Splinter Specialist
Learn to love winter as a Splinter Specialist
- Your Winternship hosts: Huon Pine Shop and Gallery and Creative Paper Tasmania
- Location: Strahan and Wynyard, Tasmania
Your Winternship
In Tasmania, winter is all about slow-paced creativity and craftsmanship. At Huon Pine Shop and Gallery, woodworkers whittle winter away in the best-smelling workshop in Strahan, and now it's your turn to chip in.
Arrive at the shop for a carving tutorial, watching wood turners craft their daily crop of wooden apples. Next, forage for twigs on the Strahan waterfront and breathe in the fresh (freezing) air, then head back inside to proudly place the stems into the tops of the ornamental Huon pine apples.
Leave your writer's block behind at the Writer's Corner, where a hand-carved Huon pine desk awaits. Craft some letters to your loved ones, pop your envelopes through the slot and post them like a real-life social media update. No typing or notifications required.
After a hard-earned slumber, hit the road north with a handpicked haul of Huon pine branches to make your very own paper at Creative Paper Tasmania. Spend the afternoon shadowing paper-making masters as they reveal their secrets. Watch as your wet and weathered twigs transform from pine into paper before clocking off for the day.
From whittling wood to sending snail mail, you'll be taking home a newfound appreciation for the slower pace of winter (and perhaps the odd splinter or two).
Become a winter person with a Winternship.​
Entries open 6:00pm AEST, Monday 26th May 2025 and close 11:59pm AEST, Tuesday 17 June 2025. By applying for this Winternship you agree to the T&Cs.
The finer details
- Assist with the carving, finishing and assembly of Huon pine apples – a true Tassie craft classic.
- Take a quiet moment in the Writer’s Corner to pen a few proper letters (no emojis allowed).
- Collect and prep Huon pine offcuts for a papermaking session at Creative Paper Tasmania.
- Patience is essential, as this workshop requires things to get done ASAP (As Slowly As Possible).
- Thick skin to protect from a splinter or two.
- A creative streak and a curiosity for carving.
- A hearty appreciation for the history of Tasmania’s rare and fragrant Huon pine.
- Artistic immersion in Tasmania’s unique winter workshops at Huon Pine Shop and Gallery and Creative Paper Tasmania.
- Return flights to Tasmania.
- Car hire.
- Two nights’ accommodation.
- A selection of Tasmanian treats.
You will leave with a sense of pride in your newfound slow and satisfying alternative to scrolling.
Winter Itineraries
Bundle the best Off Season experiences into a DIY road trip with these Winternship-inspired itineraries.
Alone-inspired adventures
4 days in Tasmania's wild west
Whisky, wine and wellness
3 days in Hobart and Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula
Truffles, cultural tours and animals
4 day loop of Tasmania's north west
Caves, creatures and Cataract Gorge
4 days in Launceston and surrounds
Wine glasses, wombats and wild coastlines
3 days in Binalong Bay and Freycinet
Culture, cuisine and cold dips
3 days in Hobart and the Huon Valley
Wheels, wine and whisky
3 days in Derby and Launceston
Saunas, soups and starry skies
3 days in Buckland and Bicheno
Snow, wilderness and history
4 days in the west and Cradle Mountain
become a winter person
Don your woolly socks and subscribe to the Off Season newsletter to be the first to know about Tasmania’s winter festivals, events and special offers.
