Tasmania is a gastronome’s dream. Remote, sea-kissed, pure of air, it’s a land of jewel-like farms and locally sourced delicacies, of restaurants, cooking schools, high-end viniculture, craft distilleries and gourmet tasting trails. Tucked 150 miles south of the Australian mainland over the roiling Bass Strait, this island state of 26,294 sq m has long been self-sustaining, as evidenced by a wealth of small-batch makers and homegrown produce – and with a knack for blending ingenuity and patience to find flavours that are out of this world.
Oysters, truffles, whisky, grapes, mushrooms, apples, rare leatherwood honey – all are allowed time to develop, to mature when they’re ready, to peak according to the abundant sun and refreshing rain of the island’s four distinct seasons. Tasmania is internationally renowned as a wonderland of pristine rainforests, dramatic river valleys and unique wildlife (including endangered Tasmanian devils and unusual white wallabies). But increasingly, as serious chefs step up, food and wine festivals proliferate and farm shops and farmers’ markets let visitors taste their wares and learn about Tasmanian abundance first-hand. And with Launceston declared a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the island is now a priority destination for serious foodies.
So prepare your taste buds and bring your appetite. Tasmania’s paddock-to-plate culture lets you enjoy fresh, clean, quality food at the source. Start in Launceston, the island’s second most populous city after the capital, Hobart. Situated between two rivers on the Tamar estuary, and sporting long-established parks and elegant Victorian architecture, this regional town has championed an artisanal approach from the off. The iconic Boag’s Brewery in the historic CBD has been refreshing palates for 142 years, while the lush pastures of the Tamar Valley and beyond continue their long sheep-and-cattle-farming heritage with year-round grazing; sumptuous cuts of grass-fed Tasmanian lamb feature prominently on menus across Australia.
Launceston’s growing multicultural population has seen food innovation thrive. You'll find diverse, imaginatively prepared regional produce at the weekly Harvest Market, where those who make the food – whether it be coffee, olive oil or ethically-farmed charcuterie – are the ones who sell it. This bespoke aesthetic extends across the island, at roadside stalls stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables and preserves; in bakeries selling melt-in-your-mouth scallop pie (the state’s unofficial dish); and in restaurants whose chefs have foraged for truffles or dived for abalone and sea urchins (the latter can often be found on the menu at prestigious Hobart diner Peacock and Jones).
Did we mention Tasmanian wine? The island’s renowned cool-climate offerings range from fresh and crisp to velvety smooth. Call in at several cellar doors on a Tasmanian wine trail, follow the journey from vineyard to fine wine at picturesque Josef Chromy Winery, or fly over it all on a tailored helicopter experience with Tasmanian Air Tours. There are distilleries, too, more than 80 of them, making award-winning whiskies and spirits and bringing liquid sunshine to drinks menus such as that of The Source a temple to seasonal Tasmanian dining that shares the site at Hobart’s Mona (The Museum of Old and New Art) with the pioneering Moorilla Winery, where small-batch, foot-trodden riesling is still a thing.
Unexpected delights abound: organic juices, aged raw milk cheeses, aromatic fresh wasabi, or lavender-flavoured chocolate that melts in the mouth. Sample what you can on a self-guided tasting tour across the regions: Tasting Trail Tasmania in the island’s northwest includes stops at more than 40 artisanal producers, all of them world class, all providing that unique Tasmanian twist.
Australia’s Island
The relatively unknown offering of Tasmania is starting to capture the imagination of holidaymakers in the know, and not just because of the warm welcome visitors can expect from its people.
With the purest air, the cleanest water, the most stunning beaches and an abundance of unspoiled nature and wildlife, this corner of Australia is swiftly becoming a must-do for travellers keen to step off the beaten track.
We don’t like to brag - but at Flight Centre, we know Down Under like the back of our hand. We’re born and bred there after all and have been crafting holidays to perfection for 40 years. So, whether you’re visiting for the first time, returning for the fifth, or planning a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, our travel experts will tailor-make your Australia getaway down to the finest detail. Plus, your holiday planning will be handled by the best in the business, with our signature service, irresistible value, expertise, and peace of mind guaranteed. But don’t just take our word for it; we’ll let our over 30,000 5-star reviews on Trustpilot do the talking.
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