Tasmania’s best farm experiences

Paddock to plate, farm to fork and dive to dish – the food miles are few on this small island.

It’s not just the chance to taste produce straight from the farm and ocean that’s special. It’s the ease of meeting the makers at cellar doors, farm gates and local markets that makes farm experiences in Tasmania an essential part of any trip.

Farm-fresh flavours come with food for thought, too. “The beauty of sharing our farm with visitors is being able to demystify the growing and cooking of food,” says Matthew Evans, a former Sydney chef and food critic turned Huon Valley farmer, author and presenter of the SBS series Gourmet Farmer. At Fat Pig Farm, he and partner Sadie Chrestman run workshops and classes and share farm experiences and leisurely lunchtime feasts with guests.

In a small, idyllic state like Tasmania, it’s easier to instil a new faith in small-scale farming. Matthew Evans, Fat Pig Farm

"Growers can care for soil, plants and animals, and still put dinner on the table, without costing the Earth," says Evans.

Head into the countryside and embrace a slower pace of life. Call into farm gates, cellar doors or head to the markets and chat with farmers and makers. Everyone has a story to share.

Meet the maker

Whether it’s a farm tour, foraging experience or an on-site tasting, here’s your chance to meet the person behind the product.

Tasman Sea Salt

The Salt Sommelier is a tour of Tasman Sea Salt’s innovative clean-energy saltworks on the east coast, followed by paired tastings of sea salts with local produce.

Truffle hunting

Follow the dog on a truffle hunt. The Truffledore runs truffle tours and lunches during winter, and has farm stays. And The Truffle Farm has both winter and summer harvests and hunts, as well as a farm-gate shop.

Cellar door

Visit the rustic cellar door at Swinging Gate Vineyard and meet Nellie the dog. Cosy up inside or settle in the sun as Doug leads you through a tasting. Ever had a glass of Pet Nat? It’s short for Pétillant Naturel. The wine is bottled before completing its first fermentation, resulting in a light and fizzy natural wine. This is the place to try it.

Fork it Farm

Focused on ethical and sustainable farming, Fork it Farm practises what it preaches to raise its Berkshire pigs in the Tamar Valley. Visit the farm shop, take a farm tour or book a paddock picnic with a charcuterie platter and enjoy the view. There’s accommodation, too.

Barilla Bay

Learn about oyster farming and grading at Barilla Bay near Hobart, see an informative abalone display and step inside a ginger-beer brewery for a view and a tasting.

Freycinet Marine Farm

Pop on the waders and head into the water for a tasting tour. Learn about oyster farming, how to shuck your own and taste Pacific oysters straight from the ocean. They team perfectly with a glass of local east-coast riesling.

Sirocco South

Go foraging with an expert from Sirocco South and feast on what you can find. Head into the wetlands in the south-east in search of wild asparagus, venture into the forest to find mushrooms and beachcomb for seaweed.

Red Cow Organics

Get close to the red cows on a Behind the Dairy Door tour at this north-west hinterland farm. Enjoy a nature walk through the rainforest and into the paddocks before rounding up the cows for milking.

On the farm

Meet miniature donkeys, see sheep being shorn, brush Highland cows and have lunch with furry friends. Play and stay - many farms offer accommodation.

Guide Falls Farm

Grab a feed bucket and head to the paddocks at Guide Falls Farm in the north-west for a DIY farmer experience, or take a guided tour. Worked up an appetite? Try the farm’s produce at its on-site restaurant.

Twamley Farm

Meet Frida the miniature donkey, Sheila the sheep, see little Dexter cows or give trout fishing a go in the well-stocked dam at Twamley Farm on the east coast. There’s boutique accommodation at the farm near Buckland.

Highland Getaway

Get friendly with Highland cattle and calves, alpacas and silky chickens on a farm tour or during a stay at Highland Getaway in the Huon Valley.

Apricus Launceston

Three donkeys, two ponies, two goats and six rabbits are just some of the furry residents to meet on a breakfast or lunch date.

Ashdale Miniature Farm

Huge cuteness factor comes in small packages on this farm on Bruny Island. Play with everything miniature.

Curringa Farm

See a sheep-shearing demonstration and watch the working dogs in action on several farm-tour options at the 300-hectare Curringa Farm near Hamilton. Stay in one of the property’s cottages and enjoy a barbecue hamper of local produce.

Farm-fresh feasts

Hungry? Slip off the gumboots and settle into a long lunch made from seasonal produce plucked straight from the paddock.

Fat Pig Farm

Expect a long lazy afternoon on Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley. Enjoy an array of dishes straight from the paddock and gardens, and matched with Tasmanian craft beer, wine and cider.

Van Bone

Overlooking picturesque Marion Bay, sit back and indulge in 14 tasting plates based on produce from the on-site vegetable garden at Van Bone, and locally sourced seafood and meat.

The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery

In a light-filled dining room occupying a former asylum, the provenance of each dish is explained to connect diners at The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery to the local growers of New Norfolk.

Fico

Settle in for a Sunday long lunch at this intimate dining room in Hobart. Influenced by the tables of Europe, the menu is based on the best seasonal produce, meat and seafood on offer at the Farm Gate Market on Sundays.

Stillwater

This riverfront restaurant in a restored flour mill has been championing local growers and makers for 20 years, long before provenance became a mainstream concern. Expect relaxed, unpretentious fine dining at Stillwater and menus that reflect the flavours of northern Tasmania.

Phoenix Farm

With a focus on their own lamb and locally sourced seafood, Phoenix Farm serves hearty farm-style breakfast and lunch at Boomer Bay.

Class acts

Take your culinary skills to the next level using seasonal produce at an atmospheric cooking school. Best bit? Indulging in the finished feast.

Fat Pig Farm School

As well as hands-on classes using produce from the farm, there are workshops at Fat Pig Farm for those interested in farm life, such as small-farm design, and how to create super soil for your vegie garden.

Sylvia’s Kitchen

With a focus on local ingredients and fresh herbs and edibles from the garden, classes at Sylvia’s Kitchen range from mastering the basics to international cuisines.

Twamley Farm

Learn to cook rustic Italian dishes, farmhouse French cuisine, nourishing winter meals or a spring harvest banquet with Gert and Ted at Twamley Farm, then sit down with matching east-coast wines to share the outcome.

ForknFarm

Join an artisan workshop at ForknFarm in the west Tamar Valley and learn how to make cheese, sourdough, sausages, salami, hot and cold smoking or wood-fired pizza. There are one- and two-day intensive courses available.

The Farmhouse Kitchen

Take a trip to Italy in the Huon Valley with a cooking masterclass at The Farmhouse Kitchen. From pasta rustica and focaccia to an Italian feast, there are a range of workshops. Short on time? Try a mini class.

DIY adventures

Follow your nose to farmers' markets, tasting trails, roadside stalls and berry farms.

Farmers’ markets

Head to the island’s vibrant markets for seasonal, fresh produce straight from the farmer. Harvest Launceston starts bright and early on Saturdays and Farm Gate Market in Hobart’s city centre happens every Sunday. Head to Bream Creek Farmers Market on the first Sunday of every month, and Willie Smith’s Artisan and Produce Market in Grove on Saturdays.

Tasting Trail Cradle to Coast

Take a gourmet road trip along the Tasting Trail Cradle to Coast across north-west Tasmania, with almost 40 stops at artisanal producers. It’s a great chance to meet the makers and sample a delicious array of Tasmanian goods from hazelnuts, gelati and chocolate to olives, wine and whisky.

Roadside stalls

A drive through southern Tasmania reveals small roadside stalls selling seasonal produce straight from the farm. Pull over for apples, pears, jam and juice and leave your money in the honesty boxes provided.

Berry picking

In the warmer months, berry farms across Tasmania produce sweet plump berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries – and many of them invite travellers to pick their own. DIY at The Berry Patch, Hillwood Berry Farm and Crestview in the north. And call into Coal River Farm, Sorell Fruit Farm and Westerway Raspberry Farm in the south.