Exploring Tasmania

Back in February, I headed to Tasmania to see family. While I was there I had the opportunity to go to a few wineries and explore Hobart. Based in Launceston, we were ideally located to explore the beautiful landscapes as well as the wineries and restaurants.

We had hired a Mitsubishi Pajero automatic that was a dream to drive. The comfort and the space made the trip even more enjoyable plus with the huge windscreen, we could take in the beautiful country.

Wine at Holm Oak

I picked up a copy of the 2017 Tasmania Wine Trail at the start of my trip which included information about cellar doors and vineyards as well as food and tourism events. I should have also read more about Tasmania on these sites; discovertasmania.com.au, winetasmania.com.au, tascidertrail.com and taswhiskytrail.com.

 

There are four Wine Trails in Tasmania:

-North West Wine Trail

This includes recommendations on cellar doors and outdoor places to visit e.g. Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain National Park plus beaches and fauna.

-Tamar Valley Wine Route

A number of tourist attractions include travelling down the Tamar River, going to Cataract Gorge, taking in the artwork, markets and wineries such as Josef Chromy, Jansz, Dalrymple, Bay of Fires, Delamere, Holm Oak Vineyards, Goaty Hill Wines and Tamar Ridge. Tamar Valley is Tasmania’s oldest wine growing region which might explain the density of wineries here.

We visited three wineries while we were here:

Marion’s Vineyard: Still family owned and it was first planted in 1979. There are lovely views of the river Tamar from the cellar door.

Goaty Hill Wines: This is a small and modern cellar door with wooden deck overlooking vineyards. Wooden benches and stools fill the cellar door where you can sip and savour the wines and talk to the friendly staff.

Holm Oak: The Duffys, husband and wife (Rebecca as winemaker and Tim as Viticulturalist) make some lovely single vineyard cool-climate wines. This is an open plan and spacious cellar door with deck out the back overlooking vineyards. Further into the distance is the pig pen which is actually rather handy if you come with children of a certain age; as they are fascinated with pigs meaning some of the adults in the group can taste in the cellar door.

-East Coast Wine Trail

Here visitors can go to the seaside towns (Swansea, St Helens, Bicheno), go on walks and view the wildlife. Wineries include Devil’s Corner, Freycinet National Park.

-Southern Wine Trail

In and around Hobart there is so much to see. Wineries nearby include Frogmore, Stefano Lubiana and Pressing Matters. In the town of Hobart itself, there is Salamanca Place where there is a market every Saturday with arts and crafts, wine, food and more. From here you can take the ferry to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

Other points of interest also include the Royal Tasmania Botanical Gardens, Cenotaph, Battery Point and walking around the CBD. I’ll have to go back to visit the former.

Cataract Gorge

This is a wonderful place to walk and run and explore the Tasmanian countryside and Cataract Gorgelandscape. There is an outdoor pool just a few hundred metres from the water’s edge. Having a small toddler in tow, I know notice playgrounds and there were a few dotted around. It was a lovey magical spot. I could spend hours here exploring and enjoying the nature as well as the food (plus coffee) at the café.

Another view of Cataract Gorge

Leven Canyon

There are spectacular views for the viewing platform which is 275m above the Leven River. It is just a 15 minute walk from the car park where there is a picnic area (and toilets). There are many different walks you can do including a walk along the canyon.

 

Leven Canyon

 

I’ll need to come back here, a long weekend just wasn’t long enough to explore this green island!