Road Trip - Foodie Fanatic

After disembarking, there’s no better place to start your week of foodie touring than Devonport. In the heart of Tasmania’s food bowl, the region around Devonport produces some of the best apples and potatoes in Australia, as well as artisan chocolate, cheese, fudge and liquors.

On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month you can spend the morning at the Devonport Farmers Market, meeting the producers first hand. Gin lovers, pitstop at Southern Wild Distillery to try local Dasher + Fisher gins, and craft beer enthusiasts should call in to Empress, the city’s newest bar.

It’s time to explore out of town now. Head toward Sheffield on the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail, to the pretty foothills of Mount Roland. Make a beeline for Fudge’N’Good Coffee to try their fudge and stroll through the giant murals (some painted as part of their annual International Muralfest) dotted through the streets. Keep travelling to Railton and stop at Seven Sheds brewery to walk among the hop vines and taste their small-batch crafted beers, then on to Latrobe to sweeten your palate at House of Anvers chocolate shop. Leave room for a traditional Aztec hot chocolate, with chilli if you’re game.

Tonight, dine with Mrs Jones for fabulous views over Bass Strait and local produce done right.

Overnight in Devonport.

House of Anvers 

Things are about to get a bit cheesy for ewe - with a stop at Ashgrove Cheese. Famous for English county cheeses, you can also try their award-winning milk, butter, milkshakes and ice cream, or watch the cheesemakers as they work.

Freshen your palate at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm - their chocolate covered raspberries are completely addictive and not to be missed, then head toward 41 South Salmon and Ginseng Farm. Take a self guided tour of the salmon ponds, and learn about the health benefits of the ginseng on the farm (which can take 15 years to grow to maturity). At nearby Melita Honey Farm, taste over 50 honeys (although they’re closed on Saturday), then travel to the Mole Creek Caves. The ‘karst’ style caves have been forming for over 400 million years - keep your eyes out for glow worms and ancient mountain shrimp on one of the numerous daily tours.

Tonight and tomorrow, lay your head at the remote Thousand Lakes Lodge, in the heart of the Central Highlands World Heritage Area and home to excellent fishing, hiking and of course, food and wine.

Ashgrove Cheese (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & Graham Freeman)

After a breakfast toastie (breakfast of champions here at the lodge), join a guided fishing tour for a half or full day. The area is known for wild brown and rainbow trout and fishers of all abilities will have fun. Hope to get lucky as you can eat what you catch! You can even do an overnight bushwalk and fishing tour to really fish off the beaten track.

If cycling is more your style, hire an e-bike, complete with fat 26 inch off-road tyres and a battery powered 250w/36v motor. You can pedal as much or as little as you like, while you explore the World Heritage wilderness looking for the perfect picnic spot to enjoy your lunch hamper from the lodge.

It’s also ok if you want to just sit by the fire and stare into the wilderness, while enjoying the craft beer collection curated by Saint John, wines from Goaty Hill or coffee by Ritual Coffee. The Larder is open all day (it’s an honesty system) with a selection of cheeses, European inspired cold cut and smoked meats, and of course, smoked trout.

Overnight Thousand Lakes Lodge

Saint John Craft Beer (Photo:  Tourism Tasmania & Chris Crerar)

This morning head south via the historic town of Bothwell. Take a look (or a round) at Australia’s oldest golf course at Ratho Farm.

Make your way to Curringa Farm, a 750 acre working farm where you’ll rest your bones tonight. 6th generation farmers, Tim and Jane Parsons throw open the gates to show you exactly how a real sheep farm works - from shearing and meeting the working dogs, to viewing crops and eating home made scones (farmers love scones). You can also explore the property on foot, taking a look at their sustainable practices on the way to beautiful forest walks.

Choose from modern studios through to the four bedroom farmhouse cottage, all overlooking the pretty Lake Meadowbank. Pick up a barbecue hamper to cook yourself, and don’t forget to pick up a local Tassie wine to match.

Overnight Curringa Farm

Curringa Farm (Photo: Wai Nang Poon)

Height is the order of the day today. Head toward New Norfolk to visit Two Metre Tall Brewery. The fields around town are laden with hops - much of Australia’s hop production occurs here. The beers feature on the menus of some of Australia’s finest restaurants and the cellar door is open Tuesday to Thursday and the Farm Bar on Friday and Sunday (you can even bring your own produce to barbecue).

Mt Field National Park is home to Russell Falls, a stunning stepped waterfall and a must see in this area. In case you need another reason, the visitors centre serve killer milkshakes using local milk and ice cream, or call in to The Possum Shed at Westerway for lunch overlooking the river. If you have time, detour to the Styx Valley of the Giants to see the tallest trees on the planet, the tallest at 97 metres high.

Spend the night in the Derwent Valley tonight, perhaps in five star historic luxury at Woodbridge on the Derwent or one of the quaint bed and breakfast inns.

Overnight in the Derwent Valley

Russell Falls (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & Michael Walters Photography)

Rise and shine, for today you’re on the pans! Spoilt for choice, you can either sign up to one of the many farm to plate courses at highly awarded The Agrarian Kitchen or join bestselling cookbook author Sally Wise for classes in pasta and sausage making, preserving or party food.

Enjoy a poke around the 19th and mid-20th century wares at New Norfolk Antiques then head toward Hobart. If you didn’t do a cooking class, stop at Stefano Lubiana Wines. Time your visit for a lovely lunch in the Osteria, matched with the fine biodynamic cool climate wine produced here.

Back in the big smoke and you’re spoilt for choice tonight. Enjoy an aperitif at The Glass House, a bar in the floating pier on Hobart’s Constitution Dock, then head upstairs for a degustation by chefs Christian Ryan and Glenn Byrnes (ex-Taxi). Hot new openings include Fico (by Vue du Monde trained chef Oskar Rossi) and Dier Makr helmed by Kobi Ruzicka.

Overnight in Hobart

The Agrarian Kitchen (Photo: Tourism Tasmania & Peter Whyte)

Start your day right with breakfast at Born in Brunswick, or a coffee at Pilgrim Coffee, then jump on the ferry from Brooke Street Pier to Mona (splash out on the Posh Pit for complimentary drinks and canapés on the private deck, including a tour of the Moorilla winery.)

Prepare to be challenged by the heady mix of contemporary art and historic artefacts, housed within an incredible Fender Katsilidis designed building. You’re spoilt for choice at lunch - keep it casual in the Wine Bar or enjoy executive chef, Vince Trim’s fare from Wednesday to Monday at The Source restaurant. End your delicious week on a high with a tasting of Moorilla Wine and Moo Brew at the Cellar door.
Depart for Devonport to board Spirit of Tasmania home.

 Overnight Hobart

MONA - The Source Restaurant (Photo: Moorilla Estate Pty Ltd)