Spirit of Tasmania
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Five-day gourmet adventurer road trip

If you love food, you’ll relish every bite of Tasmania. With its fertile soil, mild climate and clean waters, this island delivers a bounty of fresh produce and gourmet products. Tuck in, from the north’s tasting trail to the Hobart restaurants ranked among Australia’s finest.

Be a spirited traveller and follow this 5-day itinerary that’ll have all your cravings covered. Bon appétit!

Day 1: Devonport

Drive straight off Spirit and onto the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail, whose 30-plus places to visit are in or, in most cases, an easy drive from Devonport. So take your time tasting, buying, dining and enjoying the varied landscape of rolling hills, bushland and coast.

Consider morning treats like rich hot chocolate and Belgian waffles at House of Anvers chocolate shop and cafe. Or Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe’s berry nice options including smoothies, pancakes and French toast. Their chocolate covered raspberries are irresistible treats for the journey too. Ashgrove dairy is famous for cheese, so toasties, mac ‘n’ cheese and fondue are also front runners this morning. While watching the cheesemakers at work, try to squeeze in the amazing ice-cream as well.

Take a self-guided tour of 41º South Tasmania salmon and ginseng farm. Set in natural wetlands, this eco-friendly facility has a cafe serving fresh salmon dishes at unbeatable prices. Even if it’s not the season for joining a winter truffle hunt at The Truffledore, it’s always a good time for their truffly lunch and shopping.

At Melita Honey Farm’s store, there are more than 50 honeys to choose from, and other treats including honey ice-cream. There’s even a working beehive – safely behind glass. At Seven Sheds brewery, walk among hop vines and taste the small-batch beers, or head to Southern Wild Distillery and sample their Dasher + Fisher gins.

Tonight, dine at Devonport’s Mrs Jones. Will the fabulous views over Bass Strait inspire you to try the fresh seafood options?

Day 2: Devonport to Liawenee

Continue exploring the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail while heading toward Thousand Lakes Lodge, about 90 minutes south of Devonport via Highway 1 and Highland Lakes Road. On the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this luxury accommodation is in the central highlands, where outdoor exploration go hand in hand with great Tasmanian food and drinks.

After checking in, the honesty bar and larder make it tempting to linger by the lounge’s fire, staring out into the wilderness with local delights like cheese, charcuterie, smoked trout, wine, spirits and craft cider. Save room for the lodge’s dinner, which is also driven by local produce and products.

Day 3: Liawenee to Hobart

After a hearty breakfast, try your luck in one of Australia’s best wild trout fishing regions. Bring your own gear, or your hosts can kit you out and even arrange a fishing trip with an experienced guide. Gourmet lunch hampers can also be prepared, so get out there whichever way, from bushwalking to riding the lodge’s bikes, complete with wide off-road tyres and battery-powered motors.

From here it’s less than two hours’ drive via Highland Lakes Road to dinner at the restaurant many regard as Tasmania’s best: The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery, which embraces local, seasonal produce and cooking from scratch. Hobart’s CBD is about 30 minutes away via the Lyell Highway and Highway 1, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy dessert.

Day 4: Hobart

If your food fanaticism includes getting hands-on, book your place at The Farmhouse Kitchen. From mini classes in tomato bottling or making the perfect tiramisu to a pasta masterclass that ends with a long lunch, this Italian-inspired Huon Valley cooking school offers a taste of la dolce vita.

Or spend the whole day in Hobart, starting with breakfast at Born in Brunswick cafe. Alternatively, head to Salamanca Market if it’s Saturday or Farm Gate Market on Sunday to see what’s cooking. After browsing the stalls for local gourmet goodies, jump on the ferry to Mona, Hobart’s world-renowned museum of old and new art. Splash out on Posh Pit tickets for complimentary drinks and canapés on the ferry’s luxe private deck, plus a tour of Moorilla winery.

This on-site vineyard is just part of what makes Mona a destination for eating and drinking as much as feasting on a heady mix of contemporary art and historic artefacts. You’re spoilt for wining and dining choices: quick bites at the museum cafe; casual drinks, pastries and share plates in the wine bar; the sleek Faro restaurant-bar; some of Tasmania’s finest dining at The Source; Void bar’s cocktails, or Mona’s own Moo Brew beer and Moorilla wines at the cellar door.

Let one of Hobart’s other top restaurants appease your evening appetite. Perhaps Dier Makr, where the degustation-only menu is conjured from local produce and culinary invention, or Fico, whose smart-casual European-influenced food has definite Italian leanings. If you like cosy spaces with a bit of buzz, try Tassie’s little slice of Tokyo, Bar Wa Izakaya, or Templo, a 20-seat restaurant with a big reputation. Even on Mondays diners line up for a taste of the ever-changing blackboard menu.

Day 5: Hobart to Devonport

Head home via Launceston, which is 2.5 hours’ drive from Hobart on Highway 1. Settle in for a long lunch at Stillwater, a fine diner that’s long been among the island’s best. In an 1830s flour mill overlooking the Tamar River, the menu might include kingfish sashimi and Cape Grim beef tartare.

Afterwards, head towards Devonport via Highway 1, where you’ll board Spirit of Tasmania for your journey back home.

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