Revealed: Mega plans to bring exclusive fine dining experience to Botanical Gardens in Hobart

A family-run vineyard that’s expanded to Tasmania has announced plans to transform the wine and food experience at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. See what’s in store.

Hobart's Royal Botanical Garden. Picture: Brand Tasmania

Renowned South Australian winery Bird in Hand has announced it will take over hospitality offerings at Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens from early 2025, introducing a new tasting room, restaurant and kiosk alongside event offerings.

Bird in Hand is well-recognised for its winery and restaurant in the Adelaide Hills, recently purchasing a long-term winery lease at Rowella in the West Tamar and ongoing wine production at its Seymour property on the state’s east coast.

Now, the brand plans to “redesign” the food and beverage facilities throughout the gardens to strengthen its “growth strategy in Tasmania”.

Hobart's Royal Botanical Gardens. Picture: Brand Tasmania

Co-founder of Bird in Hand Andrew Nugent, alongside wife and other founder Susie, said an upcoming tasting room at the Botanical Gardens will showcase Bird in Hand’s Tasmania range along with other local beverages.

“With our expansion of wine production in Tasmania, our winemaking team is focused heavily on showcasing the cool-climate qualities of the region,” he said.

“What better place to now pour these spectacular varietals than one of Australia’s premier gardens?

“When paired with our culinary vision for the Botanical Gardens and the Bird in Hand service style, it’s an alignment we are excited to see evolve over the coming years.”

Alongside its food and beverage offerings, Bird in Hand will host weddings and bespoke events at the 14-hectare Botanical Gardens’ site.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Board chair Daniel Leesong said the Bird in Hand’s new hospitality license would renew the Gardens.

Bird in the Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills is taking over hospitality at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

“The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are very excited to be partnering with Bird in Hand,” he said.

“To have a hospitality operator with such a record of success join the gardens during this time of revitalisation brings anticipation of exciting things to come.

“Our shared vision is guaranteed to please locals and visitors, further establishing Tasmania as a leader in eco, wine, culinary and agritourism.”

Mr Nugent said the established kitchen garden space and connection to land matched closely with Bird in Hand’s personal ethos of sustainability.

“The Bird in Hand estate in Woodside showcases a core pillar of the brand: an enduring respect for the Indigenous cultures and traditional owners of the land upon which we are situated,” he said.

“This is something inherent in our operations and an approach on which we place the utmost importance.

South Australia Bird In Hand winery recently purchased a long-term winery lease at Rowella in the West Tamar Valley. Picture: supplied.

“Our Woodside property also highlights Susie’s love of garden design.

“While the grounds are much smaller in scale and cross-section of plants, they are tended to equally in passion for nurturing natural places of joy and contemplation – an ever-changing backdrop to memorable moments of generous hospitality.”

Hospitality venue opening hours are yet to be announced.

Originally published as Revealed: Mega plans to bring exclusive fine dining experience to Botanical Gardens in Hobart