What’s On in Tasmania in Spring
September to November
Spring is a spectacular time in Tasmania and the season is played out at every turn. Food and wine events are being held around the state, each exploring their local flavours and farmers. The beauty of art, music, and nature collide in festivals across the North, as well as the best international fly fishers converging to compete in our wild waterways.
Tulip Season (September/October)
& Bloomin Tulips Festival (12 October)
The Tasmanian tulip season runs from late September to early October. One of the best places to see the tulips growing is in the fertile volcanic soil of Table Cape on the North West Coast near Wynyard. At the Table Cape Tulip Farm, row after row of colorful Tulips, Dutch Iris and Liliums create a photographic spectacle. The 90-acre farm is home to more than 80 varieties, some of which are even exported back to the Netherlands as bulbs. As part of the festival, the Bloomin Tulips Festival has celebrated the annual tulip flowering with a three-week program of art, food, and music on October 12th. Spring is just as spectacular down south during the Spring Community Festival in Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Junction Arts Festival
(4 – 8 September)
The Junction Arts Festival (affectionately known as Junction) is an intimate curation of Tasmanian art, music, and performance which collide in unique spaces in Launceston. Over four days and nights, Junction transforms Launceston’s Prince’s Square (the Festival Hub) into an illuminated wonderland that hosts chefs, live music, bars, fire and cabaret performances. The program features special events such as an artist talk with street artist RONE, cabaret by Paul Capsis and a ‘promenade performance’ First Floor by Tasdance. Food plays a key role in the festival offering with the campfire feast of Crossfire Kitchen open each night of the festival. At the heart of the Festival Hub is the Fountain Bar featuring free nightly performances by local artists including Christopher Coleman and the Great Escape and AMOKO. The annual event Tweed Run encourages bike riders to dress in their finest tweed to ride vintage bikes (with some for hire) through Launceston and there are special performances for kids throughout the program. Junction is an authentically Tasmanian festival that celebrates the Island’s artists and rich cultural community.
www.junctionartsfestival.com.au
Great Eastern Wine Weekend
(6 – 8 September)
Tasmania’s East Coast region is known for outstanding wine production and many quality cellar doors. The Great Eastern Wine Weekend showcases the best food and wine of the region, explored through dinners, tastings and cellar door discounts. The weekend commences with the annual Meet the Maker showcase – talented makers and growers will be pouring at this free tasting event with fresh Melshell oysters and local cheese. The major event is the Great Eastern Wine and Dine Dinner on Saturday night, as well as more intimate events such as a sunset cruise with Gala Estate Vineyard, Yogaccino at Swims East Coast Coffee, Wild Abundance & Fire at Twamley Farm and the Bubbles & Brunch Masterclass with Curly Haslam-Coates. Freycinet Lodge is the centre of the festival and offers a discounted rate for the weekend.
www.freycinetlodge.com.au/wineweekend
Devonport Food and Wine Festival
(1 – 31 October)
The Devonport Food and Wine Festival runs for the month of October with a program of more than 70 events – cooking classes, dinners, wine tastings, producer visits, and workshops. Devonport is on the North West Coast and surrounded by fertile farmland and ocean. The area is known for producing some of the best apples, potatoes, seafood, beef, berries, wasabi and saffron. Each event has been curated to showcase the quality of the local offering. Tickets are on sale soon.
www.devonportfoodandwine.com.au
Bicheno Food and Wine Festival
(15 – 17 November)
The annual Bicheno Food and Wine Festival is a popular festival that brings together the best produce, wine, cider, beer and spirits from the East Coast region of Tasmania. The festival is held overlooking the blue waters of Waubs Bay and Redbill Beach, which is a constant reminder of the oceanic influence in the area. The roster of stallholders and food trucks are carefully curated resulting in a high-quality offering. The festival program features local and Tasmanian musicians, artists and artisans as well as cooking classes, exhibitions, and speakers. Tickets are on sale online from 1 September and in previous years tickets have sold out prior to the event.
Effervescence
(1 – 17 November)
Tasmanian wine has a reputation for producing quality over quantity with some spectacular sparkling wines earning international acclaim. The Effervescence Tasmania festival is a celebration of the best sparkling wine the state has to offer. The festival is now in its sixth year and events regularly sell out ahead of time. Over three weeks from the 1st – 17th November, twelve sparkling wine houses from across Tasmania offer sparkling lovers access to 50-plus events statewide. This year the festival extends beyond the Tamar, Effervescence has partnered with Tasmanian Walking Company (Bay of Fires Walk & Bruny Island Long weekend) to curate a series of walks alongside sampling the sparkling wines of Tasmania featuring at Effervescence. Clover Hill Wines will also host Vineyard Glamping in luxurious bell tents between the vines at their East Tamar vineyard and there are also pre-festival tasting events in Hobart. The festival highlight is the weekend of 15-17 November, where you can meet sparkling producers and growers during a series of dinners and masterclasses in Launceston, the gateway to the Tamar Valley Wine Region. Sample fine sparkling wines at one of the degustation dinners held over the weekend at various wineries or join a masterclass with an expert. On Saturday enjoy the Long Lunch and Grand Tasting at Josef Chromy Wines which flows into the Bubbles and Beats evening event. See the Effervescence website for the full program, tickets are on sale now.
Farmgate Festival
(23 – 24 November)
The Tamar Valley near Launceston is prime farming land, producing some of Tasmania’s best produce. During the annual Farmgate Festival, farmers and producers from the region will open their gates and invite festival-goers to tour their farms. Jump in the car and drive from farm to farm, learning about the agricultural heart of this area along the way. A Farmgate Festival Pass ($30) grants access to the fifteen farms participating in the festival such as Langdale Farm, Petuna Aquaculture, Tascargot, and Tamar Valley Truffles. There are two major dinners during the festival, Friday night at Strathlynn and Saturday night at Timbre Kitchen. Children under 15 are free and festival passes and dinner tickets are available online.
39th FIPS Mouche 2019 World Fly Fishing Championships Tasmania
(30 November – 8 December)
The best fly fishers in the world are converging on Tasmania to compete in the 39th FIPS Mouche Fly Fishing Championships. With a strong angling community in Tasmania and arguably Australia’s best fly fishing, the event will showcase the superb fishing on offer in our lakes, creeks, rivers, and lagoons in northern Tasmania and the Central Highlands area. Teams from around the globe will compete over five days with one competition session each day, coinciding with anticipated Mayfly hatches. ‘FIPS-Mouche’ is the abbreviation of Fédération Internationale de Peche Sportive Mouche, the International Sport Flyfishing Federation.
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