Things to do in Tamar Valley: Where to Drink, Eat, Stay & Play

The Tamar Valley, located in the north of Tasmania, is renowned as containing one of the greatest wine routes in the entire world – but there’s so much more to this area from just vineyards. 

Start your journey in the historic city of Launceston and then jump in the car for your adventures. The Tamar Valley sits either side of the Tamar River, and both the east and west sides boast top-class wineries, renowned restaurants, historic towns, quaint farms and glorious landscape everywhere you look.

Whether you’re planning to hit every single vineyard or just a few, you’ll find unbelievably good wine, food and plenty of things to do in Tamar Valley – read on for our pick of the best. 

Clover Hill

If you like sparkling, Clover Hill is the best Tamar Valley winery to visit for a celebration of all things bubbly. This award-winning winery specialises in sparkling wine made in the traditional French manner (known as méthod traditionelle), and each glass you try will be better than the last. It doesn’t hurt that the grounds are simply spectacular and the carefully crafted tasting menu – designed to perfectly complement the wines – absolutely divine. The vineyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11.30am – 4pm.

60 Clover Hill Road, Lebrina

Loira

Boutique small-batch Tamar Valley winery Loira is the right kind of small. Husband and wife team Adrian and Mirabai Carruthers run the 5.5-acre vineyard, producing Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Shiraz and well as Red Frontignac and Fragola varietals and apple cider (it is Tasmania, after all).

Visit the winery for a tasting at the cellar door on Friday through Sunday and enjoy your favourite drop at the picnic tables, basking in the sunshine and the view of the vines stretching out before you. Loira does an incredible platter of local produce, but bookings are essential, so check out their website for more details.

3191 West Tamar Highway, Loira

Holm Oak

Award-winning Tamar Valley winery Holm Oak is well worth a visit – mainly because of the resident pigs Pinot d’Pig, Pinot Junior and Mayonnaise. Tip: they love it when you throw them an apple to eat! Aside from your new porky friends, there’s plenty more to enjoy at Holm Oak – namely its signature Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Aside from these, Holm Oak produces Arneis, Cabernet Franc, Riesling and Pinot Gris – so book a tasting and try them all. There’s several types of tastings on offer, but the Sensory Garden Experience, set in the vineyard’s lush garden, is pretty memorable. Bookings are preferred, so head to the website to reserve your spot.

11 West Bay Road, Rowella 

Josef Chromy

Multi-taskers will love visiting Josef Chromy – not only is it one of the Tamar Valley’s best wineries, there is also a hatted restaurant on site. The perfect stop for lunch when you’re in the area, you can kick things off with a wine tasting before enjoying a two-course lunch with carefully matched wines for $110pp. 

The menu focuses heavily on local flavours from the northern Tasmania region, engaging with tiny farms and artisanal producers to ensure that each farm-to-plate dish is a snapshot of the local land and its incredible produce. Wine-wise, Josef Chromy (like Clover Hill) produces sparkling wine in the méthod traditionelle, as well as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.

370 Relbia Road, Relbia

Timbre Kitchen

Again if you want to tick off a vineyard and a restaurant, Timbre Kitchen is the perfect choice as it’s situated within the Velo Wines vineyard. This popular Tamar Valley restaurant boasts floor to ceiling windows so you can soak up the glorious view while enjoying Timbre’s flavourful menu stacked full of produce from local growers. Think hanger steak with eggplant and rhubarb molasses, pork cutlet with apple glaze and chives or ashed brie with quince jelly and roasted grapes – all washed down with one of Velo’s cool climate wines.

755 West Tamar Highway, Legana 

The Ducks at Rosevears

Local favourite The Ducks is located on the western side of the Tamar River, and is the perfect spot for a laid-back outdoor lunch with a water view. Enjoy local oysters, scallops or kingfish to start, or go straight for a main of West Tamar mushroom risotto or locally caught pink ling. The Ducks also makes picnic platters to order, which you can enjoy on their lush grounds or take away.

95 Rosevears Drive, Rosevears

Quamby Estate

This beautiful 150-acre heritage property – the ancestral home of Tasmania’s first premier, Sir Richard Dry – is located 20 minutes from Launceston on the west side of the Tamar River. Quamby Estate offers 10 guest suites all named after notable figures from the Estate’s history. From larger deluxe suites to intimate smaller rooms, there’s luxe touches everywhere you look, like clawfoot baths, handmade bath salts and comfy king and queen size beds.

If you’re looking to dine on-site, guests are offered breakfast and dinner options, the latter being $60pp for three courses, served in the grand Dining Room. 

145 Westwood Road, Hagley

The Bus Hideaway

Located right on the eastern banks of the Tamar River at Hillwood on the wine route, this unique Tamar Valley accommodation is the most luxe, kitted-out bus you’ll ever come across. The Bus is a beautifully restored 1985 bus that now boasts a king bed, upcycled furnishings and a stunning river view out of the original bus windows. Cosy and perfect for a couples’ trip, The Bus somehow manages to fit a little library of books, a bathroom and full kitchen for you to cook up a meal with local goodness and enjoy it outside around the fire pit. A stay here is the peak of tranquility and an experience you won’t forget.

Hazelwood Farm Rise, Hillwood

Lalla Flower Cottage

The beautifully restored Lalla Flower Cottage is spacious enough for a girls’ trip, with three bedrooms and two living spaces with cosy wood fires. Situated adjacent to the stunning Lalla Flower Farm, this Tamar Valley accommodation has direct walking access to the 100-acre historic gardens, which sees peak colour in autumn and springtime. Right near the village of Lilydale in the east Tamar region, Lalla Flower Cottage is in the perfect spot for a Tamar Valley getaway.

Lalla Road, Lalla

Go back in time at Beaconsfield

Hear the name “Beaconsfield” and you’ll immediately think of the story that captivated the entire nation and made global headlines – the dramatic 2006 rescue of miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb. The pair were trapped almost 1km underground after a small earthquake triggered the collapse of the goldmine. After 14 days, the pair was rescued and now there’s an entire exhibit dedicated to their story at the fascinating Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre, on the west side of the Tamar Valley.

The mine is now non-operational, and the site is used as an interactive museum (open daily from 10am - 4pm) dedicated to not only the mine rescue but the history of gold mining in the Tamar Valley region, giving visitors an intriguing snapshot of life back then. 

West Street, Beaconsfield 

Find your purple patch 

Lean into your rural road trip by visiting a farm – and not just any farm. Bridestowe Lavender Farm is probably the prettiest farm in the entire state, if you visit at the right time! The biggest lavender farm in the southern hemisphere will make you feel like you’re in France, not Tassie, especially if you visit between December and February when the purple plants are at their peak. While it’s obviously the most aesthetic visit if the lavender’s in bloom, Bridestowe is gorgeous all year round, and is one of the most popular things to do in the Tamar Valley. 

The expansive farm, ornamental gardens and surrounding bushland is all set among the stunning backdrop of Mount Arthur, in the east Tamar Valley. Wander around on a self-guided tour, take pics and stop for a coffee to take in the view.

296 Gillespies Road, Nabowla

Visit a dairy door

Sick of cellar doors? Why not try a dairy door instead. Get your lactose fix at the family-owned Ashgrove, one of Tasmania’s most popular dairies. It’s open to visitors seven days a week (open from 8.30am - 5pm), and your first port of call has to be saying “hi” to the cutest stars of the show – the cows, of course. There’s tours and tastings, as well as an on-site restaurant with a lot of cheese-based dishes on the menu. Work your way through the five different cheese toasties on offer, truffle fondue and even a Cheesy Flight. 

If you haven’t had enough, pick up some cheese to go and add it to the bottles of wine you’ve collected along the way. You’ll have the makings of an epic local cheese and wine night.

6173 Bass Highway, Elizabeth Town

If you've enjoyed following along with our go-to guide of the best things to do in Tamar Valley, we think you'll also find further travel inspiration with our top picks of waterfalls and national parks around the state.