Why you’ll love it
The Great Eastern Drive takes you along the path of the East Coast Wine Trail, and straight to some of the best cellar doors in Tasmania. This is one of the state’s premier wine-growing regions, known for its fine cool climate varieties. Cellar doors along the coast offer tastings and wine sales, and East Coast restaurants showcase the finest vintages, as well as handcrafted beers, whiskys, gins and ciders, from all over the island.
Meet winemakers and brewers and sample fine wines, beer and stout accompanied by tasting plates of Tasmanian cheeses and other luscious morsels, all while soaking up incredible east coast views.
Where you’ll find it
At a cellar door
You’ll find cellar doors at Darlington Vineyard at Orford, Devils Corner at Apslawn and Freycinet Vineyard where you can also sample Freycinet Extra Virgin Olive Oil, made from olives grown on the adjoining grove. At Cranbrook you’ll find family owned Gala Estate—originally one of the east coast’s earliest farms and Craigie Knowe Vineyard, the oldest vineyard on the east coast. Also at Cranbrook is family-owned Milton Vineyard, once a 19th century wool farm, and the heritage cellar door at Spring Vale Wines. Priory Ridge Wines, located in the small settlement of Priory Ridge, three kilometres from St Helens, is a boutique vineyard specialising in pinot noir and sauvignon blanc wines.
Just outside of Bicheno is Overtime Vineyard, a small boutique vineyard producing fine red wine.
At some east coast cellar doors, tasting plates of the region’s delicious produce can be enjoyed alongside the winery’s best vintages. You can savour fresh Tasmanian seafood, matched with the vineyard’s award-winning wines, at Spring Vale Wines’ you will find Mel’s Kitchen, located among the vines on the estate.
Visit Milton Vineyard for delectable dishes, savoured on the vineyard deck that overlooks the vines or enjoy a tasting platter of luscious Tasmanian cheese and chocolates to match fine local wine at Craigie Knowe Vineyard.
Check with individual vineyards for cellar door opening times prior to your visit.
Premium wines by other east coast winemakers and vineyards are also widely available at restaurants and wine sellers, including wines produced by Kelvedon Estate at Swansea and McLean Bay Wines in Bicheno.
If Whisky and Gin is your thing, then you’ll love visiting the Spring Bay Distillery. Distillery tours can range from 1 to 20 people at a time, call Cam on 0417 351 663 to make an appointment.
In a micro brewery: If handcrafted beer is more to your taste (or, perhaps, also to your taste), visit the BrewHaus café and bar at White Sands Estate, Four Mile Creek, (between Bicheno and St Helens), to taste the premium beers, stouts, wine, vodka and whisky brewed onsite at the Ironhouse Brewery using premium ingredients and water sourced from the property’s own spring.
In a restaurant
East coast restaurants compliment the fresh ingredients of the region with select vintages, beers and ciders from award-winning winemakers and brewers across Tasmania. Sampling a fine east coast pinot, sparkling or handcrafted beer alongside a meal prepared from the freshest east coast produce is a sensory experience you just shouldn’t miss. Check our Dining Experiences to find out more.
At a festival
Many east coast winemakers showcase their finest creations at food and wine festivals across the country. The Bicheno Food and Wine Festival is an annual celebration of the east coast’s passionate and talented producers, fresh produce and culture. Held each November on the Bicheno waterfront, the festival showcases Tasmanian and east coast producers, chefs, wine and beer makers and other gourmet innovators with a day of tastings, demonstrations and cooking classes, food stalls and pop-up cafes. Think of it as the best all-day lunch of your life… ECHO Festival responds to the rural, Indigenous, colonial and French heritage of regional East Coast Tasmania.
Known for its striking beaches, food and wine, and breathtaking views, East Coast Tasmania is more than that… it is a place of stories, encounters and treasures.
At the Farm Shed
The Farm Shed in Bicheno is a dedicated wine centre, your one stop shop for all of the regions wines with Tasmanian Whisky and Gin tasting to boot. If your staying in Bicheno, this is especially good news as most accommodation is within safe walking distance!
Travel times and driving distances
To help plan your visit, you can check our travel times and driving distances.
