Springtime in Tasmania is September through November, and it’s gorgeous.  Flowers and trees are all in bloom and the countryside is awash in vibrant color.  We took our trip in mid-October, spending three days in the Hobart area, three days in the Freycinet National Park, and a final day in Launceston before heading back home to Sydney.

Day 1: we arrived mid-day on Friday, arranging this so we would be able to tour Australia’s oldest brewery, Cascade Brewery, established in 1832.  Tasmania is known for it’s excellent beer, and the brewery tour did not disappoint.

Day 2:  Salamanca Market day.  Every Saturday since 1972, an open-air market is held at Salamanca Place just off the waterfront.  We did a ton of our Christmas shopping, stocking up on hand-knit scarves made from Tasmanian wool, wooden chopping block sets with matching cheese knives – all made from Australian woods such as Jarrah and Spotted Gum, and even picked up a hat for myself since mine was left behind in Sydney amid a rush of last minute packing.  The blocks-long market is flanked by shops in the old converted warehouses that line Salamanca Place, many of which showcase local artists and their wares.  The old rock quarry behind the warehouses has been revived with shops, cafes, and sleek apartments overlooking the square.  We followed our shopping tour of the markets with a walking tour of Battery Point.  This area is filled with tiny lanes and 19th century cottages of this old maritime village – try finding Nanny Goat Lane, a steep walking lane connecting St Georges Terrace and Quayle Street.   After lunch and our walking tour, we headed to beautiful Parliament Square nearby to sit in the grass, relax, and people-watch along the waterfront.

Relaxing at Parliament Square

Later in the afternoon, we drove up to snow-covered Mount Wellington for a gorgeous view of the city.  I would recommend this as an early morning drive as we had many clouds to contend with and had to wait in freezing wind for a brief moment when the clouds parted so we could get the view we’d driven up to see.

You’ll find plenty of dining options in the Salamanca area, as well as, along the waterfront.  That evening we opted for dinner at Mures Upper Deck for fabulous seafood.  Our only two complaints were our table and the extremely slow service.  When we called for our reservation, we were asked if we wanted a table with a view of the waterfront.  We, of course, happily accepted.  Our table was right near the entrance and the door to the kitchen.  There was no view of the waterfront, only a loud clock above our table that chimed every hour on the hour and quarter hour.

Day 3:  We drove to Port Arthur for an extended tour including a boat ride around the harbour. Enroute we stopped at a couple of wineries, then stopped in Richmond, site of the oldest bridge in Tasmania, for a snack and a tour of the town center before continuing on to Port Arthur.

Convict Built Bridge in Richmond

There was an old-fashioned Lolly shop in the town square, so I stopped in for a few treats.

Lolly Shop in Richmond

Port Arthur was where the worst of the worst criminals were sent for their sentence of Transportation – many for crimes as bad as stealing a handkerchief or a loaf of bread.  The grueling past of these unfortunate men and women has been washed away over the years and what remains is a hauntingly beautiful national park preserving what is left from those Convict Days.

Port Arthur, Tasmania