Gardners Bay, Tasmania, Australia
Cygnet is 4 kms from the property and home to potters, painters, writers, actors, photographers and those that love water sports- not those that love good food, cool climate wines and glorious scenery!
Keep an eye out for the annual Cygnet Folk Festival, January the bi-annual French Festival, Le Weekend (incorporating "Le Tour de Cygnet" bike race); yes our little town of approximately 1,500 swells to over 6,000 and is very vibrant. Oh la la!
Cygnet is in the heart of an important apple, cherry and berry growing district. Cygnet has successfully mixed alternative lifestyle activities such as woodturning, whole-foods shops, craft activities and holiday accommodation with more traditional dairy cattle, orchards, mixed farming and sawmilling. It is an area of such richness that the SBS cooking/lifestyle series Gourmet Farmer showcased both the area and its presenter, Matthew Evans's, love of local fresh produce and cuisine designed to make enthusiastic foodies go weak with delight. His Fat Pig Farm is nearby, so make a day of, explore his farm and enjoy all he has to offer.
Those interested in good food, cool climate wines and glorious scenery visit the region in increasing numbers. If you have a Kayak or stand-up paddle board, drop it into the bottom of the garden and explore the magnificent shoreline. There are many boat ramps nearby (Lymington, Cygnet & Deep Bay) should you wish to launch your small boat or jet-ski!
Cygnet is around 45 minutes from Hobart, and around one hour from Hobart Airport, Cygnet's a great place from which to explore Tasmania's pristine South.
You can also easily explore Bruny Island as it is only a 20 minute drive to Kettering, where the ferry departs. Spend the day exploring the Island and return with lovely local produce to enjoy with a vino or two overlooking the bay from your own alfresco area.
From the village itself, roads wander off in all directions, and tucked away you'll come upon bays (like ours), beautiful unspoiled beaches (Drip beach, Verona Sands, to name a few); multitude of vineyards, organic farms - with seasonal farm-gate sales - and friendly locals. Not forgetting to mention wallabies, Tassie devils and spotted quolls all very active at night. Drive carefully dusk to dawn, they often walk across the road.
Cygnet is a picturesque farming community with many orchards, aquaculture and numerous small holdings. It's generally a friendly town where new locals are welcome and accepted. Weekends are particularly busy and vibrant, especially when the bi-weekly farmer's market is on (1st & 3rd Sunday of each month.) You'll find the market announced by worn out old signs stuck on trees and fences just a few days ahead. Very informal, Cygnet, but that's the spirit of the place.
The market features wonderful home made goods, organic produce of all kinds, stalls selling everything from hand-made soaps and cosmetics to cakes, plants, books, beautiful timber work and things you just don't expect can be found at the market.
Mary Street is the main street through the village. It's where you'll find great coffee and really delicious and original food at places like the Red Velvet Lounge. Drop in Friday from 4.30pm for live music, pizza and exciting small dishes either inside or outside in the ambient courtyard. There is the Cygnet Bakery (Poolish & Co) next to the IGA store, Chelsea who serves wonderful treats will always greet you with a big smile! You will love the Old Bank in Mary Street which serves fabulous food wine and coffee. They have a beautiful garden with private dining nooks hidden away amongst old stables, garden settings and marquees; plus a stunning old apple orchard, boasting the original old varieties of apples. Within the bank building is Three Twigs run by Karen and Jacky. They have a beautifully curated collection of clothing, accessories and homewares. There is also a great collection for men.
You can find a jewellery store (hand-made) in the main street, a local bookshop which has a great collection, both new and second hand, and believe it or not doubles as a homeopathic compounding pharmacy.
ReFind also sells interesting books too but there you'll also come upon high-quality second hand clothes and unexpected treasures from all over the world. They are located at the back of The Porthole, another lovely cafe with a casual outdoor area.
Not forgetting the Trove, a really well-curated shop in which to find interesting furniture and objects.
The Stanley Gallery near the RSL club at the Huonville end of Mary Street, features the work of Richard Stanley who is a watercolour artist of note, finding much inspiration in the local landscape and waterways. The Lovett Gallery, at the back of the town hall, is open on weekends and displays mixed media works from local painters and makers of all kinds. There is also a beautiful gallery opposite the chemist featuring local landscape artists.
We also have a chemist's shop, a real estate agent, two butchers' shops; a post office, a news agency (with laundromat), two grocers, a hardware store, and a bank.
Not forgetting two hairdressers, nail technician, local doctors, osteopath, masseuse just past the roundabout; two pubs - the Top Pub (opposite the camping ground), and the Bottom Pub (opposite the roundabout where Mary Street turns into the Channel Highway) both have bottle shops; there used to be a middle pub, but that burnt down and is now a post office though the building has a bottle shop!
A police station near the top pub and two petrol stations serve the community also.
Don't forget The Cannery on Lymington Road, veer off at the roundabout at the bottom pub, past the petrol station (check out their retro collection on the weekend), head towards the Cygnet Yacht club. Such an amazing renovation of an old apple cannery and is the perfect venue for a lazy weekend. Features restaurant, bar, wine, cocktails, lunch dinner, pizza, market, farm produce, concerts!
