Food and Drink

Inside the Purple Possum there is a diverse range of wholefoods

Outside the Purple Possum you can see a freshly served Rhubarb cake

Come and relax at the garden located at the rear of the Purple Possum

Purple Possum is a cafe and wholefoods store in St Marys, a small town in Tasmania's Fingal Valley. Owned and run by Elaine Sullivan for over 30 years, it has become a familiar meeting place for locals and a dependable stop for travellers. The cafe serves home cooked food with a vegetarian focus. The menu is seasonal and usually includes soups, veggie burgers, and salads made with herbs from the garden. The approach is simple and generous rather than styled for show. The rhubarb cake has been mentioned in Lonely Planet, and the coffee is well regarded on the East Coast. There is a sunny garden out the back, suited to relaxed breakfasts and longer lunches. Inside, the walls feature work by local artists and photographers, which gives the place a connection to the valley. The wholefoods store stocks more than 228 bulk items, along with local honey, organic produce, and products for a range of special diets. It is practical, well organised, and aimed at everyday cooking rather than novelty. St Marys is about 30 minutes from Bicheno or St Helens. Purple Possum is a sensible place to stop if you are driving the coast and want a healthy meal, a good coffee, or quality supplies. It suits people who care about where their food comes from.

5 Story Street, St Marys, Tasmania, 7215

Outdoor Dining Area

Carpark

Coach Parking

Family Friendly

Gallery / Museum

Lawn / Gardens

Non Smoking

Pet Friendly - Enquire

Shop / Gift Shop

Takeaway Available

Accept the Companion Card
Train your staff in disability awareness
Have accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on your website (can be emailed on request)
Ask all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met
Website meets WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards
Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
Provide assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Have accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on your website (can be emailed on request)
Employ people with disability
Offer a range of contact methods for receiving complaints
Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone

Modify cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances
Use organic deodorisers in public areas and rooms
Use organic cleaning products
Provide linen that is chemical and fragrance free
Provide toiletries which are chemical and fragrance free
Have equipment to respond to anaphylactic shock
Adhere to The Food Authority requirements for allergy management
Train your staff to respond to allergic reactions

Train your staff in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges
Use Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
A quiet space is available at the venue/facility

Have Exit signs which are visible at a ground level
Have handrails on all your stairways
Have raised tactile buttons in your lifts
Have audio enabled lifts
Have an appropriate area for toileting an assistance dog
Train your staff in customer service for people with vision loss
Use easy read fonts in your signage and communication materials (Helvetica and Arial)
Provide digital communication materials
Provide information in audio format
Provide information in large print
Have Braille and tactile signage on all information and paths of travel

Have a low noise reception areas with hearing loss friendly acoustics and adequate lighting
Have transmitter receivers for hearing aids on tours
Have visual alerts for emergencies (Include flashing light)
Have volume controlled phones
Have TVs with captioning option
Caption all entertainment (TVs, live shows, performances)
Have telephones which are compatible with hearing aids
Staff are trained in Auslan
Train your staff in communicating with people who are deaf or have hearing loss
Have a hearing loop

Provide seating in common areas including reception area
Have grab rails in the bathroom
Use non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
Use floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth

Have a place to store medical equipment
Have options for easier communication for people with dual sensory loss
Train staff to use a DeafBlind Communicator
Provide room for hoist under the bed
Have a Changing Places or Lift and Change toilet with hoist and adult change table
Have rooms which are interconnecting
Have twin beds available on request
Have a bathroom fully accessible with ceiling hoist and adult change table

Have step free outdoor pathways
Have a doorbell or intercom at an accessible height
Have a step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area
Have step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
Have step free access to the conference or function room
Have accessible seating areas in theatrette
Have lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around
Have doorways which are easy to open and have lever handles
Have an accessible public toilet which is unlocked
Have a wheelchair accessible toilet / shower and change room
Provide wheelchair access to spa/gym
Have wheelchair accessible picnic tables
Have wheelchair access to amusements and activities
Provide grabrails adjacent to the toilet
Allow space around toilet for a wheelchair
Have a handheld shower hose
Have grabrails in shower recess
Have a shower curtain (no door)
Have a lever handle on bathroom door
Have a wheelchair accessible bathroom
Have a kitchen area and desk accessible at seated height or height adjustable
Provide a bed with adjustable height
Have enough space for a wheelchair to move around three sides of a bed
Have a lever handle on the door
Have step free access to room
Provide a choice of wheelchair accessible accommodation rooms
Have wheelchair accessible transport options available
Provide valet parking
Have at least one wheelchair accessible parking space
Provide portable ramps
Provide portable commode chairs
Provide portable hoist
Provide beach matting and beach wheelchairs
Have a wheelchair/scooter charging station in an accessible location

Quality Tourism Accreditation

Sustainable Tourism Accreditation by ATIC

Places to stay

Accommodation

Cottage on Groom

St Marys $150.00 - $450.00

Cottage on Groom has been beautifully renovated, with character conserved, and is ready to welcome you home after a day of exploring. Head North, South, East or West – you will find a coast, mountain, city, beach or forest to discover. When you return, enjoy a soak in the claw foot bath, cook up a storm in the beautiful kitchen, and relax by the roaring wood heater whilst enjoying Netflix in the lounge on the smart TV. Complimentary Wi-Fi and an espresso coffee machine are included with your accommodation.

Accommodation

Lumera Eco Chalets

St Marys $250.00 - $450.00

Lumera Eco Chalets is an oasis snuggled below a large mountain known as St Patricks Head (Lumera Genena Wuggelena) looking over the coast, it provides travellers with an ancient sense of protection and safety as well as the most sensational coastal panorama in all of Tasmania. They have an off-grid 12v solar-powered cabin nestled in the bush with amazing coastal and ocean views from each cabin. Each cabin has an inverter so you can charge your 240v devices. Cabins have fantastic wood heaters for your comfort which are easy to use and safe. Each cabin has pillow-top queen-size beds with quality Actil linen, and you are also able to view the sensational ocean/coastal views from your bed as you wake. The cabins are fully self-contained. The history of our unique piece of Tasmania can be traced 30,000 years to a time when it was an important hunting ground for the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Home to the Ben Lomond Tribe (Plangermaireener) and visited by bands from the Oyster Bay Tribe (Paredarerme), who travelled up from the East Coast. Named by Tobias Furneaux on St Patrick's Day in 1773, St Patrick's Head is known to the Aborigines as Lumera Genena Wuggelina, which means a great molar tooth.

An aerial drone shot showing the tiny home at sunset.

Accommodation

Candlebark Ridge

Saint Marys $250 - $350

Candlebark Ridge is a luxurious off-grid tiny home nestled on 18 acres of native bushland, boasting panoramic views of the Tasman Sea. Exclusively for adults, it serves as a peaceful escape on Tasmania's beautiful east coast. Immerse yourself in the fresh air and the sounds of local birds while enjoying breathtaking ocean scenery. Located just north of the quaint village of Saint Marys, it offers convenient access to Tasmania's famous beaches, mountain biking trails, and wine routes. If you're a lover of adventure and the great outdoors, Candlebark Ridge is the perfect destination for you. Whether you seek a romantic escape with your loved one, a weekend of relaxation with a friend, or simply a place to unwind by yourself with uninterrupted naps and good books, this space is tailor-made for you. The compact dwelling showcases a thoughtfully designed open plan layout that maximizes every inch of space, creating a sense of spaciousness beyond its size. A luxurious king-sized bed platform is encircled by expansive picture frame windows, providing breathtaking views of the nearby bush, farmland, and ocean below.

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