Let’s say you are the type of person who likes to make sure your family has vacations to remember. Perhaps you have taken them on memorable vacations that they continue to rave about. One of those vacations might be a visit to one of Canada's great cities. Perhaps Vancouver, where you took the family to Whistler Blackcomb Mountain to ski and snowboard on the top ski runs in North America.
 
Or you might have taken them on a fantastic sailing trip on the Mediterranean. Your idea was to rent a luxury sailboat and sail the Mediterranean for several weeks, visiting some of the most desirable vacation destinations in the world. You thought that because of the complexity of chartering a lovely fully crewed luxury sailboat, you could not get this type of a trip set up, until a friend told you to try them here.
 
If this describes the type of family vacation seeker you are, then your next family vacation has to be to the island of Tasmania.
 
Tasmania, the Southernmost Part of Australia.

Tasmania, an island state off Australia’s south coast, is known for its vast, rugged wilderness areas, parks and natural amenities.  The capital is a port city called Hobart and it is filled with cultural, shopping and lots of things for families to do. Tasmania is the type of place where someone who loves special vacations, has to take the family.
 
What to Do on Tasmania

Tasmania is a wonderful family vacation that allows parents and young people to spend lots of time together and get the chance to have experiences that make lifelong impacts. Tasmania is the perfect location for this undertaking because the country has lots to offer. Here are a few of the best places and amenities in the country.
 
Hobart

Hobart is the capital and by far the largest city on Tasmania. It contains many of the interesting things for families to do on the island. Several things stand out as great activities for your family.

• MONA - The biggest private-owned museum in Australia is on Tasmania and is called the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). It is a multi-sensory and muti-discipline, interactive museum with lots of activities for the entire family. The museum’s innovative use of movement, lights and sound will keep the kids interested for hours and have parents happy they came here.
• Salmanaca Market - Each Saturday nearly 30,000 people meet at Salmanaca Market to eat local food, watch the entertainment ,and just hang out in a relaxed atmosphere. More than 300 vendors sell food, souvenirs, and crafts and the mood along the waterfront is absolutely lovely. When you are done, there are many parks and gardens near that you can walk to with the family. It is the perfect day out.

 
A Trip to the Summit of Mount Wellington

Mount Wellington sits as a powerful backdrop to the entire territory of Tasmania. It can be seen from just about anywhere in Southern Tasmania and hiking it offers a great opportunity for families to spend some quality time together. The summit is 1270 meters tall and there are trails to get you there safely. When you reach the summit, you will be treated with a spectacular view of Hobart many other small cities. Depending on the time of year you climb it, you also might encounter some snow at the summit. So dress warmly and bring the whole crew.
 
The Thermal Springs and the Hastings Caves

Since you are in a different type of place, you need to engage in some different types of activities, and Tasmania does not disappoint in this area. The Thermal Springs and Hastings Caves area is very popular with locals and it's become one of the top tourist attractions as well.
 
The Hastings caves were formed millions of years ago. It is a great place to give a science lesson to your kids because there are stalactites and stalagmites that are science wonders. Parents can also opt for a guided tour of the cave and surrounding area, which adds to the cultural experience.
 
When you're done with the caves, there is a thermal hot springs that you and the family can swim in. With an average temperature of more than 28 degrees, it is the perfect way to relieve sore muscles that you may have incurred while climbing Mount Wellington. There is also a forest area where you can BBQ and have a picnic, making this trip great for a full day of fun.
 
Tasmania is often lightly considered by tourists because many think that it’s only desolate rock. The state however has a thriving culture and offers many attractions that will delight and charm families. Bring your family here and have a once in a lifetime experience. 

​Enjoy a Rally of steam era machinery at Australia’s Southern-most line, the Ida Bay Railway. Come to feel and experience the revolutionary Steam Age in Far South Tasmania.
​
$16A ($8C) ticket gives unlimited entry to the whole three day event, but it doesn’t include train ride or any merchandising on site.

Dates: September 29 to October 01, 2018
Time: 09:00 a.m till 05:00 p.m.
Venue: Ida Bay Railway,  Ida Bay, TAS 7109

23-29 OCTOBER 2017 
Spring has well and truly sprung, and birds are singing and nesting – ready to be counted for BirdLife Australia's fourth annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count.

Huon Bush Retreats and Buttongrass Retreat are offering discount rates for selected multi night stays around the time of the Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count. Spend two or three days enjoying nature walks and counting birds as you go.
Minimum stay is 2 nights, (minimum 3 nights if including a Friday or Saturday night at Huon Bush Retreats) Rate includes 2 adults using one bed. Extra people can be added $40/nt. All cabins include one queen bed. Extra beds might be bunks or rollaway beds. The exact cabin will be allocated on arrival.
Full payment by Visa or Mastercard at time of booking, no refunds, no changes.

​Book your accommodation using the chart below, then go to the Great Aussie Bird Count website to register and get your app.

The #AussieBirdCount is a great way to connect with the birds in your backyard, no matter where your backyard might be — a suburban backyard, a local park, a patch of forest, a farm, down by the beach, or the main street of town. Your backyard can be anywhere you find birds.

Each count takes 20 minutes and the data collected helps BirdLife Australia to better understand the birds living where people live. You can do one or more counts during your stay. Maybe do 2 different times of day in 2 different habitats. And as a little extra incentive, there are some incredible prizes to be won!

​The Delta Aquarid meteor shower is about to peak. It will continue through August, overlapping with the Perseids meteor shower. The best viewing time is roughly 1-4 a.m. Find an open sky away from artificial lights, lie down on a deck chair or an outdoor bath and look directly upward. This will naturally direct your gaze to near the apparent centre of the shower. Delta Aquarid is expected to produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour, under a clear dark country sky, like at Huon Bush Retreats or Buttongrass Retreat.
You don’t need to locate a shower’s radiant point to enjoy the meteors, but the concept of a radiant point adds a new perspective.  If you back trace all the Delta Aquariid meteors, they appear to radiate from a point within the constellation Aquarius. That is pretty much directly overhead during late winter in southern Tasmania.
Find the Great Square of Pegasus, draw a line to Fomalhaut. That is the very bright star in the dim constellation Piscis Austrinus, or Southern Fish. Half way along that line is the apparent origin of the Delta Aquarid meteors. See the graphic of the Southern Hemisphere Star Map, and Clifftop cabin at Huon Bush Retreats.
Winter discounts are available. Click here to book now.

​Schools Tree Day Friday 28th July 2017 and 
National Tree Day Sunday 30th July 2017
Come hug a tree, on the Mount Misery Walk at Huon Bush Retreats, 50 minutes south from Hobart. More info at http://www.huonvalleyescapes.net/mountmiserywalk.html

or join a Planet Ark organised community event. More info at ​​http://treeday.planetark.org/find-a-site/

The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence is given to tourism operators who have consistently achieved great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. For the 3rd year running, this includes Huon Bush Retreats in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. Establishments earning the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and have continually delivered superior customer experience.

According to hotel marketing and reputation management business, Revinate, “...the Certificate of Excellence award is only given to the top 10 percent of accommodations, attractions, restaurants, and vacation rentals ... and honors hospitality businesses that consistently achieve outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor.”

Trip Advisor itself says, that this achievement “ ...celebrates businesses who have consistently achieved glowing traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period and honours hospitality businesses that deliver consistently great service.”

As well as being recognised as providing excellent service, Huon Bush Retreats is also acknowledged by TripAdvisor as being a Platinum Green Leader. Our environmental features and actions allow us to outperform all GreenGlobeLite criteria.

But remember that Huon Bush Retreats is a nature experience. As our 200 TripAdvisor reviews show, the 90% of guests who appreciate peace and nature give us great reviews. The 10% of people who’s main values include throwaway items, excessive energy consumption and highway access, give us poor reviews.
​
So next time you want to relax, explore and experience nature, think of Huon Bush Retreats.

It's Megan's birthday and she was chosen to play 7HO FM radio station's "Money or the Glovebox" competition. Megan doesnt know it yet, but the glovebox contains a voucher for a stay at Huon Bush Retreats.
​Will she choose the money or the glovebox?

Buttongrass Retreat at Lune River in Tasmania's far south will be closed for a couple of days due to a fuel reduction and habitat management burn. Buttongrass moorland requires a fire frequency of 5 to 15 years to remain as predominantly low grass and shrub type vegetation.

For the next few months, part of the view from Buttongrass Retreat will be blackened, but come Spring, the fresh growth will bring a field of green shoots and wildflowers. A mix of different aged vegetation created by differing fire regimes, is essential for the ground parrots living in this heathland.
​
During Autumn, Tasmania Fire Service and Forestry Tasmania will be conducting burns across Tasmania, subject to suitable weather conditions. These burns are part of the Fuel Reduction Program, aimed at reducing Tasmania's bushfire risk to protect lives, property and the environment.

See more info about:

• Tas Fire Service Fuel Reduction Program: www.fire.tas.gov.au/Show?pageId=colFuelReductionProgram
• Buttongrass habitat:
• Buttonrgass Retreat Eco-cabin  http://www.huonvalleyescapes.net/buttongrass-retreat.html

​

Many years since fire, the moorland around Buttongrass Retreat is becoming more of a scrubby heathland. Today's planned burn will reset the vegetation to a grass dominated landscape.
Within a year after buttongrass moorland has been burnt the vegetation starts to regrow, producing succulent shoots that attract herbivorous animals such as wallabies, wombats and grasshoppers. However, these species, particularly wallabies and wombats, also require nearby areas of unburnt habitat were they can shelter.
See more info about Buttongrass habitat response to fire at:
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=2876

Built in a fire susceptible and fire dependent vegetation area, the eco-cabin at Buttongrass Retreat has been designed to provide short term protection.
If you are ever in the path of an approaching fire, leave well before the fire reaches you. However if you become trapped, a fire resistant building is a good refuge. Radiant heat is the biggest killer in a wild fire. Radiant heat can be blocked by a solid object or barrier such as a concrete wall or building. This heat travels in straight lines, radiating out from a bushfire ahead of the flames and will bounce off solid objects and will travel through glass.
Stay inside, shielding yourself behind solid furniture, away from windows, while the main fire front passes. This will only take a few minutes. Houses mostly burn down after the fire front has passed.
For more fire safety info see:
www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fm_files/attachments/plan_and_prepare/frk_2013/Section3_Duringafire_ifyoucannotleave.pdf

About 45 minutes drive and 20 minutes walk from Huon Bush Retreats, is the worlds tallest flowering plant. Named Centurion (vaguely translated latin for 100), this monster is just short of 100 metres tall. It is surprisingly slender raising the question how does it stay up.

The answer is partly the protection offered by the surrounding other super-tall trees. Lightning and wind are common causes of tall tree damage, knocking the top metres off. Centurion is protected by other trees around 80 metres and is on a slope protecting it from the westerly winds.

Another risk to very old trees is disease. It is really important to thoroughly clean your shoes before visiting a native forest. Great attention to all the little crevices with a scrubbing brush dipped in a tray of bleach does the trick. Be sure to remove your laces and complete the cleaning process with the shoes off your feet. You might like to choose an old pair of shoes so the bleach does not damage your good ones. The walk is quite easy, you don't need fancy walking boots but you do need moderate fitness and good navigation skills.

Book at least 2 nights at Huon Bush Retreats and we can loan you a tray, bleach, brush and map.

It is quite a challenge to get a good photo. The full height photo shown here is a composite of 3 images.

In 2015, Huon Bush Retreats participated in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count.

AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
17-23 OCTOBER 2016

The Aussie Backyard Bird Count is back for its third year — with over 40,000 participants and over a million birds counted last year, this is becoming one of Australia's largest citizen science projects.

It’s easy to get involved. You can:

• Register your interest as a Counter on the ABBC website

If you already have the Aussie Bird Count app on your phone or tablet, don’t delete it, an update will be available on 1 October
If you don’t have the app, download it for free from:

• the Google Play or
• iTunes app store

The results from 2015 saw the 10 most common bird species remain unchanged from the previous year, with the Rainbow Lorikeet once again taking out the number one spot. There were minor changes in the order of some of the top 10 birds – Common Myna, Galah and Silver Gull were bumped down a place or two, with House Sparrow, Red Wattlebird and the Welcome Swallow moving up the list.

Huon Bush Retreats is part of Sustainable House Day on Sunday 11 Sept 2016. There are 7 Sustainable houses open for inspection in Tasmania: Click here for the list and to register
You can now start planning your Sustainable House Day tour as addresses for open houses have just been released!

To obtain these addresses you need to register here: http://sustainablehouseday.com/subscriber-registration/

All subscribers go into the running to win an annual subscription to Sanctuary Magazine!

Registered SHD participants are eligible for discounted accommodation at Huon Bush Retreats for the week before or after the open day:

• 1 night for $185 or 2 consecutive nights for $250, inc up to 2 people using 1 bed. Extra people $40.
  
• On Sept 11, you will need to depart your cabin or tipee by 08:00 so we can get it ready for the inspections or checkin after inspections finish at 16:00.
  
• The 2 night rate can be used between Sept 4 to Sept 15 but not 11 and 12.
  
• Exactly which cabin you get will be allocated at time of checkin.
  
• Full payment by Visa or Mastercard at time of booking, no refunds, no changes.
• Book by phone 1800 770 224 and ask for the Sustainable House Day Special
  

Expect to see plenty of shooting stars during the next couple of weeks. At a dark location in the Southern Hemisphere,  you can expect to see a meteor every two to three minutes  as the Earth passes through the orbit of Halley’s comet.

This meteor spectacular runs from around 20 April until about 21 May each year. This year you will have bonus viewing because the orbit intersection coincides with a New Moon.
The best time to see the shower, or "shooting stars", will be in the middle of the period. When the New Moon occurs on 6 and 7 May, the sky will be at its darkest, provided you are away from light pollution. New Moons are located between the Earth and Sun so are hidden from night time view.

Named “ Eta Aquarids “ this meteor event gets its name from its apparent origin, near the Eta Aquari star in the constellation Aquarius. Of course, the meteor themselves are much closer than the star, it just appears that way due to the arrangement of the orbits and the spin of the earth. The accompanying composite image shows how this occurs.

Hastings Thermal Pool
Join us for this fun, family-friendly event, celebrating 100 years of national parks in Tasmania.
Bring a picnic and enjoy some great music by the pool.
Pool opening hours: 10:30am – 3:30pm
For more information contact:
Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs
Phone: 6298 3209

If you are considering visiting a bush retreat, or participating in an outdoor activity, you might like to consider this: In a natural area, you will be surrounded by wildlife of all sorts, including birds, mammals, arthropods and reptiles. Animals of various types do sometimes enter the cabins and tipees (arachnophobes might prefer a city hotel).

Here is a communication that a Huon Bush Retreats guest requested that we share with prospective guests and staff.

Huon Bush Retreats is proud of our environmental achievements. We value all creatures and construct physical barriers to separate human habitation and creature habitation. However such barriers are never perfect and some creatures will penetrate from time to time.

I'm writing to voice concern for the guests staying in your 'luxury' tipees, disappointment and horror at the lack of maintenance and information conveying that your accommodation is 'spray-free', and most of all at the lack of hospitality and assistance offered to guests when your accommodation becomes inhospitable.

Last night, the 20th of February, my partner and I returned to Tipee West around 9:30 from a very late dinner, expecting to take a quick shower and go to bed. We were discussing whether or not it was too late to take a bath in your outdoor tub for the third night running as it is brilliant, however as we were discussing this he noticed a large tarantula, around 15-20 cm wide, slowly lower itself down the thin hide wall of our tipee. We were shocked and my slightly disgusted (I say slightly because my father worked for Forestry and used to keep them as pets, and we're both aware they're not venomous) as their appearance is scary for those who live in city houses and don't often see many large tarantulas just a foot or so above their pillow at night.

I made the quick decision to spray the tarantula with bug spray from the car. I wanted it gone from the vicinity of my bed without giving it the opportunity to leap off down into the folds of the cow-hide tent wall, because as I'm sure you know, tarantulas are very attracted to warm, soft, dark spots such as unmoving human body heat inside a bed, and the chances of it crawling from the ground to our bed were high.

Before doing this we spent twenty minutes pushing the mattress, bed, and all our belongings to one side of the tipee in order to prevent the tarantula from dropping down and and concealing itself under blankets, sheets, pillowcases or our luggage. My partner, being a little more nervous than myself, sprayed one long stream at it and after successfully hiding behind one of the logs propping up the tipee for a minute or so, the tarantula fell to the ground, where my partner immediately threw it into the fire.

The spray fumes stayed stagnant inside the tipee, preventing us from entering for long - and outside, four large possums had congregated on the small metre-square porch next to our esky, fighting and hissing at each other. It was impossible to be too cross at them but we were distracted and apprehensive looking at their talon-like claws as they came up to us, more tame than house-cats. We opened the woodheater door, and the sliding door, to air out the tipee. We would have used the sliding screen door, however it was broken and would not close, and the pet-like possums were intent on entering our tipee whenever we left it ajar, so we were shivering outside, guarding the wide-open entrance, trying not to breathe in the spray.

We decided to take a quick shower and when we returned we moved all our belongings and bed back to their original spots, it now being well past 10:30. When we went outside again to air our the tipee (it had still not ventilated enough to stay inside), however, another, even bigger tarantula appeared high up above the window of the tipee, moving staggardly from the fumes of the spray.

I was a little less fussed than I was about the first as it was so high up, however I knew we'd have trouble falling asleep imagining tarantulas of all sizes on our legs under the covers. We couldn't reach to catch it, and as we watched it move every few seconds, we saw several little spiders - baby tarantulas, and possibly a wolf spider, as we saw two outside - also emerge from behind several of the wood logs high up, above the window, and also the ants we'd seen in ones and twos during the last two nights and days of our stay crawling all around the tipee were now coming out in droves.

At this point, we noticed ten or so small black wriggling things on the bed, and on the floor, and we started feeling itchy and getting bitten; the ants were dying from the fumes from up in the tipee logs, and falling onto our bed, our jackets, our pillows, and all over the floor, into our shoes, our luggage, and even on our heads. My partner was bitten on the eyebrow, and he is allergic to insect bites, most severely from little black bush wasps, of which we'd scooped up a few of inside the tipee already, and put in the fire beforehand.

It was then that we decided to tell reception and request assistance. We knew they were booked out but hoped on borrowing a small tent, as we had no wish to leave, and a tent would've been far more protective than one of your 'luxury' tipees. We were very tired, having been walking all day down south and having had quite a late dinner.

The feeling of having angry stinging bush ants in your luggage and bed, and a painful, stinging nose from bug-spray, and also a pounding heart from sleeping two metres from a wolf spider for two nights, is a terrible thing, especially when you've paid good money for a delayed Valentine's weekend with the person you love, in an otherwise beautiful place.

Having let our phones go flat in the spirit of going bush for the few days, we used our emergency power bank to charge my phone and walked down to reception to find the number to ring. It was most likely in the binder in our tipee covered in crawling ants, but should also have been pasted on a small sticker for emergency contact on our sliding door.

We waited on the concrete in the cold light outside the closed reception office and I started dialing, but the tickling I'd taken to be the hairs on my legs increased and I looked down at my exposed leg and jumped because there was a baby tarantula the size of a fifty-cent piece trying to crawl down into my ug boot. Already shaken from the insect infestation of my bed and belongings, and the five minute walk in the dark to reception with possums running at us, I jumped and smacked it off, where my partner and I watched it crawl off, one leg a little off from my smack. I was dumbstruck. I grew up bushwalking and camping and hiking, I work at an outdoor shop, and I love the Tasmanian bush and its inhabitants. But not in my bed, nor my pyjamas, and least of all in private accommodation where business depends on the comfort, pleasure and satisfaction of paying guests.

After I rang the front desk what I believe was one of the two owners came out and insisted that we had woken him up (at 11 - it could have been 2 a.m with a poisonous spidebite complaint instead), and that he was tired, and had been having "crazy dreams" that he kept mentioning during our exchange.
 I explained what had happened. When I said a tarantula had come into the tent he smiled and reminded us that we are in a bush. I thought this was patronizing and felt he was belittling the situation.

When I said we had used a spray to rid our tipee of the tarantula he looked disgusted and said, "We don't use spray here."
 I thought this was incredibly short-sighted seeing as we have a large variety of venomous spiders and ants Tasmania, and especially when your 'luxury' tipees' ventilation open directly from the outside of the tent - especially more so when many people like my partner have bite allergies, and there is no signage whatsoever indicating to guests that you refuse to eradicate insects from lodgings using any chemicals. There is also no signage or information available to inform guests that these tipees are not sealed and the ventilation is open to the elements, insufficient protection from poisonous and venomous insects. We would have been better off in a fully sealed tent. As my partner clearly stated afterwards, "You don't leave a hole in the ceiling of a bush cabin or house, so why should there be one in there?"

When I continued and explained that we could not use the bed as a colony of ants was slowly dripping from the ceiling, he said, "When you used the spray, you would've attracted ants in from the outside, and that's why they're falling on the bed." I remember simply looking at my partner to make sure this man was seriously suggesting ants run towards poisonous gases, when these ants were clearly already inside the tipee in the dry wood, and simply fell when they died.

After continuing on this line he finished shortly with, "Well, there's nothing I can do about it." After pressing him for any help or suggestions he stopped us with the same statement. With everything I mentioned, including the spider on my leg, he kept adding little remarks such as, "That's the outdoor experience!" and "You shouldn't have used the spray."

When I suggested we leave, he gave a rueful grin and said that's what we'll have to do, and then said he was off to bed, to "try and get back to those crazy dreams!"

Not a single apology for the lack of pest control, nor a single offer to assist us getting our things or packing up at midnight, and not one offer to have our money back for the night, was heard. As we made our way back to the tipee I got quite upset about having to leave under such circumstances. I had thoroughly enjoyed my stay until this point.

As we were about to enter the tipee to gather our belongings and shake off the dead ants as much as we could, another hand-sized tarantula crawled out from inside the open door and along the outside corrugated iron. When we went inside we could still see the original big one's legs sticking out near the top of the tipee logs, very much alive.

Luckily we are locals and slowly drove back home to Hobart, however I imagined
 what it would feel like to be a tourist with a child, having to drive the steep dirt track down the hill twenty minutes to Huonville at half-past twelve at night, and find alternative accommodation for them all. As we fell into bed at 1:30, I was still shocked and disappointed with the hospitality and service we'd expected as guests, but not received.

We have taken extensive photos of all the insects we have encountered to remind us to camp instead if we visit again.

We'd also been surprised with vague advertising on behalf of two separate booking websites - WotIf and Huon Valley Escape - that led us to assume your tipees have a barbecue and fridge. That your tipees have no amenities save for a wood-heater should be very clearly stated on all booking websites that take money for your accommodation.

Another couple we spoke to stayed in a cabin, and reported the only amenities they had were a bath and woodheater, and yet were under the impression they would have a fridge and gas cooking, as it states on WotIf. They mentioned they have informed you of this themselves already.

The biggest disappointment we encountered was the dilemma of NO refrigeration available to guests at all, even in the shared kitchen, and having nothing advertising this on the booking websites whatsoever, along with no clear signage on your own website. I find it hard to believe you are unaware that your most successful online advertisements for your establishment are misleading and false, and that you are not checking them and reviewing them regularly.

I feel I am obligated into sharing a public review with my concerns regarding this incident.

My partner, who, as mentioned in the previous email I've sent, was bitten by what we suspect to be a bush ant or spider (the species found dropping on our heads inside our accommodation), and has developed all symptoms of some kind of venom in the previous 48 hours. He works for a corporate company and directs meetings and gives presentations involving large amounts of people all day. Today he came home early from work because he was experiencing extensive perspiration, nausea, headaches, an inability to concentrate due to low blood pressure, lethargy, heat experienced primarily in the face and head, and swelling and throbbing of the affected area, which is his eyebrow. I can personally vouch that the symptoms of nausea, perspiration, lethargy and swelling of the bitten spot has been increasing since Sunday.

I also mentioned previously that he has allergies to a range of different insect venom. He says that because the bite is hot, itchy and aching, it has spread to develop a headache, dizziness, and the fatigue from his heart-rate levels.

I, myself, have small sustained oddly-shaped bites grouped together in a half-circle on my lower stomach, which are not mosquito bites as I was bitten by a mosquito on my leg, and the much smaller series of bites on my stomach burn like fire when itched. I did not have these bites until Saturday evening, and they started itching at their worst when we both woke in our own bed in Hobart on Sunday morning.

I have photos of these injuries.

I am passing this information on to you and your coworkers to inform you of the damage inflicted on guests when you mislead or fail to inform them of crucial information that is potentially directly harmful to their comfort, and most importantly, their health.

The potential for far more grievous harm that allergies can cause should prompt serious concern. Considering your lack of awareness of the risks you open both yourselves and guests to, and the lack of concern for our well-being both when we were paying residents and after we left, I am seriously concerned for future guests residing at Huon Valley Retreats.

In the awards ceremony for Australia’s best ciders Willie Smith’s 18 Varieties limited edition took out three awards. Judges described Wilie Smiths “18 Varieties” as very true to type – a medium cider in the traditional style – “lifted … with a lingering fruit flavour and an attractive bitterness on finish”.

This is a great reward for the entire crew at the Grove organic cider works and cafe. Willie Smith’s 18 Varieties won 3 trophies – Best in Show, Best Cider and Best Australian Cider or Perry.

Trophies List
•Best in Show: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
•Best Cider: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
•Best Australian Cider or Perry:  Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
•Best in Class

Be sure to include Willie Smiths Apple Museum and Huon Bush Retreats as part of your Huon Valley Escape. Book 2 nights at nearby Huon Bush Retreats and receive a complimentary Cider Tasting Paddle voucher.

See the full story at
http://www.realciderreviews.com/news/2015-cider-australia-awards-results/

Huon Bush Retreats is ready to implement our Fire Safety Plan tomorrow, the first time this fire season.

Due to very high winds and locally warm weather conditions throughout today and forecasted very high winds and higher temperatures for Saturday, Tasmania Fire Service has declared a Total Fire Ban for southern Tasmania from midnight 2nd of October 2015 until midnight on the 3rd of October 2015.

Throughout the day, we will be monitoring the local fire danger on site and monitoring the TFS website for reports of any fires nearby.

TOTAL FIRE BAN - SOUTHERN TASMANIA 3rd of October 2015
Date: 02/10/2015 2:00pm
Contact: John Holloway
Phone: (03) 6230 8424

Due to very high winds and locally warm weather conditions throughout today and forecasted very high winds and higher temperatures for Saturday, TFS Chief Officer Gavin Freeman has declared a Total Fire Ban for southern Tasmania from midnight 2nd of October 2015 until midnight on the 3rd of October 2015.
Mr Freeman said, Bushfires driven by high winds will be very difficult to control. The bush is already dry in many areas around the state and a prediction of a severe fire danger rating for much of the south on Saturday, which only occurs 3 to 4 times in a normal season, means that a total fire ban is warranted. Mr Freeman added It has been pleasing that many land owners have been conducting hazard reduction burns over the last few weeks to prepare their properties for the bushfire season. However, any fire that has been lit must be properly extinguished prior to the ban coming into effect.
With the dry conditions already influencing the bush and grass and predicted winds of over 100kms/h, no fires are permitted in the open. All Tasmanians are asked to take extra care with machinery that emit sparks, such as mowers, slashers, grinders and other cutting tools, as this type of activity has the potential to start fires. For those in the Southern half of Tasmania planning Grand Final day activities on Saturday, only gas fired barbecues can be used.
While the ban is in place please avoid non-essential water use. Turning off sprinkler systems and using hoses sparingly will help ensure that water is available for firefighting and protecting properties should it be required.
People should monitor the local ABC radio station or visit TFS website (www.fire.tas.gov.au) to keep up to date with conditions.
Mr Freeman said everyone living in and around the bush needs to review their Bushfire Survival Plan now and be prepared to implement that plan if required. Details on how to prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan, preparing your property for bushfires, or other fire safety tips can be found from the front page of the TFS website www.fire.tas.gov.au
Mr Freeman also said: There are significant penalties that can be imposed on anyone not adhering to the Total Fire Ban restrictions.
All fires should be reported by dialling "000".

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary operates Tasmania's wildlife rescue service. Bonorong provides first response, assessment and then finds foster carers.

To reduce the likelihood of killing wildlife with your car, drive slowly from dusk to dawn, particularly in areas where special wildlife notices are displayed.

Good sized apartments from studio up to family - close to Constitution Dock, Salamanca Markets, Supermarkets, restaurants etc. Handy to be self contained if staying a few days or more - more space and able to eat some meals in...
Click here to read more reviews on Trip Advisor

or

click here to include The Old Woolstore as part of your Huon Valley Escape

" It's a long drive out there but well worth it, out guide was wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly, and it was great to see more of Tasmania's natural wonders." Read the full review on Trip Advisor

or Read more about Hastings on Huon Valley Escapes

This review was recently posted on Trip Advisor.

"I went to the Apple Shed for dinner and some folk music tonight. I had the best night out I've had in years. Nice food - nothing pretentious, just filling and well prepared, oh my god the apple pie with Valhalla vanilla ice cream. And the cider! Seriously worth the visit just for that..."
Click to read the full review on Trip Advisor

Click to read more about this activity on Huon Valley Escapes

A lower Australian dollar means more international tourists, more demand and higher prices. Here are some tips to help you get affordable accommodation and still have a great holiday.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, “The softening Australian dollar is proving a boon for the domestic hotel sector, with room rates tipped to rise in the coming year, according to experts.” and Tourism Australia says, “International visitors to Australia aged 15 years and over spent a record breaking $32.5 billion for the 12 months ending March 2015, up 10 per cent off the back of an 8 per cent increase in arrivals and 7 per cent growth in visitor nights.”

When checking which accommodation is the best deal for your particular circumstances, beware of just looking at the nightly rate. There are so many other factors to consider to help you save money, both before you book and during your stay.

Here' a sneak peak schedule for Saturday Oct 10th

8 - 9AM REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
Tea/coffee and optional hot breakfast provided by Roy Leurs and students of Trade Training Centre Culinary Program

9AM - 4PM FIELD TRIPS...
Two field trips will run concurrently at this time. Both include morning tea, transportation, lunch and will depart and return to the Huon Trade Training Center around 4pm read details here

2PM - 4PM SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS
Registration 2pm for 2:30pm start. Departing: Huonville (private trasnport required). There are 4 workshops concurrently that you make choose from. Details released next week!

6PM PRE DINNER DRINKS 6:30 AWARDS AND DINNER CELEBRATION
Tasmanian Landacare Awards Ceremony and long table dinner by Roy Leurs and the students of the Huon Trade Training Centre made from local produce. Dinner tickets include drinks and transportation options available to and from the event.

To book any of these accommodations,
phone: 1800 770 224 from 8am to 8pm
or  Email anytime: info@huonvalleyescapes.com.