’ve now had a couple of residential visits from friends (no family, so far).
Having guests from interstate we feel compelled to show them our home.
Obviously, that’s not the house because they experience that by staying with us.
What I mean is that we want to show them the best parts of Tasmania as we know them.
In order to do that we need to get to know Tasmania as well as possible.
Having been here now for three months we’re getting a pretty good handle on the most suitable attractions within a day trip of our place.
But the research continues.
Our research consists of visiting places we feel would be most suitable for visitors ranging in age from 1 to 100.
To date, we’ve had 7 to 70 and as we have VERY young grandchildren we’re looking forward to being able to take them to meet Thomas The Tank Engine and more great adventures.
Yes, Thomas really does live at the bottom of our hill – that’s HILL not garden (haven’t yet met fairies at the bottom of the garden but you’ll be the first to know if we do!)
When people are visiting us they have limited time and so we need to make sure the places we take them are going to be memorable.
This involves checking out restaurants, markets, museums, national parks and lots more.
If you’ve been following our recent adventures (of course you have) either in this blog or Danita’s facebook posts, you’ll be aware we’ve found some really interesting places.
Quirky cafes, themed towns, amazing countryside and lots more.
So far Danita has developed her own foodie tour.
This consists of places where visitors can pick their own berries (straw, rasp and black), wineries (definitely plural), a cheese factory, a chocolate factory and restaurants which feature local produce and show off the local area.
Added to that are routes where people can go to an amazing maze and marble factory, a town of murals, another featuring topiary trees and the letterbox trail (do a Google search with “tasmania letterbox trail” to see photos).
You can even visit Promised Land and Nowhere Else.
There has been a train ride, a visit to a light house and a windmill still being used to grind flour.
As part of our research we’ve also found places that are to be avoided and Danita can give good reasons why.
Thankfully, they are few and far between but they’re out there and we don’t want our guests wasting precious time and money on places that sound good in the marketing hype but aren’t really up to scratch.
Our research keeps us out there and we’re continuing to find new places to enjoy or avoid.
Danita is a self-proclaimed foodie and I tag along to keep her company while she checks out all the things to see, do and EAT around this area.
Today was a salmon farm, raspberry farm, ice cream factory and an interesting looking cafe which we’ve passed many times and have wanted to check out (all part of our tourism research of course).
As Danita has said; “It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”
(OK I confess I also enjoy the outings but I need to keep Danita thinking I’m doing this for her, so don’t let on.)
Someone did suggest that Danita start running tours and we’re now building up a good collection of brochures of things to see and do around our area.
So, that’s what Danita has been doing; running custom tours for special people only ie our visitors.
So, if you’d like to enjoy a few days in Northern Tasmania with tours and activities customised to your personal requirements and accommodation included get in touch (how’s that for marketing hype?)
We’d love to see you.
BTW we are finding that Tasmanians can be a bit quirky (some would say downright weird). See this photo of the sign on a toilet door for an example.