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[title]Tour companies have come a long way since the days of shuffling onto a hot and crowded bus and shuttling to and from tourist traps. Nowadays, you can book in for intimate tours that explore your specific interests, like natural wines or the myriad uses of truffles. If that sounds more like your jam and you've been champing at the bit to get down to Tasmania, then opt for a curated itinerary with Experiential Tasmania.
After years of working in the tourism industry both in Australia and overseas, Sara Barnes and her husband James started this company in 2018 as a way of providing travellers with immersive behind-the-scenes experiences. Instead of just rocking up to a winery for a tasting and getting a verbal run-down of how something was made, you'll get to peer behind the curtain.
At the moment, all of the six tour options are based in Launceston, last between four to six hours in duration and are designed for anywhere between two and 11 people. You'll be picked up in a comfortable white van – and can even arrange to be picked up straight from the airport – and get expertly shuttled to and from locales, getting bonus regional history facts from your driver while you're en route.
Consider yourself a wine connoisseur? Step behind the tasting bench with the Beyond the Barrel experience, where you'll partake in a sparkling wine tasting, seaside whisky tasting and a masterclass. If you have any burning questions about the wine or spirit-making process, you'll have ample opportunities to chat with the makers and learn about the stories, processes and people behind the product.
If you'd prefer something a bit more outdoorsy, opt for the A Day at Shelduck Farm experience and journey to a grass-fed beef farm in the heart of the Meander Valley just 40 minutes west of the city. You'll get a run-down on the sustainable farming practices, go on a tour of the premises and finish off with a paddock-to-plate lunch in the sprawling farmhouse.
Or, embark on a sensory journey with the Taste the Tamar experience, where you'll get a first-hand look at how the region's fresh air, clean water, fertile soils and hardworking locals contribute to making some of the region's most coveted products. You'll get to meet three rising makers, including Utzinger Wines, Stoney Rise Wine Company and the team behind Timbre Kitchen.
Whatever you fancy, you're sure to find a tour that satisfies your needs and your curiosities. Find the full list of itineraries on the Experiential Tasmania website, and prepare to meet some of the movers and shakers of Launceston.