Abbey on Main

The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin is the only school in Australia that teaches traditional wooden boat construction. It is situated on the banks of the Huon River, Franklin, which is a maritime heritage township in the Huon Valley, and 45-kilometre drive south of Hobart. On the guided tour through both the discovery centre and the workshop you get to see students and boatbuilders in action and the smell of Tasmania's unique boat building timbers including Huon Pine, King Billy Pine and Celery Top Pine will welcome you. You can also browse in the gift shop, where you can choose from a range of locally made craftwork and Wooden Boat Centre merchandise. The Wooden Boat Centre offers boat-building courses where you can construct a boat. The courses focus on the construction of timber vessels through all stages from lofting to launch. We also do restoration of your own boat.

Frank's Cider House and Cafe is located in the idyllic Huon Valley town of Franklin, just 40 minutes’ drive south of Hobart, overlooking the Huon River. Free tastings of Frank's multi award-winning ciders, complement the Huon Valley country style menu full of locally grown produce. Prepare to feast on seasonal delicacies such as smoked salmon from the pristine Huon River, and fresh Tasmanian scallops. Seasonal fruits are the focus of the dessert menu, with cider featured in many dishes such as Frank's famous apple cider scones. Franks Cider is made from apples and pears grown on the Clark family orchard in Franklin where they have been farming since 1836. Naomie Clark-Port, the family's fifth generation apple and pear farmer started making Franks Cider, naming it in honour of her grandfather Frank Clark, which has won National awards and sold Australia wide. Discover the family and region's apple growing history as you wander through their Museum. After lunch take a stroll along the banks of the Huon River and drop into the Wooden Boat Centre or take a cruise along the Huon River.

Tas-Saff is the saffron hub south of the equator. Terry, Nicky and Patrick Noonan original sea-changers from Sydney in the late '80s, pioneered the saffron industry in Australia. You will find Tas-Saff perched high on the hill overlooking Glaziers Bay in the idyllic Huon Valley south of Hobart. Saffron is harvested each year during April and May. The lilac crocus flowers must be picked early each day before the sun comprises the integrity of the saffron. At night, they sit like little rockets with the tip poking through the soil, then they shoot up a few centimetres high in the morning when the sun comes out, hence their name, the Flower of the Sun. Spice collected from the fiery red stigma of the lilac crocus flowers has been valued for its culinary and medicinal properties for thousands of years. Tas-Saf offers free saffron gin and saffron tea tastings. The Tas-Saff farm is open 10 am - 5 pm for farm gate visits nearly all year.