Confession time — I hate winter. Hate it. Growing up on the Gold Coast meant “cold” was 23 degrees and an extra bedsheet. Then I moved to Melbourne, where June feels like living inside a fridge someone’s left slightly ajar. My seasonal hobby became avoiding the outdoors at all costs.
So, when I was offered the chance to head down to Tasmania for their Off Season (aka the bit of the year where Tasmania leans all the way into being moody, misty and freezing), I thought: absolutely not. But then I went. And within three days, I was swanning around Launceston with a glass of sparkling in one hand and cured pork in the other, thinking, maybe I actually like being cold now?
Here’s why Tassie’s Off Season is seriously underrated — and how it convinced me to leave the house in winter.
Turns out wine and food make life worth living
Launceston isn’t just a pretty regional city with dramatic scenery — it’s officially recognised by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy (yep, that’s a real thing). And honestly, the food and wine scene is reason enough to rug up and get out.
At House of Arras, I knocked back some of the most elegant sparkling in the country while learning that Tassie bubbles regularly beat out European heavyweights in awards. We were treated to a tour by Flinders, the vineyard’s border collie, and even got down to business in a pruning workshop.
Later in the trip, a stop at Holm Oak Vineyard kept the vino flowing in a cosier, boutique setting. The vibes were emaculate and the staff there were wonderful and patient with a girl who usually describes a wine taste as red or white. I wish I was joking.
Between the glasses I stuffed myself on charcuterie straight from the source at Fork it Farm, a family run pig farm with teacher and research academic, respectively, Kim and Daniel at the helm. I was blown away by the hospitality and care they give to their entire process of running a farm-to-table venue, I’d just say maybe don’t look at the pigs before having lunch there!
If you’re looking for something bougie than you NEED to check out Stillwater Dining, it is truly life changing! We were lucky enough to enjoy a multi-course extravaganza and I can honestly say that it was my favourite meal of the whole trip. Every mouthful was an adventure and not to be dramatic but the lamb was life-changing.
Art > staying in bed
Now look, my usual winter activity is staring blankly at my phone under seven layers of doona. But Tasmania doesn’t really let you sit still.
While in Launceston, I wandered through dAda mUse, which quietly holds Australia’s largest collection of Salvador Dalí works on paper. The man behind the collection, Dr. Brendan Vote, was able to give us the tour himself and honestly it was just so lovely to see someone so passionate about something. Something that is plentiful with people in Tassie, I learnt.
Surrealist art on a freezing Tuesday afternoon? Surprisingly, way better than doom scrolling.
Gorgeous views at Cataract Gorge
Winter Tassie has this cinematic quality, where everything feels sharper and moodier. Case in point: gliding across Cataract Gorge on the world’s longest single-span chairlift as the sun set.
It was icy, sure, but seeing the cliffs drenched in golden light while the wind whipped past honestly looked like something straight off a postcard.
Pro tip: Go at dusk and you might even get to see some peacocks getting ready for bed.
Ending with a feast (and a fire)
The Off Season isn’t just about sightseeing — Tassie knows how to put on a seasonal party. I wrapped up my trip at The Agrarian Kitchen, where the night looked like a Pinterest board.
Think: blazing outdoor fires, garden-to-plate feasts, and enough wine to keep me warm. I’m not going to lie, I was very nervous going to the Agrarian Kitchen with a gaggle of foodies as a girl who has 2-minute noodles regularly. But, let me tell you, the food was simply incredible and also approachable at the same time. My personal fave were the homemade smores.
The grounds were magical and you could feel the care put into the venue and experience.
The verdict from this self-proclaimed winter hater
Tasmania has clearly decided that instead of pretending winter isn’t happening (hi, mainland cities), it should just embrace the whole frosty vibe. And the result? A season that celebrates food, fire, nature and creativity in ways that actually make the cold fun.
Visiting the Off Season participants wasn’t just wonderful because of the food or the activities, but because of the people behind it. I know that sounded cheesy, but the openess and warmth from everyone I met in Tassie was overwhelming and oh so special.
I arrived a doona devotee and left with chapped lips, rosy cheeks and, dare I say it, a tiny crush on winter. The Off Season didn’t just drag me out of the house — it made me actually enjoy being there.
So, if you’re a chronic winter avoider like me, consider Tassie your gateway drug into embracing the chill. Just pack an extra beanie.
Off Season is on from 30 March – 31 August, you won’t want to miss it! Find out more details HERE.
The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism Tasmania.
Lead image: Supplied
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