Culture Trip’s Guide to Tasmania
A ready collection of bookable travel ideas inspired by what you love. Discover things to do, where to stay, and the best spots to eat and drink.
Tasmania may be Australia’s smallest state, but it’s brimming with incredible scenery and experiences – from a trip to Bruny Island to a delicious dinner in Hobart. To make the most of your time in this magical place, Culture Trip rounds up the best hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Where to stay
1. Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse
Hostel
2. Peppers Silo Launceston
Hotel
Peppers Silo Launceston is housed in a converted landmark building, set on a heritage site that dates back to the 1960s. Within the original silo buildings and a new tower, the modern rooms are dressed in earthy tones – a nod to their former life as a grain storage site – and many of them come with views of the Tamar River. You can even step out the front door to take a leisurely walk along the banks. An in-house gym lets you keep up with your fitness routine, while the spa allows you to relax in style.
3. Mona Pavilions
Hotel
Sitting on the banks of the River Derwent, these eight pavilions seem to emerge out of the bushland, fitting in perfectly with their arty locale. Owned by the museum of the same name (Mona stands for Museum of Old and New Art), the rooms are suitably stylish, with specially commissioned artworks on the walls, river views and impeccable modern architecture. You’ll find the hotel’s award-winning restaurants inside the museum – expect French-influenced Australian dishes at glass-wrapped Source, while the Cellar Door (a wine-tasting space) and Moorilla Wine Bar serve up locally produced wine.
What to do
4. Bruny Island all-inclusive gourmet day trip from Hobart
Tours
With breathtaking natural scenery all around you, you’ll discover the gourmet delights of Bruny Island on this full-day tour to some of its best local foodie spots. With your knowledgeable guide, you’ll meet seven culinary artisans – including a cheesemaker, an oyster farmer and a winemaker – and eat and drink enough to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.
5. Mount Wellington Cycling Tour From Hobart
Tours, Activities
Breeze your way down Mt Wellington and take in the stunning views of the Hobart region on this two-wheeled downhill mountain bike tour. With a local guide leading the way, you’ll begin your descent at the top of the 1,270-metre summit of the mountain, where you can marvel at the panoramas and surrounding scenery before pedalling 13 miles all the way back to sea level. Along the way, there will be the opportunity to let loose on an off-road section.
6. Mt Field, Mt Wellington, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Richmond Day Tour
Tours
On this tour, you can explore Tasmania outside Hobart, with a visit to some of the island’s most unmissable sights, including Mt Field, Mt Wellington, the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and the charming town of Richmond. Along the way, you’ll get to see a variety of Tasmanian topography, numerous endemic species, breathtaking waterfalls and incredible views.
Where to eat
7. Stillwater Restaurant
Restaurant, Australian
This historic building, constructed in the 1830s as a flour mill, is now home to the spectacular Stillwater Restaurant. With views over the Tamar River, it occupies a breathtaking position, and while its home may be old-school, the food is anything but. Depending on when you visit, the ever-changing seasonal menu might feature dishes such as wallaby with celeriac, truffle and faro, or scallop tortellini with leek velouté.
8. Fico
Restaurant, Australian, Italian
Stepping into Fico feels like entering a secret brasserie in the heart of Paris, complete with dark wood and low lighting. While influenced by the tables of Europe, the food comes with a distinctively modern Australian twist – think risotto cacio e pepe topped with tomatoes and marjoram, and hare pithivier – and the menu changes seasonally with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. The Let Us Cook for You multi-course menus put you in the hands of the chef, or there’s a bar snacks menu for those looking for a more casual bite. Complement your meal with a bottle from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.
9. Templo
Restaurant, Australian, European, Mediterranean, Contemporary, Italian, Vegetarian, Gluten-free
Italian-influenced Templo sits in a convivial space with exposed brick walls, shelves lined with wine bottles, and long communal dining tables. Here, the chefs have mastered the basics of Italian cooking, with a menu of pillowy gnocchetti served with a flavourful bolognese sauce, and charred carrots on a bed of bagna cauda (a delightfully salty anchovy and garlic sauce).
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