Well it has been a particularly difficult week for us, as we lost our old dog Mutley. Old age caught up with him, but thankfully he has had a wonderful 3 months exploring our 10 acres of bush. We are grateful he has not had too much old age pain or problems, just the usual arthritis. He was starting to have trouble with the stairs. We loved him so much but his time was up.

To take our mind off missing Mutley we spent some time on the weekend exploring the New Norfolk area.

New Norfolk has one of Australia’s few traditional village squares and is the centre of the hop-growing area.

What’s special about New Norfolk?

• Several old oast houses (kilns) along the roadside.
• A growing hub for ‘antique hunters.’…. no we did not buy anything. We can’t fit what we own in our home as it is, so it stops us spending !!!! Mal would not even let me LOOK.
• Stunning river views

New Norfolk has a rich hop-growing past and you will see several old oast houses (kilns) along the roadside. They aren’t used today but their elegant shapes give the Valley a deep sense of its history and some have been lovingly converted into homes, restaurants and art galleries. Hops are still grown in New Norfolk for beer making.

New Norfolk is 30 minutes from Hobart, however, it’s inland position on the river means it is prone to frosts and fog during the winter. If you visit, remember to bring a warm jacket.