The beautiful Tasmanian road trip you didn’t know existed

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If you’re ready for adventure, buckle up for the scenic, gourmet drive of your life…

Tasmania’s North East is the home of stunning coastline, eclectic wildlife, delightful wine, gourmet food and luxury stays. The region really comes to life during spring, and the only way to explore every corner is by car. Spirit of Tasmania offers you a unique sailing experience while giving you the ability to take your own vehicle to/from Tasmania. You’ll experience spectacular ocean views, on board dining and entertainment and comfortable accommodation, all while you anticipate the memorable road trip ahead. Your holiday starts when you step on board and then continues as you drive across the rich Tasmanian landscape.

 

We’ve mapped out the perfect North East Tasmania road trip to start from the moment you dock at Devonport, and end when you return to board Spirit of Tasmania home.

Devonport to Liawenee

Thousand Lakes Lodge. Image via Eugene Hyland.

Travel south towards Liawenee and experience a tasting adventure like never before. Stop at Ashgrove Cheese Factory, Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm, 41° South Tasmania Salmon Farm and taste over fifty types of honeys at Melita Honey Farm. These scrumptious destinations are all within forty-five minutes of each other and on the way to Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend the afternoon learning about the endangered Tasmanian Devil at the very sanctuary that houses the world’s largest heritage population. Hop back in the car and travel one and a half hours to the uniquely remote Thousand Lakes Lodge to spend the night.

Trowunna Wildlife. Image via Eugene Hyland.
Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm. Image via Eugene Hyland.

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Liawenee to Coles Bay

Coastal Pavilions, Freycinet Lodge. Image via Eugene Hyland.

About an hour’s drive from Liawenee is Liffey Falls State Reserve. The reserve is home to four incredibly stunning waterfalls that will absolutely take your breath away. Explore them all to your adventurous heart’s desire and then get back on the road and travel east three and a half hours to the magnificent Coles Bay. Spend the night at the breathtaking Freycinet Lodge’s Coastal Pavilions. The pavilions are nestled among the trees of the Freycinet National Park and offer complete privacy and luxury.

Liffey Falls, Tasmania

Coles Bay to Bay of Fires

Wake up early to explore the surrounding area before you travel north up Tasmania’s East Coast. Make sure you take a dip at Wineglass Bay and make a quick stop at Cape Tourville Lighthouse. Order a fresh seafood lunch at Freycinet Marine Farm before you start to drive up north. It won’t be long before you pass Friendly Beaches, which consists of nine kilometres of pristine coastline. Pick a stop, take a dip and get back on the road. In two hours you will have arrived at Bay of Fires. Set on a hilltop with unrivalled views, The Bay of Fires Lodge should be your home for the night.

Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay from the air, Tasmania.

Bay of Fires to Mount Arthur

Extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point, Bay of Fires is a region of Tasmania’s East Coast defined by its white beaches, blue water and lichen-covered granite boulders. Spend the day swimming, surfing, bird watching and relaxing before you start to head inland. Travel two and a half hours towards Bridestowe Lavender Farm to catch the lavender start to bloom in spring, but on the way make sure you stop by Willows Roadhouse for one of their famous scones! About thirty minutes away is the beautiful self-contained eco studio The Trig on Mount Arthur.

The Trig. Image via Eugene Hyland.

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Mount Arthur to Tamar Valley

If you have the time in the morning, about a forty minute drive away is Hazelbrae House, a property housing over 5000 Hazelnut trees. Drive forty minutes up to the River Tamar to Moores Hill Estate. Send your tastebuds into meltdown as you visit a number of wineries in the region including Loira Vines, a small boutique vineyard. Make sure you finish your day at Tamar Ridge Cellar Door owned by the famous wine making company Brown Brothers. Stay the night at their apartments next door.

Lunch at Hazelbrae House. Image via Eugene Hyland.

Tamar Valley to the North Coast

It’s time to continue heading up to the stunning north coast. Travel thirty minutes to Wingtons Glamping at Clarence Point to leave your gear and explore the surrounding area. Fifteen minutes away is the beautiful Greens Beach. About forty minutes away is the gorgeous Narawntapu National Park. It’s one of the best places to view free-roaming wildlife in the state including Tasmanian Devils and has a twenty six-kilometre horse-riding trail. Once you’re done in the National Park, head back to Wingtons Glamping to fall asleep under the stars in a majestic golden safari tent.

Wingtons Glamping. Image via Eugene Hyland.

River Tamar to Devonport

Travel an hour west to the beautiful Hawley Beach to enjoy a surf and a swim along the lovely coastline. When you start to get hungry, pack up shop and drive fifteen minutes to Ghost Rock Tasmania for lunch and a wine at their world famous Cellar Door. Travel a further forty minutes west and, after a seven-day self-drive adventure, you’ll arrive back to the coastal town of Devonport where you’ll drive on board Spirit of Tasmania with a full car of Tasmanian produce. Reminisce about your road trip over a glass of Tasmanian Pinot Noir whilst sailing across Bass Strait back home again.

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What to expect from the Tamar Valley’s newly renovated cellar door

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
    Overlooking the winding Tamar River, the Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is where two of Tasmania’s most acclaimed wine labels come together. Sip award-winning cool-climate wines and world-class sparkling while soaking up the vineyard views in one spectacular setting.

    The fire crackles softly as you settle into a comfortable armchair, a glass of Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir warming your hands. Outside, rows of vines stretch across the Tamar Valley, their gentle contours framed by rolling hills and ever-changing skies. Or perhaps it’s a sunlit afternoon, and you’re on the terrace with a flute of PIRIE Vintage sparkling in hand, watching the valley shimmer beneath you as each crisp sip captures the freshness of Tasmania. At the Tamar Ridge and PIRIE Cellar Door, the setting in one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate wine regions is every bit as special as the wines.

    The two brands now share a beautifully refurbished cellar door, giving visitors the opportunity to sample both still and sparkling wines from the Brown Family Wine Group’s luxury portfolio in a single stop. Alongside the shared tasting space, they’ve also introduced a range of premium experiences tailored to each brand.

    Tamar Ridge’s story began in 1994, when vines were planted at Kayena in Tasmania’s Upper Tamar Valley. Guided by renowned viticulturist Dr Richard Smart – the “Flying Vine Doctor” – the vineyard quickly gained a reputation for quality, with a new winery established in 1998 and the Tamar Ridge label born.

    sitting on the lawn of Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door
    Sit outside to soak in the sun as you enjoy Tamar Valley views. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Today, New Zealand-born head winemaker Tom Wallace leads the cellar, brings his passion for cool-climate winemaking to help shape Tamar Ridge’s reputation for elegant, expressive wines.

    Founded by Dr Andrew Pirie in 1995, PIRIE helped prove the island’s potential for world-class cool-climate sparkling.

    Crafted in the traditional method from hand-picked Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the Valley, PIRIE Tasmania sparkling wines are celebrated for their fine beads, depth and elegance. With a collection of trophies, gold medals and top honours behind them, these rare vintages showcase the very best of the state’s sparkling wine.

    Brown Brothers – now known as the Brown Family Wine Group – acquired Tamar Ridge, PIRIE and Devil’s Corner on the island’s east coast in 2010, extending the legacy of a family wine company founded in 1889 at Milawa in Victoria’s King Valley. The company has continued its pursuit of exceptional cool-climate vineyards, recognising Tasmania’s unique potential in a changing climate.

    Location

    roaring fireplace inside Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door tamar valley
    Get cosy by the roaring fireplace. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is set on the west bank of the Tamar River, just 20 minutes north of Launceston and around two and a half hours’ drive from Hobart near the riverside village of Rosevears in northern Tasmania. Stretching more than 60 kilometres along the river, from the mouth near Launceston north towards Bass Strait, the Valley is a vast patchwork of vineyards, orchards, farmland and historic townships.

    Style & decor

    interior of Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door tamar valley
    Come for a regular tasting, or book an experience. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase panoramic views, while outdoor decks make the most of the surrounding scenery. Inside, the refined contemporary interiors strike a balance between modern luxury and the natural surrounds, with a double-sided fireplace to linger by. A Tamar River view creates a warm focal point. Natural wood accents add a sense of place, including a handcrafted 12-seat Tasmanian oak table that anchors the space with understated elegance.

    Wine experiences

    The cellar door’s curated wine experiences pair award-winning wines with local produce and the stories behind them. For those who prefer a leisurely visit without a set itinerary, the cellar door also offers cheese platters and small plates, best enjoyed with a glass in hand while taking in those Tamar River views.

    Come for a taste, stay for an experience.

    PIRIE & Oyster Experience

    PIRIE & Oyster Experience
    Taste the best of PIRIE matched with oysters. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    A true taste of Tasmania comes to life in the PIRIE & Oyster Experience, created in partnership with Tasmanian Oyster Co. Exploring the connection between merroir and terroir – the influence of the sea and soil on flavour – this guided tasting pairs three premium oysters from different Tasmanian growing regions with three expressions of PIRIE sparkling wine: the NV, 2021 Vintage and Blanc de Blanc.

    As each oyster and wine pairing is revealed, guests discover how Tasmania’s unique landscapes shape flavour, from the mineral freshness of the ocean to the elegance and precision of cool-climate sparkling wine.

    Pinot Noir Blending Experience

    Pinot Noir Blending Experience
    Try your own hand at mixing. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    For those who want to step behind the winemaker’s bench, the Pinot Noir Blending Experience offers a hands-on journey into the art of creating great wine.

    Guests taste through three to four individual Pinot Noir clones from the previous vintage, each revealing its own personality through aroma, structure and character. Guided by the cellar door team, visitors explore how these individual components come together to create balance and complexity – before attempting their own blend.

    Will you recreate the house style, or create something entirely original? This immersive experience offers a fascinating insight into the craft, creativity and precision that goes into every bottle.

    Supreme Indulgence

    Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door
    Settle in for true indulgene. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    The most elevated experience at the cellar door, the Supreme Indulgence (PIRIE Sparkling with Caviar tasting) is a celebration of luxury, refinement and Tasmania’s exceptional produce.

    Priced at $99 per person, the tasting pairs PIRIE Tasmania’s most distinguished sparkling wines with carefully selected sturgeon caviar, chosen to enhance the elegance, texture and finesse of each cuvée. Hosted by an expert member of the team, the experience unfolds as a thoughtful exploration of fine bubbles, delicate flavours and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.

    Start planning at tamarridge.com.au and pirietasmania.com.au.

    Inside Tasmania's Most Beautiful Road Trip