In Hobart
and the South

Ignite your Off Season with a winter pilgrimage to Tasmania’s south.

When the temperature drops, Hobart and the south change gear. Join the festivities this Off Season with experiences and events that will stoke your inner fire as you inhale the invigorating southern chill.

Eat

Head east of Hobart toward Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula to sample the season’s bounty. Stop at Dunalley’s Bangor Vineyard Shed and taste your way through their cool-climate wines and succulent oysters. Level up and arrive by helicopter then tuck into a picnic on a secluded stretch of nearby beach.

Italian trattoria-style Peppina sits at the intersection of modern design and heritage, in the sandstone surrounds of an old hospital in Hobart. Start with an aperitif at Mary Mary bar next door, then indulge in antipasti, handmade pasta, tiramisu and an expertly curated Tasmanian wine list.

South of Hobart, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed roars to life during the Off Season. Uncover the crisp flavours of the Huon Valley with a cider tasting tour and a steaming slice of apple pie. Revel with the locals as the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival ignites the frosty July night for the very last time.

Stay

In need of realignment? Pumphouse Point is your Off Season destination. This converted power station on a glacial lake in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area offers a sense of quiet connection. Marvel at the serene surroundings, explore forest trails, melt away the chill with a tailored massage, and dine as the mist builds across the lake. Indulgent? Totally.

Find sanctuary among the trees at Huon Bush Retreats in Ranelagh, just south of Hobart. Choose from self-contained cabins, glamping tepees and leafy campsites on a private bush reserve, and inhale that woodsy, winter air.      

With Hobart’s Salamanca precinct at your doorstep, head out for a night of cocktails and culture then slip into salubrious comfort at the Tasman. Modern contemporary melds with Art Deco and Georgian heritage across 152 opulent rooms and suites.

Kick back at The Picker’s Hut and marvel at the panoramic Jordan Valley views from this working farm. Start the day with a crisp morning hike, end the day with a pinot noir from the nearby vines. It’s the perfect base for getting your Mona culture fix, or for explorations into the Coal River and Derwent Valleys.  

Play

While Hobart’s Dark Mofo festival is taking pause from its extravagant programming in 2024, you can still let loose and embrace the winter solstice at some key events. Revel in the cacophony of fire and wood smoke at the Winter Feast. Then strip off with the locals at the Nude Solstice Swim and brave the icy waters of the River Derwent in the ultimate homage to winter.

Journey south of Hobart to Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs and submerge yourself into a world of glistening dolomite. After touring the ancient labyrinth of caverns, head above ground to plunge into the steaming, mineral enriched spring water pool.

Fuel your creative spirit with a visit to one of Hobart’s surprising museums. At Mona, the immersive (and subversive) Museum of New and Old Art, descend into the cavernous galleries to question the importance of status at Namedropping (opening June 2024). While at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), gaze at ancient artefacts, learn about the long history and culture of the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people, and explore the island’s strong ties to Antarctica.

Cap off your Off Season with a winter tour and tasting at Tunnel Hill Mushrooms. Sample an array of mushrooms, growing in the stable environment of a disused railway tunnel. Be sure you secure a bottle of shitake vodka or a medicinal tincture while you’re there.