Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 14 . TASMANIA
106 George St. & 03/6334 2490. Light meals A$4–A$5 (US$2.60–US$3.25); main courses A$9–A$18
(US$5.85–US$12). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm; Sat 8.30am–4pm.
O’Keefe’s Hotel ASIAN/TASMANIAN This pub-based eatery earns high
praise for its variety of well-prepared dishes. You can choose between such delicacies
as Thai curry and laksa; seafood dishes such as scallops, prawns, and sushi;
and plenty of pastas and grills. There’s also a range of good salads.
124 George St. & 03/6331 4015. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$11–A$25 (US$7–US$16).
AE, MC, V. Daily 11am–2am.
Shrimps SEAFOOD Shrimps offers the best selection of seafood in Launceston.
Built in 1824 by convict labor, it has a classic Georgian exterior. Tables are
small and well spaced, and the best meals are off the blackboard menu, which generally
includes at least eight fish dishes. Usually available are wonderful Tasmanian
mussels, whitebait, Thai-style fishcakes, and freshly split oysters. Everything is very
fresh and seasonal.
72 George St. (at the corner of Paterson St.). & 03/6334 0584. Reservations recommended. Main courses
A$14–A$19 (US$9.10–US$12). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Sat noon–2pm and 6:30–10pm.
Star Bar Cafe MEDITERRANEAN Many consider this Tasmania’s best
bistro. It offers a range of dishes, such as mee goreng, beetroot, and quail risotto;
grilled octopus, steaks, and chicken livers; and pizzas and breads cooked in the
wood-fired oven. In winter, guests congregate around a large open fire.
113 Charles St.& 03/6331 9659. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$12–A$20 (US$6.80–US$11).
AE, MC, V. Mon–Wed 11am–11pm; Thurs–Sat 11am–midnight; Sun noon–10pm.
A CAFE
Croplines Coffee Bar Finds If you crave good coffee, bypass every other
place in Launceston and head here. It’s a bit hard to find, and you may have to
ask for directions, but basically it’s behind the old Brisbane Arcade. The owners
are dedicated to coffee, grinding their beans on the premises daily. If coffee’s not
your cup of tea, then try the hot chocolate—it’s the best I’ve tasted.
Brisbane Court, off Brisbane St.& 03/6331 4023. Coffees and teas A$1.60–A$2.40 (US$1–US$1.60). Cakes
under A$2 (US$1.30). AE, MC, V. Daily 8am–5:30pm.
WORTH A SPLURGE
Fee & Me Restaurant MODERN AUSTRALIAN What is perhaps
Launceston’s best restaurant is found in a grand old mansion. The menu is structured
so that diners choose a selection from five categories, each one moving
from light to rich. An extensive wine list has been designed to complement selections
for each course. A five-course meal could go something like this: Tasmanian
smoked salmon with salad, capers, and a soft poached egg; followed by chili
oysters with a coconut sauce and vermicelli noodles; then ricotta and goat cheese
gnocchi with creamed tomato and red capsicum; followed by Asian-style duck
on bok choy with a citrus sauce; topped off with a coffee and chicory soufflé.
The dishes change frequently, so you never know what you might find.
Corner of Charles and Frederick sts. & 03/6331 3195. Reservations recommended. A$42 (US$27) for 3
courses, A$48 (US$31) for 4 courses, A$50 (US$33) for 5 courses. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Sat 7–10:30pm.
5 Cradle Mountain & Lake St. Clair National Park
85km (53 miles) S of Devonport; 175km (109 miles) NW of Hobart
The national park and World Heritage area that encompasses both Cradle Mountain
and Lake St. Clair is one of the most spectacular regions in Australia and, after