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Tasmania Gourmet Sampler

Tasmania is a gourmet paradise, where people live close to the land and sea and there is an natural flow from paddock to plate. Four distinct seasons make it perfect for producing prime cheeses, mouth-watering berries, wide-ranging vegetables, stone fruits, herbs, premium beef, specialty honey, mushrooms, cool-climate wines and some of Australia’s leading boutique and production beers.

Enjoy regional fare, friendly encounters with growers, makers and chefs, and celebrate the delights that come with the changing of our seasons.

INCLUSIONS

• One nights accommodation at the Red Feather Inn, including breakfast daily
• Two nights accommodation Islington Hotel, including breakfast
• One light lunch at the Islington Hotel
• One Barilla Bay Oyster Farm Tour with lunch
• One Haggis lunch with Tasmania wine and whisky at the Lark Distillery
• One dinner with wine and local ales at the Agrarian Kitchen Experience
• One dinner at Monty’s on Montpelier Restaurant
• ‘Agrarian Experience’ cooking class at “The Agrarian Kitchen’ cooking school
• Guided hands-on Lark Distillery Whiskey Experience
• Lunch and wine tasting at Meadowbank Winery
• Host/driver and transport in comfortable vehicle
• Hotel pick up and airport transfer

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Tamar Valley- Launceston - Hadspen
Your tour guide will welcome you at Launceston Airport for the start of your tour. The first stop will be at Josef Chromy, a winery known for its excellent cool climate aromatic and sparkling wines. Continue to the Tamar Valley, meandering along the riverside villages and vineyards to Ninth Vineyard for wine tasting and a delicious gourmet lunch, with matched wines at Strathlyn Restaurant. Drive to Launceston for a beer lover’s tour at Boag’s brewery where you will unveil the secrets of beer making from one of Tasmania’s oldest and best breweries. Put your seal of approval with a tasting at the end of the tour. Complete the afternoon browsing through the city’s renowned providores where you will discover some of Tasmania’s latest artisanal cheeses, hams, olives and chocolates etc. Your guide will take you to the Red Feather Inn, on the outskirts of Launceston, where you will be spending the evening. This charming inn, housed in convict built Georgian sandstone buildings is the perfect place to relax after a long day and enjoy dinner in the rustic surroundings.  Overnight: Red Feather Inn, Hadspen

Day 2 – Heritage Highway – Coal River Valley –Barilla Bay Oyster Farm - Hobart
Start your day with a short tour of Launceston and a stroll through the scenic Cataract Gorge where the Tamar River forces its way through sheer rocky cliffs. Depart for Hobart via the Heritage Highway which follows the same route as horse-drawn coaches did in the colonial days. Towns along the way, such as Campbelltown and Ross reflect the rich history of the pioneers, convicts and graziers who forged this land. Stop in Ross, a picture perfect town with its cobble-style paths, tall trees lining the main road and beautiful bridge. Continue to Oatlands, a historic town with the finest collection of Georgian buildings in Australia. Do a tour of the 1837 Callington Mill which now grinds flour as it did nearly 200 years ago and sample some at the nearby bakery for lunch. Continue south another charming historic town, Richmond with the oldest bridge in Australia, built by convict labour. Continue your drive south to the Coal River Valley Wine Region for a couple of wine tastings. Your first stop will be Pooley Wines which is a family owned and operated vineyard set in a beautiful heritage property near Richmond and well known for its Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Grigio.  The next stop will be Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard where Peter and Ruth Althaus produce some of the finest Pinots and Cabernets in the French style. The winery is unique for both the style of its wines and for the fact that it uses only grapes they grow themselves at the vineyard. Continue to Barilla Bay Oyster Farm for a tour where you will understand how the oysters are farmed and the importance of Tasmania’s pristine.  Overnight: Islington Hotel, Hobart

Day 3 – Lark Distillery and Meadowbank
Start the day with a hearty breakfast at the Islington Hotel, followed by an interpreted drive through Hobart’s historic district Battery Point, which retains much of the character of 100 years ago.  Now its time for some serious indulgence with an exclusive program at Lark
Whisky Distillery. Mark Nicholson, who was involved in producing small-goods at Hobart’s well-known Wursthaus Kitchen, will be your guide for the day. The first stop is at the original distillery near Hobart’s waterfront for a welcome drink and tour debriefing. Then travel to the main distillery in the Coal River Valley where you will be introduced to the history of Single Malt Whisky and the Lark Distillery and the first steps in brewing for whisky. A short drive will take you to the charming historic town of Richmond for morning tea and a stroll across the oldest bridge in Australia, built by convict labor. Return to the distillery to experience other aspects of whisky making before enjoying wine tasting and lunch at Meadowbank Winery next door. Mark will give a presentation on local artist, Tom Samek’s floor installations at the same time.  The rest of the afternoon will be spent at the distillery for further insights into Scottish and Australian whisky-making, concluding with a tasting of Lark’s fine distilled spirits and a Tasmanian cheese platter. Dinner this evening will be at Monty’s on Montpelier.  The style of cuisine is simple yet elegant, contemporary Tasmanian, providing the best of Tasmania’s produce a perfect plate to sit on. From local (rare breed) Wessex Saddleback Pig to Coal River Valley Venison, the Monty’s menu is re-designed each month to stay truly seasonal with Tasmania’s climatic changes.  Overnight: Islington Hotel, Hobart

Day 4- Mt. Wellington– Huon Valley – Hobart Airport
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning for a drive to the summit of Mt. Wellington (weather permitting) for panoramic views of Hobart and southern Tasmania.  Should today be a Saturday, you may wish to first stroll through Hobart’s legendary and colorful Salamanca Market, taking in the fresh produce, artisan cheeses, preserves, wines and arts & craft that are on offer.  Meander through back roads to the Huon Valley - the heart of Tasmania’s apple country and the route is lined with the orchards of apple, apricot and cherry farms. Stop in at Home Hill Winery for wine tasting and a refreshment and continue along the beautiful Huon River to the town of Cygnet. This little town is known as an artistic community as can be seen by the craft shops and art studios and galleries as you stroll along its main street. Lunch will be enjoyed at the Red Velvet Lounge, which is known for its good food with most of the produce coming from the Huon Valley’s farmers, gardeners and winemakers.  Continue this scenic drive along the Huon Trail, stopping at Grandvewe Sheep Cheesery to discover how our local cheeses are made and at Inverawe Gardens in Margate for a tranquil walk among colorful native plants and birds. Your guide will drop you off at Hobart Airport at the end of the afternoon, and bid you farewell.

Price per person, based on two passengers traveling together, twin share from $4999
Price per person, based on four passengers traveling together, twin share from $3439*

*Must be booked on the same reservation