Explore Tasmania this spring
Nola James gives us the low down on the latest travel adventures around Tasmania.
Weekend ride
Blue Derby Pods Ride has launched a new two-day itinerary that takes in the dramatic Mount Paris Dam. The all-levels trek departs Launceston on Sundays and features spectacular mountain-biking trails, with gourmet meals, eco-pod accommodation and riding gear fully catered.
Sweet retreat
From 3 to 6 October, Yoga Cucina hosts a Bruny Island retreat with a delicious twist. Unwind with yoga classes and meditation by day, indulge in nourishing chef-prepared meals and fine Tasmanian wines by night. $995 twin share, with accommodation at Bruny Island Lodge.
Credit: Adam Gibson
More Moo Brew
Moo Brew has opened a bar/nano-brewery on Hobart’s waterfront called Manky Sally’s, a play on its Salamanca locale.
The space is austere for a Mona-affiliated brand (Moo Brew is owned by David Walsh) but upcycled Axminster carpets, plush teal stools and a taxidermy squirrel set the scene.
Find 14 Moo Brew beers on tap, including seasonal and experimental releases, plus Moorilla and Domaine A wines. Chef Sam Bray turns out bar snacks that could easily turn into dinner. Think cumin-spiced wallaby skewers with chilli oil, and wild venison okonomiyaki.
Breakfast in bed
After 23 years, Launceston’s Stillwater Restaurant bids farewell to breakfast service. The move, which gives the team space to focus on lunch and dinner, has prompted a new in-room breakfast offering for those staying at Stillwater Seven, the boutique hotel above. The menu features continental favourites such as fresh and stewed fruit, house granola, yoghurt, cured meats, cheeses, house-made pastries and local honey and jams.
Credit: Ness Vanderburgh
Fresh catch
Iconic Stanley restaurant Hursey Seafoods has had a makeover.
The large crayfish on the roof and expansive windows with rugged ocean views are still in play, while the dining room redesign elevates with cool grey tones, ocean-themed artworks and shipping artefacts. Enjoy staples of fish and chips, whole crayfish and seafood marinara alongside lobster mac ‘n’ cheese and old-school cob loaf.
Three to try - outdoor baths
The stand-alone: You’ll find this luxury cabin-style retreat at Lufra Cove, in Eaglehawk Neck. Here, a deep outdoor bath and shower float above the forest floor, privacy provided by the surrounding trees.
Twamley Farm: This picturesque working farm boasts two outdoor cedar hot tubs. Book a bucolic stay at The Stable, a beautifully renovated two-storey sandstone building, or the more modern Farm Pod.
The Keep: Float your troubles away at The Keep, an eccentric stone tower/luxury escape in Central Tasmania. The mountain-to-ocean views are best appreciated from the outdoor stone bathtub – it’s fit for two.
Credit: Ella Lucy Photography