Slow Places: Tasmania Travel Guide
From the crystal clear coastlines of the east and the wild, woolly beaches of the west, to Hobart’s ever developing food scene, there’s plenty of reasons Tasmania is having its moment in the sun.
A place that inspires a slower pace of living, it’s our go-to holiday destination when relaxation and restoration is required. Here, we share the wonders of Hobart, and our favourite coastal escapes; Strahan, Binalong Bay, and Bruny Island.
HOBART
Hobart is peppered with thoughtfully created restaurants celebrating the bountiful local produce that surrounds the region. Here, we share the ones that celebrate the beauty in simplicity.
EAT
Templo
Take a seat in this intimate 20-seat neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar and do not bother pondering the chef’s menu versus a la carte options. Go with the chef’s selection; he knows best and his staff will pair each meal with their recommendation from their concise, thoughtfully crafted wine list. With subtle Spanish and Italian accents, the food itself is simple and unpretentious, but not-so-subtly brilliant.
Ettie’s Wine Bar
A bowl of pasta and a good glass of red; it’s a recipe for good health and it’s served to a jazzy soundtrack with European-old-world-charm at Ettie’s Wine Bar. On weekends, the downstairs space turns into a jazz piano bar for those that want to linger a little longer. And linger you will.
The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School & Eatery
In 2008 Rodney Dunn and Séverine Demanet started The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School & Farm. It was borne from a longing to connect back to the earth, and to grow and cook authentic food with real ingredients. It has welcomed guests from around the world to share in this experience, for good food is even better when shared.
The next chapter was The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery, which opened in 2017. Whether you book into the Agrarian Experience at the cooking school, or head to the eatery for brunch, these two out-of-town spots are worth the 30-minute drive.
Stay
As the restaurant scene continues to shine brighter, so too does the accommodation options in Hobart. During our recent visits, we’ve opted for Airbnbs, and we haven’t been disappointed.
Waimea
A beautiful, thoughtfully designed Airbnb apartment run by a highly successful events planner. With the beautiful Sandy Bay beaches just a short walk down the hill, it is your perfect retreat from the nearby city.
Book it here.
The BAE
Run by an architect, the BAE is a study in small space living. The architecturally designed micro luxe apartment puts the 'all' in small, maximising every square millimetre of it's 26.5m2 footprint to deliver an adaptable space with all of the creature comforts of home.
Book it here.
Road trip: Bay of Fires Bush Retreat, Binalong Bay
In between beautiful walks in the stunning Bay of Fires area, put your feet up at the Bay of Fires Bush Retreat. An unforgettable glamping experience set beneath bush land just minutes from the coast, it’s a retreat in the truest sense.
Book in for the dinner and breakfast served on communal tables with your fellow glampers, and be blown away by an unprecedented restaurant experience in one of the most peaceful settings imaginable.
Book it here.
Road trip: Captain’s Rest, Strahan
The drive will take you on an over four-hour journey from Hobart to Strahan, but Captain’s Rest – the most wondrous Airbnb we’ve ever visited – is worth the drive. As you drive up the quiet street to what appears to be the end of the earth, a small, freshly painted cabin emerges amongst a collection of rather decrepit shacks. The stiffness of the drive dissipates, and the view out to sea takes over. A creatively layered home that does feel rather like an escape for a captain in years past, Captain’s Rest is an experience unlike any other. Head here from Hobart on a Saturday, and make a visit to the Salamanca Market to stock up on scallop pies, salads and sweets for dinner, because once you enter Captain’s Rest, you won’t want to leave.
Feed the ducks, be up early for sun rise, and take it easy.
Book it here.
Day trip: Bruny Island
Drive the 35-minutes from Hobart to the Kettering ferry terminal, and take the 20-minute ferry over to beautiful Bruny Island. In summer, you may opt for a day of swimming and sunning. In winter, it’s a food feast of cheese and wood fired pizzas at the cheese factory, and freshly shuck oysters at Get Shucked.
