Between meetings?
1 Before Mona, there was TMAG, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (tmag.tas.gov.au) that sparked David Walsh’s passion for art and inspired him to build his fortress of wonders beside the Derwent River. While Mona’s interests include sex and death, TMAG’s broad remit requires it to collect significant scientific and historical artefacts as well as art so its offerings are diverse. Entry is free; closed on Mondays from April to December.
2 Even the fussiest whisky drinker will find a drop to like at the riverfront Lark Cellar Door & Whisky Bar (larkdistillery. com), Tasmania’s awardwinning brewhouse and the repository of some 150 single malts. Enthusiasts with time on their hands can sign up for a three-hour tour to the Lark Distillery, in nearby Coal River Valley, and learn the secrets of its world-beating whisky.
3 Indulge in one of the island’s gourmet experiences, such as fish’n’chips on the deck of Peppermint Bay (peppermint bay.com.au) in Woodbridge, oysters and wine at the Bangor Wine & Oyster Shed (bangorshed.com.au) or a rustic Italian lunch on the terrace at Stefano Lubiana’s winery (slw. com.au), an easy 20-minute drive from downtown Hobart.
4 Put your irons to work at one of Tasmania’s remarkable golf courses. An hour’s drive north of the capital is Ratho Farm (bothwellgolfclub.com), the oldest course in the state and one of the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere. On the north coast, an hour outside of Launceston, lie the twin courses of Barnbougle (barnbougle.com. au) – Scottish-style links that hug the wild Bass Strait coast and promise exhilarating golf.
5 Hobart’s waterfront begs to be explored. Book a kayak outing from Sandy Bay (roaring40skayaking.com.au) and spend two hours navigating the delightful Derwent. On weekends, step aboard the 1798 cutter Lady Nelson (ladynelson. org.au) for short jaunts on a tall ship. Passengers are encouraged to pull their weight or at least lend a hand with the ropes. Alternatively, zip out to Mona (mona.net.au) on MR-1, Australia’s most fun ferry. Spring for seats in the Posh Pit, where wine, beer and snacks are laid on.
6 For grooming and pampering, locals swear by the “style-dry” (Hobart’s version of the blow-dry) at Sfumato Hair (sfumato.com. au) in Collins Street. Skindulgence (skindulgence.com.au), located in Liverpool Street, can take care of face, body and nails. For a short-notice massage, head to Jun Lin (junlinmassage.com), which has three salons: the city, Sandy Bay and Rosny Park.