Spirit of Tasmania

Flavours of Tassie: Distilleries

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:15:56 GMT

Tasmania is home to a quarter of Australia's' whisky producers including Australia's largest distiller of single malt whisky and Australia's southernmost distillery. Taste the legacy on board Spirit of Tasmania in May and June as a part of our Flavours of Tassie showcase which features over 25 Tasmanian food and beverage suppliers, including 3 prestigious distilleries. Read on to find out about their quality distilling techniques and when you can expect to see them on board.

Hellyers Road Distillery

153 Old Surrey Road
Burnie
Tasmania 7320

Hellyers Road Distillery is Australia's largest distiller of single malt whisky and proudly Tasmanian. They have also been recognised as a significant Burnie Tourist Attraction, and received a "Highly Commended" at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards in 2011.

The Hellyers Road Whisky range is complemented with one of Australia's best boutique vodkas and a superb Whisky Cream liqueur.

Hellyers Road is much more than just a whisky distillery, there is also a dedicated Visitor Centre offering a full interpretation of the working distillery (Whisky Walk), product tasting and a superb restaurant with a retail centre.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 12 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 29 June 2013

Lark Distillery

14 Davey Street
Hobart
Tasmania 7000

Lark Distillery is a Hobart based producer of single malt whisky and many other fine spirits. Established in 1992, Lark was the first licensed whisky distillery in Tasmania since 1839 and is now firmly established in the Australian and world whisky market. Lark offers guided tastings at its Hobart whisky bar and also has one day guided tours of the distillery, which include all meals, transport, spirits and local wine tasting.

On board tastings will feature Larks single malt whisky (crafted in small batches exclusively from pure Tasmanian ingredients) and their fabulous TASI, (a superb pepperberry liqueur). Guests will have the opportunity to purchase products at special discounted prices and receive information on tastings and tours while they are visiting Tasmania.

Meet Mark Nicholson from Lark Distillery

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 7 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 8 May 2013

Old Hobart Distillery

Hobart
Tasmania 7000

Old Hobart Distillery is a family owned boutique distillery producing hand-crafted whiskies and other spirits. Their whisky is made from the finest ingredients Tasmania has to offer, with barley to rival the finest in the world and water recognised as the cleanest.

Old Hobart Distillery specialises in producing hand-crafted, single cask, single malt whisky. Their whisky is currently available in both port and sherry cask matured.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 4 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 17 June 2013

William McHenry & Sons Distillery

229 Radnor Road
Port Arthur
Tasmania 7182

William McHenry & Sons Distillery is the southern-most whisky distillery in Australia. Located at Port Arthur, its southern location takes advantage of the cool, moist maritime environment which is perfect for whisky making. The Distillery uses its own abundant clear spring water, which flows off Mount Arthur directly into the distillery and becomes the heart of the developing spirit. They specialise in hand-made single malt Tasmanian whisky and other high quality spirits.

On board William McHentry & Sons Distillery will be sampling their Three Capes Single Malt Whisky, PUER triple distilled Vodka, and McHenry Classic Dry Gin. PLUS, if you travel on the Spirit of Tasmania before 31 August 2013 simply mention this to the team at the distillery for your complementary tasting!

Meet William McHenry from William McHenry & Sons Distillery

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 12 May 2013, 27 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 13 May 2013, 28 May 2013

To view a full calendar of the suppliers on board in May and June, click here.

Flavours of Tassie: Beer & Cider

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:47:05 GMT

Included in our Flavours of Tasmania showcase of more than 25 Tasmanian food and beverage suppliers are three boutique breweries and a new cidery! Irish stout, American pale ale, or a light crisp pear cider, whatever your taste buds prefer read on to find out more about these Tasmanian local brews and when you can expect to see them on board during May and June.

Moo Brew

655 Main Road
Berriedale
Tasmania 7011

The beer-making division of MONA, Moo Brew is a boutique brewery producing five multi-national style beers, including an American Pale Ale, an American Dark Ale, a German-style cloudy wheat beer, a malt-flavoured Pilsner, and an Imperial Stout.

No preservatives are used in Moo Brew's products, which are unpasteurised and hand-crafted by a skillful team led by head brewer, Owen Johnston.

In keeping with David Walsh's love of art, each distinctive brown bottle label is designed exclusively for Moo Brew by Australian artist John Kelly.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 22 May 2013

Morrison Brewery

Launceston
Tasmania 7248

The new kid on the micro-brewing block, Morrison Brewery has already made a name for itself in Tasmania for its three unique brews.

The business is headed by 25 year old Head Brewer, Paul Morrison, who was inspired to start the business after winning the Hobart Beerfest Home Brewing Competition. His beers follow the English style, and include a strong and malty Irish Red Ale, a deep Irish Stout with a bitter palate, and a traditional English Bitter.

Morrison Brewery also produces four limited-edition (1000 bottles only) seasonal releases, recalling long-forgotten beer styles of the past, and more unusual beer varieties.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 23 May 2013, 20 June 2013, 22 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 26 May 2013

Spreyton Cider Co

96 Sheffield Road
Spreyton
Tasmania 7310

Spreyton Cider Co is the latest venture from Spreyton Fresh. The cidery is located on their working orchards and was constructed in 2012. All Spreyton Co ciders are made from 100% Tasmanian apples and pears, with the majority grown on their own orchards in the picturesque Mersey Valley.

They use traditional cider making techniques with a modern twist to create a unique range of ciders. All of their cider undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, and is then bottle conditioned to achieve a light carbonation and a supreme flavour. The Cidery is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Devonport and the Spirit of Tasmania.

Meet Damien Viney from Spreyton Cider Co.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 9 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 10 May 2013

Seven Sheds Brewery

22 Crockers Street
Railton
Tasmania 7305

Established in 2008, Seven Sheds has evolved from offering a single beer - Kentish Ale - to having five brews available all-year-round, plus regular seasonals and a range of single-batch "brewers reserve" beers that provide examples of diverse beer styles from around the world.

Seven Sheds beers are handcrafted in an alehouse designed around traditional brewing methods. Flagship Kentish Ale typifies the robust, flavoursome beers that form the backbone of the Seven Sheds range. A great match for bratwurst sausages or a rabbit pie, Kentish Ale is the most popular Seven Sheds brew.

Other regular brews include Willie Warmer, a spiced dark ale; the Belgian-style Elephants Trunk, which at 7% is one to enjoy while strapped to your favourite armchair; and the raspberry wheat beer Razzamatazz, which is a great thirst quencher on a hot day.

Meet Willie Simpson from Seven Sheds Brewery

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 2 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 3 June 2013

To view a full calendar of the suppliers on board in May and June, click here.

Flavours of Tassie: Wine

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:19:29 GMT

As a part of our Flavours of Tassie initiative we will be showcasing over 25 Tasmanian gourmet food and beverage suppliers, including a selection of 9 premium wine producers. From Home Hills' award winning Pinot Noir to Jansz Tasmania's' traditional champenoise méthod sparkling wines the variety and quality of these cold climate wines is sure to impress. Tastings are only available for the months of May and June, read on to find out about the world class wineries that will be featured on board.

Clover Hill / Taltarni - Wine

60 Clover Hill Road
Lebrina
Tasmania 7254

Clover Hill is one of Australia's principal chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier cuvées. In 1986, on the site of an old dairy farm in north-east Tasmania, the magnificent Clover Hill Vineyard was established by the Goelet family. Their aim was, and still is, to produce superb sparkling wine using traditional French methodology. Since its debut vintage in 1991, Clover Hill has gained a reputation for its uncompromising quality, its elegance and finesse, and its distinguished Tasmanian style.

Located on a 66-hectare property overlooking Bass Strait, it experiences a similar climate to the Champagne region of France, creating a long ripening period, which allows the fruit to accumulate intense flavour balanced with fine acidity.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 20 May 2013, 25 May 2013, 11 June 2013, 29 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 18 May 2013, 24 May 2013. 10 June 2013, 28 June 2013

Goaty Hill Wines

530 Auburn Road
Kayena
Tasmania 7270

The partners in Goaty Hill Wines are close friends from two families who moved from Victoria.

Their aim was specifically to start the journey toward making award winning wines in the famous Tamar Valley, in the pristine cool climate island state of Tasmania.

Their highly acclaimed wines include pinot noir, pinot gris, riesling, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay, among others.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 24 May 2013, 21 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 25 May 2013, 22 June 2013

Jansz Tasmania

1216B Pipers Brook Road
Pipers River
Tasmania 7254

Jansz Tasmania vineyard lies in the Tamar Valley in the heart of the Pipers River region in north eastern Tasmania. With a mantle of red basalt soils and a cool climate moderated by the proximity of Bass Strait, the Jansz Tasmania vineyards are ideal for allowing grapes to ripen slowly and develop the lingering acidity essential to produce a premium sparkling wine.

Jansz was Tasmania's first sparkling wine to be made according to the traditional méthod champenoise and, as the only Tasmanian specialist solely devoted to the art of sparkling winemaking, Jansz Tasmania has since come to describe the technique used in creating each of their definitive wines as Méthode Tasmanoise.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 24 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 27 June 2013

Leaning Church Vineyard

76 Brooks Road
Lalla
Tasmania 7267

This 24-year-old 6.29 hectare vineyard is located only 20 minutes from Launceston at Lalla, in north-eastern Tasmania, on the Tamar Valley Wine Route, Leaning Church Vineyard (formerly Lalla Gully) resides in a spectacular natural amphitheatre at the foothills of towering Mount Arthur.

Leaning Church Vineyard produces six premium cool-climate wines and three single malt Tasmanian whiskies.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 13 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 14 May 2013

Pipers Brook

1216 Pipers Brook Road
Pipers Brook
Tasmania 7254

Established in 1974, Pipers Brook Vineyard is a pioneer and leader in the Tasmanian wine industry.

Pipers Brook wines are entirely estate grown and bottled, taking advantage of both traditional methods as well as advanced oenological developments.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 10 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 15 May 2013

Stefano Lubiana Wines

60 Rowbottoms Road
Granton
Tasmania 7030

After searching Australia, Steve Lubiana and his wife Monique selected Tasmania for their cool climate vineyard. Two decades on, they carry a '5 red stars' rating in the 2013 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion.

In 2012, Gourmet Traveller WINE included Steve and Monique among 8 nominees for their prestigious Winemaker of the Year award.

The Granton based Vineyard, 20km north of Hobart, overlooks the broad Derwent River estuary. First planted in 1991 and later expanded to 25ha, the site has been managed according to biodynamic principles since 2008.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 16 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 17 May 2013

Three Wishes Vineyard

655 Craigburn Road
Hillwood
Tasmania 7250

Three Wishes Vineyard is a small 2.5 hectare vineyard, situated on the Batman Peninsular. The site is a north facing slope making it an ideal micro climate for the grapes.

They grow Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the winemakers at Delemere Vineyard produce their Premium wines.

Their small rustic Cellar door, built in 1900's, overlooks the head of Spring Bay, the vineyard, and the small valley where cows graze. There are flocks of parrots, and occasionally the sea eagles, wedge-tails, and other raptors fly.

They're open when the signs are on the highway, or open by appointment during the winter period.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 26 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 29 May 2013

Home Hill Winery

38 Nairn Road
Ranelagh
Tasmania 7109

Home Hill Tasmanian Boutique Winery produces a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sylvaner, Sparkling Cuvee and a Late Harvest Sticky wine.

Latitude isn't everything, but it sheds some light on why their grapes produce such fine wine. 43 degrees latitude is where both the Huon valley and the Bordeaux of France lie on the map of the world. Both have a maritime climate and similar rainfall.

Home Hill Winery has been awarded numerous gold trophies and many wine show medals.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 14 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 15 June 2013

Hartzview Vineyards

70 Dillons Road
Gardners Bay
Tasmania 7112

Hartzview Vineyards offer a large range of wines, ports and liqueurs for you to sample. Their ports and liqueurs have no artificial preservatives, colours or flavourings. The 18% Alc/vol is a natural preservative.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 21 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 23 May 2013

Josef Chromy Winery

370 Relbia Road
Relbia
Tasmania 7250

Josef Chromy fled a war-torn Czech village in 1950, More than 60 years later he is recognised as an instrumental influence on the Tasmanian food and wine industry having owned and developed some of Tasmania's leading wineries including Rochecombe (now Bay of Fires), Jansz, Heemskerk and Tamar Ridge.

They produce wines under three labels: Pepik - the traditional nickname given to men named Josef in the Czech Republic. This is their more informal range, made for everyday drinking with friends and food.

Josef Chromy - Wines produced under the Josef Chromy label showcase the varietal expression of the cool climate vineyard site. Elegant, subtle and complex, these wines will reward cellaring, or provide great accompaniment to food.

Zdar - this label represents the pinnacle of wine making at the Estate. Only exceptional parcels of wine are reserved for the Zdar label and are extremely limited.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 18 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 21 May 2013

Gryphonwood Vineyards

218 Underwood Road
Underwood
Tasmania 7268

Bordered by the stunning Pipers River, Gryphonwood's 73 acres comprises roughly half workable land, half bushland, and a river gorge. The river blocks are at 260m above sea-level, while the topmost vines are at 310m, making Gryphonwood one of Tasmania's higher vineyards. Their height above sea-level impacts on their wine styles - normally they target table wines; however in cooler growing seasons, they switch to sparkling production. Each growing season in Tasmania is unique, and Gryphonwood allows the seasons to influence the style of fruit they produce.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 29 May 2013, 26 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 31 May 2013

Domaine A

105 Tea Tree Rd
Campania
Tasmania 7026

Domaine A is set in one of the most pristine natural environments  in the world. Established in 1973, the historic Stoney Vineyard is the oldest vineyard in Tasmania's Coal River Valley.

Ancient soil and a cool climate give rise to inspirational terroir founded on 200 million year old jurassic dolerite. Domaine A lies on a north facing slope that enjoys a temperate maritime climate and extended sunlight hours over a long, cool season.

Each Domaine A wine is a reflection of the extraordinary terroir, with a proven record of critical acclaim and genuine ageing capacity.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 2 July 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 4 July 2013

To view a full calendar of the suppliers on board in May and June, click here.

Flavours of Tassie: Gourmet Fare

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:24:14 GMT

Spirit of Tasmania is proud to present a showcase of more than 25 Tasmanian gourmet food and beverage suppliers over the months of May and June. Whilst on board, passengers can enjoy sampling cheese, chocolates, dips, salmon and much more! Read on to find out about the various suppliers and their epicurean delicacies that will be appearing on board throughout May and June.

Tasmania Gourmet Sauce Company

174 Leighlands Road
Evandale
Tasmania 7212

The Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company is located just 2km from historic Evandale in the State's north. They manufacture a range of 34 sauces, jams, chutneys and mustards. Apart from the superb flavours, their major point of difference is that they use Tasmanian fruit, not imported fruit pulp. Visitors can enjoy tastings in the tasting room, wander through the magnificent gardens, and marvel at the topiary nursery.

The Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company will be offering tastings of their full range of products on board Spirit of Tasmania, as well as range of exciting dips and other prepared dishes.

PLUS, there will also be a hamper valued at $100.00 to be given away to anyone who buys their product on board (valid for delivery anywhere within Australia).

Can't make in on board for the tasting? No problem, all Spirit of Tasmania guests will receive a 10% discount to the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company tasting room simply by showing their boarding pass.

Meet Tim Barbour from the Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 5 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 7 May 2013

41° South Tasmania - Salmon

323 Montana Road
Deloraine/Red Hills
Tasmania 7304

41° South salmon farm is an inland fish farm, rearing salmon in the cold and pristine fresh water sourced from the Montana Falls. There are twenty fresh-water ponds, which at any one time house around 10,000 Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon. The salmon is unique to Tasmania, and the fish are born and farmed only in fresh water.

A unique aspect of the farm is that the water that feeds into the fish farm actually carries organic waste products from the growing fish, and is then reticulated from the ponds and through various stages of native wetlands. The wetlands act as a 100% natural filter, removing all the organic waste, feeding the native flora and returning pristine water back into the Western Creek Rivulet. 41° South Tasmania is arguably the most environmentally friendly inland salmon farm in Australia.

41° South Tasmania also grow and develop products for both Korean and American ginseng, which visitors can view and sample.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 8 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 9 May 2013

House of Anvers

9025 Bass Highway
Latrobe
Tasmania 7307

The House of Anvers Chocolate factory is a "total chocolate experience" not to be missed. Visitors can see fine couverture chocolates being made, sample them in the tasting centre, browse through the chocolate museum, or relax in the chocolate café.

The House of Anvers is located just 5 minutes from the Spirit of Tasmania, on the Bass Highway between Devonport and Latrobe, and is open from 7am, ready for your chocolate breakfast.

Igor from House of Anvers will be doing sampling of creamy Belgian style truffles and rich Tasmanian dairy fudge on board. People are invited to ask any questions about chocolate, Anvers Chocolate factory, or the Cradle to Coast tasting trail.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 28 May 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 30 May 2013

Grandvewe Cheese

59 Devlyns Road
Birchs Bay
Tasmania 7162

Come to Australia's only organic sheep cheesery and enjoy up to 15 different types of cheese.

Children are welcome to pat and feed the lambs (seasonal) and watch a sheep milking demonstration at 3.00pm (Oct - Mar). Stay for lunch at the café, and enjoy sheep milk coffee, liqueur, and ice cream (seasonal) with spectacular views of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Open all year from 10am - 5pm. Winter hours (May - Aug) 10am - 4pm.

Meet Diane Rae from Grandvewe Cheese

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 17 May 2013, 30 May 2013, 31 May 2013, 25 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 20 May 2013, 2 Jun 2013, 11 June 2013

Tassie Taste Buds

Woodbridge
Tasmania 7162

TassieTasteBuds had an embryonic beginning back in the 70s when owner Ann Dechaineuxs' mother married a Victorian vigneron. They would fetch a bucket of fermented juice and skins from the winery, boil it, strain it, add sugar and pectin and hey presto the wine jelly was born. Ann returned to Tasmania in 2004 following an eclectic foodie career, embracing T.V and film catering, and several restaurants in Melbourne.

TassieTasteBuds started trading from Launceston and was relocated to Woodbridge in 2007. Ann has a small commercial kitchen and engages a trusty band of locals to produce TassieTasteBuds artisan foods.

TassieTasteBuds produces a range of preserves, condiments, sauces, vinegars and fruit pastes.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 3 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 6 June 2013

Bridestowe Lavender Estate

296 Gillespies Road
Nabowla
Tasmania 7260

Bridestowe Lavender Estate, in Nabowla, is considered one of the State's most spectacular vistas during flowering in December and January. The 265 acre site is noted for its manicured fields of lavender, beautiful gardens and sophisticated tourist facilities, and attracts visitors throughout the year.

Stroll through the endless fields, browse for gifts in the Visitor Centre, and dine in the Woodcroft Café where you can enjoy unique, lavender inspired cuisine. Visit Bridstowe Lavender Estate and learn a little bit more about lavender, and hear a wonderful Tasmanian story (over 90 years in the making).

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 13 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 19 June 2013

Island Olive Grove

222 Denholms Road
Cambridge
Tasmania 7170

Island Olive Grove Tasmania has been established since 1994 to take advantage of the wonderful olives being produced throughout Australia. They're recongised as a label of distinction in Australia and Internationally.

Their property 'Riversdale Estate' is in the Coal River Valley in Southern Tasmania, 15 minutes from the Hobart CBD, where they process and produce a wide range of olive related products. They also have an award winning range of wines on offer.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: TBC

Melbourne to Devonport: TBC

Ashbolt

Glanora Road
Plenty
Tasmania 7140

Situated in Tasmania's Derwent Valley, award winning Ashbolt Farm makes premium Elderberry, Elderflower and Olive Oil products.

The operators of Ashbolt Farm nurture the soil, using the clear, clean water from the Derwent River, and hundreds of tonnes of organic compost, seaweed fertilisers, and nutrient-rich cover crops which are mulched back into tree rows. Their unfinished goal is to drought-proof the farm, establishing efficient irrigation systems and shelter belts in each paddock, ultimately achieving a vibrant, relatively self-sufficient ecosystem.

Some Unique Ashbolt Products:

- Ashbolt Farm olive oil is a vivid iridescent green, and one of only a few oils in Australia that achieves this distinctive green colour. Its nose is sweet, fruity, fresh and complex - with hints of freshly mowed grass and apples. With a crushed-velvet mouth feel, it has a complex, clean, fresh fruity flavour profile right across the palate (exhibiting no fatty residues).

- The elderflower has a complex depth of flavours, and the freshness and cleanness on the palat cannot be replicated in any synthetic-based product. It draws from the particular varietals, the land and the cool climate.

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 10 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 14 June 2013

Ashgrove cheese

6173 Bass Highway
Elizabeth Town
Tasmania 7304

Ashgrove Cheese is a premier producer of award winning handcrafted cheddar style cheeses. The Ashgrove Cheese range includes traditional cheddar cheese, English county cheeses and a series of uniquely flavoured cheeses, including the famous Wild Wasabi cheese.

Ashgrove Milk is also available in Tasmania with three varieties: Full Cream, Non-homogenised and Farm Light milk. Ashgrove Farm Light Milk was awarded "Highest Scoring Milk" at the 2012 Dairy Industry Association of Australia Gala Awards Ceremony in Melbourne and Ashgrove Non Homogenised Milk was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2012 Wrest Point Hobart Fine Foods Awards.

The Ashgrove Farm Shop is a must see tourist attraction located on the Bass Highway, in Elizabeth Town. With viewing of the cheese making, tastings of the Ashgrove Cheese range, and the farm surrounds, the Ashgrove Cheese Shop provides the complete paddock to plate experience.

Meet David Bennett from Ashgrove Cheese

Appearing on board

Devonport to Melbourne: 11 May 2013, 15 May 2013, 5 June 2013, 17 June 2013

Melbourne to Devonport: 12 May 2013, 16 May 2013, 18 June 2013

To view a full calendar of the suppliers on board in May and June, click here.

Spirit of Tasmania match day sponsorship, Easter Sunday, 31 March 2013

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:32:22 GMT

View and tag yourself on Facebook in the photos taken on Sunday 31 March 2013 at the NMFC vs Collingwood clash at Etihad stadium:

Spirit of Tasmania's second year as Match Day sponsor of North Melbourne's Round One home game against Collingwood on Easter Sunday 31 March at Etihad Stadium, kicked off to a great start.

A 'sea of red' to represent Spirit of Tasmania's red ships was created all around the stadium with branding on ticket windows, red Spirit of Tasmania flags, red balloons at entrance gates and more than 60 promotional staff wearing red polos and hats handing out giveaways to crowds.

More than 42,000 people attended the game and had the chance to win two return trips on board Spirit of Tasmania by holding up their banners before the game and at quarter time. Thousands of excited supporters waved their banners frantically for their chance to win. Congratulations to the lucky prize winners - a North Melbourne supporter Adriano Biondi and a Collingwood supporter Kate Hansen!

The giveaways didn't stop there - those who purchased a Football Record simply had to sign up for Spirit of Tasmania's free Travel Club for another chance to win a return trip for two. Entries are open for this competition until April 15. Click here to register and be in the running.

Footy fans enjoyed a range of pre-match activities, including roaming stilt walkers wearing large cardboard Spirit of Tasmania ships and chocolate treats from the Easter Bunny, but the biggest surprise was Spirit of Tasmania's flash mob. Around 20 promotional staff handing out banners to the crowds suddenly erupted into a dance routine when they heard Ricki Lee's 'Do it Like That' blaring through the speakers. Surprised onlookers couldn't help but tap their feet to the beat and gathered around to watch. North Melbourne players, supporters and even police officers stopped to watch a group of very talented dancers entertain crowds and create a fantastic energy and vibe in the Fan Zone area at Gate 5.

Thank you to everyone involved who made this a fantastic day! We wish North Melbourne all the best with the season ahead.

Cruising Tasmania

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:41:20 GMT

In 2012 we released free copies of 'Cruising Tasmania, our guide to touring Tasmania'. We are happy to announce that we received over 20,000 requests for the first edition of the publication.

Hidden within 10 copies of Cruising Tasmania were 10 golden tickets…

Those who were lucky enough to find a golden ticket within their copy won a free return trip for two on-board Spirit of Tasmania!!!

Our 10 lucky winners were:

Rahul Bajoria

Lynette Patzel

Christine Rowlands

Geoffrey McKnight

Katherine Tucker

Andrew Stewart

Sharron Bastow

Tanya Richards

Christine Sartori

Judith Clark

Congratulations to all the winners, we hope you had a trip to remember with Spirit of Tasmania!

Back by popular demand - the next edition of Cruising Tasmania will be available in Autumn so make sure you check our website to request your copy.

Travelling on board Spirit of Tasmania with kids - easy and uncomplicated

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:17:22 GMT

"It was exciting for the kids and an easy, uncomplicated way to travel on my own with small children."

We love a good mummy blogger! And for other mums and dads out there who are interested in travelling with kids or have never travelled with kids before, this review will hopefully help you plan and make the most of your trip on board.

Check out real stories and reviews from mums who have recently travelled on board. Here are the highlights of our most recent 'mums say' review shared by Victorian mum of three who travelled 25 August - 27 August 2012. View the full review and discussion on Kidspot.

My 3 bebes - aged 9, 5.5 and 3 could not have been more excited about a trip on the ship - and what an impressive ship it was!

Our berth had 4 bunks and a porthole. Yes, the lifeboats were there, as was the skyline and water. The usual debate over bed claiming transpired and I checked out the bathroom - which was bigger than I'd expected. Good sized shower, space to use the toilet and a decent sized counter top around the basin for toiletries.

I stowed our suitcases and bags under the beds. Even with 4 suitcases and 2 bags and 2 kids back packs there was plenty of space and everything was stowed out of the way. The coat hangers and hooks were great for our coats and kept everything tidy.

We also visited Tourist Information, where we picked up lots of brochures and and maps and the lovely lady had lots of suggestions and ideas for us. There was information on a really diverse range of things to do all over Tasmania, not just the big tourism areas, which was good to see.

We then went to find the games arcade - which was a bit old for my kids, but being enjoyed by some happy teenagers - so we sought out the playroom. This was smaller than I'd envisaged, but the boys had fun for 15 minutes before dinner.

Next....to The Leatherwood Restaurant. Peter and Peter looked after us and they were knowledgeable and attentive. The children were brought pencils and colouring in pages to keep them entertained whilst we waited for our food. My entree of stuffed Swiss brown mushrooms was delicious - each of the kids agreed after they tested it too. My beef was cooked perfectly as I'd requested, and also delicious. The children's dinners were big portions but also happily devoured. They all had the chicken breast and roast vegetables. Dessert was ice cream and topping for the kids and Baked lemon curd tart with raspberry coulis for me. Mmmmm - my kids loved helping me eat that too! Hehe

The Leatherwood Restaurant was quite busy, but very comfortable and had a good feel. This also gave me the opportunity to see what everyone else was ordering - everything looked scrumptious and was generously portioned.

The shower was big enough for the boys to share and not annoy each other, my daughter was able to brush her teeth and not be bumping them or getting sprayed. Bedtime preparations were a success.

The bunks were as expected - and with the rocking the kids slept really well. The bathroom was easy to find in the night and the block out curtains were very efficient.

My only "observation" on the set up of the berth is that the only power point was set at the desk - so I couldn't use it as a clock or light during the night because I couldn't reach it. The power point near the window and my pillow was not compatible for normal plugs. Hardly a crisis, but a bit frustrating.

After a couple of fantastic days exploring the north west coast - we headed back to Devonport for our homeward journey.

Dinner on the trip home was at The Captain's Table - a cafeteria style set up where you can select your own hot or cold food from the range available - $30 for an adult size plate, dessert and drink. It was really busy and everyone in the queue was piling their plates high. The food wasn't as hot as I may have liked, but was still enjoyable. The kids thought it was great being able to sit at the window and watch as we departed Devonport. The playroom is located next to The Captain's Table, and was busy with kids playing while their families enjoyed dinner.

As we had 2 night sailings we didn't visit the cinema or use the portable entertainment players for hire, much to my children's disappointment. We also didn't get to explore outside as much as they would have liked. Being windy and getting dark, I wasn't too keen to venture outside, but the view was worth the quick detour.

I'm so glad we were given the opportunity to travel on The Spirit of Tasmania, it was a great experience. It was exciting for the kids and an easy, uncomplicated way to travel on my own with small children. The early arrival and late departure times allow for full usable days. Although we didn't take a car with us this time - hiring one was simple and convenient in Devonport.

The Spirit of Tasmania is cost effective way of being able to enjoy Tasmania. People I have spoken to about our trip have all said "yeah but you can get such cheap flights now" - but for a family of 5 return "cheap flights" and a hire car and car seats for a few days or a week certainly add up!!

The Spirit of Tasmania allows the freedom of taking your own car, a restful sleep and the kids have an adventure. Next time I'd probably try and book a day sailing, mainly because the kids would love to explore the ship more and the sense of space being on open water would be fantastic.

Book your next family holiday online today at spiritoftasmania.com.au.

Win a road trip to remember competition wrap up

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:54:25 GMT

Our recent Facebook competition 'Win a road trip to remember' has come to a close and all winners have been announced on Spirit of Tasmania's Facebook page.

We received over 450 entries and were truly impressed with the high quality and unique creativity showcased amongst the entries. Thanks to all participants for entering and helping us inspire other travellers to visit our beautiful island and experience the memorable trip on board Spirit of Tasmania.

To recap, here are the details of our winning entries...

Major prize winner
Neville Hayes - Video entry Spirit of Tasmania
Check out Neville's fantastic video entry capturing his trip to remember with Spirit of Tasmania. Neville wins a return trip on board Spirit of Tasmania and a luxury accommodation package in Tasmania provided by TasVacations.

Runner-up winners
Each receiving double movie passes and a Tasmanian confectionery hamper filled with $100 of the finest handcrafted chocolates from House of Anvers.

Nicole Young - Photo entry Big Rock!
Peter Osborne - Photo entry Bay of Fires
Bronwyn Beasley - Photo entry Beach sisters
Katie Brokling - Photo entry Me and Grandad at Cradle Mountain
Hilly Billy - Photo entry Dawn at the Dove Lake

The winning photos entries can be view here.

Voters' choice winner
Tasha Jordan - Video entry East Coast Tassie Ride
Tasha received the most votes for her video and has won a $200 Spirit of Tasmania gift voucher.

Congratulations to all winners! A big thank you also goes out to all entrants, prize contributors and judges including professional photographer Belinda Fettke, Cameron Brette from the travel experts TasVacations and the divine House of Anvers Chocolate Factory.

To view all the competition entries, head to Facebook and access the 'Comp entries' tab.

Get creative with your travel photos and win a road trip to remember!

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:27:23 GMT

Have you heard about our latest Facebook competition? By sharing your photos and videos of Tassie memories and experiences on board Spirit of Tasmania, we're giving you a chance to win a road trip to remember in Tasmania! To find out more about the competition, visit us on Facebook and access the 'Competition' app at the top of our page.

Our competition has kicked off to a great start and we've received some fantastic photos and videos of scenery, action shots, romantic moments, fun on board and more.

You don't need to be a professional photographer or own an expensive, high-tech camera to get involved. With so many photo and video apps now available on your smartphone, you can easily turn your memorable travel moments into creative snaps and inspirational video footage with a simple click on your phone.

As well as the recently released Facebook Camera that now lets you play with crops and filters, here are five handy apps that you can use to get creative with your photos and videos on your mobile phone and on the go.

To enter our competition, you do need to use Facebook's full browsing site (not available via mobile), but you can simply upload your photos taken on mobile from your Facebook albums. Or if submitting a video entry, simply upload it to YouTube or Vimeo and provide us the URL on the entry form.

Get Instragramming
Instagram is a popular photo sharing app that has generated lots of social media craze. It lets you snap a photo with your mobile phone and then choose a fun and 'vinatge-like' filter to transform the image into a polaroid style photo.

Get creative with a collage
Picture Collage HD lets you make a collage of all your selected pictures into one. You can move, rotate and change the size of the pictures within the collage.

Get editing
Snapbucket lets you snap a picture, edit it, and share with friends; all from your mobile phone. It's the easiest way to style a picture your way and share it with Photobucket, or to Facebook and Twitter.

Get video recording
Socialcam is a smartphone application that makes it easy to share videos with friends. Socialcam works on Apple's iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS running iOS 4.2 and above.

Get filming
Viddy is a simple way for anyone to capture, beautify, and share amazing videos with the world. Capture key moments, instantly produce it into a beautiful video and share it.

Here's some examples we've been experimenting with using Instagram. A big thank you goes out to blog writer Rachel Power, author of The Great Aussie Roadtrip, who has provided some of these fantastic photos.

We look forward to receiving more great entries. Competition closes 10 July 2012.

ENTER COMPETITION

Brewing up a fine ale on Bass Strait

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:43:24 GMT

Tasmania's Seven Sheds brewer, Willie Simpson, is attempting to re-create beer history by installing two wooden casks of ale on board Spirit of Tasmania II for a month-long experiment.

The casks will complete 23 trips across Bass Strait, and produce 400 unique, limited-edition bottles of Bass Strait India Pale Ale.

Willie was inspired to create his India Pale Ale due to its history dating back to the 1800s when attempts to ship beer from England to India often resulted in yeast spoilage. The beer did not keep well on the long, hot voyages and British troops and other ex-pats would often go months without a decent pint of beer. Eventually a new recipe was formulated - one with higher alcohol and more hops which was able to withstand the long sea voyage.

"The beer will travel a total of 23 trips between Devonport and Melbourne on Spirit of Tasmania II, roughly equivalent to the original 10,000km voyage to India via the Suez Canal," he said.

"My gut feeling is that the motion of the ship on water will accelerate the wood-aging maturation. Hopefully, there will be more lovely woody characters in the final beer than if the casks had been sitting on land somewhere.

"Seven Sheds is small enough to do experimental brews like this. I had a couple of 100-litre wooden casks from Lark Whisky Distillery sitting around, so this idea has been 'brewing' for some time.

"The beer will be mellowing during the sea journey and sharp flavours will become well-rounded. There will also be an uptake of wood flavours as the beer interacts with the cask. This is all guesswork until we taste the final beer!"

When the beer is ready to be bottled, Willie will individually number the 400-odd bottles and sell them through the Seven Sheds tasting room.

"This is the start of many local Tasmanian initiatives," Spirit of Tasmania Retail & Hospitality General Manager Nick Harriman said.

"We are committed to supporting Tasmanian suppliers and offering a great Tasmanian range of produce and beverages on our ships. Passengers will also be able to enjoy a new beer on board from Willie's brewery - Seven Sheds Paradise Pale."

Willie is an award-winning home brewer who turned his hobby into a family business. A working journalist, he has written four books about beer and the Australian beer brewing industry and has visited around 90 Australian breweries and many more overseas. Seven Sheds Brewery is located in Railton in north-west Tasmania, with a cellar door open five days a week, attracting more than 5,000 tourists a year.