Sink your teeth into Tassie treats
Great Eastern Drive, Tasmania
A HEARTY appetite is required before setting off on Tasmania’s lauded Great Eastern Drive.
Pairing awe-inducing scenery with yummy, local foodie fare, this 300km coastal stretch of tarmac ticks plenty of boxes.
Beginning in Hobart, the road veers north through spectacular national parks and “pinch yourself” coastline, then finishes in the remarkable Bay of Fires. The journey hits three national parks (Maria Island, Douglas Apsley and Freycinet), each packed with fantastic walking tracks.
Freycinet is also home to one of the best-known beaches in the state, Wineglass Bay, a strip of sand that is regularly ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Easily explored with Wineglass Bay Cruises, you can ditch the car for half a day of sightseeing among sheer granite cliffs, sea caves and abundant wildlife, including sea birds, penguins and dolphins.
Check into one of the new eco coastal pavilions opening this month at the nearby Freycinet Lodge, which boast outdoor baths for soaking up the surrounding view. The inhouse restaurant and bar are also the perfect place to sample local cuisine and the region’s cool climate wines, artisan beers and whiskies.
Speaking of food, this drive is a gourmand’s dream. Whet your appetite at the awardwinning Milton Vineyard, where you can get a slice of France in Tassie thanks to Bordeaux-trained chef Sophie Bermudes.