Delectable food, delicious wine, handmade crafts, thought-provoking art and breathtaking scenery; if you love any of these things, a trip to Tasmania won’t disappoint.

Tassie is my favourite holiday destination in Australia.

Whether visiting for a long weekend or a couple of weeks, your itinerary will overflow with memories waiting to be made.

On an earlier trip to Tassie, my partner Lexi and I took a two-week road trip up the west coast and down the east.

We only had four days and three nights this time, so we based ourselves in and around Hobart.

I took the reins in planning this escape, because little did Lexi know there was a tad more to this trip than a travel story. I was about to ask her the most important question of my life: “Will you marry me?”

The view during a Port Arthur cruise.

We landed in Hobart on a Saturday morning, picked up our rental car and hit the road. Our first stop was RACV Hobart Hotel, right in the heart of the CBD.

RACQ members receive a discount on accommodation here~~.

We left our luggage in the car to check in later and began exploring with a stroll to Salamanca Market, with a slight detour through St David’s Park.

The grass was green, the paths covered in burnt orange leaves and the sky a stunning blue.

It was an ideal autumn day and a perfect moment to get down on one knee and reveal the ring burning a hole in my pocket.

She said yes! Thankfully. With smiles from ear to ear, we continued on our way.

She said yes! Tristan and Lexi capture the moment after the proposal.

The Salamanca Market is world-famous and you will understand why once you visit. Smells of seared teriyaki scallops filled our nostrils as we shuffled down rows of stalls and people.

After trying the scallops and watching a street performer swallow knives, we found a man shucking oysters seconds before serving. With a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon, they made the perfect brunch. With bellies full of delicious local seafood, it was time to head to Hobart’s weird and wonderful Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

The fastest and most scenic way to get to MONA is via its special ferry service.

The funky vessels depart the CBD every hour or so, winding up the River Derwent to MONA and back. It took us four hours to get through MONA, including a drink on the lawns after art gazing. It’s best to pre-book entry and ferry tickets online.

Once we returned to the city, we went for dinner at ALØFT, one of Hobart’s most esteemed restaurants. The menu is set and changes with the seasons, so you don’t have to think; just eat the exquisite food. We booked seats at the kitchen bar where we watched in awe as the chefs prepared our meal and explained the local ingredients.

The next morning we drove to Richmond, a quaint town with a famous bridge nestled in the Coal River Valley wine region, about 30 minutes north-east of Hobart. We parked the car at Aquila Glamping – our accommodation for the next two nights.

This place is perfect for couples, boasting modern converted shipping containers and a glamping tent built into a hillside overlooking Richmond and surrounding vineyards.

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It wasn’t long before we were picked up by Aging Barrel Wine Tours and whisked away for a day of cheese, Pinot Noir and Syrah (cool-climate Shiraz).

You don’t have to stay in the region to jump on a wine tour; many of them (like this one) depart from Hobart.

The next morning, we headed to the Port Arthur Historic Site, about a 1.5-hour drive south-east of Hobart. You can guide yourself around or book a tour.

We went on the Escape from Port Arthur tour which focused on the convicts who escaped (or at least tried).

The entry fee included a 20-minute boat tour around the Isle of the Dead which was a highlight. On the way home we stopped for a scallop pie at a servo and it was almost as good as the ones they sell at the Salamanca Market.

Tasmania has to be one of the only places in Australia where seafood at a petrol station is a fantastic idea.

Our detours were frequent as we followed handwritten signs down sideroads to buy leatherwood honey and handmade chocolates.

A spectacular view of Cape Hauy. 

That’s another big Tassie tip; if someone is selling something on the side of the road, follow the signs and buy it. These are often a local farmer’s version of a cellar door.

On our final day, we had about six hours before heading to the airport, so we decided to whip out the activewear and tackle the Cape Hauy Walk.

It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Hobart to the track’s starting point at Fortescue Bay. When you arrive, buy a Parks Pass from one of the ticket machines and display it on your dash (you can buy them online too). You need a pass to visit national parks in Tasmania.

The hike is about 3.5 hours return and tough, with steep stair climbs and descents.

The view on top of Cape Hauy is worth every groan and calf cramp. It’s hard to describe the feeling of standing on top of the tallest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere, 300m above the crashing ocean, with nothing but blue between you and Antarctica, while breathing in some of the cleanest air in the world.

‘Pure elation’ is the best I can do.

Our four-day Tassie adventure truly started and ended on a high (although we could have done without the trek back to the car).

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