Tasmania has 230 individual wineries divided into 4 wine trails – Northwest, Tamar Valley, East Coast and Southern – Coal River Valley. We focused on the Southern Wine Trail in Hobart, known for its cool-climate wines. Taking a wine tour in Hobart is a great way to spend a cruise excursion day. With our tour, we were able to take in some sights along the way, a distinct advantage of taking a private tour!
Visiting Hobart from a cruise ship
Our time in port was roughly 7 hours, considering the time it takes for the ship to clear customs. We wanted to see and do the most in this short amount of time without wasting any minutes.
Private Tour
We decided a private driver would be the best option for visiting Hobart and we chose Isle Drive U2 Drink. There are multiple tours offered but we chose to allow our driver to customize a tour that he thought would best fit, and it was perfect. We provided him with our preferences ahead of arrival.
Knowing the opening schedules and logistics, he was able to plan the perfect day for us and was waiting when we stepped off the ship. He kept up with the timings for us throughout the day and had us back to the ship in plenty of time.
Wine Tasting & Sightseeing Tour from Hobart
Derwent Estates
We began our day at Derwent Estates, which is located along the Derwent River just 20 minutes north of Hobart. The Cellar Door opens at 10am daily while “The Shed” Restaurant opens from 11am-5pm Thursday to Monday.
The Cellar Door tasting experience includes 12 wines and takes place in Rathbone Cottage (c.1820). We chose to sit on the veranda as the weather was perfect and the birds in the river were such a beautiful sight. The wines were delicious and the history made the experience that much more special.
Nocton Vineyard
Our second stop was Nocton Vineyard, which also opens daily at 10am. This vineyard sits just off the road in the heart of Coal Valley, just 15 minutes from the Hobart airport. Even though this vineyard is very close to the others it has a very different microclimate providing cooler temperatures and a different variety of grapes. The staff at Nocton are very friendly and the views are amazing.
There are cheese platters available on offer, but we were saving up for lunch so we did not try one. The Chenin Blanc and Estate Sauvignon Blanc were personally my two favorites. This is the only vineyard in Tasmania producing a Chenin Blanc so it is definitely worth the visit.
Coal River Farms – lunch
After 2 wine tastings with 12 wines each, our next stop was lunch at Coal River Farms. Taking in account our month long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, this lunch still remains our favorite meal out of the entire trip.
All of the cheese and chocolates are handmade onsite. We were completely overwhelmed by the menu selections and asked our hostess for advice. On her suggestion we ordered the Mac & Cheese, Pork Belly, Baked Camembert, Herb and Garlic Marinated Feta and Triple Cream Brie.
I just want to go on record saying that I have never tasted cheese this fresh. I could have made a meal off of the marinated feta and still dream about it. The lunch was outstanding, the views were phenomenal and the resident goat kept us entertained throughout our visit.
Craigow Vineyard
Craigow Vineyard was our final stop of the day and the most quaint visit of them all. The quiet and scenic wine cellar was once a farm worker’s cottage. The sign at the door sets the tone for the laid back atmosphere – “if the cellar door is unattended please phone I am 5 minutes away”.
The owner seems to do it all and never missed a beat. He greeted us, poured our wines, told us stories and even enjoyed a glass with us. He is a soft spoken older gentleman that we could have talked with all afternoon if it had not been for the ship in port that we had to catch. This is the perfect vineyard to visit for happy hour when you have extra time to enjoy great company.
The wines were fabulous, especially the Pinot Noir that they are known for. Smooth and velvety in texture with a nice lingering aftertaste.
Sightseeing in Hobart, Tasmania
Richmond Bridge – The Richmond Bridge is the oldest existing stone arch bridge in Australia. Construction began in 1823 and was completed in 2 years. Due to amazing engineering of the time, the bridge is still in use today to vehicles and buses. Our driver took us to visit the bridge on our way to lunch after leaving Norton Vineyard. The bridge is completely open to the public and free of charge to visit. The grassy hill on the banks of the river are perfect for picnics, relaxing in the sun and feeding the ducks.
Derwent River – The Derwent River is over 120 miles (200 kilometers) long. It flows through the capital city of Hobart, emptying into Storm Bay and then flowing into the Tasman Sea. The dams of the Derwent River have caused 7 lakes to be formed. The river is important for hydroelectric power as well as for agriculture, forestry and fish hatcheries. Not to mention recreation.
You can also find one of the most beautiful places in all of Tasmania at the origin of the river – the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. We passed the river many times during our time in Tasmania and the views were always amazing. Especially during our visit to Derwent Estates, which is located on the river.
The advantages of booking a private & customised tour
Choosing a private customized tour was the best option for us during our time in Hobart Tasmania. Our local guide was familiar with the area. He listened to our requests, took into consideration the amount of time we had in port and customized an experience that fit our desires.
When tasting wines it is important to be responsible and having a driver is a must. We were able to see and do the most possible during our limited number of hours.
Sightseeing & Wine Tour in Hobart on a Cruise Excursion
On a cruise excursion it’s important to fit in as much as possible – you can relax on the ship later! We really enjoyed taking a private wine tour in Hobart with Isle Drive U2 Drink, as we could cater to our personal preferences, and stop along the way for photos. If you are visiting Hobart in Tasmania on a cruise, and love wine, we definitely recommend you take a wine tour.
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