Paul Scambler's guide to Northern Tasmania's best bakeries

Now photographers are known for a variety of things. Our sense of direction, our sarcastic humour, good spots to get photos from, what is the fastest way to get there, and of course where to get lunch.

During these school holidays, I wanted to give my son Tom some important life lessons. Navigation skills and where places are, making important choices, the local economy along with some organising skills.

Now what's a better way to learn all these things than with food. It's something we need, we all love to try, and I know he will remember it, and well ... why not?

Lesson brief is where we will go, which bakery and what to buy locally.

It starts with organising and planning out the road trip, including essentials like drinks, the esky, coats, small camping table, picnic blanket and of course the camera gear.

My lesson plan was to introduce both Tom, and you the reader, to some of my favourite bakeries around northern Tasmania. This photographer is known for his bakery's, and when discussing assignments can tell you which towns have a good bakery also.

I have been researching this for many years, especially on the vanilla slice. I can remember lining up at the high school canteen for them and I still love them.

I have always said: "A good balanced diet, is a vanilla slice in both hands"

These are a couple of my favourite bakeries. We visited Cottage Bakery at Scottsdale, Tamar Cakes at George Town, J.J's at Longford, Rustic Bakehouse at Cressy, Blue Edge Bakery at Bicheno, and Bark Mill Bakery at Swansea.

The road trip I think Tom enjoyed the most was from Cressy to Bicheno. Starting at the Rustic Bakehouse at Cressy, morning tea was a caramilk donut, kiss biscuits and a lamington to be shared as we drove on.

Heading towards Swansea, to the Bark Mill Bakery and see what they had for lunch. Tom was disappointed in the range available, but still managed to demolish a steak, bacon and cheese pie and some banana bread. I held on for the Blue Edge Bakery at Bicheno as I wanted a chicken and camembert pie and I knew the vanilla slice would be good, and it didn't disappoint. Tom liked the sausage rolls and was starting to fill full.

Next lesson was down the Tamar River. First stop, Exeter Bakery, with a haul of egg and bacon pies, sausage rolls, vanilla slice and apple cake.

Stopping at Gravelly Beach to consume and discuss the finer points. Tom thought the egg and bacon pie was very good and finished off with the apple cake.

Tamar Cakes at George Town was next on the list and one of my most favourites. Whenever photographic jobs are needed in George Town this bakery gets a visit. I do like their lamingtons and kiss biscuits, the pastries and salad rolls are good also. I took Tom out to the Low Head lighthouse, where we had the sunshine, the view and our second helping of lunch.

Another of my most favourites is the Cottage Bakery at Scottsdale. I was introduced to this bakery quite a few years ago by a former journo, Ian Pattie. He taught one about the Curly Top pasty and this is now probably my ultimate favourite. They have display cases full of very nice healthy items, (so my doctor tells me also). When we walked in I think Tom couldn't believe his luck, all this choice. So pasties, vanilla slices, kiss biscuits and apple cake were bought and we made our way to the park up the road for lesson notes.

Another favourite is J.J's at Longford, and this we were joined by my wife Louise. You do need to allow time to select your choices and we made ours of a Cornish pasty, steak and Guinness pie, cauliflower and cheese pie with the naughty treats, being an apple pie, neenish tart and peppermint slice. Louise said you can certainly taste the Guinness, and Tom thought the cauliflower and cheese pie was tasty and good.

These are my favourite bakeries, not in any particular order, Trevallyn Gourmet bakery, Cottage Bakery at Scottsdale, Tamar Cakes at George Town, J.J.'s at Longford, Rustic Bakehouse at Cressy, Blue Edge Bakery at Bicheno, and Bark Mill Bakery at Swansea along with the Olde Tudor Bakery, Ross Village Bakery, Elizabeth Town Bakery Cafe, and if travelling south visit the The Richmond Bakery .

I'd say, Tom enjoyed these lessons, he can remember which towns they belong to. His favourites are Scottsdale's Cottage Bakery and Rustic Bakehouse at Cressy .

So what did he learn? He has some towns he wants to visit again, and how to get there, which place to get lunch from, and how it helps the smaller towns' shops by buying local.

You might like to visit these bakeries and try some of my favourites. I still enjoy the challenge of finding new places, always happy to be informed of new ones to visit.

Remember when you're out taking photos, visit the nearby bakery.

Snaps and Snacks.

Paul Scambler Senior Photographer