Maybe you embrace the sunshine as a way to get fit or start a new hobby. Or maybe it’s the simple pleasures – like fish and chips, an ice cream or freshly-picked berries – that define what summer in Tasmania means to you. Whatever your dream Tassie summer looks like, you’re bound to find some inspiration for kicking off 2026 – and embracing the warmer days ahead – in our bumper summer guide, packed with must-do events and activities that will help you get the most out of summer.

TASTE OF SUMMER

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer returns to Princes Wharf No. 1 with more than 80 food and drink stalls and plenty of live music. Open at noon every day from December 27 to January 3.

Single-day tickets from $15 for adults (children under-16 are free). A Taste pass covering the full eight days (except the New Year’s Eve evening session) is $40 per adult. There will be a Neon Nights theme for the New Year’s Eve session, 6pm-1.30am, with music from Hindley Street Country Club, Trinity and DJ Track & Field. $90 adults, $30 children. tasteofsummer.com.au

ON TAP

In the state’s North, beer lovers can welcome 2026 at Launceston BeerFest at Royal Park, on New Year’s Eve.

Gates open from 4pm, with more than 200 beers on offer as well as cider, cocktails, wine and food. There will be live music headlined by The Presets, comedy (headlined by Mike Goldstein), masterclasses, and fireworks at 9.30pm and midnight. launceston.beerfestivals.com.au

SUMMER BLOOMS

Nothing screams summer like bold yellow sunflowers. Visit sunflower fields at Littlewood Berry Farm (Richmond) and Mount Gnomon Farm (a 10-minute drive inland from Penguin) – the eye-catching flowers typically bloom during February. You can also pick bright summer blooms at Snug’s Earthenry Flower Farm. The next picking sessions are December 7, 23 and 28. earthenry.com.au

And don’t forget about lavender – summer is the ideal time to visit Bridestowe Estate, in Tasmania’s North East, and walk among a sea of purple from mid-December to mid-January when the plants look most vibrant – there will be tours, workshops, tea tastings, cooking classes, picnics and other events. Admission in December and January is $20 for adults, free for kids 15 and under. bridestowelavender.com.au. Also consider Port Arthur Lavender on the Tasman Peninsula or Lavender House in the Tamar Valley.

SUMMER SPIRITS

More than 25 distillers will pour 100+ gins, vodkas, liqueurs and rums at Gin-uary at Princes Wharf No. 1 with three sessions across January 17 and 18. Tickets from $65. ginuaryhobart.com.au. Enjoy views of Hobart’s Waterfront while sipping summer cocktails at Waterline bar and eatery, at Brooke St Pier, where a Gin High Tea is on offer on Saturdays and Sundays, 3pm-5pm, featuring gin cocktails and a tasting platter, for $75. There’s also a gin high tea at Seagrass Long Point on Saturdays from 2.30pm-4.30pm, for $60 per person.

Hellfire Bluff Distillery has a newly-built cellar door, at Boomer Bay, where you can sample spirits that are distilled onsite – including a Summer Floral Gin and a bright and tropical Summer Fruit Punch bottled cocktail. Meanwhile The Still – Lark Distillery’s sleek tasting bar – offers a 45-minute guided tasting from $79 and is also a great spot for summer cocktails and share plates. Callington Mill has a Festive Cask Single Malt Whisky brimming with flavours like candied orange peel, sticky toffee, spiced red wine, dark chocolate and espresso – each bottle comes with a handcrafted Christmas pudding made with Australian fruit macerated in Callington Mill Whisky ($165).

7K Distillery has a Mediterranean Coastal Gin “perfect for warm nights, good company and deliciously-refreshing G&Ts”. Or enjoy cocktails with names like Diana in Dock, The Island Standard and Citrus Tide at Mures Upper Deck’s Kelp Bar – daily Cocktail Hour is from 4pm-6pm, with $15 cocktails “perfect for kicking back on Kelp’s balcony in the afternoon sun”.

GET FRUITY

Berries are the taste of summer in Tasmania and they taste best when picked directly from the farm. The Westerway Raspberry Farm shop opens seven days a week, 9am-5pm, during summer. Check Facebook for picking updates. You can also find their berries at Farm Gate market.

Pick juicy strawberries at Richmond’s Littlewood Berry Farm and enjoy a house-made fruit ice cream (opening hours are subject to change, check Facebook before visiting). Old Beach Berries offers pick-your-own blueberries from January to March, as does Something from the Ground at Grove, in the Huon Valley. Iron Creek Bay Estate (just past Sorell) will have cherries mid-December to mid-January, with the property’s orchards also growing apricots, apples, pears and plums. There’s a cafe and a playground – buy a bucket of food for $5 and feed the alpacas, sheep and ponies. Other berry hotspots include Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm, Turners Beach Berry Patch, Kate’s Berry Farm, Crestview Blueberries, Bruny Island Raspberry Farm and Hillwood Berries.

GET ACTIVE

Try pickleball, yoga, archery, dance and stand-up paddleboarding for free as part of City of Hobart’s Healthy Hobart program until the end of March. Indoor and outdoor sessions. hobartcity.com.au/healthyhobart. Sign up for a 5km or 10km walk or run as part of Run the Bridge on Feb 15. hobartrunthebridge.com.au.

Try disc (frisbee) golf on a free nine-hole course at Seven Mile Beach. ccc.tas.gov.au/facility/seven-mile-beach-disc-golf-course. Shoot hoops at the free outdoor courts at Macquarie Point. Play a round of golf on Australia’s oldest golf course at Ratho Farm, Bothwell. rathofarm.com. Or try surfing with a 1.5-hour lesson at Park Beach, Clifton Beach, Scamander or Devonport with 42 South Surf School for $100 per person. 42southsurf.com.au. You can also cool off with ice skating at Shiver, a 30m x 15m rink at MyState Bank Arena, from January 9-18. $29 adults, $22 kids. mystatebankarena.com.au

SUMMER WELLNESS

Regular sauna use is said to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by improving heart health, reducing blood pressure and enhancing overall wellness and longevity. Tasmania is home to a number of saunas, ideal for summer wellness. Soak stress away at Hobart’s Nova Holistic Spa, where there’s an infra-red sauna, magnesium hot tub and an ice bath. novaspa.au.

Unwind on a sauna boat – Kuuma at Margate (kuuma.com.au) or Sauna Boat Tasmania at Kettering (saunaboattasmania.com.au). Check out Elsewhere Sauna at Taroona Beach or Sweaty Penguins saunas at Sandy Bay, Kingston, Burnie, Penguin and Turners Beach sweatypenguins.com.au

ON STAGE

Theatre enthusiasts can enjoy two alfresco productions at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens this summer. Big Monkey’s The Lizard of Aus will be performed for school groups for the first half of December before showing to the general public from December 30 until January 18. Tickets are: $30 adults, $22 concession, $15 children (under-4s are free). bigmonkey.com.au Meanwhile John X presents Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in the evenings between January 9-31. Tickets are: $60 adults, $45 concession, $40 children 12 and under. theatreroyal.com.au

Clarence Jazz Festival will celebrate its 30th birthday, with plenty of live music and events across Hobart’s Eastern Shore from February 19-22. Full program announced soon at clarenceartsandevents.net

Cygnet Folk Festival returns to the Huon Valley from January 9-11 with international, interstate and local acts. Day and weekend tickets available. cygnetfolkfestival.org

It has been 25 years since Wheatus released hit debut single Teenage Dirtbag, and to mark the milestone the band is touring Australia, with a show at Wrest Point on January 23 (tickets $69.90). Meanwhile The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra will team up with The Wolfe Brothers for a performance, at Wrest Point, on February 6 ($99 adults, $89 children), and also team up with The Whitlams on February 27 (tickets from $99.90) wrestpoint.com.au

Hilltop Hoods will perform at MyState Bank Arena on February 14 (tickets from $99.90, ticketek.com.au), while the Odeon will showcase two tribute shows – the Australian INXS Tribute Show Featuring Dellacoma Rio on January 31 (tickets from $69.33) and Seventh Wonder Performs Fleetwood Mac on February 28 (tickets from $69.90). odeontheatre.com.au

For a more informal music hit, head to the Museum of Old and New Art and enjoy a summer picnic on the lawns with live music Thursday to Monday, 10am-5pm. mona.net.au

MORE FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Musical acts Grinspoon, British India and Jessica Mauboy plus comedian Luke McGregor and guest chef Colin Fassnidge will headline Festivale, a three-day alfresco celebration showcasing Tasmanian food, beverages and entertainment in Launceston’s City Park.

The event runs Friday, January 30 from 4pm-11pm; Saturday, January 31, from 11am-11pm; and Sunday, February 1, from 11am-4pm. Tickets from $29. festivale.com.au

Ocean Alley, The Veronicas and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will headline Party in the Paddock, a four-day music/camping festival at Quercus Park in the state’s North from February 5-8. Single day passes from $125.50, or a four-day camping and festival pass is $479.80. partyinthepaddockfestival.com.au

Australian country music legend James Blundell has taken out the #1 ARIA Australian Country Album with his new release Patience Wins, and he’ll perform at Craigie Knowe Vineyard on Tasmania’s East Coast, on December 13 ($50 adults, $35 teens, free for kids 12 and under). craigieknowe.com.au

The Festival of King Island music festival runs from February 13-14 (foki.com.au) and the Tamar Valley Folk Festival will be held from January 16-18. tamarvalleyfolkfestival.com.

Celebrate Tasmania’s garlic harvest at Koonya Garlic Festival on the Tasman Peninsula on February 28, with food, drinks, live music and talks by chefs and gardening gurus.

Or take a step back in time and visit the historic village of Evandale for The Evandale Village Fair & National Penny Farthing Championships on February 21, 10am-4pm.

DINING OUT

Summer is the perfect time to visit In The Hanging Garden, which recently welcomed two new food vendors – Cantina de Valle “a Cali-Mex kitchen slinging a vibrant and authentic menu with a focus on local, seasonal produce” and Queen Sheba “bringing the heart of Ethiopian hospitality to the precinct” with “warming spices, slow-cooked stews and injera made for sharing”.

Consider the newly-refurbished Hobart Town Hotel (formerly Tom McHugo’s) for somewhere new to eat, or if beach vibes are more your style check out the newly-refurbished Salty Dog Hotel – the popular beachside pub has been revamped inside and out and has live music on Fridays from 5pm-7pm and Sundays from 3pm-6pm. Add some zing to your coffee date at French-inspired eatery Wunderbar where there will be a Rave Au Lait – Daytime Coffee Rave – on Sunday, December 6, a 9am party with a DJ, croissants, sandwiches, coffee and cocktails. Earlybird tickets are $5, or $10 general admission.

Rooftop bars are a good summer option – try The Deck at Crowne Plaza, a vibrant outdoor space with views of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, for live music on Fridays from 5pm-7pm, happy hour from 4-6pm weekdays and casual meals and summery house cocktails. Or The Telegraph Hotel’s rooftop – where there’s a DJ every Friday and Saturday during summer from 8pm-11pm. Check out The Alabama Hotel’s plant-filled balcony in Hobart’s CBD, which is great for an alfresco summer drink or enjoy a Bottomless Brunch, in the leafy surrounds of Botanica at Salamanca, on Saturdays for $63 per person. Enjoy summer dining with a rural view at the newly-opened Clyde Mill, at Bothwell, or check out the new cafe/restaurant at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens which is expected to open in early 2026.

There’s a Biji Dining pop-up at Swansea’s The Branch restaurant until the end of February (4-8pm Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and lunch from 12.30 on Sundays) while Lost in Asia has a new beer garden, ideal for outdoor dining or a few drinks – there’s a garden launch party with live music on December 7, from noon until 5pm. lostinasia.com.au. Grab a picnic table or throw your rug on the lawn and enjoy some tasty treats from The Agrarian Kitchen kiosk at New Norfolk, with a selection of housemade pastries, cakes, sandwiches, salad and drinks inspired by the best local produce of the season. Open: Fri-Sun, 11am-2pm (closed December 22 – reopening January 3) theagrariankitchen.com

OUTINGS WITH THE POOCH

Saint Hugo’s at Montrose has a delicious brunch menu with an outdoor seating area that welcomes pets and Room for a Pony also has plenty of space for furry friends, as does Brewlab in Derwent Park. Wobbly Boot Vineyard, at Campania, is hosting a Doggy Xmas party on Sunday, December 7 from 11am-4pm – entry is by donation with proceeds to Small Paws Animal Rescue. wobblybootvineyard.com.au

The Art Farm Birchs Bay Sculpture Trail (read more on page 5) is family-friendly and dog friendly. Another good spot for dog walking is the newly-launched Kingborough Art and Sculpture Trail, with a walking trail to explore in Kingston, and a driving route from Taroona to Bruny Island. Pick up a map from Kingborough Community Hub or the Civic Centre or go digital: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/eacdc99a3ae34b22b43d2ed8ad89dda4

WINE

More than 250 wines from Tassie vineyards will be showcased – along with plenty of music and food – at the Tasmanian Wine Festival at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, February 7-8. Tickets from $29. taswinefest.com.au Meanwhile the Southern Open Vineyards Weekend will be held from February 27 - March 1, with vineyards opening doors to guests who embark on a self-guided journey through some of Tassie’s iconic wine regions. openvineyards.wine.

Sam Connew was recently named the 2025 Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Winemaker of the Year and she also recently opened a sleek, architecturally-designed Stargazer tasting room at Tea Tree, in the Coal River Valley, overlooking chardonnay and pinot noir vines at Palisander vineyard. Tickets are: $35 per person, Friday to Monday, at 10am, 12.30pm or 3pm. Bookings are required. stargazerwine.com.au

MARKETS

Street Eats @ Franko will celebrate its 10th birthday this summer, offering food, music and fun at Franklin Square on Friday nights, from December 5 until April 24 (closed December 26 and January 2), 4.30pm-9pm. Hobart Twilight Market will be held at Sandy Bay’s Long Beach (December 5, January 9 and 16, February 6 and 13), 4.30pm-9pm and at Brooke St Pier (December 12 and 19, January 23 and 30, February 20 and 27).

Don’t forget Hobart’s Farm Gate Market (Sunday 8.30am-1pm), Launceston’s Harvest Market (Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm), The Tasmanian Produce Market at Kangaroo Bay (Saturday, 9am-1pm) and Salamanca Market (Saturday 8.30am-3pm).

SPORTING ACTION

The Hobart International brings world-class tennis action to Tasmania from January 12-17 with free and ticketed events at Domain Tennis Centre, with the full line-up to be announced soon. hobartinternational.com.au The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s toughest ocean races and 142 boats will tackle the 628 nautical mile course this year on the event’s 80th birthday. The race begins at 1pm on Boxing Day in Sydney and Hobart’s Constitution Dock is a popular spot to watch boats cross the finish line a couple of days later.

The 187th Royal Hobart Regatta (February 7-9) will provide three days of activity on the River Derwent at Queens Domain. royalhobartregatta.com. There will be more action on the water at Sandy Bay Regatta, on January 24, from 8am, sandybayregatta.com.au

Cricket fans can enjoy plenty of Big Bash League matches – the Hobart Hurricanes play five games at Bellerive’s Ninja Stadium on December 16 and 29 and January 1, 9 and 14 while there are WBBL games on November 29 and December 1. hobarthurricanes.com.au. The Tasmania JackJumpers play at MyState Bank Arena (December 21, 26, 29; January 3, 24; February 1, 6, 18). Last-minute tickets often become available. tasmaniajackjumpers.com.au

Horseracing enthusiasts can enjoy a packed summer carnival with Devonport Cup (January 7), Hobart Cup (February 8) and Launceston Cup (February 25) goracingtasmania.com.au

GO CAMPING

Enjoy a view of wombats from your tent while camping on scenic Maria Island. Enjoy unsurpassed water views during a stay at Binalong Bay’s Swimcart Beach . Or for a wilderness escape, visit River’s Edge in the Huon Valley.

If glamping is more your style, book a bell tent at Bay of Fires Bush Retreat at Binalong Bay or Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna. Or opt for an Aurora Dome at Little Beach Co at Chain of Lagoons. Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service has an online camping guide: parks.tas.gov.au/where-to-stay. Or find inspiration at Camping Tasmania on Facebook.

FISH AND CHIPS

Take yourself for a summer drive and pick up fresh fish and chips along the way. Hotspots include Beach Bums, at Dodges Ferry, Dunalley Bay Distillery, Doo-lishus at Eaglehawk Neck Blowhole, The Fish Van at Triabunna, The Lobster Shack or Tasmanian Coastal Seafoods at Bicheno, and Hursey Seafoods at Stanley. Closer to Hobart there’s Mures, Fish Frenzy, the fish punts and Kraken in North Hobart.

SUMMER WHEELS

Summer is the perfect time for thrillseekers to hit Tassie’s world-class mountain bike trails, with St Helens, Blue Tier, George Town, Wild Mersey, the Derwent Valley and Penguin’s Dial Range among the hotspots. Some of the world’s best mountainbikers will be drawn to the state from February 7-8, as the Red Bull Hardline is held at Maydena Bike Park. redbull.com

If engines are more your style, check out Spoke Motorcyle Festival at Little Swanport, from February 27-March 1. spokemcfestival.com.au

ON SCREEN

Avatar: Fire and Ash, Anaconda, Pets on a Train, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants and Zootopia 2 are among the summer blockbusters coming to cinemas in December and January.

Wicked: For Good, Predator: Badlands and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will also attract plenty of summer viewers.

SUMMER READS

Summer is the perfect time to relax with a good book, and there are plenty of worthy titles – written by Tasmanians or set in Tasmania – to add to your reading pile. Bestsellers at Hobart Bookshop and Fullers Bookshop include A Great Act of Love, by Heather Rose; The Good Losers, by Meg Bignell; The Heir Apparent, by Rebecca Armitage; The Whisky Widow, by Karen Brooks; A Catalogue of Love, by Erin Hortle; The Soldier’s Daughter, by Fiona McIntosh; A Disappearing Act, by Jo Dixon; and Bob Brown’s Defiance: Stories from Nature and its Defenders. Romance author Alissa Callen is set to release her first book in a new Tassie series, Lavender Hill, in January, while Trish Hodge’s new book – Palawa tunapri: Knowledge of our ancestors – documents traditional uses of more than 350 native Tasmanian plants and will be a unique addition to any book collection.

Makers – Lutruwita/Tasmania by Ivett Dodd, is a photographic journey inside the studios of Tasmanian artisans. A new picture book – The Bird Lover’s Ball by Ann Morgan and Lois Bury – will be a hit with kids. Meanwhile Libraries Tasmania is running The Big Summer Read – a free, fun reading club for under 18s, with plenty of prizes. Register at libraries.tas.gov.au/BigSummerRead

NEW PARKS

Let the kids expel energy at some of Hobart’s newest playgrounds.

Check out the newly-opened Saunders Crescent Playground, in South Hobart, or revamped Silverwater Park at Woodbridge and Mount Royal Park at Kingston Beach. And don’t forget Hobart’s newest super slide – at Parliament St Reserve in Sandy Bay.

ICE CREAM

Nothing says summer like ice cream. Zen gelato is a Tasmanian artisan ice cream business, operating from a cute sunshine-yellow ice cream van. Taste their ever-changing menu of flavours – inspired by local, seasonal produce –on Fridays, at Hobart Twilight Market. If soft serve is more your style, keep an eye out for ice cream vans that frequent popular parks and playgrounds including Montrose Bay Foreshore, Moonah’s Benjafield Park, Callington Park Playground, at Oatlands, and Mersey Bluff, at Devonport.

Berties on Albert in Moonah has extended trading hours over summer, serving your favourite Valhalla flavours. There are also plenty of fruity flavours at Van Diemens Land Creamery punt at Constitution Dock (they also have a shop at Elizabeth Town in the state’s North West), with happy hour specials on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4pm-6pm. Or, for something different, try goat milk ice-cream and feed the friendly goats at Touchwood Goat Farm in the Huon Valley. The farm shop opens every Sunday from 10am. touchwoodfarm.com

BEST WAYS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR

Fireworks displays are at 9.30pm and midnight. Watch from afar (Mt Nelson Lookout, Rosny Hill Lookout, Nutgrove Beach, Blinking Billy Point, Kangaroo Bay, Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart Regatta Grounds or Princes Park) or get to the heart of the action with dinner/drinks on Hobart’s Waterfront.

Book a table at waterfront pubs and restaurants including Franklin Wharf, Customs House Hotel, The Den, The Stock Market, The Telegraph Hotel, Post Street Social or revamped Billy’s Burgers (which reopened earlier this week) or splash out on an all-inclusive event at Peppina for $350 per person, with a menu inspired by local producers and a four-hour drinks package. At Restaurant Maria, early diners can enjoy a five-course set menu and matched wines and watch the 9.30pm fireworks, while an afterparty kicks off at 10pm with cocktails, late-night snacks, a DJ and a great view of the midnight fireworks.

Dance your way into 2026 at In The Hanging Garden with music from local DJs from 5pm. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door.

Dress for a Hollywood-themed celebration at Wrest Point, where there will be live music and themed cocktails. Or opt for a fine dining experience and beverage package at The Point Revolving Restaurant, 17 floors above the River Derwent. $360 per person.

For something less formal, check out Street Eats @ Franko’s New Year’s Eve night market at Franklin Square, from 4pm-11pm.

Tesoro Italian Restaurant, in the Movenpick Hotel, has extended opening hours for New Year’s Eve, while Crowne Plaza’s Aura has an all-inclusive night of dancing, food, drinks and city skyline views for $249. •