Last Chance 2021: Hobart 5-Day Luxury Small-Group Tour with Gourmet Experiences, Wine Tastings & Heritage Stay
In a delicious partnership with Gourmet Traveller, discover the unique flavours of Tasmania on a five-day luxury small-group gourmet tour (max. eight travellers). Travelling in a private vehicle, accompanied by an expert local driver-guide, take in the sandstone beauty of Hobart and enjoy four nights of heritage accommodation, exclusive vineyard tours, private tastings and gourmet dining experiences at some of the island’s most creative projects.
Take a tour of the state’s top sites and tipples: contemplate the collection at MONA art museum before a behind-the-scenes Moorilla winery Decanted Experience, tasting renowned vintages straight from the tank. Learn about the art of whisky-making with a tasting at Sullivans Cove Distillery, the most-awarded single malt whisky brand in the country. Visit cool-climate winery Frogmore Creek for some seriously good drops with canapés to complement, and stop by Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, one of Tasmania’s oldest orchards, for a delicious cider sampling.
Foodies will be spoiled for choice with extensive gourmet dining experiences showcasing the region’s exceptional farm-to-table produce, including a decadent six-course dinner at Templo restaurant, a two-course lunch at The Source at MONA, a delicious cheese platter at Wicked Cheese Co, fresh oysters and berries on Bruny Island and locally sourced long lunches at Frogmore Creek and Home Hill Winery.
Your tour includes:
- Four nights of luxury accommodation at the Islington Hotel — one of Tasmania’s most awarded hotels
- Daily breakfast and additional dining experiences per itinerary, including a two-course lunch with matching wines at MONA’s The Source, lunch at Frogmore Creek, a half-dozen Bruny Island oysters at Get Shucked, and a two-course lunch at Home Hill Winery
- Private six-course seasonal dining experience at Templo restaurant
- Entry to MONA, with an upgraded one-way Posh Pit ferry ticket including complimentary drinks and canapés, served in an exclusive lounge
- Private guided tour of Moorilla, Tasmania’s second-oldest vineyard, followed by a tasting room experience featuring 10 wines
- Visit Frogmore Creek with guided tasting tour and canapés
- Intimate tour and tasting at Sullivans Cove Distillery
- Return Bruny Island ferry ticket
- Cider paddle tasting at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed
- Transportation in a private vehicle throughout the tour
- The services of an expert local driver-guide
- Return airport transfers
- All entrance fees, permits and sightseeing per the itinerary
Your journey takes you to: Hobart — Richmond — Huon Valley — Bruny Island — Hobart.
Private departures available: Choose a private tour and enjoy the luxury of touring in the exclusive company of family or friends (min. two, max. eight travellers). See the Fine Print for details.
Book with 100% Confidence: You can rest easy knowing that should you not be able to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, even right up to the day of departure, Luxury Escapes will assist you with a date change. We can also provide you with a credit or refund for your booking (less any non-recoverable costs). See below for full terms and conditions.
Covid-19 health and safety practices: Our expert Tours team is working hard to ensure the highest health standards at every point of your journey. Find out more.
The Accommodation — Intimate atmosphere in a historic setting
Located in the cultural and historic heart of Hobart, just a 10-minute drive from the famous Salamanca Market, Islington Hotel embodies the tranquility and charm unique to the ‘Apple Isle’. One of the first houses built in the dress circle of Hobart, and recently named one of the Top 25 Small Hotels in Australia by Tripadvisor, this 170-year-old Regency-style home features sweeping gardens and glorious mountain views.
The Food & Wine Experiences – A feast of local flavours with accompanying wines and private tastings
Your food and wine adventure begins at the charming Templo restaurant with a decadent six-course dining experience. A pleasure for the eyes and palate, this popular establishment delights in local produce, beautifully presented and bursting with flavour.
Visit The Source at MONA, Australia’s largest privately owned gallery and museum, for a delicious two-course meal perfectly paired with a glass of wine, before a behind-the-scenes Moorilla Decanted tour of MONA’s gravity-assisted winery. Here, at Tasmania’s second-oldest vineyard, taste straight from the tank and learn about the vineyard’s history as you enjoy wines from the prestigious Cloth Label and Muse Series, specially decanted into beautiful glassware.
Head to historic Richmond and delight in a delicious cheese platter at Wicked Cheese Co., including six handmade cheeses of your choosing, fresh fruit paste, dried fruit, melba toast and crackers. Afterwards, visit the largest cool-climate winery in Southern Tasmania — Frogmore Creek — for some seriously good wine with canapés to complement.
Head to Sullivans Cove Distillery and learn about the whisky-making facilities and process from an experienced distiller, before a tasting of one of the most-awarded single malt whisky brands in the country.
Visit Bruny Island for an incredibly tasty morning tea, before enjoying a half-dozen oysters at Get Shucked oyster bar. Lunch is at Home Hill Winery for a homegrown, locally sourced long lunch in a relaxed atmosphere with tranquil mountain views. The last stop for the day is the well-loved Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, one of Tasmania’s oldest orchards and now a popular cider producer, for a delicious cider sampling.
Your tour begins and ends in Hobart, Australia.
Flights to and from Hobart are not included in your package and must be purchased separately.
Please arrive in Hobart before 11am on Day 1 and depart any time after 3pm on Day 5.
Roundtrip transfers from a metropolitan Hobart location or Hobart Airport (HBA) are included in your package. If you request a transfer outside of a metropolitan Hobart location or Hobart Airport, a surcharge may apply.
When travelling within Australia, please check current state/territory border entry requirements to ensure you’re eligible to travel and have completed any required permits or passes.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
Time zone: AEST GMT +10
Telephone: +61
Currency: AUD
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.
Language: English
Climate: Cool climate with warm summers (December to February) and cold winters (June to August). Rainfall varies dramatically across the island.
Day 1: Arrive Hobart, Tasmania
Welcome to Hobart, a treasure trove of fresh produce, art and historic architecture waiting to be unearthed.
Fringed by wilderness, perched on the edge of a beautiful harbour and packed with world-class art and epicurean discoveries, this must-visit destination is easy to fall in love with. Home to wine and cocktail bars, one-of-a-kind cafés, slow food restaurants, galleries and picturesque cobblestoned streets, Hobart gives the most dynamic of global cities a run for their money.
Arrive at Hobart Airport (HBA), where you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your home-away-from-home over the next four nights, the historic Islington Hotel.
This evening, enjoy a wonderful six-course dining experience as you celebrate seasonal local produce and minimal intervention wines at Templo — an intimate 20- seat restaurant with a menu built around sharing plates.
Want to know more about Hobart? Our insider travel guide includes handpicked places to eat and drink, the best activities in the area, and special experiences to make your trip memorable.
Accommodation: Islington Hotel (Garden Room)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Hobart — Huon Valley — Bruny Island — Hobart
Leave Hobart this morning and head southwest through the beautiful Huon Valley en route to Bruny Island — known for its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and fresh produce.
Travelling to the island via ferry, admire the pristine natural environment before a delicious morning tea and cheese tasting on the island’s eastern coast. Don’t overindulge, as, after a visit to The Neck Lookout, you’ll enjoy a delicious, locally sourced one-course lunch at Bruny Island Premium Wines. Afterwards, a half-dozen oysters are ready for your arrival at Get Shucked oyster farm and bar. Grown in the clean waters just metres from the shoreline, these oysters taste best with a local craft beer or wine. You’ll then head back to the mainland.
Next, travel along the Chanel Highway towards the picturesque town of Cygnet. Nestled between the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and majestic Huon River, Cygnet’s hills are lined with apple, cherry and stonefruit orchards. You’ll have the opportunity to stop at one of the many roadside stalls to pick up a basket of fresh fruit.
The last stop for the day is in Huonville at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, one of Tasmania’s oldest orchards and now a popular cider producer, set in a large, rustic barn built in 1942, surrounded by green meadows and wooden outbuildings. Learn about Huon’s fascinating apple farming heritage before sampling several delicious ciders.
Accommodation: Islington Hotel (Garden Room)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3: Hobart
Today, it’s all about Hobart, Tasmania’s lively capital that has retained an old town feel. After breakfast, explore this endearing harbour-side city with a fascinating four-hour historic tour. Head to Battery Point, settled in the early 1800s, and admire its winding streets, colonial architecture and historical ambience. Hear the fascinating stories of the early explorers and convicts in one of the best-preserved historic precincts in all of Australia, before continuing to Hobart Waterfront.
Centred on Victoria Dock and Constitution Dock, walk the Hobart Waterfront — most of which is reclaimed land — en route to Salamanca Place and enjoy the contrast of elegant heritage sandstone alongside modern architecture and hidden laneways.
Stop at Lark Distillery, a boutique Tasmanian-owned distillery of high-quality gin and malt whisky, for a tour and perhaps a tasting, before lunch at the historic Customs House Hotel, located in the heart of the maritime precinct.
The rest of the afternoon is spent at your leisure. Why not head out for dinner among Hobart’s captivating gastronomic scene or enjoy Islington Hotel’s in-house dining?
Accommodation: Islington Hotel (Garden Room)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4: Hobart — Richmond — Hobart
After breakfast, head northeast to the historical town of Richmond, an important military staging post and convict station linking Hobart with Port Arthur. Nestled in the heart of the Coal River Valley, the village is steeped in history, famous for its elegant Georgian architecture, tea shops, craft boutiques and museums. Here, a delicious cheese platter with fresh fruit paste, dried fruit, melba toast, crackers and your choice of six handmade cheeses awaits you at the multi-award-winning Wicked Cheese Co.
Afterwards, take a visit to Pooley Wines, run by the Pooley family for three generations. Producers of award-winning cool-climate wines, the cellar door is located in an idyllic setting dotted with charming historical buildings, and is one of the first environmentally sustainable vineyards in Tasmania.
For lunch, travel south to the largest cool-climate winery in southern Tasmania — family-owned Frogmore Creek. Situated in the produce-rich Coal River Valley wine region, Frogmore Creek’s grapes benefit from a long growing season, developing ripe fruit flavours and fresh natural acidity. Indulge in some seriously good wine with a ‘tasting table’ of four drops and three canapés to complement your pours, then relax, take in the charming surrounds, and delight in a delicious meal.
Before returning to Hobart, the last stop for the day is Sullivans Cove Distillery. Handcrafted using traditional methods and 100% Tasmanian ingredients, Sullivans Cove is the most awarded whisky in Australia, and the only Australian distillery to ever win ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards. On an in-depth tour led by an experienced distiller, learn about the whisky-making facilities and process before tasting a range of spirits.
Accommodation: Islington Hotel (Garden Room)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5: Depart Hobart
This morning, transfer to Brooke Street Pier, where you will travel by ferry to MONA — Australia’s largest privately owned gallery and museum. As you glide along the River Derwent onboard MONA’s own private luxury vessel, MONA ROMA, enjoy an upgrade to the ‘Posh Pit’, serving complimentary local food and wine.
Upon arrival, take in the diverse collection of owner David Walsh, with exhibits from ancient Egyptian funerary objects and modernist masterpieces to a machine that mimics the human digestive system.
After exploring this infamous and thought-provoking museum, a private behind-the-scenes Moorilla Decanted tour awaits at Moorilla, MONA’s onsite winery and Tasmania’s second-oldest vineyard, known for its small quantities of boutique cool-climate wine. Delve into the vineyard’s history with your host and get acquainted with the finer points of old and new artisanal and gravity-assisted winemaking techniques. You will be treated to a tasting of 10 drops straight from the tank, including a selection of Moorilla’s prestigious Cloth Label Series.
Afterwards, make your way to MONA’s The Source restaurant — an award-winning temple to seasonal Tasmanian dining. Surrounded by sweeping views, feast on two delicious courses of uncomplicated cuisine made from seasonal produce, perfectly paired with a glass of wine from Moorilla.
After lunch, continue to explore MONA at leisure before your five-day luxury tour comes to an end with a transfer to Hobart Airport.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch