Join us for some Christmas cheer at Cascade Brewery Bar on
Thursday, 11 December, 4:30-6:30pm
140 Cascade Road, South Hobart
Join us for our final gathering of 2025 and a preview of the brand new Garden Bar at Cascade Brewery Bar. The Garden Bar will be the venue's primary function space when it opens early in 2026. Hidden at the back of the gardens, it will be the perfect location for both corporate and private events. Finishing touches are still in progress to make the space even more beautiful, private and accessible, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to give you an exclusive preview.
Our Christmas event is purely about celebration and connection ahead of the busy summer season, so formalities are kept low-key, but there will be a few treats in store and prizes to be won for those in attendance.
There are only a handful of tickets left, so if you haven't registered yet, chop chop!
Please also note that there are regularly photographers at our events, taking photos for use on digital platforms. If you do not want to be photographed, please let us know when you RSVP, or on arrival at the event.
Please also let us know if you have any specific access requirements.
Are you open for Christmas?
If so, then please don't forget to list your Christmas activities on the ATDW as an event (you can find some helpful tips and tools HERE). It will be the easiest (and cheapest!!) way to help visitors to find you and join the festivities. Whether is be a special Christmas lunch menu or simply operations as usual to cater for those who don't celebrate with all the traditional fare, listing Christmas Day activities will mean you get featured on Hobart & Beyond and come up more readily in web searches. It's a no-brainer!
Image: Peppina
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Meadowbank wins The Jimmy AND The James
The 2024 Meadowbank Pinot Noir will be in high demand after winning not only the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at The Royal Melbourne Wine Show, but also The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine. This trophy is considered by many to be the pinnacle of wine awards in this country, so this is a truly exceptional achievement for everyone involved. Congratulations one and all!
Lavada wins Best MediSpa
The 2025 Spa & Wellness Awards recognise the most exceptional destinations, treatments, and brands shaping the future of wellness across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Tash and the team at Lavada in Hunter Street were absolutely thrilled to have won Australia’s Best MediSpa in the People’s Choice category last month, which some would argue is the most important category of all because it is first hand testament to the way they make their clients feel - good enough to make the effort to vote for them! Congratulations Lavada!
Callington Mill's winning streak
Callington Mill’s Pedro Ximenez Single Malt Whisky was named Single Malt Whisky of the Year, scoring an extraordinary 97 points at the internationally renowned London Spirits Competition. Hot on the heels of that success, Callington Mill then took home four Double Gold medals at the celebrated San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with the Pedro Ximenez Single Malt reaching a near-perfect 98 points and being named a finalist for “Best In Class – Australian Single Malt Whisky.”
AHA Awards
Congratulations to DST members Iron Creek Bay Estate and MACq01 Hotel for their success at the AHA 2025 National Awards for Excellence.
Iron Creek Bay Estate won their gong for Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability (scroll down for more details); and MACq 01 Hotel was judged to be the best All Abilities Hotel – Accommodation Division.
These two awards represent the future in Tasmanian tourism (sustainability and accessibility) and are a fantastic indication that we heading in the right direction on both fronts. Bravo!! 👏👏
PRODUCT UPDATES
Riddle Me Adventures
Tasmania’s much-loved mystery picnic company, Riddle Me Adventures, has launched an upgraded, more interactive digital platform.
Riddle Me Adventures offers mystery picnics across multiple regions including the Derwent Valley, Huon Valley, Coal River Valley, Bruny Island and Launceston with each adventure taking in some of Tasmania’s best food and drink venues. Customers solve riddles to unlock each location, collecting delicious treats along the way before enjoying their final picnic spread.
The new digital platform has arrived just in time for the warmer weather and an influx of locals and visitors looking to explore the state and its world class food scene in playful new ways.
Peppina - Aperitivo
Aperitivo in terraza! The Peppina Terrace will open on Friday afternoons for Aperitivo. Walk on in for spritzes and small plates! On 19 December, Hugo Bladel will be bringing the acoustic tunes.
Peppina is also open for Friday lunches between now and Christmas.
Street Eats @ Franko
Street Eats is back! From this Friday, 5 December, Franklin Square will come alive every Friday evening with Tasmanian street food, craft drinks, music and fun
Celebrating 10 years this season, the stalls and entertainment are better than ever!
Share your news with DST
Destination Southern Tasmania is always interested in your industry updates. Completing this form lets us know what’s happening in your business or region. Your news and information may be shared with Tourism Tasmania and throughout the Destination Southern Tasmania social, email and web channels. Priority is given to DST members.
Flourish Events Tasmania specialises in creating unique experiences that bring women together over a common purpose through thoughtfully curated events and travel experiences that foster growth, fun and a sense of belonging.
ELUR
ELUR hasn't quite launched yet but is set to very soon be Tasmania’s premium EV RV rental experience, built for two travellers seeking thoughtful, sustainable exploration. It redefines what it means to travel responsibly: zero-emission mobility, luxury interior design, and immersive Tasmanian experiences that connect guests with local culture, food, and nature.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Emergency Ready Business Tool
To help businesses plan and prepare for emergencies of all kinds, from bird flu to bushfires, the Tasmanian Government has launched the Emergency Ready Business tool. The online tool guides you through four structured steps using yes/no questions:
Identify hazards. Pinpoints potential emergency events that could affect your business.
Assess vulnerability. Highlights specific risks to your operations.
Plan your response. Consider how to reduce risk before, during, and after an emergency.
Action plan. Creates tailored checklists to help you take action.
At the end, you’ll receive a personalised business continuity plan. It includes the key risks, vulnerabilities and practical steps to build resilience and recover from disruptions. It's free, simple to use and applicable to all business types. It's a no brainer really!
Further to your emergency preparedness plan, here are a couple of tips to make sure you're across an unfolding emergency:
Make sure you have the TasALERT app downloaded on your phone for immediate, up-to-date information on any unfolding emergency. Whether it be a bushfire, flood, storm, shark sightings or scheduled fuel reduction burns, TasALERT is the single source of truth for all Tasmanians and visitors, providing clear and consistent warnings and information from Tasmania's emergency services and government agencies during an emergency. TasALERT will also provide information on road closures and parks and walking track closures.
You can also create a watch zone in the app which enables you to get notifications as soon as a warning is issued in that watch zone.
In the case of an ongoing emergency, such as bushfire or flood, tune into ABC Radio Hobart (936FM)
If you are in a life-threatening emergency, call 000.
If you require emergency assistance, call the SES on 132 500.
TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS
Submit your Off Season 2026 offer now!
The Off Season is a campaign designed to drive visitation to Tasmania during the traditionally quieter months of May - August to support our tourism industry year-round. For the 2026 campaign, Tourism Tasmania will continue to position Tasmania as a winter holiday destination with a difference by showcasing all the operator offers and experiences that are exclusive to the cooler months.
Offer submissions formally close on 6 March 2026 but if you submit your offer to Tourism Tasmania by 12 December 2025 you will be considered for inclusion in hero Off Season campaign advertisements.
Tasmanian enterprises play a critical role in our economy and communities. How your organisation connects with its Tasmania-ness and what this means to you is important to shape the future of the Tasmanian brand and the work of Brand Tasmania. Have your say through a short survey.
Your insights will help Brand Tasmania better understand how 'Tasmania' is lived and expressed by those who make this place special. Whether you’ve actively used or ignored the brand, or simply feel part of Tasmania’s story, your perspective matters.
The survey takes just 5 minutes to complete, and you’ll also get the chance to go in the draw to win one of 10 x $100 Tasmanian e-store gift vouchers.
Open from 12:00pm daily from 27 December until 3 January inclusive, the Taste of Summer brings together artisans and makers from across the island to showcase our culture, community, and produce on the Nipaluna/Hobart waterfront.
The Taste of Summer stage showcases an eclectic line-up of well-known and emerging Tasmanian artists, and the New Year’s Eve festivities offer one of the best vantage points to ring in the New Year with fireworks over the harbour.
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race sails over 628 nautical miles through sometimes grueling ocean conditions. Over the past 80 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has become an icon of Australia’s summer sport and this year's event will be no different. The Hobart waterfront is definitely that place to be over the New Year period!
The 30th Hobart International tennis tournament is set to bring more than 50 of the world’s top women’s tennis players to Hobart, from Saturday 4 to Saturday 11 January 2025.
Qualifying Weekend is FREE for the community to attend on 10-11 Jan, 2026 with fun activities in the Fan Zone and Kids Zone including competitions, face painting, games, player appearances and more!
The Main Draw is 12-17 January, with a variety of ticket types available.
From January 9–11, Cygnet comes alive as streets, halls, pubs, and paddocks transform into stages bursting with world-class folk, roots, acoustic, and traditional music. There are also loads of workshops, discussion groups, roving performers and markets bursting with local food and craft.
For more events near you, visit our Events page on Hobart & Beyond.
POSITIVE IMPACT IN ACTION
Iron Creek Bay Estate
Iron Creek Bay Estate's commitment to sustainability that won them the National AHA Award in November is evident in their building design and in their care of onsite Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Some of the energy and water saving features include:
Solar powered path lighting
Solar power boost to accommodation buildings
Automatic lighting in common areas
Automatic exhaust fans in ensuites
Underfloor hydronic heating
Recycling of water grey water for garden irrigation
545 solar panels, with a total annual power generation of 267,944 kwh.
Iron Creek Bay Estate also proudly protects two certified Aboriginal Heritage sites located around Flinty Point: A stone quarry, where materials were procured for the purpose of making stone tools and artefacts: and a significant shell midden - stratified deposits of refuse from shellfish and other food remains, predominantly oysters and mussels.
Round 3 of the Grants Scheme is now open for applications and closes on 19 December 2025. A total of $1.3 million is being made available through two streams:
Small Grants Program: up to $20,000 for small scale heritage conservation and restoration projects, and
Large Grants Program: to activate heritage places and engage community support for built heritage.
This grant program is designed to cater for both large and small events, with two tiers of funding available for events with either intrastate or interstate visitation targets. Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 are available to support event organisers in enhancing their existing marketing strategies for established Tasmanian events.
Grants are available until the available funding allocation has been fully allocated, or the program has closed – whichever occurs first.
One-off Assistance grants of up to $20 000 are available to promote the number of winter events in regional Tasmania, increasing visitors and local community engagement through the non-peak tourist season, and assisting to grow event expertise skills and capacity in regional Tasmania.
The $50 million Regional Tourism Development Loan Scheme is now open for applications. The scheme is available to promote investment in tourism products and experiences that stimulate regional tourism and dispersal in Tasmania. The scheme will open for applications until 2pm, 30 June 2026 or until all funding has been utilised, whichever occurs first.
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