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Food tours in Tasmania: what to eat and which tour to book
Tasmania is Australia's island state, and its cool climate and clean waters shape what it eats: oysters, scallops, abalone and rock lobster, salmon from the southern channels, cheese from small dairies, apples and berries, leatherwood honey, and cool-climate wine, sparkling wine and single-malt whisky. The everyday local classic is the curried scallop pie. Hobart has the island's biggest food scene, with the Saturday Salamanca Market on the waterfront, the Sunday Farm Gate Market and fish-and-chip punts at the docks. Launceston in the north, named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2021, is the base for the Tamar Valley wine region. Much of the best eating is at the source: oyster sheds, cheese rooms, orchards and cellar doors on Bruny Island, in the Huon Valley, on the east coast around Freycinet and in the Tamar.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Australian dollars and euros (about A$1.65–1.80 to €1; rates move). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Tasmania
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curried scallop pie scallop pie | A pastry pie filled with whole Tasmanian scallops in a mild, creamy curry sauce. Sold in bakeries all over the island and eaten as a hot snack. | Bakeries across Tasmania, including Hobart and towns on the main highways. | roughly A$9–14 (€5–8) each |
| Oysters Pacific oysters | Farmed Pacific oysters from cold, clean estuaries, eaten freshly shucked. Many farms sell straight from the shed by the dozen. | Oyster farms and shed shops on Bruny Island, around Freycinet and Coles Bay on the east coast, and restaurants in Hobart. | roughly A$20–40 (€11–23) a dozen at the farm; more in restaurants |
| Fish and chips from the docks fish and chips | Battered or grilled local fish (often blue-eye trevalla, flathead or trumpeter), scallops and calamari with chips, bought from floating fish punts moored at the Hobart waterfront. | Constitution Dock and Franklin Wharf, Hobart. | roughly A$18–30 (€10–17) a serve |
| Rock lobster and abalone crayfish / abalone | Southern rock lobster (called crayfish locally) and abalone are prized and expensive; lobster is served grilled, in rolls or with butter, abalone sliced thin or grilled. | Seafood restaurants in Hobart and along the east coast, and some seafood shops. | lobster roughly A$80–150+ (€45–85+) per dish; market price varies |
| Tasmanian cheese cheese | Cheeses from small dairies across the island, including raw-milk and washed-rind styles; tasting rooms and cellar doors sell direct. | Cheese producers on Bruny Island and in the north-west, Salamanca and Farm Gate markets, and delis in Hobart and Launceston. | roughly A$10–25 (€6–14) for a tasting plate or small cheese |
| Leatherwood honey | Strong, floral honey made from the flowers of the leatherwood tree in Tasmania's west-coast rainforests. | Markets, providores and honey shops across Tasmania. | roughly A$12–25 (€7–14) a jar |
| Cool-climate wine and whisky pinot noir, sparkling wine, single malt | Tasmania is known for pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wine, and for small-batch single-malt whisky distilleries. | Cellar doors in the Tamar Valley (north), the Coal River Valley near Hobart and the Huon Valley; distillery tasting rooms in and around Hobart. | tastings roughly A$10–30 (€6–17); a glass of wine A$12–18 (€7–10) |
| Apples and berries apples, cherries, berries | Tasmania has long been known for apples; in summer, cherries, strawberries and raspberries are sold at farm gates, along with cider made from local fruit. | Huon Valley orchards and roadside stalls, farm gates in the Derwent Valley and the north; markets in Hobart and Launceston. | roughly A$5–12 (€3–7) a punnet or bag in season |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Salamanca Market, Hobart
A large Saturday street market along the Georgian sandstone warehouses of Salamanca Place, with over 300 stalls of local produce, food stalls, crafts and art. Tasmania's most visited attraction.
Farm Gate Market, Hobart
Sunday farmers' market in central Hobart run by growers and producers: vegetables, meat, cheese, bread, oysters, coffee and breakfast stalls. More of a locals' market than Salamanca.
Hobart waterfront (Constitution Dock and Franklin Wharf)
Floating fish-and-chip punts, seafood restaurants and harbour views, a short walk from Salamanca Place.
Bruny Island
Reached by car ferry from Kettering, south of Hobart. Producers sell oysters, cheese, berries, fudge and whisky directly from farm shops; best as a day trip by car or on a guided food tour.
Launceston and the Tamar Valley
Launceston, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, has a weekly farmers' market and good restaurants; the Tamar Valley along the river north of the city is the main wine region for sparkling wine and pinot noir.
Huon Valley
Orchard country south-west of Hobart with apples, cider makers, berry farms, salmon and roadside produce stalls.
Food tours in Tasmania compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart: Hastings Cave, Tahune Airwalk and Huon Tasting Trail | 10 hours | from €123 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Signature Wine Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania | 7 hours | from €136 per person | max 6 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Hobart: Full-Day Tasmania Gourmet Seafood Cruise | 7.5 hours | from €431 per person | max 12 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Signature Bruny Island Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania | 9 hours | from €222 per person | max 6 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Huon Valley Wine & Cider Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania | 7 hours | from €154 per person | max 6 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Hobart: Hastings Cave, Tahune Airwalk and Huon Tasting Trail
On GetYourGuide · run by Tassie Tours Tasmania
- Length
- 10 hours
- Price
- from €123 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 91 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Selected Hobart CBD - 10-hour tour Guided tour through Hastings Caves (ticket price included) Tahune Airwalk entrance fee Apple pie Guided tour Comfortable air-conditioned transportation Meals and drinks at own cost…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Signature Wine Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania
On GetYourGuide · run by Bespoke Tours Hobart
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €136 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 71 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle Hotel pickup & drop off within 5km of Hobart CBD Visit at least 4 vineyards for tasting including a lunch stop Includes cost of all wine tasting & cheese board Includes bottl…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Hobart: Full-Day Tasmania Gourmet Seafood Cruise
On GetYourGuide · run by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
- Length
- 7.5 hours
- Price
- from €431 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 18 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 12
- Included
- Rock lobster, abalone, sea urchin, mussels, oysters, sashimi, calamari Fresh local breads, salads and artisan cheeses Bruny Island Premium Wines, Jansz Sparkling, boutique Moo Brew beers, Willie Smiths & Frank's cider…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Constitution Dock
Signature Bruny Island Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania
On GetYourGuide · run by Bespoke Tours Hobart
- Length
- 9 hours
- Price
- from €222 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 9 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- Ferry, wine, oysters, water, honey and cheese samples included in the tour price Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle for a maximum of 6 guests within 5 km of Hobart CBD Excludes lunch Whisky (optional stop) an…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Huon Valley Wine & Cider Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania
On GetYourGuide · run by Bespoke Tours Hobart
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €154 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 2 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- Wine Tasting Cider Tasting Scenic Drive Transportation Hotel Pickup & Dropoff Lunch Costs - Approximately $30.00
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Tasmania doesn't have much street food in the Asian or European sense. Its equivalent is the market stall (Salamanca and Farm Gate), the bakery scallop pie, fish and chips from the dock punts, and buying oysters or fruit straight from the farm.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants focus on local produce and seafood, with prices similar to mainland Australian cities. Dinner service is early, often 17:30–21:00, and many regional restaurants close one or two nights a week or have reduced winter hours. Book ahead in summer and around big events.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are less common than producer visits. Food experiences in Tasmania usually mean guided day trips to Bruny Island or the Huon or Tamar valleys with tastings of oysters, cheese, wine and whisky, or cooking schools on farms that use their own produce.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | A$50–80 (about €30–45): bakery pie, market food, supermarket picnic, fish and chips |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | A$100–160 (about €60–90): café lunch, restaurant dinner, a glass of wine |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | A$250+ (about €140+): degustation dinner with wine pairings |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy in Hobart and Launceston, where most restaurants and cafés have vegetarian and vegan dishes. In small regional towns choices are narrower; markets and bakeries help.
Halal: Limited. Hobart and Launceston have some halal restaurants (mostly Middle Eastern, Turkish and South Asian) and halal butchers; regional areas have very few. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are the practical choice elsewhere.
Gluten-free: Good awareness: Australian cafés and restaurants commonly mark gluten-free dishes, and bakeries often have gluten-free options. Battered fish and pies are not; ask for grilled fish and check for shared fryers.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Seafood labelled 'local' or 'Tasmanian' that is imported, especially in casual fish shops. Ask where the fish comes from; Australian law requires country-of-origin labelling in shops, though not always in restaurants.
- Rock lobster and fish 'at market price' without a stated figure. Ask the price before you order; it can be very high.
- Underestimating driving times between producers and missing closing times. Plan routes, check producer opening days and allow for ferry queues to Bruny Island in summer.
Top tours & activities in Tasmania
Rent a car in Tasmania
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in TasmaniaPlan the rest of your Tasmania trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
When is Salamanca Market on?
Every Saturday from 8:30 to 15:00 on Salamanca Place in Hobart, rain or shine. It has over 300 stalls of produce, prepared food, crafts and art. Go early for produce and fewer crowds. On Sundays, the Farm Gate Market in central Hobart is the better choice for local produce.
Do I need to tip in Tasmania?
Tipping is not expected in Australia because staff are paid a full wage. Leaving about 10% for good service at a sit-down restaurant is appreciated but optional, and many people tip nothing in cafés. On guided food tours, a tip is a personal choice. Some restaurants add a weekend or public-holiday surcharge, which is legal if displayed.
Is it worth visiting Bruny Island for food?
Yes, for oysters, cheese, berries and whisky bought straight from producers, plus scenery. It is a day trip: drive about 30–40 minutes south from Hobart to Kettering and take the car ferry. Without a car, a guided food tour is the easiest option. Check producer hours, especially in winter.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Tasmania is not cheap. On a budget, roughly A$50–80 (€30–45) a day covers a bakery breakfast or scallop pie, market food and fish and chips. A café lunch and restaurant dinner with a glass of wine is about A$100–160 (€60–90). Degustation dinners and wine pairings push the day past A$250 (€140).
What is the best season for food in Tasmania?
Summer (December to February) is the busiest season, with berries, cherries and long evenings for cellar doors. Autumn (March to May) brings apples, harvest at the wineries and quieter roads. In winter, some producers and regional restaurants shorten their hours, but oysters and seafood are good year-round and the whisky distilleries stay open.
Can I bring fruit or food into Tasmania?
Tasmania has strict biosecurity rules to protect its agriculture. Fresh fruit, vegetables and some other plant products can't be brought in from mainland Australia or overseas without declaring them. Bins and inspections are at airports and the ferry terminal. Eat or dispose of produce before arrival and check Biosecurity Tasmania's current list.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.