6 days in Hobart and the south east

Start your south-east Tasmania 6-day itinerary on a high. The Explorer Bus to Kunanyi / Mount Wellington whisks you from sea level to the summit of Hobart’s 1270m mountain. Ogle at the city, the river and the sea spread out below, with maybe a dusting of snow up top.  

Return to sea level to wander Hobart's historic waterfront. Step back in time for a laidback lunch at Jam Packed Cafe within the storied walls of the old IXL Jam factory.

Warm up nearby with a winter wellness ritual at Nova Holistic Spa, Hobart's only outdoor, all-weather therapeutic bathhouse.  

Refreshed and recharged, it’s time to tuck into some ocean-fresh Tassie seafood at Pearl + Co. Smoked oysters, scallops, squid and lobster are yours to savour.

Then, find winter chills of a different kind. Head underground with Tasmania’s Most Haunted into the basement of Hobart Town Hall to unearth 150 years of stories and learn ghost hunting techniques. It might be your new favourite hobby.

Round out the day at Vibe Hotel Hobart with views back to the brooding mountain.

Kickstart your day with breakfast in the Belvedere before checking out of your accommodation.

It’s a short 27km drive to historic Richmond to peek into the convict past at Richmond Gaol – Australia’s oldest intact gaol. Mention the Off Season for 10% off entry in May–August.

Stroll through Georgian streetscapes on the Richmond Heritage walk (2.2km) and cross Richmond Bridge. It’s been carrying feet, hooves and wheels over the Coal River since 1825.

Feeling peckish? Sweet treats await at Federation Artisan Chocolate. You can even join a hands-on chocolate making experience Friday–Monday during the Off Season months.   

To fully refuel, pair a lunchtime wine tasting with local produce from the ‘Pecking Menu’ at Puddleduck Wines.

From wine to wildlife: feed furry friends in their wintry coats on an afternoon visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. In winter, you can rug up in your own coat to experience their after-dark tour (5.15pm).

Return to Richmond for an indulgent dinner at Prospect House Restaurant (book ahead).

End the day relaxing in eco-friendly comfort at Aquila Eco Retreat. Stargaze from a claw-foot bath on your private deck. Check out their stress-busting hot-cold therapy options with a wood-fired sauna and cold immersion - the ultimate wellness retreat for adult guests.

Watch the sunrise from your eco pod or glamping tent accommodation then head on your way, via a breakfast stop at Richmond Bakery.

Today is all about spirits, seafood and sauna culture. Select your designated driver and swing by Hellfire Bluff Distillery to see how the humble potato is transformed into tasty vodka.

Blue Lagoon Oysters is a delicious detour off the Arthur Highway. Try freshly-shucked Pacific oysters –  this is one of the only places you can find the rare, native Tasmanian Angasi oyster.

Dunalley Bay Distillery’s winter menu invites you to sup on a shared seafood basket by the waterfront and wash it down with their local gin.

If all that feasting has you feeling like a detox, head to Dunalley Bay Sauna to sweat it out in the cedar-lined warmth before stepping back into the crisp coastal air.

Pick up dinner supplies in Dunalley to cook up in the kitchen at St Martin’s of Tasmania, your cosy converted stone church stay.

There’s time for one more soak in the Norwegian spruce sauna nestled in the tranquil garden. Then settle by the firepit to take in the sea views and star-speckled night sky.

Head south from your stone cottage along the highway to Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula.

Take your breakfast by the sea at Lufra Cafe and Bistro and, if weather and tides permit, see the striking Tessellated Pavement rock formations.

Next stop, World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, where every building tells a story of 19th century life as a convict or colonial free settler on the edge of the world.

Having worked up an appetite wandering this evocative site, grab a casual bite to eat at the onsite cafe.

Time for a tipple at McHenry Distillery, Australia's southernmost grain-to-glass distillery. Warm up with an early afternoon tour and indulgent whisky and gin tasting.

Drop your bags at NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park and fire up the pizza oven for a DIY dinner (BYO ingredients).

It’s a convict-chipped stone’s throw back to Port Arthur for a lantern-lit Port Arthur Ghost Tour.

Then bed down in the comfort of your cosy cabin or glamping style safari tent for the night.

Rug up in warm layers and swap your cosy cabin for a day of outdoor adventures.

A light cafe breakfast is best before your Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise tour on the southern seas.

Sidle up to the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere, spot seals, sea caves and (if you’re lucky) watch whales on their winter migration.

Back on land, stop for lunch and a fragrant floral souvenir at Port Arthur Lavender Cafe.

Make your way back to Hobart for a leisurely aperitivo at Hadley’s Orient Hotel Bar. Book ahead for their free murder mystery card game to solve as you sip cocktails.  

As dusk descends, join an after-dark wildlife tour of Hobart with Inala Nature Tours – keep an eye out for bandicoots, potoroos, tawny frogmouths and endangered quolls.

Dine at Mr. Good Guy with flavour-filled bar bites inspired by the night markets and hawker foods of Southeast Asia. 

It’s not far to roll into bed upstairs at Ibis Styles.

Rise early for a buffet breakfast at your hotel.

A scenic 1hr 15min drive away and you’ll be breathing in the fresh forest air of Mount Field National Park on the edge of Tasmania’s World Heritage wilderness. Don’t miss the short stroll to multi-tier Russell Falls through colossal man-ferns and mossy rainforest.

Backtrack to historic town New Norfolk for melt-in-your-mouth winter fare at the Agrarian Kitchen Kiosk  – think cheesy toasties and fireside s’mores. Open 11am–2pm Friday–Sunday.

On your way back to Hobart, swing by Lark Distillery in Pontville to raise a glass. Afterall, this is Australia’s oldest single malt whisky. The buildings are even older, dating back to the early 1800s. Open daily 10am–4pm.

Wrap your adventures up with some grazing and chatty reflections at Pitzi Pasta Bar. Taste artful handmade pastas, share plates lathered with premium local produce (shaved truffle, anyone?) and refreshing cocktails.