Ready, Set, Eat: A Guide to Tasting Tasmania’s Best

Get ready to feast and slurp your way through Tasmania, a true foodie’s paradise for anyone in search of top class food and wine experiences

Tasmania is fast gaining a reputation for excellent food and wine. And with an abundance of rich soil, pure air and clean seas, it is not hard to see why. Embark on a culinary journey with this list of top dining experiences that will have you falling head over heels for the Apple Isle.

 

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Seafood Seduction

 

Your first stop? Hobart, the heart and capital of Tasmania. This region has access to seafood straight from the Southern Ocean so make sure to try some homemade fish and chips and seafood bites from takeaway stalls along Hobart’s iconic waterfront. 

 

 

 The waterfront also offers a range of award-winning restaurants, which have front-row seats to the finest harbour views. Most restaurants serve up modern fusion dishes so you can enjoy some seafood, served with a twist, like crispy-skinned salmon with tahini yoghurt. 

Oyster lovers will also be pleased to learn that Hobart is littered with oyster farms. Whether you are hankering for freshly shucked oysters or looking to learn about the ocean-to-plate journey, these farms have it all. Oyster enthusiasts can venture further to Bruny Island, where locally owned farm, Get Shucked, offers molluscs so fresh you almost feel like the sea is kissing you.   

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From Paddock to Plate

 

 

From farms to hop houses, pick up tips on how the region’s meats, greens and brews are cultivated and cooked. The Agrarian Kitchen is a must-visit for fans of the paddock-to-plate experience. Located further south in the Derwent Valley, the farm-based cooking school has a lush vegetable garden and rare-breed livestock that are used in cooking courses. Participants can also knock back some premium Tasmanian wines along with their self-prepared dishes after each session. 

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Go Mad for Markets

 

Every Saturday, Salamanca Place in Hobart comes alive with the popular Salamanca Market, which sees some 300 stalls selling organic greens and gourmet produce, quirky collectibles and fresh blooms. A key attraction is Smith’s Specialty Pies, which specialises in delectable scallop pies. On Sundays, head to Bathurst St for the Farm Gate Market. This market is a favourite among locals for its fresh produce, which you can purchase while enjoying a cup of freshly roasted coffee and barbecued seafood.

Don’t forget to add Launceston, further up north the island, to your itinerary, particularly the Harvest Launceston Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday in the heart of the Tamar Valley. Stock up on gorgeous produce, from fresh berries to artisanal ciders and homemade preserves, while chatting to local farmers and providores.