At the end of May, Newstate Media spent five days in Tasmania, experiencing some of what is on offer during the Off Season – exquisite food, wine, coffee, culture, and nature of the Hobart region, visiting Port Arthur, Bruny Island and the Tasmanian capital itself.
While the winter may bring the island some wet and wind, it also instils it with beautiful soft light, glorious afternoon sun, and a snug sense of cosiness.
The flights
Long revered as one of Australia’s finest domestic travel destinations, getting to Tasmania from Newcastle has become a whole lot easier thanks to direct flights with Link Airways.
TASMAN PENINSULA
Arriving at Hobart, we promptly collected our hire car, an upgraded Kia Cerato, from Budget. From there it was an easy 90-minute cruise along the Arthur Highway to historic Port Arthur, with gorgeous natural scenery hugging the road through the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas.
What we saw
Arriving mid-afternoon, we headed straight to the Port Arthur Historic Site to soak up not just the history, but the sheer spectacle of the sprawling former convict settlement.
That night we visited the McHenry Distillery for an evening tour and an exclusive look at their observation deck as they put the finishing touches on a very cool silo conversion that will be a fully functional observatory when completed. Nestled on the side of Mt Arthur, Bill and Allison have run McHenry’s for the past decade.
Where we stayed
In luxury accommodation at Stewarts Bay Lodge. On the edge of an amazing untouched coastal reserve and overlooking the water, our lodging felt like a well-appointed family home surrounded by nature, which imbued a sense of privacy.
Where we ate
At the On The Bay restaurant. On the site of our accommodation, the fancy, cosy digs has an extensive menu featuring fresh seafood and local produce, and a specially selected Tasmanian wine list.
BRUNY ISLAND
Heading off from Port Arthur, we stopped in Hobart for lunch before taking the easy 40-minute drive down the Channel Highway to the ferry at Kettering. The highly convenient 20-minute ferry is a breeze. The $38 return ticket for a standard car is reasonable, and the efficient, convenient service runs regularly throughout the day.
What we saw
We were notified well in advance that our Bruny Island Cruise had been cancelled due to poor weather. Their award-winning three-hour Wilderness Cruise explores the rugged coastline alongside some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs and into deep sea caves.
When the weather cleared that afternoon, we got our nature fix walking the Cape Queen Elizabeth Track. Starting out just off the main road you’ll walk through the bush for approximately 45 minutes. Upon reaching the coastline, you’re greeted by breathtaking sea cliff faces with archways leading you from one cove to the next.
Where we stayed
At Free Spirit Pods on North Bruny. We had the extremely cute ‘Flying Duck’ pod, that was well-appointed with a fully equipped kitchen, an ensuite bathroom with in-floor heating, a wood pellet heater, floor to ceiling bi-fold doors offering gorgeous views across the water, and wallabies that regularly pop by for a feed and to say hello! Nestled alongside the Quarantine Station National Park, the surrounds are spectacular.
Where we ate
Famed for its local produce, the amazing fresh oysters on offer at Get Shucked, farmed directly off Bruny Island, are a must. I polished off two dozen natural freshies and am still dreaming about them.
The team at Bruny Island Honey have been collecting honey on Bruny for more than 20 years, with over 400 hives on the island! A must for any sweet tooths and a great shop for gift buying (make sure to grab some for yourself too).
Both nights we cooked dinner in our accommodation with help from the beautiful fresh produce boxes delivered daily. If you’re staying in accommodation with cooking facilities, be sure to pick up some groceries before taking the ferry over as they’re scarce on Bruny.
HOBART and surrounds
What we saw
Set in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, the Tahune Adventures park offers a host of activities depending on how brave you are!
The famous Tahune AirWalk is an elevated walkway 30 metres above the forest floor, with the final cantilever section sitting at a height of 50 metres above the Huon River. And if heights aren’t your thing, other walks offer a great peek at the river and surrounds.
Visiting five local vineyards, the Coal Valley Wine Tour gave us a great sampling of the local cool climate wines and a sense of the region’s unique agricultural history.
Specialising in Pinot Noir and sparklings, the Coal Valley is the same distance from the equator as Burgundy and Champagne in France.
With the region just half an hour out of Hobart and so many of the vineyards close to one another, the day flowed beautifully with good company and even better vino!
Where we stayed
At the Crowne Plaza Hobart. Right in the heart of town, the recently built hotel is extraordinarily well appointed. The stylish, functional rooms come with all the bells and whistles plus views either side of the building; and the extremely professional and welcoming staff go out of their way to accommodate guests.
Where we ate
Delightful inner-city café Straight Up Coffee and Food does excellent coffee and has a delicious vegetarian/vegan all-day breakfast menu. With an eclectic layout of mix-and-match furniture, it’s often chock-full of locals popping in for a quick coffee or a tasty brekky.
Specialty roasters Zimmah Coffee operate out of a cool semi-industrial setup just a short walk from the town centre. Evocative of Canberra’s own coffee roasters, Zimmah is a local institution sure to impress Canberra’s fussiest coffee connoisseurs. Highly recommended.
Newstate Media was a guest of Tourism Tasmania from 26 to 31 May 2021.
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