EASY TRIPS

WORDS: RAEWYN KOHPHOTOGRAPHS: TOURISM TASMANIA

Easy Tr ips

THIS MONTH... cycle

through gourmet trails in

Tasmania, Australia

chow down on Michelin star

favourites in Singapore, and

don’t let the sun go down on you

in Buriram, Thailand

The island down under Down Under is all lush forests and rugged coasts. Its

scenic natural beauty is just a backdrop to one of our favourite things about

Tasmania – its fresh produce. Tasmania is also known as Apple Isle, thanks to

its sweet and crisp apples that grow in abundance during fall. But Apple Isle’s

contribution to the world far exceeds just that; cheese, honey, stone fruit,

nuts, craft beers and wines, and succulent seafood are just a glimpse of the

amazing food available.

One of the trendier ways to get around Tasmania now and to sample all this

great food is to rent a bicycle as a means of getting around the island.

Tasmania’s diverse terrain has created many routes traversing farms, wineries

and other places of interest. The various routes also give novice riders and

professional mountain bikers a choice between leisurely or challenging rides.

Head to the West Coast, which has one of the best cycling routes for hilly

scenes, or try the East Coast that offer some of the best mountainside rides in

Australia. For gourmands, cycling through the centre of the state will bring

travellers to top gourmet spots around Tasmania.

TASMANIA MAKE IT HAPPEN

Food cycle Great Western Tiers has a wonderful 62km

cycling trail called the Great Gourmet Ride

that brings cyclists through some of the

region’s best farms and with plenty of

opportunities to stop and sample delicious

gourmet products along the way, such as

cheese, raspberries, salmon and more. Apart

from providing a map, Great Western Tiers also

has a podcast to accompany the ride with

fascinating insights on the region

(greatwesterntiers.net.au).

Hire bikes in the Launceston area, where

most Tasmania’s farms are, from Rent A Cycle

Tasmania. Apart from bicycles, the company

serves backpackers and walkers with tents,

equipment and more for any trip. Rented

equipment can also be returned in Hobart

(from US$15 a day; tasequiphire.com.au).