A Dream Vacation to Tasmania - Self Drive Tasmania, the Island State of Australia
When you allow the travel planners at tasmania.com to assist in your holiday plans, you can expect an experience above and beyond the usual. A holiday vacation or tour to Tasmania will include outdoor activities such as visits to Cradle Mountain, Hobart, Launceston, Ross, Oatlands, the Huon valley, New Norfolk or Strahan. It includes indoor activities such as at the Salamanca Market or wonderful museums and galleries. It includes activities such as walking, hiking, visiting wineries, diving, and golfing. It includes gastronomic delights in every city/location you visit. So bring along your sense of adventure on your vacation to Tasmania, and contact the travel planners, find an accommodation in Hobart, Tasmania, to make it all happen.
A Fun Cruise: Port Arthur and the Isle of the Dead, Gordon river and SeaLife Sea Cruise
This incredible Historic Site is one of Australia's most well known landmarks and can be included in luxury travel vacation experiences, as well as budget and standard tours. Every day people take cruises on the Gordon River at Strahan, the Derwent River in Hobart, and from Port Arthur to the Isle of the Dead cemetry in the bay near the Historic Site. To include a cruise in your self drive tour of Tasmania, contact a travel planner to make reservations.
Let's Visit Wineries in Tasmania
A new and growing industry for Tasmania, wine production has expanded rapidly since the first plantings in 1957. The temperate growing conditions make many areas of Tasmania ideal for wine grapes and the wines made are of high quality. The micro-climate of the Tamar Valley produces grapes with characteristics reminiscent of many wine growing areas of Europe.
There is a State Government backed Appellation system which guarantees that the wines you buy are 100% Tasmanian and that the labeling is completely accurate.
Vineyards of the Tamar Valley.
St. Matthias.
The first winery we suggest is St Matthias Vineyard on the left. Owned by Moorilla Estate of Hobart, it is open 7 days from 10am to 5.00pm and closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Phone 03-6330-1700. There is a limited amount of snacks and food available.
Rosevears.
Leaving St Matthias, continue along the C733 until you see the sign indicating to road to Rosevears Estate to the left. To reach this excellent restaurant and winery, you will need to drive up the hill, crossing the main A7 road again and follow the signs to the Estate. We found Rosevears to be the best lunch venue on the route, though if it is too early in the day for you at this stage, Pipers Brook, later in the Route is quite acceptable. We highly recommend Rosevears for a stop, not only for the view, but also for their wine and food. Open 7 days from 10am to 5.00pm. Phone 03-6330-1800.
Artisan Gallery & Wine Centre.
Leave Rosevears and turn left onto the main A7 road, following it towards Exeter. Watch for the Gravelly Beach turnoff to the right and follow the river frontage road along the banks of the Tamar towards Deviot. On the right you will see the Artisan Gallery. We selected this as a stop because it is run by artisans and potters, Rudolf Sibrava and Lisa Boyter, both leaders in their field.
They have an excellent display of tastefully presented, quality craft ware for sale. An added bonus of the centre is that they also offer a selection of boutique Tamar Valley winery bottlings that are not available at cellar door. These include East Arm, Kelly's Creek (excellent whites), Hillwood, Elmslie, Silk Hill and Sharmans-Glenbothy vineyards. They will also ship your purchases home if required.
Iron Pot Bay.
Continue north along the water frontage road, passing through Deviot, watching for Iron Pot Bay Wines on the right, immediately before the road curves up and back to the main Highway A7. Iron Pot Bay is a small holding and offers tastings of local cheeses as well as it's own wines. Be sure not to miss a taste of their sparkling wine. Iron Pot Bay is open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5.00pm September to May. If visiting outside these times, you are welcome by appointment. Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Phone 03-6394-7320.
Delamere Vineyard.
On the left-hand side of the road, and open daily 10am to 5.00pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday), Delamere Vineyard gives you a chance to meet the growers, sample their wines and visit an unpretentious, but high quality operation. Their Pinot Noir and Chardonnays are exceptional as is their sparkling product. Phone 03-6382-7190.
Pipers Brook Vineyard.
From Delamere, stay on the B82 and watch for Pipers Brook Vineyard on the right. Andrew Pirie, the legendary pioneer of Tamar Valley winemaking, founded Pipers Brook back in the 1960's when people were still convinced that wine making could only be carried out on the mainland of Australia. His research showed that northern Tasmania was at exactly the same latitude as the great wine making areas of France, and he concluded that great wines could be grown in the area.
Pipers Brook has been purchased by overseas interests and is now and larger commercial operation, boasting an export market for its products. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea are available in the cafe and there is an excellent gift shop with a range of wine accessories. While a larger operation and you are likely to find a coach group in attendance, it is well worth the visit to come to grips with the rationale of wine making in the area. Open daily 10am to 5.00pm (Closed Christmas Day) Phone 03-6382-7527
The Coal River Valley Wine Area.
Just a few minutes drive fro Hobart, and centered around the township of Richmond, the Coal River Valley provides a wine experience that is easy to access.
Vineyards and Wineries of the Coal River Valley Region.
Antipodes Vineyard , Cooinda Vale , Craigow Wines. Glenayr Vineyard, Milford Vineyard, Orani Vineyard , Palmara Vineyard , Stoney Vineyard (Domain A), Treehouse, Tolpuddle Vineyard, Wellington Wines (Hood Wines).
You probably won't have time to visit all the vineyards listed, but we would suggest a visit to the Richmond Wine Center on the Main Street of Richmond as a starting point. It is easy to find, just watch for it on the left as you drive into the township from Hobart. It is opposite the Richmond Arms Hotel.
Two of the vineyards you might like to see are:-
MeadowBank Estate.
Meadowbank has long produced some of Tasmania's finest and most collectable wines. For the past five years Meadowbank fruit has been selected to help make Australia's most highly-awarded sparkling wine. Similar fruit goes into their own 'Mardi' sparkler. Their pinots and cabernets are intense, supple and elegant, definitive of the Tasmanian style while the chardonnays are regular medal-winners around the country. The new sauvignon blanc is continuing this medal success.
For further information go to:- http://www.meadowbankwines.com.au/
Stoney Vineyard (Domain A) - Highly Recommended.
Domaine A / Stoney Vineyard is a small, family owned property. Inspired by the quality and potential of the wines produced from 0.5 Hectares of noble grape varieties, the Althaus family purchased Stoney Vineyard in 1989 after a long and exhaustive search for a site ideally suited to cool climate viticulture. Since then they have expanded the Vineyard to 10 Hectares of close planted vines, built a modern and well equipped winery and began to make excellent wines.
Practices in the Vineyard and in the on site winery are rigorous and uncompromising. The wines are made from estate-grown grapes only, to ensure that the characteristic aromas and flavors of each variety are captured and preserved in the finished wine.
The principal varieties grown include the red grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir, and the white grape Sauvignon Blanc.
For further information go to:- http://www.domaine-a.com.au/
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