Australia’s island state of Tasmania is renowned for producing some of the countries best food and drink. From world-class whisky and award winning cool-climate wines to sensational seafood and small batch handcrafted cheeses. The pristine landscape and abundance of natural resources make Tasmania the perfect pantry for passionate farmers and makers to produce outstanding food and beverages using quality local ingredients.
A weekend in Tasmania invites visitors to experience some of the country’s best culinary offerings within easy reach of the capital city, Hobart. There are numerous farm gates and cellar doors, plus plenty of foodie-focused locals to guide you. Meet cheesemakers and their cute goats, sample newly released wines, learn about oyster farming and taste fresh raw honey via immersive paddock-to-plate experiences. We headed to Hobart for a 48-hour foodie adventure and here is what we found.
Day One
After a short flight from the mainland, we enjoyed the scenic drive to Dunalley on the Tasman Peninsula. It is a charming coastal town where fishing boats bob gently offshore against a backdrop lush green hills.
Accommodation here ranges from quaint waterfront holiday homes to beautifully restored heritage properties that seamlessly blend historic charm with modern comforts. We stayed at St Martins of Tasmania, a stunning renovated church that provides a peaceful base from which to launch your foodie adventure.
For dinner, we headed to the relaxed waterfront restaurant, The Cannery, specialising in locally sourced seafood and regional produce. Fresh oysters, grilled seafood, smoked fish and local wines are highlights of the menu, best enjoyed overlooking the water as the sun sets over the East Bay.
Day Two
Today is dedicated entirely to local food and wine, exploring the region with Dine Alley Tours, a proudly Tasmanian business offering behind the scenes farm, vineyard and producer experiences. An early pick up from the accommodation and the morning begins at a stylish local café and providore where shelves are lined with regional delicacies, artisan pantry items and incredible freshly baked pastries and treats. Coffees in hand, the tour hits the road venturing into the countryside to find the first farm gate.
At the end of a narrow winding road, a boutique goat dairy awaits, where small-batch cheeses are crafted using sustainable farming practices. Visitors can meet playful baby goats before settling in for a tasting overlooking beautiful rolling green hills and rural landscapes. The farm produces small batch cheese servicing restaurant and retail outlets only in Tasmania. Rich, creamy goat cheeses paired with local accompaniments greet our tastebuds and a hush falls over the group – stop one is a success!
The journey continues to a cool-climate vineyard renowned for elegant sparkling wines, pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay and pinot gris. These varieties thrive in Tamanian growing conditions. The generous tastings are accompanied by locally cured meats, house-made pickles and spectacular coastal views.
No Tasmanian foodie tour would be complete without oysters. A visit to a working oyster farm was up next offering fascinating insight into how these prized shellfish are cultivated, from hatchery to harvest. Visitors can observe baby oysters under microscopes before sampling freshly shucked oysters straight from the source – fresh, clean, briny and exceptionally delicious.
A sweet stop follows at a local honey producer, where visitors can try numerous honey varieties harvested from Tasmania’s pristine native bushland including Manuka, Tasmanian Eucalypt, Prickly Box and Meadow. A personalised tour details the process of collecting and extracting the honey with as little interference as possible and the highest priority care for the bees. Homemade honey ice cream provides the perfect afternoon indulgence at this stop.
The day’s final stop is another spectacularly scenic vineyard, where wine tastings are paired with hearty regional dishes showcasing Tasmania’s exceptional produce. Walking through the vines tasting the wines with the local guide, it becomes easy to understand why Tasmania has become one of Australia’s premier food and wine destinations.
The tour returns in the late afternoon to Dunalley or alternatively guests can be taken to Hobart. For those who end the tour in Hobart, the city’s vibrant dining scene awaits in the contemporary restaurants scattered throughout the CBD. These venues showcase local ingredients with globally inspired menus, inventive cocktails and relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Explore at will.
This tour is a peek behind the foodie curtain of southern Tasmania and is perfect for foodies, home cooks and curious diners. A guided experience with Dine Alley Tours offers a genuine paddock-to-plate journey through the thriving rural food scene on Hobart’s doorstep. Visiting boutique producers, meeting passionate local makers and tasting products directly where they are grown or crafted creates a deeper appreciation for the region’s exceptional produce. Combining all that is uniquely Tasmanian – scenic landscapes, warm hospitality and quality produce, Dine Alley Tours provides a memorable way to experience the true taste of Tasmania.
Disclaimer: We were a guest of DineAlley Tours, all opinions are my own.
