Wine, Gin & Whisky Tour – Hobart & SE Tasmania

Tasmania’s best drinks are made in small places, and this tour links several of them in one tidy day. You’ll move from a family vineyard in the Derwent Valley to gin, whisky, wine, and cheese, with a guide handling the driving while you focus on tasting.

I like the small group limit of six, which should make the day more personal than a large coach outing. I also like the mix of drinks and food, especially the cheese platter at Derwent Estate and the tasting at Wicked Cheese.

The main thing to watch is the pace. Seven hours covers several venues, so this is a sampling day rather than a slow afternoon at one winery. Lunch is also not included in the tour price, so allow about $20 extra.

Key points at a glance

• Hotel pickup within 5km of Hobart CBD: Start around 9:30am and return around 4:30pm without arranging your own designated driver.
• Five Tasmanian stops: Visit Derwent Estate, 7K Distillery, Old Kempton Distillery, Pooley Wines, and Wicked Cheese, though the order can change.
• Wine, gin, whisky, and cheese tastings included: The fee covers the listed tastings and the Old Kempton distillery tour.
• Old Kempton is the day’s main stop: You’ll combine whisky tasting, a distillery tour, and a lunch break there.
• A maximum of six people: This suits you if you prefer a smaller outing and a guide who can keep an eye on individual needs.
• Lunch costs extra: A lunch stop is provided, but the meal itself is not included and costs about $20.

Why this Hobart day trip works

This is a useful choice if you want to sample several parts of Tasmania’s drinks scene without renting a car. The route takes you beyond Hobart into the Derwent Valley and Coal River Valley, two areas tied to the island’s wine and distilling trade.

You are not simply stopping at one cellar door, tasting a few pours, and heading back. The day gives you a broad introduction: wine first, then gin, whisky, more wine, and cheese. That variety keeps the outing lively, though anyone hoping for a long, unhurried winery visit should set expectations accordingly.

The tour runs for about seven hours, beginning at roughly 9:30am and finishing around 4:30pm. Pickup and drop-off are offered at hotels or accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD. If you are staying farther out, you will need to make your own way to the pickup area.

Guide Ross is named as the host for the experience. His role matters here because tasting days work best when someone keeps the schedule moving while still making you feel looked after. He arranges the stops ahead of time and pays attention to comfort, which is especially useful when the day includes several venues and a fair amount of road time.

Derwent Estate begins the wine story

The opening stop is Derwent Estate, a local family-owned vineyard in the Derwent Valley. You spend about an hour here with a wine tasting and cheese platter, a sensible first course before the spirits arrive later in the day.

A family vineyard gives the day a more local starting point than a generic tasting room. You get an introduction to the wines of the area while seeing how the tour connects drinks with food. The cheese platter also gives you something to eat early, though it should not be confused with the full lunch later at Old Kempton.

The one-hour visit is long enough for an introduction, but not necessarily enough for a leisurely winery afternoon. I would treat it as a welcome to the region rather than the main wine event. If you care most about wine, Pooley Wines later in the day gives you another chance to ask questions and compare styles.

The Derwent Valley setting adds to the appeal. You will be leaving central Hobart and seeing a different part of southeastern Tasmania, but the tour data does not promise a formal vineyard walk or a particular number of tastings. The focus is the tasting itself.

7K Distillery brings gin into the mix

At 7K Distillery, the emphasis shifts to gin. You spend about an hour tasting spirits from the region, giving the day a clear change of rhythm after the vineyard.

This stop is valuable for anyone who wants more than a wine-only outing. Gin often shows its character through aroma and botanicals, and a tasting gives you a chance to compare styles in a guided setting. The tour includes the gin tasting, so there is no separate tasting fee to add here.

The listing does not specify a full production tour at 7K, so I would not book this expecting a behind-the-scenes look at every stage of distilling. Think of it as the gin stop in a larger drinks program. The hour should give you time to taste and get an introduction without turning the day into a technical spirits course.

Because the tour includes wine, gin, and whisky, you may want to pace yourself. The format is built around tasting several products across the day, not drinking full serves at every stop. Bottled water is provided in the air-conditioned vehicle, which is a small but useful detail on a full tasting day.

Old Kempton combines whisky, history, and lunch

Old Kempton Distillery is the longest stop, at about two hours. Here you get a whisky tasting, a distillery tour, and the lunch break. This is the central stop for anyone booking the tour mainly for Tasmanian whisky.

The tour gives you more than a pour at the counter. A distillery visit helps explain where the whisky fits into the region’s drinks culture, and the tasting lets you sample the finished product. The supplied details do not specify the length or format of the tour, so the exact presentation may vary.

Lunch is included in the schedule but not in the price. The estimated cost is about $20, and you should budget for that separately. Having the meal at the distillery keeps the day moving and saves you from finding your own restaurant between stops.

There is a practical trade-off here. Two hours sounds generous, but it has to cover the tour, tasting, and lunch. If you want a long meal or an extended whisky session, the schedule may feel compact. If you prefer a well-organized day with several stops, this arrangement makes sense.

The tasting sequence also means you should think about breakfast. The tour starts midmorning, and the first stop includes cheese, but lunch comes later. A proper breakfast before pickup is a wise move, especially if you are not used to tasting spirits.

A stop at Australia’s oldest bridge

The route includes a stop at Australia’s old bridge before or around the Coal River Valley section. The supplied information does not give the bridge’s name or a separate visit length, so you should see this as a brief sightseeing addition rather than a full heritage tour.

It is a nice change from tasting rooms. After wine and whisky, a short stop outdoors can break up the day and give you a look at one of the area’s older built landmarks. The exact timing depends on the route for that day.

The wording suggests the bridge stop is part of the wider transfer between venues, not a major standalone attraction. I would enjoy it as a bonus and avoid planning your day around a long visit there.

Pooley Wines adds a second wine region

Pooley Wines is the second winery on the route, located in the Coal River Valley. The visit lasts about 45 minutes and includes wine tasting, along with an introduction to local grape varieties and the area’s past.

This stop gives the tour useful contrast. You can compare the wines and setting of the Coal River Valley with the earlier Derwent Valley visit, although the tour does not promise a formal side-by-side tasting. For a visitor with limited time in Hobart, two wine stops are a practical way to get a broader sense of Tasmanian production.

Forty-five minutes is a fairly short visit. You will likely have time to taste and listen, but not to linger for a long meal or an extensive walk through the property. The exact winery order can change based on availability, weather, and other conditions.

That flexibility is worth noting. A particular venue may be replaced by a similar one if the original stop cannot operate that day. If visiting one named winery is essential to you, this tour gives you less certainty than a direct booking with that winery.

Wicked Cheese finishes with something to eat

The final listed stop is Wicked Cheese, where you spend about 30 minutes tasting cheese. This is a smart ending to a day built around drinks because it brings the focus back to food and gives you another chance to reset your palate.

The tasting is included. It follows the cheese platter at Derwent Estate, but the two stops serve different purposes: one pairs cheese with the opening wine tasting, while Wicked Cheese makes cheese the main event.

Half an hour will not allow for a long visit, but it should be enough for a focused tasting. The tour information does not state whether purchases are included, so treat any takeaway products as an additional expense.

Price, group size, and what you receive

The listed price is $251.04 per person. That is not a budget outing, but the value depends on how you would otherwise reach the venues. The fee covers hotel pickup and drop-off within the stated Hobart area, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, wine tastings, gin tasting, whisky tasting, cheese tasting, and the distillery tour.

You also avoid the problem of drinking and driving. That matters more here than on a single winery visit because the day includes several alcohol producers spread across two regional areas.

The maximum group size is six. A small vehicle can make the transfers easier and gives you a better chance to speak with Ross than you would have on a large bus. It also means the social side of the day may depend on the other people booked for your date.

Lunch is the clear extra cost. Set aside about $20, and allow more if you choose something beyond the estimated meal. Any purchases at the wineries, distilleries, or cheese producer would also be separate unless specifically stated otherwise.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants to run. If that minimum is not reached and the outing is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a broad Tasmanian drinks sampler in one day. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want to see beyond Hobart but do not want to plan a route through several producers.

It also suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who like small groups. The six-person limit keeps the format more intimate, while the air-conditioned vehicle removes the need for a designated driver.

Wine fans will appreciate the two winery visits, but this is not a wine specialist tour. Gin and whisky receive equal billing, and cheese plays an important supporting role. If you only want wine, choose a dedicated vineyard day instead.

The tour may be less suitable if you dislike changing venues or prefer to spend several hours at one property. The schedule is intentionally varied, and venue order can change. It is also not a good fit if you need lunch included in the upfront price.

Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, though the advertised pickup applies to accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD.

How to prepare for a better tasting day

Start with breakfast. The first food is a cheese platter, but lunch arrives later, and the schedule includes several tastings.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. The tour involves getting in and out of the vehicle at multiple stops, and the day may include outdoor time at the bridge or vineyard. The supplied information does not specify a dress code.

Keep your plans flexible. The order of the stops depends on venue availability, weather, and other conditions. A venue may also be replaced by a similar one. This is normal for a regional day tour, but it matters if you are booking because of one particular producer.

Bring room in your luggage for possible purchases. Tastings are included, but the price does not cover bottles, cheese, or other products you may decide to buy.

Finally, remember that the tour is a tasting experience, not a full meal tour. Lunch costs extra, and the estimated amount is about $20. Bottled water is supplied, which helps, but a good breakfast remains the best preparation.

Should you book the Wine, Gin and Whisky Tour?

Book it if you want an easy, small-group introduction to Hobart’s surrounding wine and spirits regions. The mix is the main strength: Derwent Estate, 7K Distillery, Old Kempton, Pooley Wines, and Wicked Cheese give you a varied day without the work of arranging transport.

The tour is also a good value for you if you would otherwise pay for a private driver or rent a car and limit your tastings. The main compromises are the extra lunch cost, the compact timing, and the possibility that the order or venues may change.

If Ross’s attentive, organized guiding style and a maximum of six people appeal to you, this is a well-shaped day for a first taste of southeastern Tasmania. If you want a slow, in-depth visit at one winery or distillery, choose a more focused experience.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from your hotel or accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD. The start time is approximately 9:30am.

When does the tour finish?

Drop-off is approximately 4:30pm at accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD. The total duration is about seven hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of six travelers.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. A lunch stop is included at Old Kempton Distillery, but lunch costs extra. The estimated cost is about $20.

Which tastings are included?

The price includes wine tastings, gin tasting, whisky tasting, and cheese tasting. It also includes the Old Kempton distillery tour.

Which places are visited?

The planned stops are Derwent Estate, 7K Distillery, Old Kempton Distillery, Pooley Wines, and Wicked Cheese. The order may change, and a venue may be replaced by a similar one.

Is transport provided?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and pickup and drop-off within 5km of Hobart CBD are included.

Can service animals join the tour?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.