Discover Tasmania
There’s a wild little island at the end of the world where people come to leave the chaos of city life behind. It’s a peculiar place, home to humble people who will shout at you to slow down, meet the makers, and try local produce plucked fresh from the sea and the soil. It’s worth taking the time to see what else our growing region has to offer.
If you want to blend in with the locals, here’s a little advice on how to pack, what to expect on entry, and where you should eat, drink, stay and play if you’re planning to visit Bushy Park Estates in Tasmania, Australia.
Bushy Park Estates
William Shoobridge successfully brought hops from England to Australia in 1822. It was his son, Ebenezer, who established Bushy Park Estates back in 1867. The farm is now spread over 255 hectares capable of producing more than 600 metric tonnes of hops a year. It is located in the Derwent Valley, just 55km or a 50-minute drive from Hobart. The conditions that make Bushy Park Estates the perfect place for growing hops also make Greater Hobart a word-class tourism destination.
Hobart
The second oldest capital city in Australia combines heritage charm with a modern lifestyle in a setting of spectacular beauty. With its captivating history, scenic waterways, rugged mountains and gourmet experiences, Hobart has something for everyone.
Eat
Brewers are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating out in Greater Hobart. There’s a strip of establishments running from historic Salamanca Place up to the nearby neighbourhood of North Hobart that showcase seasonal Tasmanian produce from local farmers and fishermen. This ethos extends throughout our growing region. Here’s just a few of our favourites:
Breakfast
Criterion Street Café – a buzzing café on a little street in the city.
Dandy Lane – a classic breakfast that is fast, consistent and delicious.
Kombi Café & Smoothie Bar – healthy goodness in the old maritime village.
Machine Laundry Café – a big breakfast in the heart of Salamanca Square.
Room for a Pony – a modern breakfast in a relaxing environment.
Sisterhood – it’s love at first bite at this peachy café.
Lunch
Agrarian Kitchen – an old mental asylum that now celebrates local, seasonal produce that speaks for itself.
Customs House Hotel – a family owned establishment that is a favourite of the Sydney to Hobart sailors.
Harbour Lights Café – a charming lunch in a heritage building on the waterfront.
Jackman & McRoss – a renowned bakery in the old maritime village.
Pancakes by the Ponds – traditional European-style crepes with a view of the salmon ponds.
Telegraph Hotel – rooftop and dining room serving classic pub fare made with fresh Tasmanian produce.
The Bush Inn – The oldest pub in Tasmania, and the newest pub in New Norfolk.
Waterline – the only lounge bar and eatery physically on the Hobart waterline.
Dinner
Crescent Hotel – a gastro pub in the heart of North Hobart.
Drunken Admiral – a family run seafarers’ restaurant.
Frank – a South American influenced waterfront restaurant.
New Sydney Hotel – a laidback watering hole in the CBD that showcases local produce.
Ogee – a small neighbourhood restaurant with European bistro vibes.
Peppina – Italian, the Tasmanian way.
Pharos – a tapas bar and temple to light.
Ristorante Da Angelo – traditional Italian cuisine in the old maritime village.
Templo – a small neighbourhood restaurant tucked away in the back streets of Hobart.
Drink
Greater Hobart has a long and growing list of breweries that combine traditional craft with state-of-the-art technology to create flavours you may not find anywhere else. Enjoy a local drop in a variety of venues from Georgian taverns to grand Victorian hotels and sophisticated city bars. Here’s just a few of our favourites:
Boodle Beasley – one of North Hobart’s newer bars with a good selection of local and Australian beers on tap.
Cascade Brewery – Australia’s oldest operating brewery complete with a picturesque bar surrounded by three acres of heritage gardens.
Deep South – one of Hobart’s newest breweries.
Hobart Brewing Co – an industrial taproom in the Red Shed on Macquarie Point.
Lark Cellar Door and Whisky Bar – world-class whisky in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Lawrenny Estate – home to one of very few paddock to bottle single malt whiskies in the world.
Mary Mary – a portal to a world of fine dining, hidden beneath the sandstone walls of the old St Mary’s Hospital building.
Moo Brew – the state’s largest craft brewery.
Overland Brewers & Distillers – serving freshly brewed beers straight from the tank and hard-to-find whiskies from around the world.
Preachers – craft beers, boutique wines and specialist spirits in a heritage listed Battery Point cottage complete with beer garden and a Metro bus.
Shambles – a brewery in a warehouse with a table tennis table.
Stefano Lubiana Wines – a biodynamic, progressive and natural family-owned business in the Derwent Valley.
The Winston – great beer from around the world and good old-fashioned American comfort food.
Play
You don’t have to travel far to find amazing experiences in Greater Hobart. There’s everything from artisan markets, world class museums and art galleries to wilderness journeys. Here’s just a few of our favourites:
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – come face-to-face with local wildlife.
Bruny Island – hire a car and catch the ferry over to an island of beaches, bushwalks, beer, berries, cheese, wine and fresh oysters.
Farmgate Market – see an inner city street transform into a bustling farmers’ market.
Great Eastern Drive – hire a car and discover award-winning food and beverages, the white sand and pink granite boulders at wineglass bay, and views that will take your breath away.
Kunanyi – a natural reserve right on Hobart’s doorstep that you can explore by foot, bike or car.
Maydena Bike Park – let gravity do most of the work on these world-class trails that offer something for everyone, from families through to elite riders.
MONA – catch the fast ferry from Elizabeth Street Pier up the River Derwent to the ‘subversive adult Disneyland at the end of the world’.
Mount Field National Park – take a walk among some of the world’s tallest trees and enormous fern forests ending in a series of waterfalls, and keep an eye out for the local wildlife.
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys – choose from six unforgettable adventures with this multi-award winning team.
Port Arthur Historic Site – explore the best preserved convict site in Australia.
Salamanca Market – discover an array of Tasmanian producers, designers and makers every Saturday between 8.30am and 3.00pm at Tasmania’s most visited tourist attraction.
Salmon Ponds – see and feed the salmon at the oldest hatchery in the southern hemisphere.
Stay
Greater Hobart has accommodation for all tastes and budgets, from award-winning colonial mansions and coastal retreats to the contemporary elegance of a city waterfront hotel. Here’s just a few of our favourites:
Crowne Plaza – a contemporary hotel full of well thought out spaces that connect visitors to the heart of Tasmania.
Curringa Farm – farmstay cottages set in natural bushland and overlooking Lake Meadowbank.
Henry Jones Art Hotel – Hobart’s oldest waterfront warehouses have been reimagined as a dedicated art hotel.
Hotel Grand Chancellor – conveniently located amongst all the action on Hobart’s waterfront.
IBIS Styles Hobart – centrally located in the vibrant Hobart CBD.
Lenna of Hobart – a luxurious sandstone mansion a short walk away from Salamanca Place.
MACq01 – a storytelling hotel on the Hobart waterfront where each room is inspired by a Tasmanian character.
Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel – a range of spacious rooms in a central location to the CBD and Hobart waterfront.
RACV Hobart Apartment Hotel – accommodation in the heart of Hobart’s CBD to suit business and holiday travellers alike.
Truffle Lodge – luxury glamping on the banks of the River Derwent.
Vibe – a brand new, architecturally designed hotel in the heart of Hobart.
Pack
Hop harvest kicks off in March. The average temperature ranges from a minimum of 10°C to a maximum of 19°C, with around 8 days of rain totalling just 60mm. But Tasmania is known for surprising unsuspecting brewers with four seasons in one day, so come prepared for anything by packing everything from a raincoat to a pair of budgie smugglers. You’ll also need a pair of long pants and sturdy closed-toed shoes if you’re visiting the farm. These will need to be thoroughly cleaned before entering the country and again before entering the farm. This process involves minor chemical and physical abrasion, so pack accordingly. Better yet, buy a pair of iconic Blundstone boots.
Entry
If you’re travelling from abroad, remember to sort yourself out with the necessary paperwork prior to entry. The process is relatively quick and painless. Simply visit the Australian Department of Immigration website and follow the prompts. The maximum luggage allowance on domestic Australian flights is 23kg. But if you want to bring us a carton of beer to say thanks for the hospitality, you can purchase additional baggage in advance. Check your chosen airline’s website for more information on fees. While you’re at it, check your mobile’s international roaming allowance to avoid being hit with a big bill. And if you’re picking up a hire car, remember we drive on the left. This means you’ll want to look right, left, and right again before pulling into traffic, or crossing the road on foot for that matter. And buy travel insurance. The alternative isn’t worth the risk.
