Australia’s hidden gem

By Tricia Welsh

Australia’s smallest state of Tasmania has plenty to offer mainlanders when it comes to weddings.

Tasmania is a class act for honeymoon luxury. From craggy snow-capped mountains to peaceful seaside escapes, from remote pristine World Heritage wilderness to charming colonial-era precincts, this island state has wide appeal and is one the most perfect honeymoon destinations rolled into one.

Noted for its clean, green, pristine environment, you can almost smell, feel and see the difference from the mainland on arrival. The place seems to sparkle. And with a population of less than half a million, traffic is almost non-existent, people are polite and everything happens at a much slower pace.

Hobart
The natural heart of the state is its capital, Hobart has been voted in the top 100 of the world’s best cities by Lonely Planet staff and travelers. This ensures that a honeymoon vacation to Tasmania is a romantic delight.

Settled in 1804 on the banks of the expansive Derwent River, it is Australia’s second-oldest city after Sydney and today enjoys a cosmopolitan lifestyle that celebrates its colourful colonial past.

With a heritage built on convicts, wealthy merchants, colonists, whalers and seafarers, early colonial life in Hobart centred around the Sullivans Cove precinct.

Today, its lovely Georgian sandstone warehouses have been restored and transformed into spacious artists’ studios, galleries, boutiques, bars, cafes and restaurants, with visitors and locals flocking there on Saturday mornings for the pedestrian-only Salamanca Market.

The historic area abounds with quaint cottages and atmospheric B&Bs, and in recent years has welcomed the opening of some very stylish accommodation.

Tasmanian restaurants have always enjoyed a good reputation, primarily because of the excellent fresh local produce available. Its local premium-quality wines, tasty farmhouse cheeses and exceptional cool-water seafood are recognised around the world.

Launceston
In the state’s north, Launceston is Tasmania’s second-largest city and in recent years has taken on a life of its own. Set on the banks of the Tamar River, the thriving city enjoys a relaxed and casual charm with a full range of accommodation from modern luxury B&Bs to colonial and self-contained apartments.

Launceston also boasts some of the best dining experiences in Tasmania, such as the spectacularly sited Stillwater River Cafe, housed in a renovated 1833 flour mill on the banks of the tranquil Tamar River, serving innovative modern Australian cuisine. This cafe and the multi-award-winning Fee and Me, in a gracious Georgian house overlooking Princes Park, are both magic wedding venues.

 

 

Looking for the perfect honeymoon package? Find it on the Bride Directory. 
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