Five reasons to fall in love with Tasmania in autumn and winter
Kuala Lumpur, 20 March 2018 – Any time is a good time to visit Tasmania. For many, the dry, warm summer months of December-February are popular. But if you prefer cooler temperatures and less crowds, visiting Australia’s island state in either autumn (March-May) or winter (June-August) is a great choice as it provides a pleasant ambiance for exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, sampling the best Tasmanian produce and becoming immersed in Tassie-style festival buzz. Whether you are travelling solo or as a couple, group or family, there’s something for everyone to indulge in from March to August in the Apple Isle. Here are five reasons why you will fall in love with this unique heart-shaped island.
1. Great walks with picturesque views
Great walks with picturesque views
From Cradle Mountain to the Freycinet Peninsula, there are so many great walks offering spectacular scenic views not seen anywhere else in the world. Autumn provides the uniquely Tasmanian sight of fagus trees turning into vibrant hues of red, yellow and gold, while winter offers spellbinding sights of ice-carved peaks and snow-capped alpine lakes in national parks such as Ben Lomond and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair.
2. Nuzzling up close with local wildlife
Tasmania is a natural haven for Australian wildlife such as wallabies, wombats and Tasmanian devils. See these creatures, including the platypus and echidna, in their natural habitat or up close in wildlife sanctuaries. In Tasmanian waters, dolphins can be spotted from a tour boat, while humpback whales can be sighted on the east coast as they migrate northward towards mainland Australia between May and July.
3. Feasting on authentic Tasmanian produce
Tasmania is a foodie paradise, offering the best in whiskey, cider and beer that Australia has to offer, as well as quality local produce such as artisan cheeses, black truffles and fresh seafood. Gourmet pleasures are easily found in the bistros, cafes and restaurants spread around the island. Food and wine festivals are regular occurrences during autumn and winter, it’s also a good time to visit whiskey, cider or beer trails to experience the best of Tasmanian cellar doors.
4. Immersing in local arts and culture
Tasmania has an active community of artists, designers and performers whose creativity continues to shine bright even in winter. Much anticipated winter festivals include Festival of Voices, Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest and Dark Mofo which include art exhibitions, food, film, music and song in and around Hobart. The Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival showcases music, exhibitions and workshops along a stretch of the Tasmanian east coast.
5. Staying in top-notch accommodation
If you just want to relax and chill in Tasmania, the island state offers all kinds of accommodation suited to your mood and holiday needs. Accommodation options range from quaint boutique hotels in Hobart, fully-furnished bed and breakfast cottage in a rustic town, a luxurious spa lodge nestled within a nature sanctuary or a cosy camping hamlet atop a scenic cliff.
Adventure in Tassie
From easy bushwalks to challenging cliff-top treks, to the wild thrill of mountain-biking, Tasmania is the adventure island. Whether it’s snorkelling for fresh abalone, abseiling off a granite crags or paddling a sea kayak on sheltered inshore waters – they’re all adventures you can enjoy during your Tasmanian autumn/winter holiday.
Tasmania’s fiery autumn spectacle
1. Turning of the fagus – Tasmania’s fiery autumn spectacle
During late April and early May the native fagus tree presents a spectacular seasonal display as its leaves change colour, showing off brilliant hues of red, yellow, orange and gold. The fagus is Australia’s only cold-climate deciduous tree and is found nowhere else in the world except the remote highland regions of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The best places to witness this dazzling only-in-Tasmania display are at the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and Mount Field National Park around Lake Fenton.
2. Hollybank Treetops Adventure – Tassie’s most breathtaking adventure
Tassie’s most breathtaking adventure
A 20-minute drive from Launceston, the Hollybank Treetops Adventure can be enjoyed by both adults and young children. At the adventure park, you can experience a close-up view of the forest and its surrounds riding a series of zip lines. The adventure takes you soaring through the trees some 20 metres above ground level, with the longest individual section of zip line roughly 100 metres long and the tallest point reaching almost 50 metres high.
3. Walk Cataract Gorge – the world’s longest single-span chairlift
the world’s longest single-span chairlift
The scenic Cataract Gorge in Launceston is one of Tasmania’s key attractions. Walk Cataract Gorge, offers ‘The Jewel of Launceston’ experience, a one-hour walk starting from Kings Bridge, taking you through the Gorge, across First Basin before ending at Basin Cottage. Cataract Gorge Walk founder and tour guide, Tanya Hussey explains the unique flora and fauna of the Cataract Gorge Reserve, introduces you to feathered and furry wildlife and tells stories about the early European settlers.
4. Freycinet Experience Walk – an exclusive award-winning tour
One of the 12 designated Great Walks of Australia, the Freycinet Experience Walk is a four-day guided walk covering the entire length of the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast, including the iconic Wineglass Bay. Limited to 10 persons per group, you and your walking companions will get to walk on pristine beaches, hike through pink granite mountains and discover forests of towering white gums. Return to the Friendly Beaches Lodge located in a 130-hectare private sanctuary for blissful showers, comfortable beds and candle-lit dinners.
Freycinet Experience Walk
www.wineglassbay.com/activities/freycinetexperience-walk
Experiences in Tassie
Seeing rare native animals found nowhere else on earth, exploring World Heritage convict sites and participating in unique and artistic winter festivals – are a few of the memorable experiences not to be missed when you are in Tasmania.
1. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – where every animal has a story to tell
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Located about 30 minutes north of Hobart, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a place where you can pet and feed a number of animals including kangaroos, koalas, tawny frogmouths and Tasmanian devils. A social enterprise that aims to protect species that are extinct in other parts of Australia, all funds generated through the Sanctuary are channelled towards programs dealing with problems affecting the surrounding environment and communities.
2. Port Arthur Historic Site – Australia’s most well-preserved convict settlement
Australia’s most well-preserved convict settlement
Located an hour southeast of Hobart on the Tasman Peninsula, the Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist attractions. Learn how a feared convict settlement became a World Heritage Historic Site through exploring more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens and walking trails spread over 40 hectares of open land. For the brave at heart, embark on the nightly Ghost Tour which brings you to some of Port Arthur’s more infamous buildings and ruins where paranormal activity has been known to occur.
3. Dark Mofo (15 – 24 June 2018) – Hobart’s two-week midwinter festival of music and art
Midwinter festival of music and art
Dark Mofo is an annual winter festival hosted by Mona (Museum of Old and New Art). The festival celebrates the dark through public art, music, light and sound. Highlights of this year’s event include performances by international musicians and artists; a new program Dark and Dangerous Thoughts comprising a curated showcase of literature, film and ideas; and the annual Nude Solstice Swim where hundreds of brave souls plunge into the River Derwent in their birthday suits to welcome back the return of the light after the longest night.
Tastes in Tassie
The freshest seafood, the richest dairy products, tastiest fruit and vegetables and the most elegant wines – all these and more are the gourmet pleasures you’ll find in Tasmania. From fine dining in Hobart to picking up fresh produce at farmers’ markets, there are gastronomic experiences aplenty for you to enjoy in the Apple Isle.
1.Taste of the Huon (11 – 12 March 2018)
Held at Ranelagh, a 30-minute scenic drive south of Hobart, this popular regional event celebrates the best of fine food, wine, arts, crafts and entertainment from the Huon Valley, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island regions of Tasmania. In addition to some 90 stalls showcasing quality wines and produce, visitors are also encouraged to check out cafes, wineries and berry farms located along the winding Huon River and on the accompanying hills. There are also entertainment programs that cater to both young and old throughout the two-day festival. www.tasteofthehuon.com
2. Tasmanian Whisky Week (13 – 19 August 2018)
Tasmanian Whisky Week comprises of multiple Tasmanian whisky events held at distilleries, bars, barns, stables, restaurants and hotels. Throughout the week, distilleries open their doors to host behind-the-scenes tours that enable visitors to meet the distillers in person and access unreleased whiskies. The event also offers dining opportunities where distilleries (both old and new) recount the successes, challenges and events that have shaped who they are today. www.taswhiskyweek.com
3. Chocolate Winterfest (12 August 2018)
Now in its 14th year, Chocolate Winterfest is situated at Latrobe, just a 10-minute drive from Devonport. This super sweet event celebrates all things chocolate – from chocolate pastries to sundaes, chocolate-made board games and chocolate wearable art! A must-visitnfor any chocolate aficionado.
https://www.chocolatewinterfest.com.au
4. Great Eastern Drive for seafood and wine
Regarded as one of Australia’s best road trips, the Great Eastern Drive is a 180km drive that runs along Tasmania’s eastern edge from the beach town of Orford to the fishing centre of St Helens. Besides scenic views of white sands and blue waters, embarking on the route provides the opportunity to visit a few vineyards north of the seaside town of Swansea, and indulge in fresh-from-the-ocean seafood at the Freycinet Marine Farm and dockside seafood punts in St Helens. www.greateasterndrive.com.au
Great Stays in Tassie
In Tasmania, finding a place to stay is not something you have to worry about. From backpacker digs to luxurious waterfront-facing chalets, accommodation in Tasmania includes hotels, apartments, bed and breakfast establishments, resorts and lodges, and self-contained cottage options.
1. Apartments on Fraser Bicheno – newly opened December 2017
Modern and spacious, each Fraser Bicheno apartment includes a full kitchen, laundry facilities and an outdoor BBQ deck. Designed for travellers who are self-catering and planning to explore the areas surrounding the coastal town of Bicheno which is just a 30 minute drive from Freycinet National Park and 20 minutes from Douglas Apsley National Park.
www.apartmentsonfraserbicheno.com.au
2. Thousand Lakes Lodge – Central Highlands – newly opened January 2018
Rated by Lonely Planet as one of the best new places for travellers to stay in 2018, this boutique lodge, once an Australian Antarctic training camp, allows you to enjoy spectacular landscapes and glimpses of the local wildlife at the nearby UNESCO-listed site – Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Bask in the glow of the alpine sunrise as you become one with nature.
3. Freycinet Lodge Coastal Pavilions – opening March 2018
An immersive accommodation experience within Freycinet National Park, Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge offers a splendid blend of natural simplicity and ultimate comfort. The development features nine pavilions and six suites with personal private decks and outdoor bathtubs. Designed by renowned Tasmanian tourism developer Brett Torossi, the suites boast floor-to-ceiling views of The Hazards mountains.
http://www.freycinetlodge.com.au/2018
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