ITINERARY
A travel guide between Tasmania's two cities in under 72 hours
Launceston, Tasmania's second largest city is just a 2 and a half hour drive from Hobart, making it very possible to experience both of Tasmania's main cities in a whirlwind weekend.
There's a lot to be said for taking in as much as you can when exploring a new destination, and making the most of that weekend away. Here's our itinerary for covering two beautiful cities in a very short space of time.
Day 1 & 2.
Arrive in Launceston on Friday night and head straight to Havilah Wine Bar where you can try wines from a local wine producer with a couple of bar snacks, then check in to Stillwater for the night.
The next morning, take a short drive around town and take in some of the beautiful architecture of Launceston - it's not a big place - before grabbing a coffee from Tinka.
Launceston sits at the base of the Cataract Gorge, and that is a lovely place to spend an hour or two walking around the gorge and gardens which are spectacular. After that have a late lunch back at Stillwater,. Here you'll find dishes that are exciting and delicious, Australian with a mix of Asian flavours - try a gnocco fritto and the crisp wallaby wings with a tamarind-barbecue sauce. Both delicious. The beef crudo with gochujang and tapioca crackers is also great.
Launceston is also surrounded by some of Australia's best wine-making regions such as the Tamar Valley, and just north of that you can spend an afteroon taking in one of the many cellar doors, such as Stoney Rise - the wines of Joe Holyman are some of Australia's best and you'll also get to check out the beautifully designed cellar door by Cumulus Studio.
Once evening comes, head over to the fun Pachinko for some fresh new Australian dishes like sashimi, dumplings and dishes using local produce, such as dutch creams, cooked in Tassie wakame, nori butter and chives, then call it a night.
Photo credit (top) The new Tasman hotel by Marriott Luxury Collection. Sea urchin pasta, as part of the degustation at Fico (middle) and interior detail of Peppina restaurant (below).
Day 3.
Get up early and drive to Hobart straight for the Farm Gate Market, which is Hobart's best fresh food market every Sunday. here you'll get to talk with local producers like Tasmania's best cheesemaker, Tongola Cheese and ferments by Adam James (Rough Rice).
If you only have one day and one night in Hobart, then one of the best places to stay is the new Tasman Hotel by Marriott, beautiful and luxurious, this is the first of the Marriott's Luxury Collection Hotels here in Australia, and it's already getting booked out fast.
After checking in, a Sunday degustation at Fico is non-negotiable; chefs Oskar Rossi and Federica Andrisani create spectacular Italian dishes with modern twist; silky sauces, beautiful pasta, modern wines and all in a relaxed dining room that feels like home.
If that seems like a challenge in such a short space of time, we recomend a short trip by car to the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and New Norfolk, where simple garden-focused dishes are served in an old historical building that was once an asylum.
Photo credit: (top) Southern style crisp wallaby 'wings' with tamarind barbecue sauce at Launceston's Stillwater. The cellar door at Stoney Rise overlooking the Tamar River and vineyards (bottom).
A few hours in the afternoon is best spent taking the ferry to Mona to check out Australia's most modern art exhibition and the Mona building
You must find time to have a wine and some snacks at the very cool wine bar Sonny, but go before 5pm if you can as they don't take bookings and there is usually a queue to get in. The food here is delicious small plates of very local produce such as Fat Carrot Farm turnips with beef crudo, Tasmanian oysters mignonette, plus an excellent wine list and great tunes too. After that perhaps a second course of pasta at Peppina,with a glass of Cattarato if you can find room.
If you're staying overnight at the Tasman, Peppina, the new eatery from chef Massimo Mele also offers a beautiful euro-esque buffet, or order a la carte; the omelette is beverse perfection and sustanance for the trip back home.
