Rediscovering the lost art of picnics at the historic Quamby Estate, Tasmania

REALLY, is there anything better than a picnic? Where your most important consideration is where to lay your tartan rug?

REALLY, is there anything better than a picnic?

Sprawled out on the grass with your own personal outdoor buffet, a cute little wicker box filled with fresh bread, cheese, salads and salumi and nothing between you and your partner but the countryside.

But the thing is, I think picnics have almost become a lost art.

I rediscovered my love for outdoor spreads during a trip to Tasmania this summer.

Within an hour of arriving at the sprawling and historic Quamby Estate, just outside of Launceston, I’d been handed possibly the best picnic I’ve ever had in my life.

How’s THAT for a picnic?

With 150 acres to explore and a glass of wine in hand, our most important consideration was which part of the stunning estate to lay our tartan rug and immerse ourselves in.

Taking in the fresh air and enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views, we had one of the most enjoyable afternoons we’ve had in a long time.

But this picnic wasn’t about sandwiches and fairy bread, it was about the gastronomic delights of the Tasmanian countryside.

Crusty bread, prosciutto, dips, smoked salmon, cheeses and strawberries. YUM. I’d pick the rustic charm of picnic over a fancy dinner anyway. It’s alfresco at it’s best.

Nelson Da Silva, General Manager of Quamby Estate, said the hampers have become extremely popular among their guests - and he even let me in on the secret to their picnics.

“We only use the best Tasmanian produce, in fact our chef is in town sourcing local produce right now,” said Mr Da Silva. “Every day we change our menu depending on what we can find.

Quamby Estate has acres and acres to explore, including its very own golf course.

“Tasmania is more about the gourmet side for us and that’s why everything we use is sourced locally from the salmon to the raspberry and everything in between.

Mr Da Silva added that Quamby Estate made a conscious effort to support local producers.
“To be honest, we could purchase things cheaper from the mainland, but that’s not what Quamby is about, it’s about using local produce. And that’s why we have so many Tassie wines on our list, if our guests are in Tassie then they want to try our wines.”

And as I certainly found out, part of the thrill of the picnic experience is discovering what local goodies are inside.

“The feedback we’ve been getting from guests is that not knowing what’s in there is the best part. There is no menu, it’s whatever we have available and a lot of our guests associate it with their childhood, they say ‘oh I cant remember the last time I had a picnic’, it’s been a very, very popular thing.”

Confit Scottsdale pork belly.

41’ hot smoked salmon.

And if you fancy creating your own picnic, Quamby Estate’s Hunter and Gatherer package lets you take off and explore the Meander Valley and gather your own gourmet fare with a self-drive guide.

The variety of produce contained in this little pocket of Tasmania is extraordinary, from the ingenuity of 41’ South salmon farm to Christmas Hills Raspberry farm to Ashgrove Cheese and House of Anvers coverture chocolates.

For a true indulgence, you can then finish off the day with an exquisite three-course meal that showcases the local foods from the producers visited during the day along with a personal briefing from the chef.

It’s truly a foodie’s paradise.

Treat yourself to dinner on the balcony of the homestead.