We're talking about Tasmania, in Australia. Despite being just an hour's flight from Melbourne, the island, off the country's southern coast, was isolated and untouched for years and today has virtually untouched nature and wildlife and air that is considered to be the purest in the world, which is why it has local cuisine and wines with unique quality and flavors.
The suggestion is to start your trip in charming, cosmopolitan Melbourne, one of the world's top-rated destinations when it comes to food, art and music. Melbourne deserves at least 3 nights.
Melbourne is Australia's city of design, and it doesn't stop there. With skyscrapers in sumptuous parks on the banks of the Yarra River, a closer look at the city reveals a network of cobbled streets full of bars, restaurants and hidden local boutiques, very reminiscent of delightful European laneways. It is undoubtedly Australia's most European city and is great for a leisurely walk.
From Melbourne to Tasmania.
We'll start exploring Tasmania from the north, through LAUNCESTON. Tasmania's second largest city, it is located in the north and is the ideal place to start your journey around the island.
A great city to explore on foot, with a thriving cultural scene and beautiful natural landscapes, Launceston has great restaurants (we have several excellent recommendations) lining the revitalized waterfront, where the promenade leads to Inveresk and one of Australia's best regional art galleries.
The tip is to explore Cataract Gorge, just a few minutes from the center, where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the city and the world's longest cable car. Stroll through the fern-filled ravine, cross the suspension bridge over the rapids, climb or abseil down the park's gorges and if you want a suggested route for your hike, we have special suggestions.
For wine and food lovers, the Tamar Valley (11 km from Launceston) is Tasmania's main wine region. There are several boutique wineries and wonderful restaurants in the region. One of our tips is to taste the award-winning sparkling wine and learn about the methods behind winemaking at Josef Chromy Wines. Direct experiences with the winemakers, personalization of your own bottle of sparkling wine and lunches paired with the region's wines are all experiences that can be arranged for you.
From Launceston to Freycinet National Park
We suggest an itinerary giving preference to historic routes and beautiful scenery and avoiding the main roads. From Launceston to Freycinet is a 3-hour drive, but if you have the time and interest to explore the regions, it will take all day. Pass through historic Evandale and take the opportunity to buy some delicious local produce in the shops we've recommended. Visit the elegant and historic Carendon House (17th century) and understand the lifestyle of the nobility (mostly English) of the time. Move on to the Fingal Valley, head towards St Marys (old mining town) and make a pit stop at Mount Elephant Pancakes, at the top of Elephant Pass. Pass through Bicheno and Apslawn before reaching Freycinet.
Freycinet is the famous and beautiful bay shaped like a wine glass and is home to one of Australia's best and most charming hotels, the Saffire Freycinet, which is well worth an overnight stay.
From Freycinet to Hobart
Between Freycinet and Hobart are beautiful coastal villages and the award-winning Bream Creek winery in Marion Bay whose Pinot Noir and sparkling wines are famous and considered the best produced in a cold climate in Australia.
Pass through Swansea to buy the delicious local jams, admire the incredible views of Great Oyster Bay and arrive in Hobart in time to enjoy the evening in Tasmania's capital.
Situated at the mouth of the River Derwent, Hobart is protected by Mount Wellington to the west and Mount Nelson to the south. It was here that actor Errol Flynn ( 1909) and Mary Donaldson, Princess Mary of Denmark(1972) were born. The city oozes charm and offers first-class hotels, culture, lively nightlife, fresh seafood, premium whiskey and exquisite wines. Don't miss Hobart's Moorilla Estate and the Museum of Modern and New Art (MONA) for a day of good food, wine and art (The Source Restaurant is spectacular and offers beautiful views). The tip is to taste wines from Moorilla's three distinct series - Praxis, Muse and Cloth Label - and enjoy a special lunch paired with selected local wines.
When you arrive in Hobart from the north, take in the 19th-century sandstone warehouses of Sullivan's Cove and have lunch in one of the many good restaurants on Elizabeth Street in North Hobart (a cool area of Hobart, very pleasant to walk around).
The Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania is a popular recreational area just a short drive from the city center. It is the second oldest botanical garden in Australia and has great plant collections and is well worth a visit.
Mount Wellington, the Tasman Bridge and the Hobart Synagogue (the oldest in Australia) are some of the city's attractions.
The city can be explored by bike (Hobart Bike Hire) when you should pass through: Salamanca Place, Battery Point, Constitution Dock, Parliament House, Sullivan's Cove, North Hobart and Richmond.
In 1798, the English sailor George Bass observed that the "hard soil" around the Derwent was suitable for growing vines. Since then, the landscape around Hobart has been dotted with vineyards, orchards and hop fields. We highly recommend a drive through the beautiful Derwent Valley to Mount Field National Park.
There are many unique experiences around Hobart: - hiking under huge fern canopies and some of the tallest trees in the world; - visiting Russell Falls, a breathtaking waterfall; - getting to know and taste delicious local produce at the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery in New Norfolk; - visiting the famous Tasmanian devils, wombats and quolls at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and the experience of feeding the kangaroos.
On Bruny Island and for an unmissable day-trip from Hobart, you will experience spectacular scenery and local gourmet products. Taste abalone, oysters, sea urchin and lobster harvested directly from the sea, combined with local wines, and we can organize an appetizing seafood feast during your visit.
