Hobart and Launceston are the hubs for an increasingly revolutionary arts scene, great restaurants and cool bars.
Adventure by day and fine dining by night with the Apple Isle increasingly surprising us with its fair share of thrilling experiences, rolling hills and spectacular scenery.
Outside of the main cities is a beautifully serene environment apt for adventure seekers keen to explore its meditative stillness.
A short flight from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, Tassie boasts so many beautiful places, and may well take the ticket as the best island holiday this side of Bali.
DO
Cradle Mountain hike
The hikers holy grail – Cradle Mountain. Head away from the more popular eastern route between the two cities to find an adventurous day trip or overnight camp on the peak.
Canyoning
Basically clambering over gorges, letting yourself be washed down a rapid and leaping into water pools. It’s a must for adventure seekers and - amazing fun.
cradlemountaincanyons.com.au
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art
MONA boasts presentation, design and has pretty much reinvented Hobart as an arts hub on an international scale. As well as home to The Source, an extremely inventive restaurant boasting a degustation menu as good as anything in Sydney or Melbourne.
mona.net.au
STAY
Two Four Two – Launceston
These basic apartments are inexpensive alternatives to the local hotels, with two bedrooms and a mezzanine level, a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Launceston with lovely hosts.
242 Charles Street, Launceston
(03) 6331 9242
twofourtwo.com.au
Cradle Mountain Lodge – Cradle Mountain
After a long day hiking, you’ll need somewhere cosy to rest and recoup for another day on your feet. Cradle Mountain’s Lodge is luxury in the wilderness.
4038 Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain
(02) 9299 2103
cradlemountainlodge.com.au
The Pavillions, MONA – Hobart
A cluster of metallic luxury huts on the MONA complex overlooking the Derwent River. Each house-style accommodation is sleek and chic, with quirky touches like semi-offensive “Do Not Disturb” signs and the anti-religion book The God Delusion instead of the traditional Gideon’s Bible in rooms.
655 Main Road, Berriedale
(03) 6277 9900
Hours: Daily 10am–6pm
mona.net.au
Henry Jones Art Hotel – Hobart
Sitting on the dock of the bay is Henry Jones, a converted old warehouse with a penchant for modern art. The rather nondescript restaurant is a cover for the ornate rooms upstairs.
25 Hunter Street, Hobart
(03) 6210 7700
thehenryjones.com
EAT
Black Cow – Launceston
The Rockpool of Tasmania, Black Cow is owned by a band of friends who also run the excellent by-the-water restaurant Stillwater. It’s steaks ahoy, with tender rumps to challenge Neil Perry’s kitchens.
blackcowbistro.com.au
Stillwater - Launceston
stillwater.net.au
Pierre’s – Launceston
A French restaurant with a Kubrick-style entrance tunnel is an old stalwart in Launceston. It was the second place in Australia to get an espresso machine, but the menu is a modern creation, with an excellent deconstructed beef tartare.
pierres.net.au
The Stackings, Peppermint Bay – Woolbridge
An hour outside of Hobart via a cool little drive along the coast is this stylishly kitted-out restaurant and bar with a deck overlooking the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Locally seasoned produce features on the menu, like many dishes in Tassie.
peppermintbay.com.au