"Two of Tasmania’s most abundant wine regions ripen within a 20-minute drive from Hobart. With a similar latitude to the famous wine regions of France and Germany , the Derwent and Cole valleys produce wines more like those of Europe than mainland Australia . Sip a wide range at such wineries as Stefano Lubiana Wines—the first Tasmanian winery to achieve biodynamic certification—and Frogmore Creek, a pioneer of organic wine and artistic cuisine. There’s also hand-pumped beer (try one of the seasonal sours) and cider at the Two Metre Tall Farm Bar Wednesday through Friday and on Sunday afternoons; award-winning whiskeys at Sullivans Cove; and probably the best paddock-to-plate dining in all of Tasmania at the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery."

"Hobart’s most famous cobblestoned square was once known for whalers and sailors. Today, it’s inhabited by artists and food purveyors, who mix and mingle every Saturday at the Salamanca Market—the largest outdoor market in Australia , which boasts some 300 food and craft vendors. Sample locally produced cheeses, chocolates, and jams; browse jewelry, ceramics, photography, wool scarves, and bowls hand-hewn from local Huon pine; or do your organic grocery shopping for the trip. Also on this blessed square is the Salamanca Arts Centre, a collection of 1830s Georgiansandstone warehouses converted into more than a dozen galleries and performance spaces. Look for timeless tunics and capes bydesigner Leonie Struthers at The Maker, and some of Australia ’s best cheeses at the Bruny Island Cheese Co."

"Museum of Old and New Art This unusual contemporary art museum is located in a series of dimly lit caverns and tunnels built into the side of a cliff in Berriedale, a Hobart suburb. Inside,mind-bending installations includea stinky model of the human digestive system that poops daily at 2 p.m. Founder David Walsh, a professional gambler turned art maverick,displays more than400 edgy works from his privatecollection. The new Pharos wing that debuted in late 2017 is heavy on light spaces by James Turrell. MONA also stages two standout annual festivals:Mona Foma (which stands for Festival of Music and Art, sometimes further shortened to Mofo) in January,curated by Brian Ritchie ofthe rock band Violent Femmes, and Dark Mofo , the disturbing winter version held in June."

"The Huon Valley, southwest of Hobart, has long been known forapplefarming. More recently, cider has revived the industry, helping Tasmania live up to its moniker "theAppleIsle" once again.Four cideries—Willie Smith’s, Pagan, Frank’s, and Red Sails—are all based around the Huon Valley. Willie Smith's Apple Shed is a tasting room–cum-museum that highlights Tasmania'sapple-farming andcider-producing heritage. A distillery specializing in apple brandy was added in 2016. But cider and spirits are not the only reason to take a spin through the valley. It’s also home to the Tahune AirWalk and Franklin's Wooden Boat Centre as well as Cygneture and the Cat’s Tongue chocolatiers; farm-to-table restaurants such as Lotus Eaters Cafe; the Woodbridge Smokehouse; and the Cygnet Market, held on the first and third Sunday."

"One of the most stunning natural sites in Tasmania , the Freycinet Peninsula is most famous for a short but steep hike to the perfect white-and-turquoise horseshoe beach known as Wineglass Bay. It’s hard to believe the name comes from a gruesome whaling history that once dyed the bay the shade of red wine. Travelers on an expedition with Freycinet Adventures can kayak the electric-blue waters of Coles Bay and stay in a private camp on secluded Hazards Beach, where they’ll wake up to views of the rocky shoreline, sheathed in orange lichen, and the zigzagging Hazard Mountains, circled by sea eagles.No trip to the Freycinet Peninsula is complete without freshly shucked oysters from the Freycinet Marine Farm."

"The 53-mile South Coast Track is the most epic odyssey in Tasmania’s most epic national park. It’s challenging and requires camping, not to mention advanced mountaineering skills, but it’s worth the effort for the primordial scenery, the sheer solitude, and sightings of such rare Tasmania wildlife as the near-extinct orange-bellied parrot. For a water-based expedition, Roaring 40s Kayaking arranges three- and seven-day trips that fly to the gravel airstrip at Melaleuca and paddle through the tannin-stained waters of Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey—maybe to forested islands or through The Narrows; it all depends on the notorious weather. Either way, you’ll stay at the pre-erected Forest Lagoon camp and savor your dinner and drinks like never before."

"Mole Creek Karst National Park, along with the surrounding Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, offers subterranean streams and pools, plus at least 300 caves. At Marakoopa Cave, you’ll feel as though you’re in mother nature’s planetarium—the walls are lit up by Australia’s largest colony of glowworms. Caves like Honeycomb and Westmorland are best explored during a half- or full-day trip with Deb from Wild Cave Tours. Unlike most guides, she holds a PhD in speleology. But if one day is not enough, make it a wild caving weekend to progress from walking and wading to scrambling and squeezing through tight crevices. Local beer and wine await you at Mole Creek Guesthouse."

"Home to one of the largest remaining swaths of temperate rain forest in the world, dating to the supercontinent Gondwana, the Tarkine Wilderness is a stronghold for rare species including black cockatoos, wedge-tailed eagles, and spotted-tailed quolls. The Western Explorer Road takes you to Corinna, part of which is unsealed and bright white, built from tailings from the nearby silica mine. That hints at the mining settlement to come, where the Corinna Wilderness Experience transformed old prospector huts into modern cabins that run on solar power and rainwater. Hike deeper into the rain forest or to Aboriginal middens along the coast with Tarkine Trails, or visit a 1,540-acre sinkhole before riding down a 360-foot-long tube slide at Tarkine Forest Adventures."

"Many great cities have a great mountain watching over them. For Hobart, that’s Mount Wellington. A 30-minute drive takes you to the Pinnacle, which affords 180-degree vistas over Hobart and the islands rising between the Tasman Sea and the Derwent River. “Rug up,” as they say in Australia , especially in winter when the observation shelter is closed and you’re at the mercy of those “southerly” winds from Antarctica . If you need to warm up, grab a hot drink at the Lost Freight shipping container café at the Springs picnic area. Outdoor activities nearby include mountain biking, four-wheel-drive excursions, horseback riding, and rock climbing, but it really doesn’t get much better than a sunrise or sunset over the snaking Derwent River."

"The drive from Launceston through the Tamar River Valley meanders for 37 miles past orchards, lavender farms, and more than 30 vineyards. For good vibes alongside your cool-climate wines, head to Goaty Hill, which occupies a beautiful perch in Kayena. The chalet-style Jansz cellar door, or tasting room, pours premium sparkling wines, and Holm Oak Vineyards is loved for its pinot noir, chardonnay, and cider. The mascot there is a well-fed pig named Pinot, and kids are encouraged to toss apples to him over the fence. End the day at Narawntapu National Park for a picnic and bubbles overlooking Badger Head and the Bass Strait."

"Located along the eastern border of the four-million-acre Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the island’s first national park mixes swamp gums, stringybarks, and massive tree ferns with snow gums and deciduous beech trees at higher elevations. Depending on the season, you might walk the suspension bridge to the three-tier stunner Russell Falls or take the Pandani Grove walk around Lake Dobson—keep your eyes peeled for platypus. In winter, skiers, snowboarders, and backcountry trekkers can explore the lakes and glacial terrain of the Tarn Shelf. In autumn, the same area blazes red and orange on hikes to the Twilight Tarn Hut, an unofficial ski museum. Five other huts offer basic accommodation year-round at 3,280 feet."

"To purchase locally made paper items, whiskeys, wines, and cheeses, look no further than the Makers’ Workshop in Burnie. This history museum–cum–art center won a Tasmanian Architecture Award in 2010 for its iridescent glass exterior and airy galleries with polished cement floors. Inside, guests can join a papermaking workshop or tour to learn about Burnie’s most famous export. When done, artists in residence are available for a chat, and sepia photographs by Wolfgang Sievers deserve a look. Visitors can also taste cheeses and whiskeys, and take home their favorites as souvenirs or gifts. The on-site Makers’ café is a lovely rest stop for a coffee and a bite surrounded by artwork and the Bass Strait."

"From September toMarch, every evening around dusk, little (fairy) penguins noisily waddle around Parsonage Point on the western end of West Beach in Burnie to nest in their igloolike burrows. And each evening during the season, volunteers from Friends of Burnie Penguins come to watch the show and offer free talks and interpretative tours to share their knowledge along with fun facts about these adorable creatures—the smallest of all penguins—like how they can dive nearly 100 feet down, and only sleep for four minutes at a time. Little penguins don’t migrate, so this is Burnie’s home colony, which the Friends have gotten to know well and love over the years. That much is obvious."

"Drink Tasmania Whiskey Tours In 1992, Bill Lark opened the first new Australian distillery in 150 years, pioneering a now thriving Tasmanian industry that boasts more than 10 producers of single-malt whiskey islandwide. Most are concentrated in the south, and Drink Tasmania's whiskey tours visit the best of them. At the original Lark Distillery in the Coal Valley, whiskey connoisseurs can learn the whole process, from brewing to peat smoking to distillation. Old Kempton Distillery produces apple liqueur, spiced schnapps, and lavender malt in addition to its single-malt, which features barley grown here at the historic Dysart House in Kempton. Belgrove Distillery takes that a few steps further, growing its own rye, spelt, wheat, and barley and using a smoker that head distiller Peter Bignell designed himself."

"Known internationally for its 22,000 rhododendrons, plus a curated collection of plants and trees organized into “countries”—complete with purpose-built lakes, waterfalls, bridges and gazebos—Emu Valley is a tranquil way to spend the day. You may even meet a local duck or grebe or, if you’re really lucky, an echidna or platypus. Not only a beautiful garden, it’s also a plant museum and heritage center: Many species of rhododendron have become endangered due to human activities."

"The Burnie Regional Art Gallery, opened in 1978, features a small but strong holding of drawings, prints, photos, watercolors and gouache paintings by such leading Australian names as Bea Maddock, Sidney Nolan and Brett Whiteley. Nodding to the local timber and pulp industries, the emphasis is clearly on works on paper; the gallery founded the Burnie Print Prize to support Tasmanian talent and the art of printmaking, and it hosts an annual wearable-paper competition."

"One of eight Tasmanian distilleries specializing in single-malt whiskey, Hellyers Road is Burnie’s local drop, and the top-selling whiskey in Australia . In addition to the Scottish-style stuff, Hellyers Road produces smooth vodka and warming whiskey cream. Travelers can purchase the full range of bottles at the Hellyers Road "cellar door," or tasting room, located adjacent to the distillery—consider booking a spirited 30-minute tour in advance—and the Distillery Café, which marinates relishes and rib eyesteaks in its original whiskey."

"Wings Wildlife Park Playing host toalarge population of Tasmanian wildlife—plus American bison, monkeys and aquatic creatures including albino rainbow trout—Wings is a surprising find in this remote corner of Australia’s most remote state. To make the most of your visit, book a private tour in advance. Then you’ll be able to experience Tasmanian devils during their mealtime, cuddle a koala, hand-feed kangaroos and see baby animals normally off-limits to the public."

"Richmond The picturesque colonial village of Richmond, just 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of Hobart in the Coal River Valley, is packed full of history. Meander through the Georgian-style village’s quaint streetscapes with craft shops, antique stores, and cafés along the main drag; pay a visit to Richmond Gaol to get a sense of how brutal convict life was; and stop for the obligatory photo at the stone arches of Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia."

"One of Tasmania's top tourist attractions is the crumbling ruins of a penal colony, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the penitentiary, where 60 stone buildings remain, for a sobering glimpse intothe brutallives of the 12,500 convicts incarcerated here between 1830 and 1877. Visitors can also tour the Dockyard and Port Arthur gardens. There’s so muchto see that a guided tourisrecommended—especially the one that coversparanormal activity. (There's also a lantern-lit ghost tour, for brave families only.)"

"Bonorong Wildlife Park Meet some of Australia’s native animals—including kangaroos, echidnas and quolls—at this wildlife sanctuary. The entrance fee includes a 45-minute tour (starting either at 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.) where you’ll see a Tasmanian devil feeding and have the opportunity to get up close to a koala and a wombat. The knowledgeable staff will also educate you on the threats facing Tasmania’s unique fauna. Located just 17 kilometers (10 miles) west of the village of Richmond, it’s worth combining the two sites into one day trip."

"Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery The second-oldest museum in Australia , this is where you’ll learn about Tasmania ’s Aboriginal heritage, its history since settlement and the island’s wildlife. There’s also a collection of Tasmanian colonial art. A spectacular redevelopment in 2013 opened up new public and exhibition spaces, making this an unmissable stop on any Hobart cultural tour. Admission is free, and there are free 40-minute guided tours Wednesdays through Saturdays."

"Located on the eastern side of the Queen's Domain, the lush landscapes of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are home to 6,500 varieties of plants, including more than 400 Tasmanian species. Wander the peaceful Japanese garden, be awed by the incredible conifer collection and then picnic on the lawns or grab a bite at the Succulent restaurant. Don’t miss the Subantarctic Plant House with its incredible array of rare flora."

"Nant Distilling Company Tasmania’s highlands, like Scotland’s, produce fine whiskey. Nant Distillery offers tours and tastings of its prizewinning single malt, and its restaurant is the perfect stop for lunch."