Heritage Gardens, Art & Tastes of Tasmania with Bruny Island

Enjoy a city tour of historic Launceston, known as Tasmania’s ‘Garden City’ for its numerous gardens and parks. We’ll also see beautiful Cataract Gorge, found surprisingly close to the city centre. Afterwards, enjoy fine local produce and a glass of wine at a nearby winery before we reconvene for a Welcome Dinner at our hotel.

Explore two private gardens, including Old Wesley Dale, a peaceful English garden where hedges and walls abound, along with productive potager and lovely vistas that draw upon the ‘borrowed landscape’. A ‘ha ha’, walled topiary garden and conservatory all enhance the property’s English-style garden theme. We will also make a stop at Ashgrove Cheese Factory to sample their locally made cheeses. Tonight, enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant in Launceston.

Today explore the heritage gardens of Brickendon Estate, a magnificent family-owned property offering a unique insight into Australia’s colonial history. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the house at Woolmers Estate, which provides a fascinating reflection upon Tasmanian colonial life—it is also one of the most historically significant heritage properties in Australia. We will also have time to explore its National Rose Garden.

Discover the delights of central Tasmania with a visit to a private garden near Launceston. Continue on to admire the cottage gardens in the historic towns of Oatlands and Richmond. Arriving in the town of Ross, we pause to view its convict-built bridge, as well as the township’s cottage gardens, before making our way to Hobart.

After breakfast, visit the private garden of Corinda House and admire the symmetrical parterres and box hedges. Explore the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, a cool-climate garden with several unique collections, which include Australia’s only subantarctic plant house. The gardens are Australia’s second oldest after Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Later, take a tour of the Henry Jones Art Hotel’s private art collection. This evening, enjoy free time to explore Hobart.

Enjoy exploring a very special private garden near Hobart and meet the owners. Afterwards, see the spectacular multi-tiered Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park’s cool temperate rainforest, one of Tasmania’s oldest. Enjoy dinner out tonight at a local restaurant.

Wander through Salamanca Market to see the local arts, crafts and produce on sale. This vibrant outdoor market is a firm fixture on Hobart’s weekend calendar. Later, perhaps visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) for an eclectic and internationally acclaimed art experience, or taste delicacies at the Barilla Bay Oyster Farm. This evening, enjoy Hobart at leisure and dine at one of its many restaurants.

Spend a full day on Bruny Island, a short ferry ride from Kettering. This gourmet food destination is known for its stunning beauty and abundant wildlife. Sample local produce and take in the island’s spectacular views from ‘The Neck’ lookout. Afterwards, we visit the captivating Jurassic Garden, a 1500-acre nature reserve that serves as a microcosm of the Gondwana supercontinent, before returning to Hobart this afternoon.

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.