These events celebrate everything from our artistic talents and community spirit to our fresh produce, pristine wilderness, and even our Antarctic links.

But while many Tasmanians embrace a winter calendar bursting with commitments, winter also offers some cosy respite for those seeking a more low-key existence – the chilly winter months are the perfect time to grab a good book, brew a pot of tea and curl up under a blanket by a roaring fire for some downtime. So regardless of whether you want to traipse through Tasmania’s wilderness in your thermals and hiking boots, take up ocean swimming, enjoy a winter beer at one of the state’s craft breweries, or stay tucked up at home in your Ugg boots, here’s our mega list of things to do in Tasmania this winter.

FESTIVAL OF VOICES

Celebrate the power of song this winter as the ­Festival of Voices returns to Hobart from July 1 to 10. What began 17 years ago as a ­modest three-day event now spans 10 days and attracts 30,000 people, showcasing local, national and international artists in a series of free and ticketed performances, workshops and community events. Lior, Marcia Hines, Monica Trapaga, Tim Wayne-Wright, Jed Appleton, Reuben Kaye and Michael Waugh are among this year’s drawcards, while the major highlight for many is the Big Sing bonfire night at Salamanca on Saturday July 2. Can’t make it to Hobart? No problem – some events can be live-streamed. Tickets from festivalofvoices.com

FARMERS’ MARKETS

Winter is a great time to visit Hobart’s Farm Gate ­Market or Launceston’s Harvest Market and enjoy the best of Tasmania’s cool-climate produce. Winter offerings include hearty vegies like potatoes, parsnips, artichokes, winter greens including mizuna, kale and rainbow chard, and an abundance of apple varieties. Local meat and seafood (including oysters and scallops) can be found in abundance during winter, perfect for making slow-cooked stews, casseroles, curries and pies. Farm Gate Market (farmgatemarket.com.au) runs every Sunday ­in Bathurst St from 8.30am-1pm. Harvest Market (harvestmarket.org.au) is held every Saturday from 8.30am-­12.30pm in Cimitiere St, Launceston.

WINTER BREWS

A cold beer goes down a treat ­in summer, but what about in the colder months? Winter is still a great time to crack open a can at home or enjoy a pint at your local pub. But steer away from the light, crisp, refreshing ales of summer, and opt for a winter brew that is darker, richer and more flavoursome. Fox Friday Brewery (105 Murray St, Hobart) is serving what is hailed as “the ideal Sunday fireside drinking buddy” – the Lazy Days Hazy Pale, in a can or on tap. Meanwhile, at Hobart Brewing Co (16 Evans St, Hobart) the winter offering is Tascadian, a melting pot of decadent roasted malt and resinous hops, providing warming flavours of dark chocolate and caramel. And Shambles Brewery (222 Elizabeth St, Hobart) is serving Scream and Stout – a raspberry and dark chocolate stout – as well as Wet Coast, an IPA which brings together pineapple, stone fruit and berry notes with dank, oily hops in a blend of “new world meets old”.

CHOCOLATE WINTERFEST

It’s the ultimate comfort food – decadent, delicious chocolate. And the wickedly delicious festival that celebrates all-things chocolate – Chocolate Winterfest (chocolatewinterfest.com.au) – returns to Latrobe this winter from August 11-14 after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The format has changed – there’s still a main day of chocolate celebrations on Sunday August 14, preceded by three days of bookable events. The full program will be released on World Chocolate Day (July 7) but chocolate bingo, chocolate high tea, chocolate henna body art, chocolate massage therapy and a chocolate mousse-eating competition have been among the highlights in previous years.

GET FIT

Drag your butt off the couch and get fit this winter while also enjoying the great outdoors. Free fitness classes run on weekdays at noon in Hobart’s leafy St David’s Park as part of the Live Life Get Active program (livelifegetactive.com/hobart). Choose from cross training, boxing or yoga. Register online and book in for as many free sessions as you like. Free group fitness sessions are also being held at Bellerive Beach Park (Friday 9.30am) and Lindisfarne’s Simmons Park (Tuesdays 9.30am) during winter as part of Fitness in the Park. Bookings aren’t ­required – just turn up. For more details, phone Clarence City Council on 6217 9500 or visit liveclarence.com.au

DINE IN AN IGLOO

Get some friends together and dine in a transparent, waterproof igloo under the stars, styled with cosy furnishings and table decor, fairy lights and a heater, on the lawn at the Shoreline Hotel. Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Find out more by visiting Teeny Tiny Teepees on Facebook.

HUON VALLEY MID-WINTER FESTIVAL

This lively festival of feasting, cider, music, fire and folklore runs from July 15-17 at Grove and is guaranteed to brighten even the darkest of winter days. ­Celebrate the Huon Valley’s apple-picking history and join in the age-old tradition of wassailing, which is basically scaring nasties out of the orchard’s cider trees to ensure a bumper autumn crop. Hear tales from Tassie’s best storytellers, warm yourself beside towering bonfires and take the opportunity to dress in your best pagan-inspired outfit. huonvalleymidwinterfest.com.au

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The popularity of mountain biking has soared and winter is the perfect time to get your heart pumping with downhill adrenaline. Derby in Tasmania’s North East is home to more than 125km of trails and you can wind down after a hard day at the wood-fired Floating Sauna, embracing the heat before taking an invigorating plunge in the lake. In the Derwent Valley, Maydena Bike Park offers world-class trails for all ­experience levels, along with Wild Mersey near Latrobe, Launceston’s Hollybank Mountain Bike Park and Penguin Mountain Bike Park/Dial Range. Other popular trails can be found in the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, at Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park and Clarence Mountain Bike Park (Meehan Range). For more ideas visit discovertasmania.com.au

DARK MOFO AND WINTER FEAST

It’s hard to remember what Hobart’s longest nights were like before this popular annual winter festival came to town in 2013 and turned the city red. There’s still time to enjoy the final days of Dark Mofo (darkmofo.net.au) with free and ticketed events until June 22 – festival staples include Winter Feast at Princes Wharf 1 (nightly until June 19, 4-11pm), the Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach (June 22), artist Ryoji Ikeda’s tower of light installation, Spectra (at Mona until June 19), Hiromi Tango’s Rainbow Dream (until June 20) and The Burning of the Ogoh Ogoh procession (June 19, from 4.30pm) from Parliament House Lawns to the Regatta Grounds.

OPEN FIRES

There’s something special about warming you hands – and soul – in front of a crackling open fire. At The Den, in Salamanca Place, the focus is on celebrating the elements, with the warmth of outdoor fire pits taking the chill off the crisp winter air. Other Salamanca haunts with fireplaces include Jack Greene, Botanica, Customs House Hotel, and The Whaler, where you can drink Willie Smith’s Hot Spiced Cider. Meanwhile, the New Sydney Hotel in Bathurst St has a crackling log fire, along with Shipwright Arms in Battery Point, Fern Tree Tavern and Longley International Hotel which has live music every Sunday.

FASHION

Freshen up your wardrobe with an on-trend coat or blazer, a new pair of winter boots or a bold scarf. Burgundy, crimson, cobalt blue, emerald green and lilac are being tipped as this season’s hottest colours, with Pantone colour forecasters explaining that “it’s all about a world emerging from pandemic lockdowns and embracing the vibrancy of life”. Yes, puffer jackets are a winter staple for many Tasmanians but if trench coats are more your style consider supporting local makers like Smitten Merino or The Spotted Quoll Studio, where owner Tamika Bannister says ethically-made coats and boots are flying off the shelves as customers try to beat the chill. “Obviously winter has hit with a thud, so people are definitely out and about looking for warmth – merino wool coats, trenches, anything where they can keep warm,’’ Bannister says. “Also scarfs, beanies and layers – one of the things we tend to do well in Tassie is layers.’’ Consider supporting local makers when it comes to winter accessories – like a colourful handmade beanie or snood from Kwuirky (facebook.com/kwuirky), a scarf, gloves or a blanket from Lily & Dot, the CWA Shop or stallholders at Salamanca Market.

BECOME A GREEN THUMB

Rug up, don some gumboots and get outside in the garden – winter is a good time to enjoy the lingering colours of autumn while also preparing your ­garden for the bountiful arrival of spring while planting asparagus, artichokes, peas, broad beans and ­spinach. Or turn your attention to gardening indoors – houseplants continue to grow in popularity, with garden centres and hardware stores brimming with plants and pots to suit every space and every budget. “It doesn’t matter where you live in the world, bringing nature into your home is what makes you feel happy,’’ The Spotted Quoll Studio owner Tamika Bannister says. She says indoor plants are a great way to enliven living spaces and create a sense of calm during winter. But she says it’s also important to remember that plants need extra love during winter with a spritz of water from a spray bottle a couple of times a week, particularly in homes where heat pumps or wood heaters are constantly cranking. Also make sure you opt for pet-friendly plants if you have inquisitive cats or dogs.

HOMEWARES

Our home is said to be our castle, so why not freshen up your living spaces this winter to create a warm, cosy sanctuary away from the elements. Dark, jewel tones are on the way out, with the focus now on warm, earthy colours, wooden accents and the greenery of houseplants to connect us with the outdoors. Cosy, breathable fabrics like textural linen, wool and silk are also on-trend. Winter is a perfect time to give your interiors a facelift and simple changes can have big impact – rearrange furniture and artworks, declutter shelves or change lighting to give your existing spaces a new feel. Rainy weekends are perfect for decluttering to create calm. A study by the Australia Institute found 40 per cent of Australians feel anxious, guilty or depressed about clutter at home, while other research suggests mess hinders our brain’s ability to process information.

FLU FIGHTERS

Ward off germs with a 30ml Vampire Slayer lemon, ginger, turmeric and cayenne shot from Pulp Friction juice bar in Hobart’s CBD. You can also grab a tall glass of hot apple cider while you’re there — the ­apples, ginger and dry spices are the perfect winter pick-me-up. Tasmanian Juice Press (tasjuicepress.com) sells a range of cold-pressed juices with immune-boosting properties which can be delivered to your door – like the Reboot (carrot, apple, lemon, ginger turmeric, vitamin C) and Greens (Silverbeet, celery, tuscan cabbage parsley, mint, apple, vitamin C).

VISIT A GALLERY OR MUSEUM

Three new exhibitions are running at Mona (mona.net.au) until October – check out Within an Utterance, by Yawuru artist Robert Andrew exploring heritage and the piecing together of a Tasmanian Aboriginal language (palawa kani), Jeremy Shaw’s fantastical sci-fi/parafiction film installation Phase Shifting Index, and Fiona Hall and AJ King’s installation Exodust – Crying Country which explores environmental destruction. Meanwhile at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery the work of Tasmanian furniture maker, sculptor and artist Gay Hawkes is being showcased in The House of Longing and is complemented through winter by TMAG’s Chair Factory, a pop-up art activation space allowing visitors of all ages to be creative and make items to take home. Winter is also a great time for kids to visit TMAG’s interactive children’s gallery mapiya lumi – entry is free but bookings are required (tmag.tas.gov.au). The winner of the Hadley’s Art Prize – the richest landscape painting prize in Australia – will be announced on July 22, followed by a month-long exhibition at Hadley’s Orient Hotel.

ENJOY A POT OF TEA

Fill your teapot with a warming winter brew. A Moment of Tea (amomentoftea.com.au) – a new tea establishment in Wooby’s Lane at Salamanca – is set to open in coming days, first as a retail outlet and later as a tea bar. Owner Joanne Gao also runs tea-drinking workshops, as a way to educate people about different teas and brewing techniques but also to “share the calm and relaxing moments” that come with tea rituals. Meanwhile The Art of Tea at Kingston (artoftea.com) has a Winter Spice blend which brings together cinnamon, citrus and vanilla flavours in rooibos and black tea which owner ­Samantha Brown says “is sure to put a smile on your face, even on a wintry day”.

AGRICULTURED

Tasmania’s fresh produce and sustainable farming practices will be celebrated in Launceston at agriCULTURED (agricultured.com.au) from August 4-7, a festival which takes food lovers on a journey through Tasmania’s agricultural landscapes and throws a spotlight on why Launceston was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

WALK THE DOG

Dogs don’t care if it’s cold outside – they still love a daily run at their favourite beach or park. Explore some fresh trails this winter with the help of Greater Hobart Trails (greaterhobarttrails.com.au/tracks/walking/dogs/Greater HobartTrails) or Dog Friendly Tasmania ­(facebook.com/dogfriendlytasmania).

WARM UP WITH WHISKY

Tasmanian Whisky Week (taswhiskyweek.com) runs from August 8-14. Highlights include the Spirits Showcase (at Princes Wharf 1) and Meet the Maker (Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania), along with dinners, tastings, whisky auctions and more.

READ SOMETHING TASMANIAN

Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book, and there are plenty of worthy Tasmanian titles to add to your winter reading pile. Fullers Book Shop’s bestsellers list includes comedian Hannah Gadsby’s Ten Steps to Nanette, Hannah Moloney’s The Good Life: How to Grow A Better World, and Rochelle and Wally Dare’s Undiscovered Tasmania: A Local’s Guide to Finding Adventure. Other Tasmanian favourites include The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey, Truganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse by Cassandra Pybus, Spacemaker: How to Unplug, Unwind and Think Clearly in the Digital Age by Daniel Sih, and Undertow by Kim Bambrook. Young adults should check out Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon and Invisibly Grace by Avery McDougall, while younger kids will like Katerina Cruickshanks by Daniel Gray-Barnett and The Mountain That Went For A Walk by Ruth Oettle and Jessica Wright. If podcasts are more your style have a listen to Get Frank by Mitch McPherson to hear the stories of some extraordinary Tasmanians who have overcome adversity.

PLAY IN THE SNOW

Snowfalls transform Tasmania into a winter wonderland. Cradle Mountain, Mt Field, Ben Lomond and Hartz Mountains National Park are just some of the places you can enjoy a dump of snow, provided the forecast is favourable and you’re adequately prepared and suitably dressed. Hobart City Council (hobartcity.com.au) offers information on short walks in light snow conditions – including Springs to the Chalet, Silver Falls, and Sphinx Rock and Junction Cabin – as well as tips for keeping safe.

SWIM IN THE OCEAN

Cold water immersion is said to have many health benefits – enthusiasts say it can improve circulation, deepen sleep, reduce stress and boost energy levels. A growing number of Tasmanians are finding joy in ocean swimming, continuing their habit through the depths of winter. Tassie Cold Water Swimming group on Facebook is a great place to find inspiration or meet swimming buddies – the aim of the group is “to share where we swim, when, why, share pics and tips, anything to encourage each other to keep on going as autumn then winter kicks in’’ with group admins admitting that “Cold water immersion can be a bit of a shock, but wow, is it exhilarating. Afterwards you will feel amazing’’.

There are regular gatherings at many Tasmanian beaches, including Kingston and Sandy Bay.

SEE A MOVIE

Plenty of Hollywood blockbusters are being released for winter, so visit your nearest cinema to see films including Thor: Love and Thunder, Jurassic World: Dominion and action thriller Bullet Train. Kids will enjoy Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Toy Story spin-off Lightyear.

GET ARTY

Unleash your creativity and learn some new skills this winter. If pottery classes interest you, check out Glazed and Confused in Hobart, or head to the Huon Valley and take a ceramics class at Campo de Flori Farm at Glen Huon. If painting is more your style, there are a number of businesses running paint and sip sessions in Hobart or consider signing up for Adult Education (adulteducation.linc.tas.gov.au) and wow your friends with your new-found talents. There are a huge range of classes across the state, including pottery, ­digital imaging, floristry, writing, languages and performing arts. Learn to ­crochet some winter woollies at a Lily and Dot crafternoon (150 Elizabeth St, Hobart). Meanwhile glass lovers will enjoy a gallery tour and glass blowing demonstration at Glass Manifesto (glassmanifesto.com) in Launceston, while visitors to Simon Martin Whips and Leathercraft at Spreyton can craft their own leather memento.

GET INTO SCIENCE

The Beaker Street Festival (beakerstreet.com.au) has grown from a two-night pop-up science bar at TMAG in 2017 to a 10-day statewide event that runs from August 5-14, with the aim of celebrating science and introducing a range of scientific experts and topics to the wider public in a fun and relatable way. Hobart is home to more scientists per capita than any other Australian city and the festival aims to showcase this wealth of local talent. Highlights including a Tassie Science Road Trip led by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Free and ticketed events. Meanwhile the biennial Australian Antarctic Festival (mawsons-huts.org.au/antarctic-festival) runs from August 24-28, celebrating Tasmania’s position as a major Antarctic gateway with a fascinating and mostly-free program including an expo of large equipment like boats, sledges and helicopters used in Antarctica, art installations, an opera, dinner, lectures, tours and a family fun day.

WINTER LIGHT

The Winter Light festival will be held in Hobart from August 11-21, an arts extravaganza created and presented by Salamanca Arts Centre (salarts.org.au) to celebrate winter’s end. The program includes plenty of live music as well as lantern making, yoga and youth theatre. The full program will be launched on June 24. •