Back in February 2020, before they closed Tasmania (because of the Covid-19 restrictions), my husband and I flew down there for a weekend getaway and we found it even more charming than our last visit with a few delightful surprises.
We picked up our hire car at Hobart airport and drove straight down to the Huon Valley.
We had booked accommodation for 2 nights in the town of Cygnet.
We’ve stayed in this tiny town before and it has become incredibly popular over the past 10 years with mainlanders migrating here for a tree and sea change.
Of course the scenery was beautiful, the food was delicious and the people were welcoming but this trip we saw some places we’d not been to before.
We followed the Channel Highway right around the coast, beyond our usual journeys, where we stumbled upon the small rural community of Verona Sands.
Located approximately 46kms from Hobart, it has a recorded population of 78 residents, but we found a few locals who don’t appear on the census and who call the water their home.
First we chanced upon these two black swans frolicking at the beach – we had no idea that swans liked salt water.
And then just around the corner, along this same stretch of coastline, my husband spotted a seal and without disturbing him we managed to watch him living his best life.
It was a bit tricky to capture him as he swum and spun through the calm water.
But I did manage to film him for a minute, as he rejoiced in his ocean habitat.
This part of the world is a beautiful place for reflection, and not a bad spot if you have to be isolated, especially now that Tasmania has closed the door to everyone who doesn’t live there.
The whole of the Huon Valley is pretty special and we packed as much as we could into our weekend.
I made a dinner reservation at the new Port Cygnet Cannery for Saturday night.
Located in an old fruit cannery, this new restaurant and cafe, that shares the building with a winery, is a much needed addition to the community of Cygnet, where you could previously not dine out past 8.00pm (we learnt this through experience).
We had a couple of shared plates before our individual pizzas and wines by the glass, which were also local, and good!
We enjoyed it so much we returned the next morning for Cinnamon Sunday, consisting of cappuccinos and baked goodies, handmade by Franca.
This place should definitely be on your list of places to visit, when Tasmania opens the doors again.
Before heading back to Hobart we checked out the local Cygnet Market (held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month).
We will definitely return when Tasmania is open for business to visitors again, whenever that may be.
Until then, I look forward to hearing your stories of unexpected delights when you have travelled, locally or overseas.
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