Heritage Gardens, Art & Tastes of Tasmania

Depart Launceston for a scenic drive to Longford to enjoy the annual Longford Blooms. Spend the morning exploring private gardens that are rarely open to the public. Each garden showcases unique landscaping styles and spring blooms. The festival also features plant stalls, garden art and local food. We then visit 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 a local restaurant.

Explore a couple of private gardens today and meet their owners. We also make a stop at Ashgrove Cheese Factory to sample their locally made cheeses.

Today, we 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 as we drive to Hobart. Enjoy a visit to the former house and garden of artist John Glover, before admiring the cottage gardens of 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.

This morning we are treated to a visit to Earthenry Farm where we participate in a guided tour and flower arranging activity.  Later in the day we tour the grounds of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, a cool-climate garden with several unique collections, including Australia’s only subantarctic plant house. The gardens are also Australia’s second-oldest botanic gardens 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.

After breakfast, visit the private garden of Corinda House and admire the symmetrical parterres and box hedges. 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 and browse the local arts, crafts and produce on sale. This vibrant outdoor market is a firm fixture on Hobart’s weekend calendar. Afterwards, join a local guide for a journey to Mount Wellington (Kunanyi), where sweeping vistas over Hobart meet remarkable ecological richness. With more than 500 native plant species recorded in Wellington Park, the area boasts extraordinary biodiversity thanks to its range of microclimates – from lush rainforest gullies at lower elevations to striking alpine flora near the summit. Your tour will conclude at the hotel at 4:30 pm today.