Wine, Gin & Whisky Tour – Hobart & SE Tasmania

Tasmania packs a lot into this small-group food and drink tour. In about seven hours, you move from a family-run vineyard to a gin distillery, a whisky distillery, a second winery, and a cheese producer, with a short stop at Australia’s old bridge along the way.

I like the maximum group size of six, which keeps the day personal and avoids the feel of a bus excursion. I also like that Ross handles the driving and arrangements, leaving you free to taste. The main catch is simple: lunch is not included, and the day’s venue order can change with availability and weather.

Key points to know before you book

• Four types of Tasmanian produce: Taste wine, gin, whisky, and cheese in one full day.
• Old Kempton is the main anchor: Your visit includes whisky tasting, a distillery tour, and the lunch stop.
• Small group of six or fewer: This suits you if you prefer a quieter day and more direct contact with your guide.
• Pickup within 5 km of Hobart CBD: Pickup is offered at your hotel or accommodation in the stated area, around 9:30 a.m.
• Lunch costs about $20 extra: You stop for lunch at Old Kempton Distillery, but the meal itself is not covered.
• The plan can change: Venue order, and possibly a similar replacement venue, depends on weather and availability.

A full day of Tasmanian wine, spirits, and cheese

This tour is built for people who want to taste Tasmania rather than simply drive past it. The route links two wine areas with two spirits producers, giving you a useful snapshot of local drink-making without asking you to organize several separate bookings.

You leave Hobart in an air-conditioned vehicle, with bottled water provided. Pickup begins at about 9:30 a.m., and the planned return is around 4:30 p.m. That makes this a full but manageable day, especially if you want to enjoy tastings without worrying about who will drive back.

The small vehicle matters. With no more than six people, the tour can feel more like a guided outing than a standard group transfer. Ross is the named guide, and the available feedback highlights his friendly manner, preparation, and attention to comfort. That is useful here because the day involves several handoffs between vineyards, distilleries, and a food stop.

The route is not fixed in stone. The order may change according to venue availability, weather, or other practical concerns. A similar venue may replace one of the planned stops if needed, so book this for the overall style of the day rather than for a rigid sequence.

Derwent Estate begins the wine story

The first planned stop is Derwent Estate, a local family-owned vineyard in the Derwent Valley. You spend about an hour tasting wine and enjoying a cheese platter, with admission included.

This is a good opening because it eases you into the day. You begin with wine and food before moving on to stronger spirits, and the family-owned setting gives the first stop a local, personal feel. The cheese platter also means you are not tasting on an empty stomach.

I like the balance here. You are not sent straight into a technical distillery tour, and you get an early introduction to wines from the area before comparing them with bottles from the Coal River Valley later in the day.

The drawback is that one hour passes quickly. If you enjoy detailed vineyard visits, ask questions while you can, since this is primarily a tasting stop rather than a lengthy vineyard walk or production tour. The supplied details do not promise a full cellar-door presentation or a set number of wines, so expect an introduction rather than an in-depth wine course.

7K Distillery shifts the focus to gin

At 7K Distillery, the focus changes to gin. The visit lasts about an hour, and gin tasting is included.

This stop gives the day a welcome change of pace. Wine tasting can be about grape varieties, place, and food pairing, while gin puts the spotlight on spirits and flavor. For you, that means the day will not feel like repeating the same tasting format at every venue.

The information provided does not specify the exact gins, tasting format, or whether the visit includes a production tour. I would treat it as a dedicated gin tasting rather than assume a behind-the-scenes factory visit.

The order may place 7K earlier or later depending on the day. That flexibility is practical, but it also means you should not plan another fixed activity around a particular stop. Keep the day open from pickup through the expected 4:30 p.m. return.

Old Kempton combines whisky, a tour, and lunch

Old Kempton Distillery is the longest stop, at about two hours. It includes whisky tasting, a distillery tour, and the lunch break, making it the most substantial part of the day.

This is where the tour gives you more than a sample at the bar. The distillery tour adds context to the whisky, helping you connect the drink in your glass with the place and process behind it. If whisky is your main interest, this stop will likely be the one you look forward to most.

Lunch is served at Old Kempton Distillery, but it is not included in the tour price. The expected cost is about $20, so budget for that in addition to the booking price. Since the lunch stop is built into the schedule, you do not need to find your own restaurant, but your meal choices and exact cost are not specified.

Two hours sounds generous, but it has to cover the tour, tasting, and lunch. If you prefer lingering over a meal or asking many whisky questions, the schedule may feel brisk. On the other hand, combining these activities keeps the day moving and avoids adding another separate transfer.

If you are tasting whisky, gin, and wine on the same day, moderation matters. The air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and small group help, but you should still take your time and use the food stop well.

Australia’s old bridge adds a short heritage pause

After lunch, the route includes a stop at Australia’s old bridge. The supplied details do not give a precise visit length, so think of this as a brief sightseeing pause rather than a major attraction with a long guided program.

That pause helps break up the tasting schedule. A day made entirely of cellar doors can become a little samey, while a bridge stop gives you a chance to stretch, take photos, and shift your attention before the next winery.

Because the tour can run in a different order, this stop may not come exactly after lunch. The important point is that the day includes a small historical and scenic element alongside the food and drink visits.

Pooley Wines brings a second wine region into view

Pooley Wines is the second winery, located in the Coal River Valley. The visit lasts about 45 minutes and includes wine tasting, with an introduction to local grape varieties and the area’s past.

I like the decision to include two wine stops in different areas. You get a chance to compare the style and setting of the Derwent Valley with the Coal River Valley rather than treating Tasmanian wine as one single category.

The shorter visit means Pooley works best as a focused tasting. You may learn about the grapes and the local area, but the schedule is not designed for a long vineyard walk or a leisurely meal. If wine is your priority, this is another reason to ask questions directly and pay attention to what is being poured.

The exact winery order can change. Pooley may appear earlier or later in the day, and the details allow for a similar replacement venue if availability or weather makes the original plan impractical.

The Wicked Cheese Co. finishes with something savory

The cheese tasting at The Wicked Cheese Co. lasts about 30 minutes. It is a short stop, but it gives the day a useful finish after several alcoholic tastings.

Cheese does more than add another product to the list. It gives you a chance to compare flavors and think about pairing, especially after the wine and whisky stops. It also helps keep the tour from becoming a long run of liquid samples.

Do not expect a full meal here. The cheese tasting is included, but lunch remains a separate purchase at Old Kempton. Depending on the day’s order, the cheese stop may come at another point in the schedule.

What the $251.04 price really covers

The price is $251.04 per person. That is not a cheap transfer between tasting rooms, but it covers a long day, transportation, a small group, and several admissions and tastings.

Included are all listed wine tastings, the cheese tasting, gin and whisky tastings, the Old Kempton Distillery tour, air-conditioned transport, and bottled water. You also get pickup and drop-off within 5 km of Hobart CBD, which saves you the trouble of arranging a designated driver or paying for several separate rides.

The value improves if you plan to taste across several categories. Booking individual winery and distillery visits could require more planning, separate transport, and careful timing. Here, the driving and basic coordination are handled for you.

The value is weaker if you only care about one drink. A dedicated whisky day or wine day could give you more time at each specialist venue. This tour is best for you if variety matters more than a deep focus on a single producer.

Remember to add lunch to the budget. At roughly $20, it is not a major extra, but the advertised price is not the final food-and-drink cost for the day.

Who will enjoy this Hobart day trip most

I would recommend this tour to adults who want a broad taste of southeastern Tasmania in one outing. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who like local produce but do not want to rent a car and manage the route themselves.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time in Hobart. The seven-hour format lets you cover several stops without giving up multiple days to separate excursions. Pickup within 5 km of the city center adds convenience, though you will need to arrange your own way to the pickup point if you stay outside that area.

The tour may be less suitable if you dislike changing venues or prefer a slow, unhurried tasting. Five planned stops create variety, but they also mean each visit has a set window. The 45-minute winery stop and 30-minute cheese tasting are useful additions, not long stand-alone visits.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but the key transport service is the offered pickup and return within the stated Hobart area.

Practical details that can shape your day

Book with the full day in mind. Start time is about 9:30 a.m., and drop-off is expected around 4:30 p.m. Since weather and venue availability can affect the order, do not schedule a tight appointment immediately after the return time.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water is supplied. That is welcome on a day with repeated tastings and transfers, but you should still plan to eat lunch and pace yourself.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the operator cancels, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, while cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

The tour is usually booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 56 days. If your Hobart dates are fixed, it makes sense to reserve early, especially because the group is capped at six.

My verdict: book it for variety, not specialization

Book this tour if you want wine, gin, whisky, and cheese in one well-organized day, with a guide handling the driving. The small group, included tastings, and Old Kempton tour give the price solid value for a visitor who wants a broad introduction to Tasmanian producers.

Skip it if your main goal is a long, detailed visit at one winery or distillery. The changing order, short tasting windows, and extra lunch cost are easy to accept when you value variety, but less appealing when you want a slow specialist experience.

For most food-and-drink fans with one free day in Hobart, this is a practical way to taste beyond the city without taking on the driving yourself. Just budget for lunch, leave your afternoon open, and treat the stated route as flexible.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from your hotel or accommodation within 5 km of Hobart CBD. The start time is approximately 9:30 a.m.

When does the tour return to Hobart?

Drop-off is expected at your hotel or accommodation within 5 km of Hobart CBD at approximately 4:30 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about seven hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of six participants.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is included as a stop at Old Kempton Distillery, but the meal cost is extra and is approximately $20.

Which tastings are included?

The tour includes wine tastings, gin tasting, whisky tasting, and cheese tasting. It also includes the Old Kempton Distillery tour.

Can the order of the stops change?

Yes. The order depends on venue availability, weather, and other conditions. A similar venue may replace a planned stop if necessary.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.