Deloraine, Tasmania

 Like the Asian tourists we are, photos of our trip away comprise mainly of food.

Deloraine is a charming little town at the heart of Tasmania, [which is incidentally, shped like a heart] We stayed at the loveliest B&B ever - and i don't say this often about places we stay at! It really was the BEST hotel I've ever stayed in. My photos of the place don't do it justice so i won't even try to post them here but on their site are some very good photos.

 No 5-star hotel chain can ever match up to the warm hospitality provided by Helen and Ron. [take it from me as I've worked for an international 5 star hotel chain] The rooms were absolutely beautiful and comfortable, the bathrooms like a dream [worthy of any home design magazine!], and we enjoyed a movie in the media area where blackout blinds, a projector and surround sound speakers created a cineplex like experience.

The amount of attention to detail is what makes everything here so special. It seems that they'd thought of everything! I enjoyed the drinks station outside the rooms with the best quality teas and coffee machine and biccies to satisfy one's mid afternoon or midnight cravings. The pillows were those huge fluffy ones and the elegant origami flowers and chocolates in the rooms provided a nice touch. The lounge area on the groundfloor is so cozy and inviting, especially with the woodheater on. [it was  2-5C on the days we were there]

They had the heating on in our rooms before we arrived, so that we could arrive to a warm cozy room. Just the little details like that, that show the pride they take in their work.

Here's the breakfast buffet spread we had at the www.bluestonegrainstore.com.au

 Ron makes a very very good coffee. That's half a mushroom omelette the hubby had.

and the eggs benedict with smoked salmon was just heavenly. Perfectly cooked, tender eggs with runny yolks with that velvety hollandaise sauce, and perfectly crisp but tender toast. The breakfasts alone could be worth coming to stay here for!

The Bluestone Grainstore
14 Parsonage Street
Deloraine, Tasmania 7304

Phone :
(03) 6362 4722

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the only thing lacking in Deloraine would be a variety of eateries. Other than pub meals, the only things you get here at night would be the greasy takeaways [burgers, chips, deep fried fish or "chico rolls"]. In the daytime there are the usual cafes with the usual sandwiches, pies and muffins. I guess it's because the population there isn't very diverse. 

Also we were told that the kitchens close at 8pm, so apparently everyone has dinner at 5.30pm! is that typical for small towns?

So the first night we had dinner at the Deloraine Hotel, where we ordered this wood fired lamb pizza $16 which was really good.

and below, the chicken parmigiana with chips and salad- $25.90

Both were delicious, but really, when it comes to pub food, I don't know if one pub is any different from another. They all seem to have the same menu everywhere we go! Perhaps all their chefs were trained with the same training manual. Like at McDonald's.  Or is it because people want the same sort of food every time they go to a pub? 

I also enjoyed the Deloraine Folk Museum where I had the opportunity to step into a Victorian era house to view actual furniture, clothing, tools and crockery from the 19th Century! Very interesting to see how different life was back then, and see the similarities [they loved their tea, and beautifully decorated teapots and teacups]