Today after checking out the Callington Mill and touring the old flour mill, we drove down to Hobart straight to the Cadbury Factory.
Built in Claremont, just outside of Hobart, in 1922, it is the home of many of Australia’s most loved chocolate brands such as Cherry Ripe, Freddo, Dream, Picnic and Roses. For AU$7.50, the general public can access the visitor centre, watch a presentation on Cadbury’s history, receive a goodie bag, and access the factory shop. The little museum held molds from all of their most famous products – Freddo frogs, Caramello koalas.. and a collection of vintage chocolate boxes.
The factory store was the big winner though – with flavours that were never released to the public plus huge bags of their normal chocolates, everything was sold in bulk, and if it was close to its expiration date the cost would plummet.
We got over AU$100 worth of chocolate for AU$19…
Afterwards, we head over to the Museum of Old and New Art. By far the coolest museum I have been to, outdoing the Guggenheim and the like by miles.
MONA is an art museum located within the ground of the Moorilla Winery in Berriedale. The Museum has a large presence in Hobart since its $75 million renovation and subsequent reopening in 2011. Funded by Tasmanian millionaire David Walsh, it is a quirky and enigmatic structure, with an art collection to match. Shunning the ‘norms’ in every way imaginable, Walsh described his vision for the museum to be a ‘submersive, subterranean adult disneyland’. With sex and death galleries, pulse rooms, cinemas and bars, the underground museum is a sort of reverse NY Guggenheim, with a spiralling staircase taking visitors deep underground and then letting them work their way back towards the surface. The design was evidently intentional, adding to the art viewing experience and contributing a sense of surreal unease.
On site is a brewery, winery, and a number of restaurants and cafes. Forget everything you know about museum cafeterias – here we have fine dining at its best. The MONA Wine Bar looks over the sculpture garden, and is positioned to catch the afternoon light. An absolute delight to dine in, the food on offer is exquisitely crafted and wholesome, filled with only the best ingredients Tasmania has to offer.
I had the mixed grain pearl barley salad, topped with roasted pumpkin, almonds, dehydrated mandarin, fresh mandarin, spinach and yoghurt dressing (AU$14). It quite possibly one of the best salads I have had the pleasure of eating.
After a day of exploring the galleries and having our minds opened, we head up to the Moorilla Cellar Door to taste some of the best boutique wines around. For AU$10 a head, your tasting fee is refunded if you buy a bottle – we bought a case. It makes for a lovely relaxing end to the day – the staff are chatty and welcoming, and the area is bright and accommodating. The highlight wine for us was the Muse Pinot Noir. Moorilla has been operating as a vineyard since 1947, and has continued under David Walsh’s ownership since 2005.
