Today was our first day of exploring Northwest Tasmania starting from our base in Devonport.

Tasmania is well known as the Apple Isle and with good reason – it is a major supplier of apples to China, Hong Kong, PNG and Singapore. In fact 65% of all Australian apple exports originate from Tasmania benefiting from its cooler climate and extending Australia’s growing season.

You won’t need to travel far from Devonport to see orchards heavy with the freshest, healthiest looking fruit and with good reason, the Australian Cider producer Spreyton is based in the town of its name with apple orchards growing within the town’s picturesque valley.

Sheffield – Town of Murals

An interesting town we have previously visited in Northern Tasmania is Sheffield situated south of Devonport within the Kentish Region. Previously a hub of the hydroelectric scheme and still a world-renowned dairy producer, the town is now better known for its painted murals on many of the towns buildings and within Mural Park. Each year International artists gather to paint within the Mural Park during Mural Fest. Unusually the theme each year is based on a winning poem entry from the concurrent poetry competition.

While not to the same standard of many of Australia’s silo artworks they are well worth a visit when exploring this part of Tasmania. And while you are here we would highly recommend stopping for a coffee and cake at the Epicurean Cafe on the high street.

What’s in a name?

The Sheffield area also appears to have attracted more than its share of odd place names as can be witnessed outside the town’s Tourist Information Centre. Mounted on a pole are directions to ‘Promised Land’, ‘Paradise’, ‘Nowhere Else’ and ‘Garden of Eden’ and these are just a few of the local settlements presumably named after a long night on the grog. Sheffield, however, isn’t unique in Australia for quirky names. It appears early settlers had an interesting sense of humour.

Reliquaire

Eccentric or just unusual? That’s a question we were asking ourselves as we stepped into Reliquaire – a unique store in the small town of Latrobe. It’s an assault on the senses, an indoor African jungle, a dinosaur park, a book store, home to Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Dr. Who. Confused? We were.

As soon as you open the door to the store you are faced with an unbelievable number of products all fighting for a space along the floor, walls or strung from the ceiling. But it is not disorganised chaos, rather it is themed by product type, size or colour. There are large stuffed animals, bone china tea ware, children’s clothes, toys, door fittings, model aircraft, TV themed merchandise, leather ware and a cafe to mention just a few. You really need to visit this store for yourself to comprehend what the store has to offer. Bring the children too and let them discover what’s behind the secret doors!

Time for Chocolate

There’s always time in the day for chocolate and especially from an artisan like Anvers Chocolate located just beyond Latrobe on the road to Devonport. There are viewing windows so you can see the chocolates being made and a small museum displaying chocolate moulds dating back to the 18th century. As we visited in March, Easter Egg production was in full swing.

As chocolate lovers we’d highly recommend stopping buy and buying a block of happiness.