One of several reports in a series covering the Subaru 4WD Club's Tasmania excursion from 17 September to 17 October 1999
Tasmania
Day 15
4 October 1999
Hobart Gourmet Day
Monday started off as the wettest day we had so far encountered in Tasmania, yet our spirits were not dampened - we were off to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory!
Bookings are essential for the Cadbury tour, and as luck would have it, our seemingly late booking meant that we had no choice of times and had to endure an 8am start at the factory. Strangely, there were not too many complaints about the early start that day, as after all, there are much worse things in life that one has to endure than a breakfast of free chocolate. And boy was there chocolate!
The tour started with a video history of Cadbury, but most people were too excited to watch and listen; real live chocolate aroma was in the air. Pat’s eyes were sparkling, Arnold’s lips were smacking, and everyone else were readying their pockets!
Our group was first cab off the rank and got a special tour of the children’s ‘hand’s on’ area before setting out into the plant armed with hair nets and hearing protection. We were led through a succession of manufacturing and packaging areas, witnessing some of the more famous Cadbury lines being produced and being introduced to some of Cadbury’s more recent innovations. It wasn’t long before our guide uttered those immortal words "please help yourself …", and with that, she was lucky to survive the ensuing stampede.
Our guide quickly identified Graham as a potential trouble maker and before long had to discipline him for dipping into the cocoa treats ahead of time – an accusation strongly denied, albeit with sticky fingers and a chocolate ring around the cake hole. Matt quickly cottoned on to the idea that if he held the doors open as the group passed through, he would score the gatekeepers fee and put that diet off for another day. He didn’t collect the full toll, however; it would have taken a strong crow bar to prise chocolates from the hands of such professional chocaholics as Pat & Arnold.
Graham - The face of a trouble maker ?
The tour was interesting, educational and above all, tasty, but a little short on technical detail for those so interested. Afterward we were able to purchase bulk chocolate at discounted prices in the tour visitor’s shop. Most of us bought "travellers" and gifts for the poor unfortunates back home. Although Pat & Arnold bought up big, Matt probably took the record, staggering out with a 4kg box of Crunchie bits. I wonder if they ever made it home to Vanessa … hmmm!
Following the Chocolate breakfast, the team went their separate ways before reuniting after lunch for an amber ale tour. But in the meantime, Danny & Beth continued the gourmet theme, visiting the Tasmania Whisky Distillery & Museum. The distillery features a very informative self-guided tour which describes both the process of distilling whisky (and other fire waters) and the history of distilling in Tasmania. The distillery is only small, having only one Still in operation, but a wide range of liquor based products are available in the distillery shop. But best of all, product sampling is included in the small entry charge … hic! The smart ones would pay their fee and go around, and again, and again …
Continuing, the "hic" theme, the team regrouped after lunch at Cascade, Australia’s oldest brewery. Danny & Beth are ardent home brewers and were really looking forward to the tour. We were guided through the complete brewing process, from hop receiving, through malting the barley, to brewing the wort, to bottling and packaging the final product … and oh yes, to tasting. The latter part of the tour was most impressive – free booze – and not bad tasting either. Funny how everyone rushed to the bar when our tour guide said she would only open another bottle if there were enough interested parties.
The gourmet tour ticked – chocolate, whisky, beer …. and best of all, free - the group disbanded for the remainder of the day, to do their own thing. A rare break in a hectic tour schedule, albeit on this occasion, in the rain. Danny and Beth, with work commitments that required them to return home ahead of the rest, packed up their camping gear and hit the road for Richmond and a speed run along the northeast coast.
Danny Williams SC412
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