Located in the Hunter Valley near Jerrys Plains, The Clydesdale Experience is a fantastic way to spend three hours. Not only do you get to see the horses up close, but you see them work and learn their history, all in the beautiful Hunter Valley.
Visits are by appointment only, which can be done through their website.
Meet the Clydesdales
Greeted by our hosts on arrival, we then met the four Clydesdales that currently call the farm home. While getting up close to the horses, we learned about them and the owners’ history with the breed. For such large animals, they were extremely gentle, although we were reminded to be careful as they are very strong.
Wilfred
Morning Tea
After meeting the Clydesdales, our hosts put on morning tea and coffee. Very nice coffee and homemade scones and cakes, which were delicious! Two of the horses joined us in the shade while our hosts explained all about Clydesdales.
Hunter and Leroy at Morning Tea
Morning Tea
Working the Horses
After morning tea, we went out to the ploughing field where we had a demonstration of what Clydesdales could do. We started with a demonstration of old horse powered machinery, where the horse powers a pump or grain crusher.
We then saw ploughing and were able to take part by guiding the plough. This was great fun, and everyone had a turn.
All of this in the wonderful Hunter Valley with the Wollemi National Park as a back-drop.
Leroy About to Start Work
Barney
Harvey Relaxing After a Hard Day Supervising
What Did We Think of the Clydesdale Experience?
This was an amazing experience, with friendly hosts and wonderful horses making it a great time. If you want to learn about Clydesdales, how they work or just want to get up close to them, this is a great experience. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Only a five-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD in the foothills of Mount Wellington, the Cascade Brewery Tour is a must for lovers of beer and cider.
The Cascade Brewery
Having operated since 1824, the Brewery is Australia’s oldest, and a tour is a history lesson as well as beer making. Originally a sawmill but converted to a brewery because of the mountain water onsite, the building is still in use. The dates on the front of the building refer to the extension made in 1927 when new equipment required more height. This is still visible in the façade, where the material for the lower three floor differs from the upper levels.
In addition to tours, the brewery offers meals and a bar in the old manager’s residence, where you can relax after the tour, or just enjoy a meal or drink.
Cascade Brewery
Lounge at the Cascade Brewery
Old Beer Keg
The Cascade Brewery Tour
Several different tours are available depending on age (16 years old and over can go on the extended factory tour that we did). An all ages tour caters for everyone, but does not enter the factory, nor does it offer beer and cider samples afterwards.
A safety briefing and protective equipment (hard hat, glasses, gloves and hair net and fluoro vest) are given at the start of the tour. This not only ensures your safety, as your are touring a working brewery, but also keeps the beer making process safe from you.
Unfortunately, no photos are allowed on the tour, so the secret of Cascades beer and cider process is still safe.
The comprehensive tour follows the whole process from grain delivery to bottling, packaging and distribution. We found it all very interesting especially the brewing and malting part.
We also found out that all waste products are used either on site or as animal feed. Nice to know that beer is environmentally conscious, as well as tasting great.
There was also a look at cider production, which uses some of the apples Tasmania is famous for.
Finishing the tour is a tasting platter of four beers or ciders. As we had a platter each, we were able to taste all of the beers and ciders on offer.
Beer and Cider Tasting Platter
What Did We Think?
This was a fun tour that we really enjoyed. Seeing the whole beer making process and then tasting the product was great fun. If you are in Hobart, it’s worth doing.
At 50kms long, Bruny Island has farms, food, forests, wildlife, beaches, and history, all within an easy drive. We spent two nights and two full days on the island and could have spent more because there’s so much to see and do.
Although accessible only by ferry, the island is still easy to get to, as the service runs regularly at 30-minute intervals. Check the timetable before going, to ensure you have the correct time. Tickets are purchased on the day of travel, as you enter the ferry terminal.
Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
Our first stop when we arrived was Cape Queen Elizabeth Track, where we walked to Bligh Rocks on the coast. This section of the walk took us one hour return for the five kilometres, plus another 30 minutes for photos and looking around. The full walk to the cape is 13km return, with an estimated 3 hours for the round trip.
Located opposite Bruny Island Honey, the track head has a small carpark next to the start of the walk. Commencing in coastal eucalypt forest, the vegetation changes to banksia scrub before reaching the beach on Moorina Bay.
This long sandy beach looks amazing and in summer must be a great place to relax, but in winter was too cold for a swim.
Bligh Rocks sit to the left of where the track enters the beach, with a gap in the rocks allowing access to the other side. At low tide access is possible on the ocean side, but is too dangerous when the tide is in. Through the gap, an arch gives access to a lovely small beach and more rocks.
Another arch further along, past this beach is accessible at very low tide, but was far too dangerous to attempt while we were there.
This was a very nice short walk and a great introduction to the island.
Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
Gum Tree on Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
Moorina
Bligh Rocks
Bligh Rocks
Small Beach Near Bligh Rocks
Bligh Rocks
Bligh Rocks
The Neck Lookout / Truganini Lookout
One of the best-known features of Bruny Island is the spit that connects the north to the south part of the island. A carpark located next to a lookout gives a wonderful view of the neck, as well as providing views up and down the coast.
There are a lot of steps up to the lookout, but platforms at regular intervals allow rest stops and the chance to take in the views as you go up.
A large viewing platform at the top has bench seats to rest on and admire the views. In the middle of the platform, is a memorial to Truganini, the last full-blood Tasmanian aboriginal. Born in 1812 and dying in 1876 Truganini, the daughter of a Mangana leader saw her mother killed by sailors, her uncle shot by a soldier, her sister abducted by sealers, and her fiancé murdered by timber-getters. The genocide of the original Tasmanian people is the darkest part of Tasmania’s troubled history.
Stairway Up To The Lookout
Truganini Memorial
The Neck From the Lookout
Looking Toward South Bruny Island
Looking Toward North Bruny Island
Cape BrunyLighthouse
Sitting on the far south-western corner of the island, the heritage listed Cape Bruny Lighthouse, is 114m tall and sits perched at the top of rugged cliffs. The coastal views are amazing, especially at sunrise and sunset. We timed our visit to arrive before sunset and were able to see some great views.
Cape Bruny Lighthouse
View of the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage
View Over Lighthouse Bay
Sunset at Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Adventure Bay Bruny Island
Our two nights’ accommodation were in Adventure Bay, allowing us easy access to most of the island because of its central location. The area has a small general store, selling most things visitors will need, a great beach, some interesting attractions as well as being the departure point for the Adventure Cruise.
Opposite the general store, near the pathway to the beach is a large sculpture featuring a world globe containing a whale. Whales are often seen during their migration as they pass off the coast. In the past whales were hunted, but that has long gone, and they are now protected.
Between Adventure Bay and the small marina, two monuments to Captain James Cook commemorate his visit here in 1777.
Coal mining was undertaken in the area from 1879 to 1890 and a small information board explains its history. Mining was very difficult, because it was located on the shore line and impacted by the sea. The coal seam can be seen from the lookout near the information board.
Adventure Bay Beach
Globe Sculpture Adventure Bay
Captain Cook Memorial Adventure Bay
Memorial to Captain Cook’s Tree
Coal Point Where Mining Occurred in the Late 1800s
Sunset
Sooty Oystercatcher
Beer, Wine, Whiskey, and Cider Tasting
Bruny Island has its own brewery, cider, whiskey, cheese, honey, and chocolate, so while there, take the opportunity to sample the locally made produce. We tried a few of the options and bought more to take home and enjoy later.
J Dillon and Sons Bruny Island Apple Cider
Bruny Island Beer Co. Lighthouse Ale
Beer Tasting at Bruny Island Cheese Company
Bruny Island Chocolate Company
Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise
The highlight of out stay was the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise. This three-hour cruise explores the rugged coastal cliffs and wildlife including seals, dolphins, and whales, if they are in the area. For the full blog of the cruise, click here.
The Monument
Arch in the Cliff Face
Australian Fur Seals on The Friars
Accommodation
We stayed in a self contained holiday house in Adventure Bay. This gave us a great place to explore from, while being able to relax in private. With places to eat nearby and centrally located for the Island’s attractions, we enjoyed our stay here.
What Did We Think
We really enjoyed out time here and could have spent several more days going on walks and exploring. The natural beauty and rugged coastline were amazing and the wildlife wonderful to see.
