When you absolutely, positively have to visit a Kmart AND a Woolies, then get a disappointing meal…read moreall in one stop, make your way to Eastlands! The Car park is always crammed to the hilt and poor parking abounds at the best of times. There's precisely zero available spots in the area facing the bus mall, with cars of all sizes in a predatory orbit awaiting the first spot to open up. Inside, it's two stories with the usual clothing shops, phone/repair shops, nail salons, and massage spaces, and the aforementioned Kmart/Big W on one end and Coles AND Woolies at the other end. It's long overdue for a facelift.

Hobart's obnoxious multi-storey (two) shopping centre, featuring Big W AND Kmart, Coles AND…read moreWoolies. Oh, stop. No, go on. Sure, it's also full of a whole bunch of specialty shops (lots of clothes) and overpriced cafes, just like every other shopping centre? Yes. Plenty of parking available (and a great affordable carwash in the multi-level carpark around the back), this is a bright and mostly clean complex but is absolutely riddled with Hobogans. Enter at your own peril, and leave as soon as you're done. No dawdling.

Hobart Airport (HBA) is the primary gateway to Tasmania, located approximately 17 kilometers east…read moreof Hobart's city centre in the suburb of Cambridge. It is Australia's southernmost airport and serves as a critical base for scientific expeditions to Antarctica. Gayle and I landed here on a Jet Star flight from Sydney. We arrived mid-day and in pretty good shape with maybe 19 hours of jet lag (from Nevada) under our belt. As with other small airports in Australia, we deplaned using stairs and then walking into the terminal. We also were questioned and checked about any food we might be bringing into Tasmania. This was on top of similar questions we were asked when we landed in Sydney from LAX. HBA is small, and it was a little tricky to get to baggage claim as parts of the airport was being significantly renovated. After getting our bags, fining a cab was pretty straightforward for the ride into town.

Flew in on Virgin Atlantic and out on Qantas…read more It was a very compact airport with just five gates in this airport so it was quick out and then back in. Looked like an extensive renovation was underway with lots of activity outside and Gate 6. Deplaning and boarding was via stairs only. Tasmania was quite strict on what food you bring in and even deployed a food sniffing dog right as you enter the terminal. His nose was so sensitive to the orange I ate on the plane that I had to explain what happened to it as they looked in my bag. No worries about what you take out though. There was one baggage carousel but unloading took longer than expected. Once in hand, it was a quick walk to the Uber pick up point (~A$40 for ~20minutes to Hobart CBD) or the rental cars. Security screening at departures was very efficient at less than 10 minute. there was a large restaurant/bar, quick eats spot along with a Tasmania, Relay store and 2 other gift shops. Wooden seats were a bit uncomfortable and not all tables had charging outlets. Lots of bathrooms but only one water refill station that was out of order. Bathrooms were quite clean and spacious. At least an easy airport to use on Tasmanian travels.

What an adorable place!…read more My nickname is 'Puddleduck', so of course on the way back to Hobart from visiting Richmond I had to stop in and visit this winery. And I'm so glad we did! The first thing that welcomes you is a giant sign letting you know you're welcome to 'Reverse BYO' - that is that you bring the food and they'll provide the wine. A great idea and muchly appreciated, as if you're on a budget you'll have more to spend on wines! The setting for this winery can only be described as idyllic - the main building sits on the edge of a dam and has a deck outside. We happened to visit on a perfect day and sat for a while in the sunshine on the deck watching the various water birds. There's a beautiful grassed area with chairs and tables and even a children's playground and a big area for the kids to run around and let off steam. There were a few families enjoying lunch and a few drinks and I love that they cater to families so well. We opted for the $5 wine tasting at the bar - there is also an option for a $15 sit down tasting or a $25 one which includes a cheese platter. All of those costs are deducted if you choose to purchase a bottle. My favourite was the Pinot Noir which smelled and tasted amazing. They also have all these options available as a cider tasting too! The guy who was serving welcomed us enthusiastically when we arrived and told us a bit about tastings etc. He also apologised and told us that the service may be a little slower because he was running the show on his own. This is a family business and his mum had an appointment so was unable to help out that day. I appreciated the forewarning and preemptive apology but it was not needed - the service was great. When we went to pay for our tasting he even offered them for free as he felt like he had not been able to be as attentive to us as he wanted to be! I absolutely loved my time at Puddleduck and will endeavour to visit whenever I am back in Hobart. It's well worth the drive from the city!

I absolutely love Puddleduck to bits. My first visit was their first weekend open with essentially…read morejust a little hut by the pond and the paint still drying - I've been coming back ever since and watching the place grow into the wonderful business it is now. The 'shop' is still a fairly small building by the pond (major extension coming this year) but with a lots of outdoor seating around the water either under umbrellas on the grass or under the marquee. The Puddleduck wines are great (do NOT miss out on trying Bubbleduck) and you can kick back whilst working through the wine list with a cheese platter made up of 'wicked' cheeses produced just down the road. Don't want cheese? No problem! Puddleduck allows 'reverse BYO'. You bring whatever picnic food you want and they supply the wine! Puddleduck makes a great wine tasting stop along the Coal Valley route, but if the weather is good I recommend putting aside an afternoon and relaxing - the whole business is a family affair and it feels like it, with warm friendly service that makes you feel instantly like old friends. Other important notes about Puddleduck; you can meet internationally famous 'wine dog' Basil and his cohorts Polly and Sybil. You can also meet Lucky the duck (and all of his friends if they are feeling sociable and you can adopt your very one vine!