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Welcome to Sapphire and Sommelier, a travel blog about finding the hidden gems and natural jewels of Tasmania, in bush or city

Strawberry and Shiso Fruit Leather

Ingredients: 1kg strawberries, washed, hulled, and halved. 1 cup fresh green or red shiso, finely sliced (dried shiso should be fine to use around 2 Tbsp, but I have never tried that, I only make this fruit leather when I see fresh shiso for sale at the farmer’s market. I am trying to grow it… Continue reading Strawberry and Shiso Fruit Leather

We are Sapphire, a Tasmanian sapphire engagement ring made by a local jeweller (with a person attached, mostly) and Sommelier, an amateur wine tragic and part time chauffeur. We are madly in love with Tasmania (and each other), and would love to share our travels, impressions, advice and mistakes with you, so that you can fall in love with Tasmania (and maybe us) too.

Be sure to check out our travel articles, which we try to make as info-taining as we can, and Sapphire’s creative works over in “Love, Sapphire.”

For regular updates, and some of our day to day tips and experiences, follow us on Instagram @sapphireandsommelier

Strawberry and Shiso Fruit Leather

Ingredients: 1kg strawberries, washed, hulled, and halved. 1 cup fresh green or red shiso, finely sliced (dried shiso should be fine to use around 2 Tbsp, but I have never tried that, I only make this fruit leather when I see fresh shiso for sale at the farmer’s market. I am trying to grow it… Continue reading Strawberry and Shiso Fruit Leather

Blueberry and Lemon Fruit Leather

Ingredients:1kg blueberries (fresh or frozen), washed¼ cup raw sugar1 Lemon, washed1 Vanilla pod (or 1 Tbsp vanilla powder, or 1tsp vanilla essence) Method:Preheat the oven to 180⁰c. Put all the blueberries into a roasting dish and sprinkle with sugar. Peel the lemon using a potato peeler/pairing knife being careful to avoid pith and to keep… Continue reading Blueberry and Lemon Fruit Leather

Twelvetrees Range, Southwest National Park

Where we went: Twelvetrees Walk, Southwest National Park.When we went: Spring 2022Time spent on walk: 2 hoursGrade of walk: high 2, low 3As this track passes through Tas Networks property it would be best to do this walk on a weekend or public holiday so as not to disturb any site works. The Twelvetrees walk… Continue reading Twelvetrees Range, Southwest National Park

Mt Field East, Mt Field National Park.

Where we went: Mt Field East, Mt Field National Park When we went: Spring, 2022 Proposed time to complete walk: 4-5 hours Actual time spent on walk: 5 hours Track rating: Grade 4 (out of 5) – note that this rating seems to be primarily based on navigation needs in this specific instance. Parks passes… Continue reading Mt Field East, Mt Field National Park.

Mt Amos, Freycinet National Park

Mt Amos, a rocky outcrop, juts sharply out from scrubby bushes. White streaks are formed naturally by water running down the rocks over time.

There isn’t much to specifically describe the track by other than ‘steep rock scramble’, it is marked with some permanent light reflective yellow arrows, and some faded spray painted arrows. Occasionally the arrows suggest that some sections have separate paths for people travelling up, and for people travelling down. It is, otherwise, a fairly lawless place, at least as far as navigation is concerned. There are 3 distinctly difficult sections that will have you questioning every decision you made that brought you to the moment you find yourself in now. These feelings will pass (at least until you have to attempt those same sections in reverse).

Myrtle Gully Falls (Just Sapphire and the smalls)

Where we went: Myrtle Gully Falls When we went: Late Autumn 2022 Estimated time to complete walk: 1 hour (factoring in tiny little toddler legs) Time spent on walk: a little over an hour (they just have such tiny legs!) We haven’t posted in a long while now because our lives have been very topsy-turvy… Continue reading Myrtle Gully Falls (Just Sapphire and the smalls)

Greengage and Orange Blossom Fruit Leather

Tip: when starting out in your fanciful fruit flavour combinations look to the country of origin of the fruit in question and use that for inspiration. Fun greengage fact — they originated in Iran. Ingredients 1kg greengages 4 Tbsp orange blossom extract (the better the quality the better the outcome, but I find orange blossom… Continue reading Greengage and Orange Blossom Fruit Leather

Spiced Plum Fruit Leather

Summer means stone fruits and stone fruits have no chill. If you’ve found yourself in a fruit glut situation then do not panic. Make fruit leather and carry on. Ingredients 1kg plums (or greengages) 2-3 Tbsp honey Rind and juice of 1 orange (tip: use a potato peeler to peel long sections of rind so… Continue reading Spiced Plum Fruit Leather

Cradle Mountain (summit)

Sapphire looks out at the Cradle Mountain summit from the lookout

Where we went: Cradle Mountain Summit, returned via Horse Track When we went: Spring 2020 Estimated time to complete walk: 5-8 hours Time spent on walk: 7 hours Grade of walk: 4 Cradle Mountain National Park is one of the most famous and spectacular national parks in Tasmania. There are a range of hikes to… Continue reading Cradle Mountain (summit)

Fluted Cape (Bruny Island)

Sapphire stands on a flat, protruding rock overlooking the ocean. Her back is turned to the camera. She is wearing a pale pink shirt.

Where we went: Fluted Cape (nuenonne/Bruny Island) When we went: Spring 2020 Estimated time to complete walk: 2.5 hours Time spent on walk: 3 (plus a 1 hour lunch break) Grade of hike: 3 Sommelier and I often struggle to reconcile our love for food with our love of hiking. While such activities are not… Continue reading Fluted Cape (Bruny Island)