Tasmania’s cosiest winter experiences
As the temperature drops, Tasmania transforms into a haven of crackling fires, lively festivals and soul-warming feasts. Let’s explore how to stay cosy on the island this winter.
Fire: warming up in style
Just 20 minutes south of Hobart, floating on the still waters of North West Bay, Kuuma Nature Sauna offers a winter experience unlike any other. More than just a sauna, Kuuma is in fact a pontoon boat that glides slowly through misty mornings and golden sunsets, inviting guests to embrace the elemental contrast of fire and water.
“I think what surprises people the most is the fact that we are a sauna boat, and we actually do tours out on the water,” says Nathan Gore, who co-founded Kuuma alongside his wife, Chloe. “Making your way slowly along the coastline, surrounded by trees and rocks and beautiful wildlife – it’s probably the best way to enjoy a sauna.”
The idea is simple but transformative: warm yourself in the timber-lined sauna, then plunge into the crisp Tasmanian water. Even the most hesitant guests, those who swear they’ll never dip a toe in the frigid waters of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, find themselves unable to resist.
“A lot of people think they won’t go for a swim, but after they’ve been in the sauna nearly everyone gets in,” Chloe says. “I think a lot of people are really surprised at just how relaxing it is.”
If you’d rather enjoy the water from a different perspective, Currawong Lakes is Tasmania’s premier fly-fishing destination and offers a range of luxurious accommodation. This year, inspired by Canadian-born co-owner Kim Forge’s childhood, Currawong Lakes is offering a special Twilight S'mores experience. From May through to August, guests are encouraged to gather around the fire, toast marshmallows, and create their own sweet treats under the stars.
The warmth of fire takes on another meaning in Tasmania’s north-west, when Eastford Creek Vineyard hosts its annual Burning of the Canes Festival. This winter solstice event is a ritual of renewal, where guests gather to cast vine cuttings into the flames, making wishes for the season ahead. Held in the vineyard’s rustic Pumpkin Shed, the evening unfolds with a two-course meal, local wines and live music.
Elsewhere in the north-west, the annual Gather and Glow event at Wynyard is another fun opportunity to enjoy a bonfire. It’s a favourite for eight-year-old Penelope, who lives nearby and enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors with her family. However, Penelope’s real highlight of the season is a day trip to Cradle Mountain. After a day of wandering through the snow-covered wilderness, she loves nothing more than popping into The Tavern at Cradle Mountain Lodge to warm up by the roaring log fire with a hot drink in hand.
“That’s definitely the cosiest experience I can think of,” Penelope says. “I look forward to it every year.”
Credit: Nina Hamilton
Credit: Anna Critchley
Food: savouring the season
In the heart of Tasmania’s Pipers Brook wine region, Fork It Farm offers more than just a meal. It’s an invitation to slow down, gather around the fire and indulge in a true paddock-to-plate experience. Here, traditional methods meet exceptional flavour, and winter is embraced with long-table feasts that warm both body and soul.
For co-owner Kim Croker, the colder months are all about celebrating rich, nourishing food in a setting that encourages connection. “Our long-table feasts are set against a backdrop of rolling hills and towering gums, with roaring fires keeping guests warm as they enjoy a true paddock-to-plate experience,” she says. “Whether it’s our Whole Hog Feast or the Pig’s Head Feast, every meal is a celebration of the season – slow-cooked, and fire-finished.”
The Whole Hog Feast is just as it sounds: a rustic, fire-cooked feast that showcases the incredible versatility of Fork It Farm’s free-range pork, with every dish designed to warm you from the inside out. The Pig’s Head Feast, meanwhile, celebrates an often-overlooked cut, prepared in every way imaginable and served at a long table with an array of delicious sides. “Everything is finished in our fire-fuelled pizza oven, creating deep, smoky flavours that pair beautifully with premium Tasmanian wines,” Kim says. “It’s a genuine food adventure that brings people together and showcases the very best of what we do.”
If you’re not quite ready for a full feast, there are plenty of other spots in Tasmania to enjoy a hearty meal by an open fire. Stop in at the Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel to try one of its famous Sri Lankan curries, before continuing west to explore the rugged beauty of Tasmania’s wild coastline. On Bruny Island, fresh seafood is at its finest when eaten fireside at Hotel Bruny after a day of exploring windswept beaches and forested walking trails. And in the heart of Hobart, the New Sydney Hotel serves up some of the city’s best pub fare – best paired with a locally brewed beer and a seat beside the fire.
