If you are a wine lover planning a trip to Tasmania, a visit to the Tamar Valley wineries should be on the top of your list of Tasmanian destinations.
The Tamar Valley wine route takes you on a 170km journey through the breathtaking scenery of the Tamar Valley and begins outside of the northern Tasmanian city of Launceston.
So come along with us as we take you on a trip to the beautiful Tamar Valley Tasmania.
- About the Tamar Valley
- Best Time to Visit the Tamar Valley
- The Tamar Valley Wine Route
- Tamar Valley Wine Tours
- Driving the Tamar Valley Wine Trail Independently
- Tamar Valley Map
- West Tamar Valley Wineries
- Exeter
- Continuing the Tamar Valley Wine Trail
- East Tamar Valley Wineries
- Re-joining the Tamar Valley Wine Trail
- Tamar Valley Accommodation
- Last Words on Visiting the Tamar Valley Wineries Tasmania
About the Tamar Valley
The Tamar Valley surrounds the east and west banks of the picturesque Tamar River which flows from Launceston to the Bass Strait in northern Tasmania.
On the journey to its mouth, the Tamar River or kanamaluka as it is also known, passes sleepy riverside villages, fertile farmlands and rolling hills which are home to some of the oldest vineyards in Tasmania.
The area is not only famous for its award-winning cold climate sparkling and pinot noir wines but is a food bowl that highlights outstanding seasonal, and artisan produce.
Best Time to Visit the Tamar Valley
Although you can visit the Tamar Valley year-round, the best time to visit is during the warmer months between December and March. However, keep in mind that the winery open times may change during the winter months from June to August, so it is advisable to check the winery websites before visiting.
The Tamar Valley Wine Route
During our visit to Tasmania, we decided to explore the Tamar Valley wineries in two ways, travelling along the Tamar Valley wine trail independently and joining a tour group on a Tamar Valley wine tour.
Of all the wine tours Tamar Valley offers, we chose to take the Tamar Valley wine tour with lunch which we thoroughly enjoyed. There are multiple options for Tamar Valley wine tours, and we include them below.
If you would like to discover the Tamar Valley Wine Trail on your own, keep reading as we cover independent travel in a later section.
Tamar Valley Wine Tours
There are a variety of Tamar Valley food and wine tours that will guarantee a fun and informative day out. Wine Tours are perfect for those on a tight time frame or anyone wanting a relaxing day visiting the wineries without any fuss.
Tamar Valley Wine Tour with Lunch
This small-group wine tasting tour began with a quick and easy hotel pick up from Launceston.
During our tour, we visited the Tamar Ridge cellar door, where we had a tasting of four varieties of wine. Here we learnt about the winemaking process and the complexity of working with the pinot noir grape.
After visiting Tamar Ridge Wines, we took the short walk to the Turner Stillhouse, the home of Three Cuts Gin. Here we sampled a variety of gins, each with varying ingredients, which imparted their unique flavour.
The next stop was The Ducks Bar and Restaurant for a set menu lunch with a glass of wine. The Ducks has a welcoming atmosphere and spectacular views of the Tamar Valley.
For lunch, I chose the Tasmanian Crumbed Scallops, which were plentiful and succulent. Alan enjoyed the Beer Battered Barramundi, and one of our companions had the West Tamar Mushroom Risotto, which also looked delicious.
After lunch, we visited Iron Pot Bay Vineyard and tried a good selection of their award-winning wines. We heard the stories behind each wine and learned the history of this family-run vineyard.
The next winery was Hinton Bay Vineyard which had breathtaking views of the Tamar River. Here we enjoyed two varieties of wine, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While there, we also took a sneak peek at the adjoining Hinton Bay Kitchen cooking school.
We had a memorable day visiting the Tamar Valley wineries and highly recommend taking a tour of this fabulous region.
Full-Day Tamar Valley Wine Tour
This fabulous full-day wine tour will have you sampling the food and wine of the Tamar Valley. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as you drive to five or six different wineries within the West Tamar Valley wine region.
Learn about the different varieties of wine produced in the valley and relax with a delicious Tasmanian gourmet lunch platter and glass of wine.
Tamar Valley Food and Wine Boutique Tours
This tour will take you on a journey of discovery as you hear the fascinating history and stories of the Tamar Valley region.
Visit Beaconsfield, the site of the 2006 mining disaster, marvel at the famous Batman Bridge and get views of the Tamar Valley and the beautiful Tamar River/kanamaluka at Brady’s Lookout.
Enjoy a cheese platter and delicious lunch platter while sampling the range of award-winning cold climate wines at some of the Tamar Valley’s most prestigious vineyards and cellar doors.
Driving the Tamar Valley Wine Trail Independently
Although you can drive the Tamar Valley wine trail in one day, the best option is to explore the Tamar Valley vineyards over two or three days.
The Tamar River splits the region in two, and a good option is to spend one day sampling the Tamar Valley vineyards on the west bank and the next day discovering the wineries on the east bank.
When looking for the best wineries Tamar Valley wine region doesn’t disappoint. The area produces a world-class selection of cold climate table wines and award-winning sparkling wines.
Deciding which Tamar Valley vineyard to visit will come down to personal choice, but a few of our favourites are here.
Tamar Valley Map
When taking the Tamar Valley – Launceston drive, follow the colourful yellow and blue Tamar Valley wine signs to guide you along the Tamar Valley Wine Trail.
West Tamar Valley Wineries
The wineries on the west side of the Tamar River are the closest to the city of Launceston. In as little as 15 minutes, you can be sampling the delights of the best Tamar Valley wineries on Launceston’s doorstep.
To begin the Tamar Valley Wine Trail head north out of Launceston on the A7/West Tamar Highway. As you drive, you will see detours off the highway taking you to a wide selection of different wineries.
If you have time, go exploring because there are many exciting boutique wineries and gorgeous riverside vistas to enjoy.
Top Tip
As you drive from Launceston to Velo Wines, stop at the Tamar Island Wetlands Centre, where you can immerse yourself in a natural landscape filled with abundant wildlife. If you have time, take a stroll along the accessible boardwalks and visit the interpretation centre to learn more about the wetlands’ animals.
Velo Wines
Velo Wines is a small family-run vineyard that features a range of exceptional wines handcrafted from classic French varieties. Velo Wines produces various wines, including Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you are feeling hungry, nearby, you will find Timbre, one of the most popular Tamar Valley winery restaurants.
Velo Wines is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm and is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Tamar Ridge Wines
Tamar Ridge winery cellar door is just 20 minutes north of Launceston. Here you will enjoy views of the Tamar River as you relax with a glass of the award-winning Pirie Sparkling or Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir.
The Tamar Ridge Wines cellar door offers a Weekend Bar Menu of tapas dishes from Hubert & Dan. These creative dishes showcase the best locally sourced seasonal produce.
Tamar Ridge Wines is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Turner Stillhouse
Next door to Tamar Ridge Wines is the Turner Stillhouse, home to Three Cuts Gin. Here you can learn about the distilling process and sample a fabulous range of gin and whiskey.
The Turner Stillhouse is open during summer from 10 am to 5 pm. Check their website for winter opening hours.
Top Tip
After leaving the Tamar Ridge cellar door, look for the signs to Brady’s Lookout, which is just off the highway. Brady’s Lookout is the place to capture that perfect holiday snap as you view the spectacular scenery of the Tamar River and Valley.
Exeter
As you continue your journey along the A7, you will come to the small town of Exeter, a great place to refuel and home to the Tamar Valley Wine Centre.
Tamar Valley Wine Centre
If you don’t have time to visit all the wineries of the Tamar Valley, make sure to stop off at the Tamar Valley Wine Centre in Exeter. The centre is styled as a cellar door and highlights many of the region’s vineyards and local craft beverages.
The Tamar Valley Wine Centre is on the Tamar Valley Wine Route and a short 20-minute drive north of Launceston.
Goaty Hill Wines (Taking a Detour)
We take a detour from the highway to visit Goaty Hill Wines, which was recommended to us by Launceston locals. Goaty Hill wines sits in a picturesque location overlooking vineyards and is a peaceful place to enjoy lunch on a sunny day.
Goaty Hills Wines pride themselves on creating wines that unearth the true essence of the Tamar Valley with their range of unpretentious and extremely drinkable cool climate wines.
Goaty Hill Wines is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm. Winter opening hours are Thursday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Goaty Hill Wines is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Other West Tamar Valley Wineries
Other famous West Tamar Valley wineries include Winter Brook, Swinging Gate, Loira Vines, Moores Hill, Cabbage Tree Hill, and Marion’s Vineyard, which sits on the Tamar River banks near the village of Deviot.
Continuing the Tamar Valley Wine Trail
From Exeter, continue driving along the A7/West Tamar Highway until you get to the B37/Batman Highway. Then, take the highway across the Batman Bridge and keep going until you exit onto the A8/East Tamar Highway.
Take the A8/East Tamar Highway north towards George Town, then turn right onto the B82/Bridport Road. Follow the road through Pipers River and turn left onto C818/Pipers Brook Road.
Remember that along the way you will see detours to many of the wineries. If one of them is your favourite, take the detour. You will find that some of the detour roads are unsealed and may go some distance off the highway.
Top Tip
As you drive over Batman Bridge, get ready to see sweeping views of the Tamar River. If you want to see the river, there is a rest area under the bridge on the east side of the river.
East Tamar Valley Wineries
The East Tamar Valley wineries are further from Launceston, but they sit in a pretty farmland setting. Some wineries, such as Pipers Brook Vineyard and Jansz Tasmania, are a short drive from each other, making them a convenient location to spend the day.
Pipers Brook Vineyard
From the moment you drive up to Pipers Brook Vineyard, you will be impressed by the grandeur of the cellar door. Pipers Brook was established in 1974 and is a pioneer of the Tasmanian wine industry.
The vineyard produces a fabulous range of world-class sparkling wines, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. If you are feeling hungry, make sure to stay for a Tamar Valley wineries lunch at Nadine’s Café.
Pipers Brook Vineyard is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Check the Pipers Brook Vineyard website for seasonal and public holiday changes.
Jansz Tasmania
Jansz vineyard is famous for its sparkling wines as it enjoys a climate that is almost identical to the Champagne region of France.
The Jansz Wine Room is in a pretty setting overlooking a picturesque lake and vineyards. The Wine Room is the perfect place to relax and sample the superb range of Sparkling White, Sparkling Rose and Vintage Sparkling wines with a local Tasmanian cheese platter.
Jansz Tasmania is open from Thursday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday.
Other East Tamar Valley Wineries
Other famous East Tamar Valley wineries include the Bay of Fires, Delamere, Sinapius, Dalrymple, Eden Brook, Clover Hill Wines, Russell & Suitor and Apogee Tasmania.
Re-joining the Tamar Valley Wine Trail
From the Jansz Wine Room, turn left and continue along the C818/Pipers Brook Road and turn right to the B81/Golconda Road.
As you drive along the B81/Golconda Road, you will pass the turnoffs to Apogee Tasmania and Clover Hill Wines. The road will take you through the small community of Lebrina and the charming town of Lilydale. At Rocherlea, re-join the A8/East Tamar Highway, which will take you back into the city of Launceston.
Tamar Valley Accommodation
When visiting the Tamar Valley wineries, we give a choice of accommodation in Tamar Valley and Launceston. Here are just some of the options available.
Aspect Tamar Valley Resort Review
A popular choice for Tamar Valley accommodation Tasmania is the Aspect Tamar Valley Resort. This charming Swiss-inspired resort is located a short 15 minutes from Launceston and has all the bells and whistles to keep each family member happy.
The resort is set on 150 acres and features a lake, a 10-hole golf course, mini-golf, paddleboats and tennis courts. There is an onsite shopping village, and the Alpenrose Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There is a range of accommodation options, including hotel suites, self-contained family chalets and villas, which feature kitchenettes or full kitchens.
Click here to book Aspect Tamar Valley Resort
Armalong Winery Chalets Review
If you are looking for Tamar Valley winery accommodation, look no further than Armalong Winery Chalets. With Launceston a 15-minute drive away, you can be sampling the delights of the Tamar Ridge cellar door and Turner Stillhouse in no time.
These modern self-catering chalets are set within bushland and feature stunning views of the Tamar River. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and a variety of room configurations.
Click here to book Armalong Winery Chalets
Best Western Plus Launceston Review
If you are taking a Tamar Valley wine tour and need accommodation in Launceston CBD, the Best Western Plus Launceston may be your hotel.
The hotel is within walking distance of restaurants & cafes, the UTAS Stadium and the Princess Theatre. Rooms are modern and comfortable with a lounge area, desk, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities. There is an onsite restaurant and bar which serves modern Tasmanian cuisine.
Click here to book Best Western Plus Launceston.
Last Words on Visiting the Tamar Valley Wineries Tasmania
So, there you have it, the Tamar Valley Wine Trail, in two separate ways. No matter what style of travel you choose, you will have a fabulous time discovering the wines of the Tamar Valley.
We fell in love with the Tamar Valley and were so glad to have the chance to explore the beauty of the area. So, if you are visiting Launceston in Tasmania, make sure to put a visit to the Tamar Valley wine region on your list of places to visit.
Have you visited the Tamar Valley? What was your favourite winery? Feel free to comment. We would love to hear from you.
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