by Tony Huffman, Founder & Chairman

My wife and I visited Australia in late April (think our October), with iconic stops like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef), and Tasmania. The natural, unspoiled beauty of Tasmania is reminiscent of the South Island of New Zealand and so are the extremely friendly and unassuming locals. The wines here are some of the best in Australia, too.

Our first stop was the capital of Tasmania, Hobart, home to the internationally acclaimed MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) which can be accessed by a short sail from the Hobart waterfront. Time your visit wisely so you can enjoy lunch or dinner at the incredible Faro Restaurant — reservation needed. We chose the MACq 01 Hotel for its central location in Hobart, within walking distance of many restaurants and bars. Not only is MACq 01 a perfect example of Tasmania’s inventive architecture, but the hotel also offers great service, a wonderful restaurant, and very comfortable rooms.

Hobart is a two-and-a-half hour drive from the Saffire Freycinet lodge, located along the northeastern coastline. The main building at the lodge is also architecturally spectacular, with panoramic glass windows overlooking tree-covered hills and the sea. Among the most fascinating experiences at Saffire Freycinet, we’ll treasure our memories of our private nature walk with Mick, a local Aboriginal naturalist deeply in love with his country, as well as our visit to a nearby oyster farm. At the farm, we donned full waders and walked to a table situated offshore to begin shucking oysters, an experience complimented by chilled champagne.

Even if your time “down under” is limited, don’t overlook Tasmania. Our three days in Tasmania were by far our favorite part of this five-week Australian adventure.