4 perfect days in Hobart, Tasmania

Bring back girls trips.

A few weeks ago, 3 of my best friends and I went to Tasmania for three nights and it was one of the best trips ever.

If you were to follow the exact itinerary of our girls trip to Hobart, Tasmania, this is what you’d do:

THURSDAY:

• Get on the plane and get out your books, airpods etc, ready to switch off for the flight. End up chat chat chatting the entire flight and then landing at 9am. Pick up your rental car, step outside the airport, take a deep breath and say “wow the air really IS fresh down here!’

• Drive into the city - discover the bakery you wanted to try (Pigeon Whole Bakers) doesn’t have seats - you adapt. Start walking to the next bakery and find a super cute second hand shop (Goodbyes) on your way. Everyone tries something on, your friend tries on the dress that your other friend already tried on because she says ‘this will suit you better’. This is girlhood.

• Arrive at Daci & Daci Bakers, ignore the black walls/glass table energy and order the sausage roll, the pumpkin and feta tart and any other sweet treats that catch your eye. Delicious.

• Run to your car because you didn’t realise your parking had expired as you’d been too engrossed in your conversation. There’s no ticket, of course. Drive to Frogmore Winery, put makeup on in the carpark with 4 of you sharing the rearview mirror. Ooh and aah at the gift shop and then do the tasting. Definitely try the iced riesling. Order a glass of wine and ask if you can sit outside even though nobody else is. The sun comes out and you relish the fact that it’s midday on a Thursday and you’re sitting with your friends and a glass of wine looking at an uninterrupted view of the Tasmania countryside.

• Drive to the next winery Stefano Lubiana and audibly gasp when you arrive at the perfection of being the only ones there, the unexpected afternoon sun and the beautiful stillness. Order the cheese plate & enjoy a glass of riesling. Sublime.

• Check into your accommodation in West Hobart, a gorgeous 3 bed home with a sunken lounge, heated floors in the bathroom and a double shower ROOM.

• Spend the evening drinking aperols in the beer garden and playing cards in the converted bus at Preachers. Engrave your initials into the table like you’re a teenager.

  • Optional extra: hire e-scooters to ride home and laugh harder than you have in months.

  • Watch Secret Lives of Mormon Wives because the house has a Disney+ login and you can’t believe your luck.

FRIDAY

• Be that annoying friend who makes your friends get up early on the first day of your holiday because you’ve booked them into a floating sauna boat. Spend a few hours moving between the wood-fired sauna and jumping into the 12 degree lake. Very very wholesome !!

• Grab a coffee from Pigeon Hole on your way back and then time your visit to Queens Pastry for when the croissants have just come out of the oven (they write it on a board!). Enjoy one of the best pastries you’ve ever had.

• Head into town to get the ferry to MONA. Book the ‘posh’ ticket and get your own section at the front of the boat, a glass of bubbles & some food because what is a girls trip when you’re 30 if not for doing things like that.

• A must: Go to MONA.

• Get the ferry back and head straight to Lucinda Wine Bar for your first oyster of the trip!

• Head to Sonny (it’s worth the wait if you need to) and enjoy your negronis standing while you chat to the chefs. Immaculate vibes.

• Dinner at Peppina and share pastas, red wine & tiramisu and then uber home because it’s been a big day and no one can be bothered to walk.

SATURDAY

• Coffee from Sunbear enjoyed while you wander through Salamanca Markets. Enjoy the view, avoid the wallaby burrito stand.

• Stop in at The Finders vintage store because you regret not getting anything the day before. Buy a t shirt for your boyfriend & a perfect pair of blue jeans.

• Load into the car and start your drive to Wineglass Bay. Stop in at Gray Cafe for a sandwich on your way.

  • Bonus is if you’re all in the same book club and currently listening to the same audiobook which happens to be set in Tasmania; this is an ideal situation for the 3 hour drive.

• Walk the 14km loop track in Freycinet National Park. Go skinny dipping halfway at the deserted beach, play the alphabet game while you walk, say hi to the wallabies along the way and then run the last 3km because you’re scared it’s either going to a) start raining or b) you’ll end up driving in dusk and hit some wildlife.

• Start the drive back accompanied by this soundtrack, scream and sing your hearts out for 3 hours straight. Recognise that this is some kind of girlhood crack cocaine therapy. Stop in at the bottle-o on your way home and get some beers. Call Blue Eye Seafood and order ‘The lot”.

• Get home, have a shower beer, eat seafood and watch Too Hot to Handle.

SUNDAY

• Wake up slow and all congregate in the one bed to read books and start the ritual that is airdropping photos from everyones phones.

• Head to brunch at Born in Brunswick, while you do the Good Weekend Quiz. Score 17/25, not bad.

• Find out your flights been delayed, so head for a rooftop aperol at The Telegraph Hotel.

• Drive up to Mt Wellington and almost get blown away by gale force winds but admire the view nonetheless.

• Find out your flight has been delayed even more, go for a beer at Irish Murphys because at this stage you’re thinking your flight is probably going to get cancelled.

• Be a book nerd for a hot minute and drive down to the suburb where the book you’ve been listening to is set. Early dinner at Bar Wa Izakaya. Delicious.

• Play bananagrams at the airport & put on every piece of clothing you can because they’re weighing carry- on bags.

• Get picked up at the airport by your friends husband who drops you home. The dream. The end.

Thanks for reading, see you in the next one: Things I’ve Loved Lately Pt. 4 🫶