Don't follow the regular tourist trails throughout the Apple Isle; ask around and get a local perspective. Here are some ideas to get you started:
On the drive to the Tasman Peninsula, there's a little cafe that, unless you knew about it, you wouldn't realise was there. The inside of an old fish cannery houses the Dunalley Waterfront Café, a mish-mash of antique collectibles, second-hand books, hand-made jewellery and the best coffee this side of Hobart. The breakfasts on offer are divine (try the Huon Valley mushrooms on thick cut toast — yum), and the views from the balcony just beg to be photographed. It's fast gaining popularity among the locals, so get in before the tourists discover this hidden gem. Seek it out at the end of Imlay Street, Dunalley (phone (03) 6253 5122).
Who would have thought the world's largest maze was right here in Tasmania? Tasmazia is in the Promised Land, on the Cradle Mountain scenic route. Have fun losing your travel partner (or the kids) in the Great Maze; just allow a few hours on the itinerary, as you never know how long it will take to navigate your way back out again — it's seriously challenging. Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch in the ridiculous Village of Lower Crackpot. The gift shop is surprisingly low on the kitsch-factor, and the pancake parlour is delightful if you choose not to BYO lunch.
Another "world's largest" is just outside of Launceston — ride the longest single chairlift span on earth at Cataract Gorge. A whole summer's day can be whiled away here, enjoying the outdoor swimming pool, lush landscaped grounds and wilderness walks through the rocky terrain of the gorge.
South Hobart is still seemingly untouched by tourists, servicing the locals with great restaurants, fantastic coffee, and quirky gift shops. It's a delight for foodies to walk from one end of Macquarie Street to the other, taking in the Macquarie Street Foodstore, the Salad Bowl, Mondo's Bread and the old-school Cascade Hotel. Flathead Restaurant is the latest and greatest addition to the strip, serving fresh-caught seafood in an elegant modern venue. The only downside is that now that the word's out, it sometimes takes weeks to get a booking. But it's certainly worth the wait.
Only a few blocks up from the waterfront in Hobart is where the Penitentiary Chapel and Prisoner's Barracks were built in the 1830s. Volunteers run fascinating and informative tours several times daily, exploring hidden tunnels, solitary confinement cells and the creepy gallows. Pre-book for a hefty discount on the admission price. There are also ghost tours run at night through the execution yards — join in if you dare.
Got any more near the beaten track suggestions? Have your say using the comments form below.
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