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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

Raspberry and Rose Fruit Leather

With this one it is best to find a good quality rose water. I define “good quality” as one that uses real roses or “natural rose flavour” rather than rose essence. I find that any amount of rose essence can leave a dish, especially a dehydrated one, tasting of hand soap. A good Indian or…

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

Montezuma Falls

Where we went: Montezuma Falls, West Coast Tasmania (with the whole Sapphire Clan)When we went: Summer 2023Grade of walk: long 2Proposed time for walk: 3 hoursTime spent walking: 3.5 hours (long lunch) Montezuma Falls, near Rosebery, in Western Tasmania is the tallest waterfall in the state and one of the 60 great short walks in… Continue reading Montezuma Falls

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

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).