When it comes to “paddock to plate” dining you can have some of the world’s greatest – and environmentally sound – experiences in a certain lush island off the Australian coast, from world-class fine dining to takeaway on the beach.
Highlights like the Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed, Rob Pennicott’s Wilderness Tour of Bruny Island, or Giles Fisher’s Freycinet Marine Farm will stun your eyes with some of the world’s most amazing scenery, while delicious seafood sates your palate.
There are also wine, cider, whisky and produce trails, and restaurants like The Source at Mona in Hobart, Josef Chromy Restaurant in Relbia and Stillwater in Ritchie’s Mill on the banks of the Tamar River.
Here are some of the some of the best reasons to visit and enjoy the people, places, produce, proximity and provenance the island promises.
Freycinet Marine Farm
Giles Fisher, oyster farmer and owner of the Freycinet Marine Farm boasts that you can feast on oysters that were in the water less than 20 minutes before appearing on your plate.
The farm-gate restaurant, near the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, has “the best quality seafood they could possibly get, grown in cool water that grows things slowly and has intense flavours” according to the owner.
“This is some of the cleanest water in the world and has the best managed wild fisheries and farms,” Fisher says.
“You can taste the essence of the ocean in every bite, with no need to wash or over-prepare or interfere with it too much.”
Rob Pennicott’s Seafood Seduction Tour
Pennicott’s Wilderness Tours have a variety of options, but the man himself recommends this tour for landlubbers, which includes a boat trip to Bruny Island and an all-inclusive lunch.
The lobsters are brought along from the mainland of Tasmania, but the oysters, sea urchin and abalone are all harvested from the beautiful pure waters around Bruny.
Pennicott will even let you strap on a swimming mask and watch his staff grab your lunch if you like.
“It’s a day of total relaxation where you can eat the best seafood you can get with Tasmania’s finest wines. You can forget about everything else and enjoy the company of your fellow lunchers.
He confesses that the tour is basically what he and his staff do on their days off: “It’s great to show people what we do for fun.”
The Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed
Where else can you go for lunch and meet the very people who grew your food and wine while surveying the waters that bore the oysters and the fields that nurtured the grapes.
The Bangor Wine and Oyster farm grew up after the devastating fires of 2013 razed the Dunbabin family woolshed to the ground.
Matt Dunbabin says that he built the award-winning cellar door, farm-gate shop and restaurant in Dunalley to bring together his wines with freshly shucked oysters and local produce from the neighbouring oyster farm for the ultimate “paddock to plate” experience.
“There are not many places in the world you can go where you can meet the people who grew your food and look out over where it came from,” Dunbabin says.
And, yes, he does offer takeaway deals.
Tasmania’s wine trails
Tasmania’s stylish wines come from grapes grown in climates similar to famed Old World drops.
The summers are mild and the autumn daylight causes grapes to ripen more slowly, which makes for the best cool-climate wines.
Pinot Noir is the island’s red and the East Coast, Coal River Valley, Huon and West Tamar are the origins of great labels.
The Tamar Valley lies to the north-west of Launceston. This area, as well as Pipers Brook and Pipers River, is commonly referred to as the Tamar Valley Wine Route.
This region is home to big winemakers including Jansz as well as smaller growers producing top drops.
Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir are all grown here as well as Pinot Gris and some Gewürztraminer.
Tasmania also produces what are arguably the nation’s top sparkling wines – for example the Bangor Sparkling, which is itself a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot grapes and goes perfectly with the island’s Pacific oysters.
winetasmania.com.au/wine_trails
Tasmania’s other beverages
The island’s pristine environment and conditions also make it a prime setting for making globally recognised whisky, beer and cider as well as wine.
So why not come and meet the skilled artisans who make these beverages by exploring the Tasmanian Whisky, Beer and Cider Trails?
Tasmania’s best restaurant experiences
The Source at Museum of OId and New Art in Hobart, uses the best fresh produce to create contemporary French-inspired cuisine.
Its fabulous wine list, featuring more than 10,000 bottles of wine and 1200 varieties from around the world, and communal dining in the Wine Bar makes Mona a special experience.
Enjoy the sunset on the rooftop then head to the Wine Bar for some great food, or enjoy the degustation menu at the Source.
Josef Chromy Vineyard and Restaurant in Relbia is a-one-of-a-kind place for diners to enjoy the best Tasmanian wines and fine cuisine made with local ingredients matched to Chromy’s own wines.
The menu ranges from à la carte to special gourmet BBQs organised in the gardens and harvest brunches during the crush.
Stillwater brings everything an 1830s timber building can offer, whether you are trying the six-course degustation menu or a casual luncheon.
With numerous separate dining areas, the restaurant main dining space has room for 60 under Oregon timber beams and Kauri floors.
Wild Tasmanian scallops are on the menu as well as wild crayfish when they are in season.
Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail
This is a food trail that will introduce you to the best produce that Tasmania’s stunning and bountiful North West region can yield.
The bounty ranges from desserts, the finest wines, hot smoked salmon, cheeses, fruit, beer and food festivals.
The trail features award-winning produce, cellar doors, farm stalls and food festivals.
www.cradletocoasttastingtrail.com.au
Qantas are now on sale with great fares to Tasmania until 7th December 2015. Travel dates and conditions apply.
Thinking of visiting Tasmania? It’s now easier than ever because from March 8, 2016 QantasLink will fly almost 50 times a week to Hobart from Sydney and Melbourne. The flying Kangaroo will also get you to Launceston and Devonport to begin enjoying regional Tasmania even sooner.
To book visit Qantas Fly to Tasmania.
