What To Do In Cygnet, Tasmania

Ah, Cygnet. Right amidst a fruit growing nirvana, this Tassie town lies smack bang between both the the beautiful D’Entrecasteaux Channe and the majestic Huon River.

Where exactly

Around 50 minutes south of Hobart, Cygnet lies in Tasmania’s Huon Valley.

Population

Around 1000

What’s it all about

Named in the 18th century by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux for the swans that graced its waters, the pretty town of Cygnet is known for its bountiful produce, in particular apples, cherries and berries, as well as hazelnuts, salmon, cheeses and cool-climate wines. It is home to the SBS series Gourmet Farmer and has become popular for its arts and crafts scene.

Writer and producer Posie Graeme-Evans is very fond of Tasmania, having lived here on three separate occasions – the most recent as innkeeper of bespoke accommodation Frenchman’s River in the beautiful hamlet of Cygnet.

Together with her former production designer husband Andrew Blaxland, their 80-hectare farm is home to two gorgeous and cosy adults-only retreats that boast views of pastures, the open sky and the serenity of Cygnet Bay.

Here Posie shares her perfect day in Cygnet.

8am

A favourite place for breakfast is the Conservatory Café in Cygnet Old Bank . Sit outside in the pretty garden beside the stream. The locally sourced and house-prepared food is delicious and Sharon, the owner, is a delight. Say Posie sent you!

Conservatory Café is a local favourite for breakfast

9.30am

Saunter next door from the cafe to Three Twigs . Sisters Jackie and Karen will be delighted to show you the homewares, lovely clothes in natural fibres, stylish bags and more.

10.30am

Wander down to Trove, situated in the old Cygnet post office. Curated by owner Talan Atkins, it has an eclectic collection of (mostly) 20th-century furniture, objects, crockery, paintings and antique homewares.

11am

Head over the road to Huon Art.

Owner/curator Carlene de Très specialises in local art, as well as artists from the mainland. Magnificent canvases by local artists Richard Stanley and Sue Miller can be found hanging beside works by celebrated watercolourist Roger Murphy and northern Tasmanian artist Rachel Howell.

11.30am

Time for a coffee stop at Cygnet’s celebrated vegetarian restaurant, The Red Velvet Lounge.

12.10pm

If you’re here on a Friday book ahead for Fat Pig Farm’s Friday Feast.

It’s a lovely drive of about 10 minutes up the road to Glaziers Bay. Featuring paddock-to-plate cuisine, all produce is from the farm and prepared in the open kitchen. Between courses you’ll be invited to walk through the gardens, orchards and paddocks with Matthew Evans, the ‘gourmet farmer’ himself, or his partner Sadie Chrestman.

Keep an eye out for their cooking classes and other special events, too.

4.30pm

Back in town, visit Bec at the Cygnet Garden Larder to pick up some local fruit and veggies, organic milk, eggs, cheeses and other delicious goodies (honey, sweets, preserves).

5.30pm

It’s time to retire to your accommodation at Frenchman’s River.

Whether you’re staying in the Writer’s House or the Helmsman’s House, you’ll find a bottle of local pinot, rosé or chardonnay to enjoy on the terrace as you watch the sun set over Cygnet Bay. In the paddocks below you’ll see the cows head to the dairy to be milked for the triple cream brie you’re eating from Mt Cygnet Dairy (the pantry is generously stocked for all guests).

Local food miles? None that you’d notice.

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

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What to do in Cygnet, Tasmania