After an awesome month in Tassie, there was too much to really put in one place so here’s a little listicle of my top 10 things to eat, see, drink or do.
- Wineglass Bay (via Bay of Fires) – the views and seafood
- Maria Island – the wildlife
- Cradle Mountain – the views and thrill of it
- Festivale – the vibes
- Bruny Island – the views, walks and food
- Cataract Gorge – the beauty
- Hobart city centre – the history
- Mount Wellington
- Scallop Pies
- Local produce & markets – a cop out I know but bear with me..
Wineglass Bay
We stayed a night in Coles Bay before doing the circuit walk to Wineglass Bay View Point and across to Hazards Beach. It was a beautiful day and the views were stunning, with a variety of scenery and plant-life. One of my favourite short walks on the trip.
On your way out (or in!) I’d highly recommend stopping at Freciynet Marine Farm. We went really for the mussels (delicious) but the scallops were next level.
We also drove up the coast and enjoyed Bay of Fires. I had heard great things about Bay of Fires and it is beautiful, but I wouldn’t put it in the top 10 in Tassie in its own right personally.
Maria Island
If you want to see wildlife, this is the one. It’s a protected island and no cars are allowed so you’ll get the passenger ferry over and can explore til you heart is content. Their are wombats and marsupials everywhere, plus devils overnight (you can camp or there are cabins too). Catch the ferry from Triabunna with shuttles from Hobart if you’re without a car. I would recommend booking in advance but choosing a day with good weather. The island itself has lots of history too.
Cradle Mountain
A worth day trip, with heaps to offer on the wildlife and views front. Cradle mountain itself is not for the faint-hearted but if you’re not into scrambling, go for Marion’s lookout.
Festivale
If you’re lucky enough to be near Launceston when Festivale is on I’d really recommend. It’s usually at the end of January and is a hub of local food, drinks and great music. It does sell-out so get tickets in advance if you’d like to go.
Bruny Island
A 20 minute car ferry will see you on beautiful Bruny. We drove down to Adventure Bay and did a hike there (Fluted Cove) before heading back via some amazing food and beauty spots. Stop at:
- The Raspberry Farm near adventure bay – their homemade ice cream is incredible
- Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Company
- Get Shuked Oysters
- The Neck Game Reserve Lookout
Cataract Gorge
Our AirBnB was close to the gorge which was such a perk. We enjoyed a swim, lots of walks and views. We could even cut down into Hobart via the Gorge. If you’re staying in Hobart you can go up one side, then down the other (I’d recommend going down rather than up Zig Zag track personally). There’s a pool at the gorge, but the gorge itself is worth a dip.
You can also get a chairlift to the other side and walk back if you fancy it.
If you have time and are interested, Duck Reach Power Station is a nice walk with history and a mini museum. We stumbled across it and really enjoyed it for 20 mins or so.
Hobart City Centre
Beautiful buildings, old school pubs and of course the harbour. It’s a lovely afternoon/ evening explore. We loved the Whaler Pub in particular.
Mount Wellington
It’s a 20 minute drive out of Hobart (or a shuttle bus) up to Mount Wellington and it’s beautiful 360 views. We did the Organ Pipes track which I’d also recommend. It’s one of those where the views build as your climb. We parked a little way up the track and made it a two hour loop – good for a short afternoon explore.
Scallop Pies
They get a category of their own as they’re a bit special. I hadn’t realised that they would be curried which was a surprise but they are a truly Tassie thing, and really delicious. I personally wouldn’t recommend going to Banjo’s bakery for them, we had better (and more reasonably priced versions) at smaller local bakeries such as All Things Nice in Devonport which we stopped at straight off the ferry.
Local Produce
I’ll keep this short and sweet. Wherever you’re staying there will probably be a local farmers market on the weekend, or if you’re in Hobart they have night twilight markets in the Summer too. I’d highly recommend going for an explore.
We had so much good food and drink, as you’ll see above too, but here are a few extra things to hunt down:
- House of Fudge Roasted Coffee Fudge – I am not a big fudge or coffee fan in general but this was insanely good.
- Leatherwood Honey – I’d recommend the Tasmanian Honey Company but I’m sure there are awesome alternatives
- Elgaar Farm Cheese – you can usually find them at Launcestone Farmers Market but they are well worth hunting down. Proper cheese with lots of flavour.
- Southern Sky Blue Vein Brie
- Ziggy’s Small Goods – I’m not usually one for terrines and such like but these deserve a shout out. A great extra to add to your picnic!
- Top Jarred Octopus – stocked in Salamance Fresh Food and Hills IGA. The honey, garlic and chilli was delicious. If you like octopus I really recommend.
- Freciynet Pickled Mussels – a bit different, but another great picnic add-on. I was amazed how much you could still taste the mussels even after pickling. We have the pink gin variation.
Whatever you end up doing or eating, I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.