The Hobart / Launceston Magazine April 2026

YOUR WINTER PREVIEW: EVENTS ACROSS THE ISLAND HELPING TASSIE FIND ITS WINTER VOICE SHAUN RENNIE

This winter, Crowne Plaza Hobart invites you to experience the season in three unforget table ways - cosy up with a Club Lounge escape and Baileys hot chocolates, step into the magic of Neon Nightfall on a Glow Tour with Dr Lisa Gershwin or indulge in a Luxe Cheese Affair celebrating Tasmania’s finest flavours. Curious? Explore our offers on our website below.

110 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 | Phone: +61 3 6213 4200

Email: crowneplazahobart@ihg .com | Website: crowneplazahobartoffseason.com.au

WELCOME TO THE HOBART/LAUNCESTON MAGAZINE

The April days are shortening and Tasmania is quietly doing what it does best - slowing down and revealing a different kind of beauty. Autumn here is something to savour.

This edition, we’ve partnered with Tourism Tasmania to share some wonderful offers and experiences for you to enjoy this Off Season, launching in May and running until August. Consider this your guide to the cooler months done well. We also spoke to

Shaun Rennie, the new artistic director of the Festival of Voices, ahead of his first winter and festival here.

As always we love to hear from you, so drop us an email at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au and share your thoughts.

All the best,

Steph, James and The Hobart / Launceston Magazine team

Publisher Stephanie Williams editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Advertising advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au 03 6295 3742

Cover image: Festival of Voices artistic director Shaun Rennie. Pic: Renee Thurston.

Inset image: Festival of Voices. Pic: Alastair Bett

This page: Campervan touring, East Coast. Pic: Roady

Publisher Information: While all care has been taken, some information may have changed since publication. The Hobart/Launceston Magazine regrets it can’t accept liabilities from errors or omissions contained in this magazine. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publishers. We welcome any questions, feedback or submissions, email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au, or drop us a line at PO Box 315, South Hobart, TAS, 7004.

The editorial partnership with Tourism Tasmania in this edition is undertaken on a commercial basis.

The Hobart/Launceston Magazine acknowledges the Tasmanian Aboriginal People as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of Lutruwita/Tasmania. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to their Elders past, present and emerging. www.thehobartmagazine.com.au

Enrol Now for Kindergarten 2027 at Mount Carmel College.

Kindergarten at Mount Carmel College provides a warm, inclusive, supportive and play-based environment where children develop confidence, independence and social skills through meaningful and engaging experiences. Our Kinder spaces are carefully designed to be welcoming, safe, and inspiring, helping every child flourish as they take their first steps into schooling.

Features of Our Kindergarten Program

• Play-Based Learning

• Early Literacy & Numeracy Foundations

• Faith Enrichment

• Specialist classes in Music, Physical Education, Dance, Japanese, Library and Nature Play

• Belonging and Participation - active involvement in whole-school events

We invite you to apply for our 2027 Kindergarten intake and begin an exciting learning journey in a caring, community-centred environment.

For enrolment information or to learn more about our Kinder program, please contact our Enrolments Officer at enrol@mountcarmel.tas.edu.au or visit us online.

Applications close: Friday 15 May 2026

To ensure your child is considered for a place, your application must be submitted by the due date. Current families are reminded that they need to submit enrolment applications for siblings by the due date. Existing enrolments of older siblings does not guarantee an automatic enrolment of younger siblings. Our enrolment process is governed by Catholic Education Tasmania. Each sibling application needs to be lodged separately.

JOHN XINTAVELONIS

We’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of or seen this actor and producer’s work in theatres across Tasmania and beyond. Hobart’s John X is set to appear in the Australian premiere of Broadway’s WAITRESS in Melbourne next month.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in Geilston Bay, on the eastern shore of Hobart and now I live in Bellerive.

You're about to star in the Australian premiere of WAITRESS, a Broadway hit, in Melbourne. Tell us about that. WAITRESS is a beautiful show that people will relate to quite strongly. It is soooo well written. It has all the feels in it. The fact it’s the first time this show has been on in Australia, and I’m getting the opportunity to originate my character Cal, is very special. The fortunate opportunity that I find myself in is never lost on me. The cast are exceptional and small, so we will become a very strong and tight ensemble family. Word-of-mouth will travel very well with this show once people see it and tell their friends about it. It's going to be a must see and I look forward to sharing it with a lot of Tasmanians who I already know have booked tickets and are flying over. I look forward to seeing them at the stage door.

You also produce your own shows - how does that style of involvement differ for you? Is it more stressful? Oh yes, great question! Yes it is quite stressful. I find it quite difficult to compartmentalise my performing side to my producing side and sometimes I’ll be doing one while I’m thinking of the other, and vice versa. This is why I have two amazing co-producers in my wife Cassie and my good friend Ben Armitage. I always pick up a lot and learn a lot by doing shows on the mainland and I try to implement some of those techniques, policies and ways of doing things into our local shows that we produce. I try sometimes to not be in the shows, but my creative team makes the point that, because I’m so suited to certain roles and because I am essentially

a professional, it will be detrimental to that show if I wasn’t in a certain role. Saying that makes it sound like I am a bit up myself I guess but, we want the show to be the best it possibly can!

I think my performance, especially in the later weeks before we open, during rehearsals does suffer a bit and I’m always chasing my tail to be ready for opening night because there are so many things going on in my head but it is what it is. I have gotten away with it for quite a while now so…

Where do you feel the Tasmania theatre scene is at right now? The theatre scene is not good. But at the same time it’s not bad. There are two types of theatre in Tasmania. About 98% of it is community or amateur theatre where people don’t get paid, and the rest is professional usually funded theatre by the government. Now funded theatre, where they pay everyone, seems to only be able to afford to run shows for three or four days, whereas the community theatre tends to be for two to three weeks. This means the audience reach in the community shows is 80% bigger than what they get in the small professional shows, which are primarily just plays. Longer seasons allow people who see the show early to tell their friends and create a buzz so that people start booking tickets and coming to see the rest of the season. They have a much bigger audience reach.

I can talk forever on this, and the government does not support the Arts here as it does in other states, especially commercial shows. The funding body refuses to fund commercial shows that bring in big audiences and make venues like the Theatre Royal generate bigger incomes. But at the same time they don’t fund the only two

companies now that are left, to be able to do shows longer and more, and plan for shows in the future. The whole funding system is broken and is causing a lot of division between the different factions in Tasmanian Performing Arts. So when John X Presents does a professional commercial musical like Rocky Horror, we take all the risk, and we are not assisted by the government or anyone else other than a few small sponsors. Huge shout out to GSD - a business consulting and transformation company that sponsors our productions. And that production of Rocky Horror broke every single theatre record in Tasmania that ever existed. Maybe the government need to look at inspiring companies to take a bit more of a risk by offering some support or some kind of guarantee against loss, because no one really has the balls that we do to take a big risk on a big professional show.

What advice would you give someone trying to get involved in theatre at the moment? The only advice I can give is what I did as a young person. Try and do as much as you can without over committing yourself. Get in touch with various companies and ask when they are auditioning for shows, or if you’re backstage offer to help in those areas. We’re always looking for people in those areas. Try and build resilience. You won’t always be right for every show, you need to hang in there. This whole industry is built on dealing with rejection. But eventually you will get into a show and the more shows you do the more people you get to know and the easier it becomes. Never be afraid to ask for advice or help from people in the industry. We were once like you and

we love to help you join us in the only job where thousands of people clap and cheer at the end of your day. You don’t get that working for the Commonwealth Bank.

Who do you admire? I really admire first responders. Police, ambulance, doctors, nurses, people who spend their entire lives helping other people who are in trouble or can’t help themselves for one reason or another. People who work in aged care for example I think they are amazing, they are my heroes.

Favourite podcast or tv show? Don’t really listen to podcasts, yet. I’m a bit of a late developer in that area. But a lot of my friends do and they’re probably gonna eventually get me into it. When I get a chance, I like to watch shows like Landman, Tulsa King, and my guilty pleasure are shows about sport and AFL, and of course I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching sport.

Secret vice? I love pizza. I would eat it every day for every meal. It’s my favourite, so I have to pace myself.

What are you reading now? I’m reading the a script of the latest show I’m doing on the mainland, WAITRESS. But on the side, and once I learn my WAITRESS

lines, I am in the middle of Bruny by Heather Rose and The Boys Club By Michael Warner.

What was your first job? My first job was working in my dad’s shop from about the age of five, and then when I was 17 or 18, I borrowed some money from my dad and opened up a video shop so I could have some kind of regular income while I practiced trying to be an actor. I did my first professional show at the end of 1994 at the age of 24.

What are your daily news/social media habits? Oh dear, I’m sorry to admit that I get up in the morning and check all my social media, and reply to people and react to comments on my posts. I get online and check the Mercury newspaper and I turn on the Sunrise show. And in the evening when I get home from the theatre I usually watch the late night news services on all the free to air channels and of course check my social media again. Which embarrassingly I also do during the day.

Your favourite place for… Breakfast: Bear with Me (when I can actually get there)

Lunch: Parthenon Souvlaki in Derwent Park

Dinner: Shoreline Hotel

Carer Gateway’s Tasmanian team provided free support and helped us access services.

Dream holiday destination? New York and Greece, I have relatives there.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? It would have to be the wilderness and regional Tasmania. I’m always surprised how many people have never been to visit their own state. And once you do you realise how special it is and how much a secret it is the rest of the world and other Tasmanians.

Parting words? People often ask me why I never left to live in a big city on the mainland. And one of the reasons is I established a life here before my professional career in musical theatre took off, so I was already embedded in my hometown and my home state. I love this state so much. Of course, now that I’ve had children with my wife Cassie, it’s all about them and I don’t think there’s a better place for kids to grow up in than Tasmania. That’s why I’m so passionate about growing the state and creating opportunities in the future for our kids to be able to stay here and have lives and careers doing whatever they want.

WAITRESS opens at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in 1 May. Tickets at www.waitressthemusical.com.au.

Grace is a carer for her mum Rita, who has dementia.

With Carer Gateway’s support, Grace was able to access free coaching and counselling and connect with other carers through her local Peer Support Group.

Care2Serve is the local Tassie team connecting Tasmanian carers to Carer Gateway.

If you are a carer and would like help too, contact us.

Support is free, inclusive and confidential.

Grace - Carer Call 1800 422 737 (press 1) or visit carergateway.gov.au

LINDA SPOWART

As Hobart art supplies shop Artery celebrates their 50th birthday this month, part-owner Linda lives a life surrounded by, and practicing, art.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in Perth Western Australia and in a very roundabout way ended up in Hobart about 30 years ago. It took a while to settle in but I love it now and wouldn’t want to live permanently anywhere else.

Artery is celebrating 50 years this month. What does that milestone mean to you? Wow, I’ve just realised I have been with Artery for over half of those years! In this day and age any independent business that has lasted this long has to have put down deep roots within the community. Business can’t really thrive without community and without having a true sense of what community means.

How has the shop changed in that time? In some ways not at all, I think the layout is still pretty similar to what it was when I started; in others ways a lot. The shop is much quirkier than it used to be, we certainly source some very interesting items from all over the world. I love that we’re an independent store - we can pick and choose the products we stock and be the shop we want to be.

What trends are you seeing in store and in the art world at the moment? Handmade products definitely, especially what used to be considered handicraftsembroidery, ceramics etc. I like that not

everything has to be perfect these days, that we embrace the imperfect; that sense of wabisabi that pushes back against the current digital polish.

Who are the most notable artists you've had in store to buy supplies? We have had a lot of Tassie greats as regulars over the years. In my time Max Angus, Patricia Giles, Tom Samek, Geoff Dyer and Jon Kudelka to name a few. I love that so many of our customers are so well known outside of Tasmania but are simply part of our community here.

What do you think is the coolest/most unique item you have in store? I think it would have to be the small graphite objects made by Agelio Batle at Batle Studio in California. They are original hand-sculptured objects that have been cast in graphite. You can draw with them! They’re awesome.

What’s something you wish more people knew about what you do? Like most of the staff at Artery, I have my own art practice. I have worked as a textile designer and a fashion designer, I also designed sets and costumes for theatre before starting at Artery. Art has always been integral to my life.

Who do you admire? Jane Goodall and David Attenborough, both have had such a profound impact on how I view my environment and what it takes to nurture it. Vivienne Westwood, right from the beginning I’ve loved her rebellious attitude and of course her clothing. I love the drawings of Albrecht Durer.

Favourite podcast or tv show? Our whole family was right into Game of Thrones. Each new episode we would create these amazing feasts inspired by the episode before. They took most of the

week in between to research and prepare, we ate incredible food.

Secret vice? Historical romance and trashy novels.

What are you reading now? I don’t get much time to sit and read so I listen to stories, currently it is Katabasis by R.F.Kuang

What was your first job? In the fruit and vegetable department of Coles after school on Thursdays and Saturdays.

What are your daily news/social media habits? I’ve deleted Facebook and Instagram off my phone so I can’t look at them during the day. I still have them on my iPad and check in on them in the evenings. I’m deliberately reducing my scroll time.

Your favourite place for… Breakfast: Little Missy Patisserie Lunch: Under the apple tree outside my studio

Dinner: It's so hard to choose just one place. Tassie has the best food and some truly amazing restaurants. We went to Maria the other night, it was lovely

Dream holiday destination? Antarctica, Spain, Japan, Ireland not necessarily in that order. I really love to travel.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? I love that Tasmania is still a bit of a secret in itself.

Parting words? "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." — Thomas Merton

NEW NEW NEW

The Rice Corner (22 Francis Street, Battery Point) has opened serving Thai and Vietnamese food, including some lesser known dishes and inspired by the comfort food the three owners grew up with. You can book a table online too (hurrah). Teddy’s wine bar is taking shape in North Hobart just off of the strip with a rooftop outdoor area perfect for enjoying sunny autumn afternoons. And in other wine bar news, Bar Clarry is opening in June in Launceston, more to be revealed soon. Hobart's iconic shoe shop Icon Footwear (117 Collins Street, Hobart) has new owners. After 27 years,

founders Barbara and Bernard have retired. Hobart nearly lost the store last year as the city's go-to refuge for Birkenstocks, quality footwear, fashion, and comfort. But the saving moment came when new owners Katie and Rory jumped in to take the reins. Today, Icon Footwear remains a key part of the vibrant Hobart CBD. You'll find more shoes than ever, supported by the same team and their amazing shoe knowledge. That Preloved Place (24 Clifton Drive, Sorell) have opened their brand new space in Sorell, filled with vintage, designer, retro and preloved clothes. Open seven days a week from 10am.

DOUBLE WIN FOR CLIFTON BEACH

Congratulations to all the Tasmanian Surf Lifesavers who rounded out their summer on the beaches of Tasmania competing in high level surf competitions. Clifton Beach SLSC narrowly denied Burnie SLSC back-to-back club championships by winning the Junior State Championships in Burnie with 455 points, only five points more than

the local team. Clifton Beach then took out the double winning the Open State Championships at Carlton Park too. And in the Tasmanian Masters Championships Carlton Park SLSC defended their title for the fifth year in a row, winning the overall point score. Then at the end of March, more than 80 Tasmanian surf lifesavers competed at North Kirra, Queensland for the 2026 Aussies.

WITCHY BUSINESS

Congrats to local theatre group Bad Company Theatre, who recently took away three gongs at the Tasmanian Theatre Awards. All three pertained to their show Sunday Roast (Best Ensemble; Best Supporting ActressBenedicta McGeown and Best Lead Actress - Rosemary Cann). This year the awards were held in the North West for the first time, at the Burnie Arts Centre. Congratulations also go to Rooke, Second Echo Ensemble, Mudlark, Jane Longhurst, PLOT, Ulverstone Repertory Theatre Society, Terrapin, Bijou, Big Job Productions, Hobart Repertory Theatre Society, Launceston Players, Encore Theatre Company, The Show Company, The Old Nick Company and The Show Company. What a list! Bad Company’s newest show is Witch by Jen Silverman and directed by Emma Skalicky, a forgotten Jacobean drama featuring the devil and a woman whose village has deemed her a witch. It’s at The Hidden Theatre from 10-18 April, with a special storytelling night on the 13th. Book via Trybooking.

HOORAY FOR THE HOO HOO HUT

The beloved Hoo Hoo Hut at the Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area has had an upgrade after being badly damaged during a storm in September 2024. Originally constructed in the early 1980s by volunteers from the Hoo Hoo Forest Industries Club, the iconic hut was badly damaged during a storm in September 2024. The new hut also has new accessible picnic tables and gas BBQs, and stones from the original fireplace and barbecue site were retained by Parks and Wildlife Service staff and used in the new bench seating.

COATS FOR TASSIE KIDS THIS WINTER

The team at Tassie Mums is already thinking about winter, and making sure every Tasmanian kid has a warm coat to get through it. Their annual Coats for Kids campaign launched on 1 April, and they're calling on the community to start sorting through wardrobes for donations. If you've got good-quality coats your kids have grown out of, this is a great place to send them. It's a busy season for the organisation beyond the campaign too. They'll be at the opening of the new Spring Farm Village shopping centre on 30 May, and the team are already working on prizes for their annual raffle in August. www.tassiemums. org/coats-for-kids

THREE CAPES CLOSED

The Three Capes Track will be closed from 13-26 April for planned burns and annual maintenance (part of the statewide fuel reduction program). The Old Cape Pillar Track and Bare Knoll Campground will also be closed, but the Cape Huay and Crescent Bay tracks remain open, as does Fortescue Bay Campground. More info and a full list of open spaces in the region can be found at www.parks.tas.gov.au

THE WINE IS RUNNING LATE

Better late than never? This year’s wine grape harvest has finally kicked off after an odd start. Paul Smart, Wine Tasmania’s Viticulture and Winemaking Officer, said the 2025/26 growing season has been unpredictable. “It’s been a rather unusual season here in Tasmania. A very cool spring was followed by a mild summer and little rainfall, which means conditions have been dry, and grapes have ripened more slowly than usual.” The first grapes to be harvested are for sparkling wine, with harvesting likely to continue through to late May and potentially even June for later styles and varieties. “A slower season like this can be a good thing when it comes to flavour development in our wines,” explained Smart. “While yields are expected to

DID YOU HEAR THE

be down around 30 per cent compared with last year’s record high production, we’re anticipating excellent quality and plenty of fruit intensity”. With vineyards entering the most sensitive period of the season, Wine Tasmania is also reminding landholders to work with nearby vineyards if and when planning burns. “Vineyards are particularly susceptible to smoke exposure at this time of year,” said Smart. “We’re simply asking people to have a quick proactive conversation with nearby vineyards before lighting a fire. Sometimes there may be limited risk based on weather conditions and the stage of harvest. Sometimes a short postponement may be all that’s needed to avoid potential damage." More info on smoke taint can be found here: winetasmania.com.au/smokeandvineyards

ONE ABOUT THE POSSUM AT THE AIRPORT?

We don’t have a punchline for this one, sorry, but we loved the story of the real possum found nestled among soft native animal plush toys for sale at one of the airport souvenir shops last month. Apparently the possum was discovered mid morning on a Wednesday, first

TASMANIA'S AI FUTURE GETS A $5 BILLION BOOST

A Launceston data centre deal worth $5 billion is set to contribute to Tasmania's AI landscape. Aurora Energy recently signed a three-year power agreement with Firmus Technologies, an Australian company building what the industry calls "AI Factories" - large-scale computing facilities that crunch data for businesses and researchers around the world. Under the deal, Firmus will begin ramping up its Tasmanian operations from August 2026, drawing up to 104MW of power by November.

The project promises hundreds of jobs for Launceston across construction, tech operations, energy management and software engineering, with training pathways aimed specifically at young Tasmanians entering the industry. Aurora Energy CEO Nigel Clark

described it as "strong commercial value for Tasmania," pointing to the state's clean-energy advantage as a natural drawcard for energy-hungry AI infrastructure.

Firmus co-CEO Oliver Curtis - and husband of Australian PR and business personality Roxy Jacenko - said the Tasmanian roots of the company made the agreement particularly meaningful. "We're a proudly Tasmania-founded company, so this agreement means a great deal to us. Ultimately, this is about creating new baseload so that our AI factories are a grid asset, not grid strain." The project also carries national ambitions, with Firmus's Project Southgate expected to catalyse up to 5.1GW of new renewable energy capacity across Australia.

staying calm and snuggly then going for a walk around part of the terminal and causing some chaos (and starring in many photos and videos). Poss was safely escorted out of the building. But did the sniffer dogs give it a good once over on the way past?

RED SHED NOT SHELVED?

Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt has a plan to save the Red Shed (aka Hobart Brewing Co) from stadium demolition, proposing dismantling and reassembling it at a new location. Spots suggested include Cornelian Bay, the Regatta Grounds or Rugby Park in New Town. “I think this building means something to Tasmanians,” Posselt said. “Can it be saved from the wrecking ball? I think so.” Posselt said council could offer a peppercorn lease or rates relief, adding “this proposal wouldn’t cost ratepayers a cent.”

THUMBS UP

Sush launching their new single-use, home compostable, takeaway soy sauce dispenser to replace plastic ‘soy fish’.

Very cold milk.

The Turning of the Fagus.

Cooler weather is a good excuse to cook and read.

THUMBS DOWN

Appliances in perfect condition except for one expensive part.

All the different apps and online groups required to keep up with your kids sports schedules.

The Easter chocolate hangover.

Have a thumbs up or down you want to share? Send it to editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

LITTLE TREES, BIG WEEKEND

If you've ever stopped to admire a beautifully shaped bonsai and wondered how on earth someone does that, this is your chance to find out. Talented Tasmanian bonsai artists are bringing their work to the Wrest Point Boardwalk on 2-3 May, with the exhibition open to the public from 10am to 5pm each day. A $5 entry gets you into the exhibition and the traders area, where you can browse and buy bonsai, handmade pots and equipment.

And if bonsai is already your thing, block out the whole long weekend. The Bonsai Society of Southern Tasmania is hosting the 38th Australian National Bonsai Convention at the Wrest Point Conference Centre from 1-4 May — a decade on from the last time Tassie welcomed the national bonsai community to our shores. This year's theme, Southern Bonsai, speaks to our remarkable flora - from alpine landscapes to rare and unusual

native species - making Tasmania a genuinely inspiring place for bonsai enthusiasts. International demonstrator Matt Reel travels from Oregon, USA, joined by Hugh Grant from the Blue Mountains, Queenslander Sean Hartley, and local artist Jarryd Bailey. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a curious beginner, there's plenty to take in. More info at www.aabcconvention2026.square.site.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A SHOUT OUT FOR VOLUNTEERING?

Devonport City Council is recognising the amazing volunteers in the community with Certificates of Recognition for National Volunteer Week. This year it’s running across Australia from 18–25 May and the theme is Your Year to Volunteer. Community groups can nominate volunteers who have volunteered in the Devonport area in the past 12 months by completing the online form by Tuesday 5 May at www.devonport.tas.gov.au. To request Devonport Mayor Alison Jarman to present certificates at your event, email council@devonport.tas.gov.au to arrange.

SOCCER CONTINUES TO DOMINATE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS IN TAS

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Did you know we have a newsletter? Scan the QR code here to sign up and stay in the loop, or head to www.thehobartmagazine.com.au

We promise no spam, just the good stuff!

As soccer season begins, we wonder whether 2026 will be another record-breaking year for participation? 2025 saw a 32 per cent increase in participation in soccer in Tasmania, with 41,395 registered participants across outdoor football, futsal, community and school programs. Outdoor football saw a 4 per cent growth, and 27 per cent of participants were female. Football Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata OAM said: “Football’s ever-growing popularity is reflected in this huge increase in participation right across the State. What we need now is for our governments to help provide us with the facilities we need to support this continued growth,” he said. Football Tasmania is seeking funding to develop an $80 million Home of Football in the State, to provide additional pitches and modern facilities for all levels of the game, from juniors to elite, and an A-League club for Tasmania. They're hoping for six full-sized pitches (three synthetic and three turf) plus four fiveaside pitches for all levels of community and elite football, as well as modern women’s and men’s change rooms and training facilities.

WHAT KILLED HOBART'S GIANT SEQUOIAS?

The two giant sequoia trees in Hobart's St David's Park are being removed after failing to respond to repeated attempts to save them. Both trees, planted in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, are now sadly beyond saving.

The decline of the giant sequoias is said to be due to a combination of multiple impacts over the past two years—including repeated fires reaching the canopy, contaminants and fire-retardant foam entering the soil, removal of topsoil to address hazardous debris, soil compaction, irrigation leaks causing saturation, and the presence of fungal pathogens. "I'm sure the people of Hobart will be heartbroken by the news these two beautiful trees have died,” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said. “At just 88 years of age these giant sequoias were just babes in the woods. Giant sequoias can live to be over 3000 years old.

ART BY ANY OTHER NAME

A new exhibition from Second Echo Ensemble encourages us to appreciate art without knowing anything about the artist. In [Let the] Art Speak, artists remain anonymous, from the selection period through to exhibition. “This is about stripping things back,” said Maggie May Jeffries, lead artist provocateur for [Let the] Art Speak. “When you remove identity, you start to see how much

"Our arborist team have done everything they can to save these forest giants, including carrying out a threestage soil microbiology treatment to try and breathe new life into the trees’ root system. The largest of the two giant sequoias is 32 metres tall and 8.6 metres wide around its base. The second was just behind it, standing 30 metres tall and measuring 8.7 metres circumference at its base."

They will be replaced by two young giant sequoias. The wood from the two sequoias trees will be used in City of Hobart projects, including the new waterfront interpretation project. The City will also look for opportunities to repurpose the wood in other ways, including for arts and cultural projects with the broader community. To stay up to date with the removal and replacement of these trees visit www.hobartcity.com.au/ tree-giants.

weight we place on it, and what happens when the artwork has to speak for itself.”

A public program running throughout the exhibition will extend the conversation, with panel discussions with art sector leaders including Caine Chennatt, Sharifah Emalia Al-Gadrie, Zara Sully, Luke John Campbell, Jane Barlow and the Second Echo Ensemble curatorial team. Check it out at Long Gallery at the Salamanca Arts Centre until 11 April.

NEW FESTIVAL FOR BOOK LOVERS

The inaugural Nipaluna/Hobart Readers and Writers Festival is set to be a vibrant five-day celebration of literature, story-telling and creating connection, taking place in Hobart from 28 May–1 June 2026. Produced by Island, this new festival will feature a mix of in-conversations, panels, workshops, readings and performances. The program features more than fifty writers including Hannah Kent, Shaun Tan, Garth Nix, Robbie Arnott, Amanda Lohrey and Steve Toltz. Events span author conversations, panels, masterclasses and a schools program. Tickets from $25, with free events included.

NEWLY ACCESSIBLE TRAIL

The lovely Ferndene walking track in the Dial Range is the first nature trail in the north-west to be made wheelchair-accessible. The upgrades, along the Ferndene to Thoresby’s Tunnel track, include the installation of an elevated boardwalk, a viewing platform and three new bridges.

FREE GRAFFITI CLEAN-UP KITS

Glenorchy City Council is offering free graffiti removal kits of residents and businesses across the municipality. The kits are available to locals and business owners who are willing to remove graffiti from their property themselves, in the hope that the community will feel empowered to act quickly to reduce the impact of graffiti and possibly discourage re-tagging. “Graffiti can have a real impact on how safe and welcoming our neighbourhoods feel,” Mayor Sue Hickey said. “When graffiti is removed promptly, it sends a strong message that our community cares and won’t tolerate vandalism.” Mayor Hickey said the additional support was on top of Council’s ongoing graffiti removal program, not instead of it. Anyone interested in receiving a free graffiti removal kit can get in touch via email at gccmail@gcc.tas. gov.au, or by calling 03 6216 6800.

COMPOUND INTEREST

You might have seen Bec Adamczewski’s beautiful murals about Tasmania. This month she opens Compound, a solo exhibition at Salamanca Arts Centre.

Compound is your first solo exhibition since art school. How did this come about and why now? Over the last 20-or-so years, my creative career has had many seasons; as a graphic designer, a mum, illustrator, object designer, volunteer, design educator, and a muralist! From each of these seasons, I have been fortunate to blend the parts I really love into a career which I adore. While I’ve had work in group shows over the years, there has always been a deep desire to create artworks which tell a story over multiple pieces. In mid-2025 I took the plunge into a new season with a new studio space at Salamanca Arts Centre (the first space of my very own!) and created the body of work for Compound

What does the title Compound mean to you, and how does it relate to the work inside? The title references the compounding pressures shaping and changing Lutruwita/Tasmania’s environment; climate change, land clearing, and ongoing misuse, along with the compound layers of visual language within each artwork. Organic photographic textures from local habitats are inlaid within the smooth forms of digital illustration; each artwork is a blend of mediums and meaning.

The work sits across illustration and photography. How do those two disciplines interact within this body of work? The ‘in-between’ places have always fascinated me! Where design meets craft, the crossover of art in urban spaces, and how experiment-

ing with different mediums can tell new stories to new audiences. I have always loved botanical illustration and wanted to create work which is a nod to the rich history of scientific art – the art of observation. Reimaging these ideas through digital illustration techniques and adding depth by inlaying photographs, has created a body of work where I celebrate and highlight common, threatened, and endangered local birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and insects of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

What do you hope people take away after experiencing the show? I hope that Compound is an invitation to slow down and notice the beauty around us and connect with the delicate balance of our unique endemic species, intrinsically linked with their habitats… even jack jumpers can be beautiful!

You also create large-scale murals. Which is your current favourite around town? That is such a great (and tough) question! I would have to say my current favourite is Time and Tide at Blinking Billy Point, Sandy Bay. It was such a fantastic project to work on with TasWater, City of Hobart and Art for the Sea. Time and Tide allowed me the opportunity to mentor two fabulous emerging artists Kate Deane and Shiloh Quilliam, and take part in workshops listening to young people’s views on care for our oceans. I love all the local species we highlighted, loved the teamwork, and loved the location!

KINGBOROUGH SOLVES THE MOST Kingborough Council is the winner of the Tasmanian Top Solver Award, based on its strong performance in the Snap Send Solve 2025 Community Satisfaction Index Ranking. “Snap Send Solve is a mobile app that allows residents to quickly report issues by taking a photo and sending it directly to Council,”

Mayor Paula Wriedt said. “These reports can relate to anything from graffiti and potholes to dumped rubbish, trip hazards, illegal parking and more. We’re proud to receive this award,” she continued. “It shows what we can achieve when our community works with us to keep Kingborough safe, clean and vibrant.”

TONES AND I TO PLAY ULVERSTONE?

Aussie pop star Tones and I hinted at a Tassie gig, posting on her social media page “ULVERSTONE. What you doing first week [of] May?” Tones has been running a challenge encouraging regional communities to get the most support for an affordable gig in town, and Ulverstone seems to be up there. Watch this space!

DEVIL OF A CLOSURE

The Tasman Arch/Devil's Kitchen site on the Tasman Peninsula and the Catamaran campground and boat ramp at Cockle Creek will be closed for upgrades between 15 April and 31 July 2026. The Tasman Arch/Devil's Kitchen upgrades include track and viewing upgrades and minor track changes. The Catamaran upgrades include improved access and parking for boat trailers using the existing boat ramp site, delineation of camping sites, and improvements to vehicle traffic. Check the Parks alerts page for up to date information.

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART

MONDAY

13 It’s Dark Sky Week - you can pledge to protect the nighttime environment at idsw. darksky.org.

20 Andy Hoggins’ latest exhibition, Feathers & Fins, invites the viewer to slow down and see the elegance of birds and aquatic life. Until 1 May at the artHouse New Norfolk, open every day.

27 Margaret Woodward’s exhibition Semaphore Score displays her contemporary semaphore code for the island at the State Library and Archives until late May.

4 Suemi Chiba’s Ocean Light displays clay works that are designed to convey movement and the lightness Suemi feels in the ocean. See them in The Lightbox at Salamanca, 24 hours a day.

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY

7 Today’s a good day to see La Ronde, the Speigeltent circus/cabaret/ comedy show - they have a ‘tight arse Tuesday’ discount on offer today.

8 Fighting Spirit: The Art of Boxing is a travelling exhibition from the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery. See it at Moonah Arts Centre til 2 May.

14 At midday, Sue Pedley gives a lunchtime talk about her latest works at the Maritime Museum.

21 Get along to the last day of the u16 Hockey Australia Championships at the Hockey Centre today. Started on the 14th.

Work from Semaphore Score. Pic: Libraries Tasmania

5 Keen to declutter? There’s a free workshop with a professional organiser and Certified KonMari Consultant today at Kingborough Community Hub, 11am-midday, free but please rsvp.

15 Take a scenic drive to the relaxed Crabtree Crop & Crafts Market, held four times a year in the Valley Campground, Huon Valley, 10am-2pm.

29 The Generations Connect Fun Day is a free event open to all, with stalls, facepaint, train rides, laser skirmish, a photo booth, circus, drums, dancing and more. PW1, 10am-1pm.

6 The Rotary Club of Lindisfarne presents a talk about ending human trafficking with Melody Towns, founder of the Be Hers charity. 6:15pm at the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania.

THURSDAY FRIDAY

9 Go on a journey to the centre of what it means to be human with Dancenorth Australia’s Lighting The Dark, 7:30pm tonight, Friday and Saturday.

23 Rock out with Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows as they celebrate 40 years of music, starting at 7:30pm at the Franklin Palais.

10

The Tasmania 4WD Caravan Outdoor Expo takes over MyState Bank Arena from today til Sun, 9am-4pm, with all the outdoor adventure products on display.

17 Artist Belinda Kurczok’s exhibition of incredible fine art paintings of Australian birds opens today until 29 April at Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre. www.belindakurczok.com.au.

24 The Willow Court Ghost Walk will unearth the untold stories of the historic asylum. 8+, every Friday and Saturday in April. Tonight, Street Eats @ Franko, Franklin Square, 4:30-9pm.

30 Leading Irish writer Niall Williams is in conversation at St Michael's Collegiate tonight from 6pm.

7 What truly inspires you?

Explore Anna Mykhalchuk’s curated exhibition Taste of Inspiration at Moonah Arts Centre, opening on 7 May until 13 June

1 The monthly Rektango fills the Salamanca Arts Centre’s Courtyard with music tonight from 5:30pm-7:30pm. It’s been going for 20 years now!

8

Three days of nature journaling and connection sounds like heaven right now. Try it with the Australian Nature Journalling Association event at Steele’s Island Retreat, Carlton.

APRIL

SATURDAY SUNDAY

11

Dare to be Square Down Under is a weekend of US square dancing, flatfooting, music, history and more. Most events are at St James Hall, New Town, more info on Humanitix.

18 YARC’s youth market is run by young people, 11am-4pm, Youth Arts & Recreation Centre. Later, the TSO performs Prokofiev and Boulanger, Ian Potter Recital Hall.

SPOTLIGHT ON...

12

Run along Constitution Dock, the river and wharves as part of the Hobart Marathon Festival. From 2km to the full 42.2km. Check for road closures for that day too.

19 Learn to paint a bold botanical artwork at one of two pop-art style Paint a Native Flower workshops, 10am and 1pm, KIN Creative Space, Kingston.

25 It’s Anzac Day today, lest we forget. Check for your local services and march and www. rsltas.org.au.

2 Want to take in some opera? See it at the cinema today, Barrie Kosky’s Royal Opera: Siegfried is on at the State Cinema.

26

Hobart Current closes today, featuring artists such as Marion Abraham, Sara Morawetz and Peter Waller, exploring the theme ‘here’. TMAG.

9 Jaye Gangalidda and Jake Koorabubba kujaka rra-kurrinya (Mother Spirit) share stories of family, kin, belonging, identity, spirituality and connections. Opens at 5:30pm tonight, The Schoolhouse, Rosny.

10 Run or walk to raise funds and awareness for breast & ovarian cancer research at the annual Mother’s Day Classic at Bellerive Beach Play Park.

10–11 April

In Bizarrerie, Van Diemen's Band puts the spotlight on some of the rare and unusual Baroque instruments from their collection. Think lutes, a special viola, a brand new piccolo violin made by local luthier Dougal Coghill and the gallichon - an almost-forgotten gut-strung hybrid somewhere between a lute and a bass guitar. 10 and 11 April at the Ian Potter Recital Hall.

17–19 April

Celebrate Tassie-made video games and local game developers with the return of the Level Up Tasmania Video Game Showcase at PW1. The 17th and 18th are open days, free for the public, and there is an industry day on the 19th. There will be over 40 playable games made by Tasmanians, opportunities to chat with developers, a Cosplay Competition and more. Register via Humanitix.

17 April

Learn about the effects of artificial light at night on human health, wildlife and ecosystems from Dark Sky Tasmania, Wilderness Society, and Huon Valley Council at Dark Sky Week 2026 in Huon Valley. Afterwards, enjoy stargazing with the Astronomical Society of Tasmania! 6pm–9pm, Palais Theatre and Franklin Foreshore. Free! Wear warm clothing, bring binoculars if possible and bring a rug or chair if you’d like to sit. Book at Humanitix.

Weekdays 20 April–1 May

It’s that time again at the Doone Kennedy Aquatic Centre: School Holiday Splash! The activities rotate throughout the day but expect the giant inflatable in the 50m pool, the inflatable slide, the big blue slide, play zones, diving boards and the dragon inflatable in the 25m pool. 11:30am–3:30pm. If you’d rather have a more relaxed vibe try chill out hour (with no music), 2:30pm–3:30pm. Call 6222 6999 for more info.

Got an event coming up in Tassie?

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

Background photo: DIVERGE Skyruns. Pic: Lusy Productions

AROUND THE ISLAND

13 Need to get rid of those fabrics you have at home?

The ReDress Hub Fabric Market is back. Come along to destash fabrics, hunt for treasures, and score bargain materials. Free entry, $20 for stallholders.

20 For Heritage Month, the National Trust Old Umbrella Shop window in Launceston will display a 1920s scene, typical of the times. Various dates.

14 We Remember - A Salute to the ANZACs will feature moving songs, letters, stories and archival images. 11am–12pm, Albert Hall, Launceston.

8

Full Circle is a contemporary exhibition featuring Catherine Phillips and Robert Habel at the Watch House Gallery in George Town til the 25th.

9 The Knit for Your Neighbour project in New Norfolk need helping hands to crochet donated squares together. Bring your crochet hook size 5, 11am, behind Create Do & Mend 63 High Street.

15 Devil's Corner

Cellar Door presents the Tower to Terroir Tour, with views, tastings, stories and architecture. Each Wednesday at 2pm.

21 Get along to Sporties Hotel trivia tonight in Launnie hosted by Trivia People Tasmania.

27 Launceston Planetarium is showing Dark Side of Light, exploring light pollution. 1pm-1:45pm. Or take the kids to Rock and Rhyme at the Devonport Library, or Storytime at Wynyard Library.

28 There's a school holiday bug program at QVMAG - learn all about the lives of nature's little helpers in this hands-on workshop! Tix via Eventbrite, $7.50 for accompanying adults only.

22 Join Derwent Distillery’s head distiller and co-owner, Robbie Gilligan, for a guided tour through the working distillery and riverside bond store at Dromedary. 2pm–3pm, bookings essential.

29 Enjoy one of the Van Diemen’s Band Lunch Box Concerts for the price of a sandwich. See Swedish lutenist Jakon Lindberg at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Launceston, 1:05pm–1:50pm.

6

Luminous is the first exhibition at Blenheim Gallery, Longford with a ‘medium’ focus with works from the Gallery's artists’ studios where watercolour and gouache have been used. Closing today.

16 At Agrarian Kitchen’s two-day Charcuterie Course, Rodney Dunn will teach you to make Italian-style salami, pancetta, guanciale, capocollo and prosciutto among other smallgoods.

23 Hand-knitted life-sized skeletons, from a 4.4m giraffe to 50 frogs, make up Michele Beevors' haunting exhibition Anatomy Lessons. Until 7 June at QVMAG.

30 It’s last days for Troy Ruffels’ Stone Tides Weeping Trees, a visual and poetic meditation on the Miena Cider Gums of Tasmania's central highland plateau, at Burnie Arts til 2 May, 10am–4pm.

7 Agfest is back at Quercus Park (near Carrick) for three days of agricultural and rural field says. Open 10am–4pm, agfest.com.au.

10 Taste your way around the North West with TrailGraze, a series of events with local growers, makers and farms all weekend.

17 Take a garden tour of Agrarian Kitchen today, inside the brick walls to see their kitchen garden and composting system. Tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am during April.

24 Enjoy the Lightwood Bottom Blues Club Live Blues Nights Kermandie Kavern, Geeveston. They perform a monthly night, and invite other musicians to join in.

1 Today is the first day of Tasmania’s Off Season, celebrating how to make the most of our cooler months from MayAugust, with special offers and experiences around the island.

8 Enjoy a weekly run or walk for the Whitemark Parkrun, a winding coastal track from Whitemark Wharf and back again. All levels of fitness welcome, 9am. More info, and runs, at www.parkrun.com.au.

APRIL

SATURDAY SUNDAY

11 North West Ecofest is a two-day festival dedicated to building a more sustainable future. Head to Camp Clayton in Ulverstone for music, food, workshops, presentations and more. 9am–3pm.

18 Tamar Valley Sessions is a laid-back, summer-style music event at Tamar Ridge and Turner Stillhouse, Grindelwald, midday to 5pm monthly.

25 It’s ANZAC DAY. See Hawthorn take on the Gold Coast Suns in the Alec Campbell Cup at UTAS Stadium. Campbell, from Launceston, was the world’s longest surviving Gallipoli veteran.

2 The team behind the Kunanyi Mountain Run have a new baby: DIVERGE Skyruns is a three day trail running festival in and around Queenstown, starting 1 May.

12 The Launceston Horticultural Society’s Autumn seasonal show features annual fruit and veg displays plus a market garden, Evandale Memorial Hall, 9am–4pm.

19 All Mustangs are welcome to display at Mustang 2026 presented by The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, 10am-1pm. Enjoy having an oggle at the cars!

26

Savour the seasonal tastes at Autumn Lunch at Rathmore’s heritage wool shed Canapes, Rathmore lamb, dessert and local drinks. 11am–2pm.

3

Celebrate the legacy of Gustav and Kate Weindorfer and their protection of Tasmania’s wilderness at Weindorfer Day, a free event in Wilmot today from 9:30am.

9 Browse stalls at the Liffey Valley Market. Upcycled and pre-loved treasures, homemade baked goodies, plants, veggies, handcrafts, collectables and more. Old Liffey School, 9am–1pm.

10 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums and mother-figures in our lives! Take an old-fashioned steam train ride with Sheffield Steam and Heritage Society, running each half hour from 11am–4pm.

an event coming up? Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au

FARM & MOONAH ARTS CENTRE FRI 20 MAR - SAT 2 MAY 2026

SHAUN RENNIE

Shaun Rennie is an industry-leading director whose work spans opera, theatre and live events. Now he’s bringing that experience to Hobart, after moving here from Sydney to take on the role of Artistic Director of the beloved Festival of Voices, held during Tasmania’s Off Season.

What drew you to the role of Artistic Director of the Festival of Voices (FoV)? Everything about it! The opportunity to be part of a festival that celebrates the power of the human voice to bring joy and connection. The opportunity to live and work in Tasmania. The sheer breadth of the festival - there really is something for everyone at FoV. I love that you can go and see a concert of Handel's Dixit Dominus conducted by the amazing Dr Elizabeth Scott, and then the next moment join a looping workshop with Xani, or hear jazz singer Emma Pask and then catch Puerto Rican Opera singer Meechot Marrero. What other festival in the world does that? At the core of it, I really do believe the human voice can reach something deep in us that no other instrument can - and I love that this festival celebrates that in such an inclusive and joyful way.

How does your background directing opera and musical theatre shape your approach to directing the Festival of Voices? I've been very lucky that throughout my career I've been in rooms with some of the greatest voices in the world. I've been privileged to experience that amazing moment when a voice hits something in your solar plexus and makes you weep for its beauty - its ability to help you connect with something bigger than yourself. Having said that, I don't believe you need to work in opera or musical theatre to experience that. It can happen just as often at a local community choir event or a pub sing-along. I believe it's our job at FoV to provide that experience for as many people as possible, in whatever form it takes.

You've now been living in Tasmania for three months. How has that time influenced your thinking about the festival?

I feel so lucky to be here - I feel like I've landed in paradise. You can't help but be affected by the landscape and your surroundings. I'm constantly thinking about artists and events that work in concert with the incredible natural wilderness as well as the many iconic buildings and locations. I've also been really amazed by the wider artistic community here in Tasmania. They are a passionate and mighty bunch, and I'm always looking for ways to celebrate and platform local artists.

When you took on the role, what did you want to preserve about the festival, and what did you want to evolve or add? It's an honour to be appointed artistic director of a festival that is so beloved, and it's a responsibility I take very seriously. I have no intention of changing something that ain't broke. There are elements of the festival that are fundamental to FoV. Events like The Big Sing, the Singers Lounge, and the Classical Choral Workshop are institutions - part of the DNA of the festival - and I'm not going to make any sharp turns when it comes to those. For this first season especially, I'm very much looking forward to meeting as many of our participants and community as possible, doing some serious listening and thinking...and dreaming about where things could be in three to five years.

What do you think makes the Festival of Voices special, particularly given it's held during the Off Season? It really is unlike any other festival I know of, where some of the world's most beloved artists perform alongside local artists and professional "shower singers". There is something really magical about rugging up and singing along with a room full of strangers - it reminds you what is really important in life. I feel like the world at

large is just starting to catch onto something that FoV has known for a long time: that singing, especially with others, is good for the heart, mind and soul!

What are some highlights of the 2026 program you're particularly excited about? Oh, so much! That's like asking me to pick a favourite child. I'm really looking forward to experiencing The Big Sing and the Corporate Choir Challenge for the first time. I'm also excited about our new Youth Open Mic event we're doing in collaboration with Youth Arts and Recreation Centre - they're an amazing organisation in Hobart. I'm thrilled we're presenting a showcase of Rumpel, a new one-man opera by Tasmanian artists Amanda Hodder and countertenor Nicholas Tolputt. And then there's Emma Pask, Lior with a string quartet, David Campbell, Yirrmal, our Salamanca @ 6 program, the Young Tasmania Sings concert, the AC/DC workshop...see, it's too much. Truly an impossible question and now I feel like a bad parent!

What do you look forward to embracing during the Off Season in Tassie? The entire thing - the fires, the wine, the rugging up, the festivals. Ours obviously, but I'm also really excited about experiencing Dark Mofo, Tasmanian Whisky Week and Beaker Street Festival for the first time. And wearing my new coat I got in Europe last year…that I never get to wear on the mainland! I've always preferred the cold over the heat, so I'm genuinely looking forward to it. But I do have my long underwear ready, just in case.

The Off Season is a time for gathering close, sharing stories and warmth in one another’s company. That spirit is alive in Hobart during the annual Festival of Voices (festivalofvoices.com), held 3-12 July. For ten days, voices of every kind rise into the cool night air, filling the streets and venues with song. With concerts, workshops and participatory events across Hobart and beyond, it’s Australia’s ultimate winter singing celebration and more than enough reason to be south during the Off Season.

Fill Your Winter Days

When the Festival of Voices’ final encore fades, a winter orchestra of activities keeps playing with wild abandon. The Off Season is the perfect time to try something you probably haven’t done before, like touring a vineyard with a friendly doggo. At Caledon Estate (caledonestate.com. au) near Richmond, join resident wine dog Sasha and her apprentice Biscuit on a private tour for two. You’ll wander the vines, discover the secrets behind their cabernet sauvignon and finish fireside with a guided tasting and matched canapés. It’s equal parts adorable and appetising. When the sun sets, it’s time to look up. The Off Season brings Tasmania’s longest, darkest and clearest night skies, perfect for stargazing. Tasmanian Photography Tours (tasmanianphotographytours.com. au) hosts immersive 2.5-hour experiences at the historic Mount Pleasant Observatory in Cambridge. Blending astronomy,

Winter Events Too Good to Miss

The revelry continues on Off Season Fridays at Killara Distillery (killaradistillery.com) in Richmond, with after-work drinks, live music and a food van, every second Friday. Inside, glasses clink with whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs crafted on site, providing a warming escape from those chilly evenings. But, if outside is where you prefer to be and invigoration is

storytelling and hands-on learning, these tours invite families, curious explorers, and keen photographers to see the cosmos in astonishing clarity. Further afield, the Off Season is an unparalleled mood-setter. When it hits the Tasmanian Highlands, the atmosphere is palpable as frost clings to paddocks and time slows. Experience this at Clyde Mill Distillery and Kitchen (clydemill.com.au) in Bothwell. Begin your winter morning with coffee and homemade biscuits before a relaxed tour of the heritage mill and distillery to learn how whisky is made, then settle in for a guided tasting. End your experience with lunch at the Mill Kitchen, with a side of local storytelling. The colder months are a time for reflection and resetting. Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours (tasmaniancyclingtours.com) embraces this with three-day mindful cycling escapes through the Huon Valley. These aren’t pulse-pounding rides but gentle journeys through crisp air and scenic backdrops, with hot and cold therapy, breathwork, journalling and nourishing meals filled with Huon produce. It’s about slowing down and rediscovering what matters. For something a bit different, DineAlley (dinealley.com)

something you seek, then the Kunanyi Trail Series (kunanyitrailseries.com. au) delivers exactly that. Embark on a truly Tasmanian Off Season adventure on 21 June: the Knockers Solstice Trail Run, a guided torch-lit night jog through native bushland at Knocklofty Reserve. With Hobart’s lights sparkling below and the rustle of wallabies, bandicoots and owls in the dark, it’ll be wild, bracing and unforgettable.

offers intimate ‘Meet-the-Farmers’ tours in the agricultural town of Dunalley. With strictly small groups and exclusive access to farms not usually open to the public, this is an experience you can’t recreate. Join a tour this Off Season and you'll receive a special gift bag of tastings including worldclass cheese, a bottle of exquisite liqueur and a pot of organic pure honey. Bring the produce home to relive the experience.

Your Base Camp

When the day is done, your overnight stay becomes its own pleasure. Luckily, you’re spoilt for choice this Off Season. Picture yourself stargazing from an infinity spa beside a cosy forest cabin, maybe even catching a glimpse of an Aurora Australis in the sky. That’s what you’ll find at Orchards Nest Tasmania (orchardsnest. com) in the Huon Valley. Near Richmond, Aquila Eco Retreat (aquilaecoretreat. com.au) offers an adults-only, off-grid eco retreat. Here, you can try a hot-cold therapy session inspired by Nordic rituals. The guided cycle of heat, cold and deep rest is designed to support vascular health, energy and mood. You’ll head home glowing. For a forest escape, Mt Field Retreat (mtfieldretreat.com.au) sits right on the doorstep of stunning Mount Field National Park. Complimentary beanies and a classic Devonshire tea will be perfect for warming up after breathing in that fresh mountain air beneath the rainforest canopy. Prefer to be closer to the action in Hobart for the Festival of Voices? The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel (oldwoolstore.com.au) is within easy walking distance of where it all happens. If you stay a little longer, you’ll receive a pair of 100% Australian merino wool socks to keep your feet toasty, Tassie style.

NORTH

A trip to northern Tasmania comes with a disclaimer: you’ll need to loosen your belt. It’s little wonder, with a UNESCO City of Gastronomy at its heart, fringed by the Tamar Valley and Piper’s Brook vineyards – a mecca for Tasmania’s sparkling wine industry. But alongside the cellar doors and long-table lunches, there lies a thriving arts scene that comes alive during the Off Season. From 29-30 May, Launceston hosts the Tamar Valley Film Festival (tvff. com.au), a celebration of Tasmanian storytelling and screen culture. Across two evenings, a curated program of short films by emerging and established local filmmakers gives audiences the pleasure of experiencing homegrown cinema talent on the big screen.

Fill Your Winter Days

If your idea of cold weather bliss is staying tucked up warm, step inside Waverley Mills (waverleymills.com) for an Off Season tour and watch heritage looms weave blankets, throws, wraps and scarves at Australia’s last working vertical woolen weaving mill. Now you’ve rugged up, head to the Tamar Valley to experience the ultimate culinary luxury at Pirie (pirietasmania. com.au), where elegant sparkling wines are matched with premium Sturgeon caviar. There’s nothing more appropriate for a nippy day than a nip of whisky. Take a behind-the-scenes distillery tour and a taste of three spirits at Western Tiers Distillery (westerntiersdistillery.com.au). Each is paired with award-winning Ashgrove cheeses and handcrafted Anvers chocolates. The cold, dark and wet weather can drive us into hibernation, so what better time to unleash your creativity? This Off Season take a visit to the Tasmanian Sculpture School (tasmaniansculptureschool.com.au) and connect with fellow mud-lovers in their studio overlooking Kanamaluka / River Tamar. Learn the art of bronze sculpting

by shaping modelling clay over an aluminium armature and share artistic endeavours over a hot drink by the crackling fire. Then, head beneath the surface at Mole Creek Caves (parks. tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/molecreek-karst-national-park). On a guided glow worm tour become a citizen

Winter Events Too Good to Miss From screen to stage, the Australian Musical Theatre Festival (amtf.org.au) transforms the city into a flurry of song, dance, theatre and cabaret from 20-24 May. Expect an exciting mix of emerging and established performers from across Australia. Swap the stage for the sidelines on 21 May at UTAS Stadium. AFL fans can catch Hawthorn (hawthornfc.com.au) taking on the Adelaide Crows under Thursday night lights. With their last three UTAS Stadium matches decided by three points, this is sure to be an absolute thriller! If you prefer to beat the chill by working up a sweat, the McGrath Launceston Running Festival (launcestonrunningfestival.com. au) on 31 May is a local staple. It’s Launnie’s biggest fun run and walk event, and everyone is invited to join in, with distances from one mile to a half marathon. A great way to get your blood pumping this Off Season.

scientist for the day. Count glow worms, collect valuable data and examine larvae up close in their silk nests. After all that work, stretch out under a blanket for some glow worm gazing as the cave ceiling illuminates.

Your Base Camp

Off Season overnight stays across Tasmania’s north are about embracing and leaning into the stillness of the season. The organic curves of the repurposed silos at Peppers Silo Hotel (peppers.com.au/silo) offer a meditative moment. Dine at the Grain of the Silos, where produce is king, and gaze over the glistening waters of Kanamaluka / River Tamar. For a heritage stay, head to the Great Western Tiers and step back in time at one of Deloraine's oldest properties, Blakes Manor (blakesmanor.com.au). Then spend your days discovering Deloraine’s art and craft trails, heritage streets, winter foraging experiences and scenic drives through rolling countryside. For those drawn further into the wild, retreat to Craggy Peaks Wilderness Cabins (craggypeaks.com.au). Days are for hiking trails around the Fingal Valley, while nights usher in firepit gatherings, story swapping, quoll spotting and, if conditions are right, maybe even aurora chasing. Finally, a stay at Dorset Hotel (dorsethotel.com.au) sets you minutes from Derby's mountain bike trails. Winter’s cooler temperatures and quieter tracks produce exhilarating rides and make returning to your hotel for tasty pub grub all the more rewarding.

EAST

What do we do when darkness falls? We reach for the light. On Tasmania’s east coast, that instinct has evolved beyond the usual winter rituals into a light-inspired festival. Every night between 27 June and 25 July, the beach town of Bicheno turns the Off Season lights on with Bicheno Beams (bichenobeams.com). Night after night, music pulses as powerful light beams slice into the sky, transforming the coastline. Even better, this family-friendly light show is completely free. Simply rug up at the Bicheno Lions Park on the seafront and let a friendly volunteer guide you to the best spot to take in the illuminated skyscape. Stay a second night and you’ll catch the alternating show.

Fill Your Winter Days

One simply does not visit Bicheno without trying to see its famous feathered residents. Combine penguin watching with a glimpse of Bicheno Beams by joining Bicheno Penguin Tours (bichenopenguintours. com.au). Learn about these stoic little penguins from a local guide while spotting them waddling ashore under the cover of the night sky. Then jump aboard the shuttle bus to catch the excitement of the light show. A Bicheno bucket list isn’t complete without a whisky tasting at Waubs Harbour Distillery (waubsharbourwhisky.com). Gather by the open fire on Off Season Saturdays (June-August), and warm up with a nip of sea-swept whisky while being regaled with local maritime tales. From seafaring stories to sifting through river stones, head inland and check into The Whimsy (thewhimsy.com.au), at the foot of the mystical Blue Tier to try your hand at fossicking. Step into a cool (alright, cold) forest stream and search for sapphires, topaz and zircon before retreating to the fireside at your cosy miner’s cottage to warm your hands and admire your haul. If your idea of a winter escape instead centres around liquid gold, book in for The Wine Master’s Table (wineglassbayestate.com. au). This three-night gastronomic Off

Winter Events Too Good to Miss There’s no better way to keep warm than to get moving, and there’s nothing like a bush dance to get those toes tapping. The all-ages St Marys Winter Lights Festival and Bush Dance (events.humanitix.com/ winter-lights-2026) marks the solstice on 20 June with day-time lantern making workshops in preparation for the evening’s lantern parade, fire performance and fire sculpture burning once the dark takes hold. It’s not hard to see why the beautiful Larapuna / Bay of Fires area provides inspiration for so many Tasmanian artists. Luckily, for those of us who aren’t as gifted, you

Season retreat (7-10 August) is hosted by Adrian Filiuta, one of only 300 Master Sommeliers worldwide. Loosen your belt for a five-course dining experience paired with Tasmanian cool-climate wines, plus accommodation at Wineglass Bay Estate, Tasmania’s newest luxury accommodation among 52 acres of coastal landscape. Seasoning plays an important role at Tasman Sea Salt (tasmanseasalt.com. au) year round, but visit during the Off Season and you’ll warm up with mulled cider before watching brine transform into delicate flakes. Taste the resulting salt with Freycinet Peninsula views, and you’ll think differently next time you take a pinch of salt. In St Helens, embrace the chill with a winter fire-and-ice contrast therapy ritual at Ripple HQ (ripplehq.com.au). Start with an infrared sauna, plunge into cold water, repeat three times, then melt back into Off Season stillness with tea and a face mask. You’ll leave feeling transformed.

Your Base Camp

The east coast is among the most beautiful places in the world, so take in the views and the salt-kissed air at

can simply take in the view and leave the paint brushes to the professionals at the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival (bayoffireswinterartsfestival.com. au), held 5-8 June. Meet local artists, learn about their creative process, and make sure you’ve got room in the boot if tempted to take home a piece of the Off Season for the wall. Shorter days and cooler weather is a calling card to slow down and reset. The Yoga Retreat (yogainnature.com.au) runs 19-22 June at Freycinet Lodge and includes daily yoga, restorative sessions, candlelit meditation and Yoga Nidra with crackling open fires and ocean views.

your three-bedroom abode, Aperture (thrivingtasmania.com.au). Wake to 270° views over Great Oyster Bay, where winter days and fewer crowds make it ideal for exploring Freycinet’s trails. Piermont Retreat (piermont.com.au) invites you to celebrate the chill and lean into the Off Season by taking a bracing dip in Great Oyster Bay, before returning to fluffy robes, warming tea and kunzea body oil. For easy access to Bicheno Beams, stay at Cooinda (youniquestays.com.au/ cooinda-bicheno-accommodation-1), where luxe coastal style is paired with front-row Waubs Bay views and the glow of an onsite sauna. Take a step back to enjoy the simple (if luxurious) things at Little Beach Co Resort (littlebeachco. com.au) tucked in the middle of the east coast. Settle in for a soak in your private hot tub or wood-fired sauna, sip Tasmanian-inspired glühwein, wrap up in soft blankets and wander to the outdoor firepit beneath a starry southern sky.

WEST AND NORTH WEST

Tasmania’s west and north west are raw, untamed and dramatic. Perhaps that’s why people who build a life in this part of the world are resilient – they forge connections with each other and the elements. To visit during the Off Season is to celebrate that spirit in all its glory. The west coast quite literally glows during Light Up the West (westcoasttas.com.au/lightupthewest), held 19-28 June. This festival marks the winter solstice with workshops, markets, light shows and community gatherings to brighten the longest nights. Not long after, the north west gives Permission to Trespass (northwesttasmania.com.au/ permissiontotrespass), held 3-12 July, granting rare access to private properties around Wynyard and the dramatic Table Cape. It's an invitation to see the true character of the north west, behind closed gates.

Fill Your Winter Days

The Off Season is an invitation to slow

Winter Events Too Good to Miss There’s no shortage of opportunities to immerse yourself in the region’s wintry wilderness. The Off Season is filled with events with an air of adventure, such as the Stanley and Tarkine Forage Festival (foragefestival.com.au), celebrating the north west’s exceptional produce. Held around Stanley from the 1317 May, meet growers, taste local specialities and savour the abundance of this fertile foodie region. If you’re ready to step outside your comfort zone, the brand new DIVERGE Skyruns (diverge-skyruns.au) in Queenstown delivers sky high exhilaration between 1-3 May. It’s

down and linger a little longer throughout the still winter days. In Ulverstone, Leven River Cruises (levenrivercruises.com. au) glide along calm waters framed by forested banks for a cosy winter journey. Rug up with tea, coffee or hot chocolate in hand, and enjoy local cheese, seasonal fruit and fresh muffins as the landscape drifts by. Nearby, Leven Valley Vineyard (levenvalleyvineyard.com.au) pairs coolclimate chardonnay and pinot noir with sweeping views over the Leven River and Gunns Plains. In the Off Season, guests can bring their own barbecue supplies and cook up a winter feast to pair with the wine. For something hands-on, Creative Paper Tasmania (creativepaper.com.au) in Wynyard runs winter workshops where you'll handmake paper from scratch. It’s crafty fun for all ages. Tasmania is known for its high-quality black truffles, and The Truffledore (truffledore.com.au) lets you live a day in the life of a truffle hunter during peak winter harvest season.

a ‘skyrunning’ festival, which is the word for high-altitude mountain running. From jaw-dropping alpine ridgelines to rainforest trails, the event showcases the rugged terrain of this part of the island. There’s a truth to the term ‘the wild west’ here in Tasmania, and if your idea of wild is letting your hair down and hitting the dancefloor, then the Solstice Cruise (worldheritagecruises.com.au) on 19 June is for you. As the shortest day of the year approaches in Strahan, take to the water to celebrate with World Heritage Cruises aboard Harbour Master II for an evening of food, drink and entertainment. Dance into the longer days the winter solstice brings.

Tour the farm, meet the hounds, join a real truffle hunt, then cook up a dinner feast. The experience includes a two-night cottage stay. That’s a weekend sorted right there.

Your Base Camp

Overnight stays on Tasmania’s west and north west are all about immersion. That rings true for Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge (cradlemountainlodge.com.au), where mist lingers over ancient forests and native wildlife roams freely (outside, of course). Inside, it’s warmth and indulgence. Enjoy daily breakfast, a welcome drink and spa time this Off Season. At the foothills of Mt Roland in the north west is the unique Wilder Tasmania (wildertasmania.com). Cosy up in a geodesic dome and, during the Off Season, join an atmospheric winter walk through a once-thriving Hydro town reclaimed by nature. The experience ends with a gourmet hamper, enjoyed back in your dome or beside a roaring fire. History and romance intertwine at The Post Office (discovertasmania. com.au/accommodation/the-post-office) in Waratah, a 1913 post office lovingly restored into a luxury escape. Live your best slow winter romance with a candlelit bath infused with Tasmanian salts, before throwing on plush robes and indulging in local chocolate and port wine. Devonport is an ideal base for exploring the north west, and The Cove (thecovetasmania.com) is an award-winning adults-only retreat just minutes from the city centre. After a day of adventuring, dine on local produce at Basalt Restaurant, then wind down with mulled wine, stargazing and little penguin encounters beneath dark winter skies.

EXPLORE MORE

TASSIE MARKET WATCH

DORNEY HOUSE ACTIVATION

The future of architecturally significant Dorney House, in Sandy Bay, may lie in the hands of Hobart’s most creative. Anna Reynolds, Hobart Lord Mayor, recently posted on her social media page that council discussed seeking ‘Expressions of interest’ from organisations or entrepreneurs keen to activate the building. “The beautiful 1978 Dorney House could be better utilised, but it’s a tricky site to access and will cost money to maintain,” she explained.

“It can’t be subdivided or sold, so I'm hoping that a new Expression of Interest process will identify a partner to create something special and respectful.”

25 Victoria Parade, Devonport

Agent: Elise Chisholm, Harcourts

CONFIDENCE WOBBLES AS RATES RISE

Tasmanian buyers and builders might be feeling the pinch as consumer confidence lowers. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index has fallen 5.4 points to 63.1 - its lowest level on record - following the Reserve Bank's decision to lift the cash rate to 4.1% in March, its second consecutive rise this year. For those with a $600,000 mortgage, the back-to-back increases add roughly $180 to monthly repayments compared to late 2025. With all four major banks tipping another rise in May, prospective buyers are being urged to stress-test their borrowing capacity.

But there are some silver linings. According to Aussie Home Loans Buyer interest remains steady in areas offering lifestyle appeal and relative affordability. With a median 37 days on market, buyers often have time to compare options and get finance organised. And Ray White is reporting that Baby Boomers are driving a massive surge in demand for single-level homes that will suit downsizers and those planning to age in place. Their data found a 72 per cent jump in searches by potential buyers seeking single-storey houses.

SINGLES PRICED OUT OF HOUSING

New data has found that single Hobart househunters are almost entirely priced out of the property market here. Research by comparison site Canstar (using PropTrack data) reveals that based on the minimum annual salary required to buy a typical house, the majority are out of reach for single buyers. The average Tasmanian weekly full-time wage is $1793, or $93,236, which is about $217 per week below the national average (ABS). When purchasing by themselves, a person with this income level would be locked out of all but six Hobart suburbs: Bridgewater, Risdon Vale, Clarendon Vale, New Norfolk, Primrose Sands and Chigwell.

112-114 Sorell Street, Devonport

Agent: Amanda Rose, Harcourts Devonport and Shearwater

279 John Lees Drive, Dilston

Indicative price: Offers over $1,890,000

Agent: Jack Ryan, The Agency - Launceston

7 Lime Avenue, Newstead

• ‘Karma’ stands as one of Launceston’s iconic, landmark residences

• Enviably located within one of Newstead’s most desirable tree-lined avenues

• Lovingly restored in 2017 by award-winning architects, Cumulus Studios

• A significant transformation that honours its heritage while delivering comfort & functionality

• A healthy thoughtfully enhanced family home where history & innovation coexist

• Celebrating natural light space & an effortless connection between indoors & out

• Multiple living & dining zones create spaces for intimate family moments & entertaining

• The kitchen is an elegant culinary centrepiece with marble countertops & a butler’s pantry

• Luxurious accommodation consists of up-to five bedrooms

• A self-contained wing provides added convenience

• Meticulously manicured gardens envelop the home, forming a private & lush sanctuary Expressions Of Interest VIEW By Private Appointment

A CORNER OF YOUR OWN

There is something quietly radical about carving out a corner of your home and declaring it off-limits to screens. No notifications, no scrolling, no background noise - just a good chair, decent light, and a book. The reading nook, long relegated to the pages of interiors magazines as a lovely-but-unlikely aspiration, is having a serious moment. And as we head into the cooler months, maybe it’s time to get yours happening.

The good news is that you don't need a bay window, a built-in bookshelf, or a generous budget to start a nook. A comfortable chair in the corner of a bedroom, or a long bench placed beneath a window with a cushion and a throw, might be all you really need. The goal is enough room to relax, some light to read by, and the intention to actually use it.

In Tasmanian homes a reading nook makes particular sense. A north-facing window with a deep sill, a wool throw and a decent lamp can transform an overlooked corner into the best seat in the house. For winter especially, the appeal of a cocoon-like spot away from the demands of the day is hard to argue with. Indoor hammocks and sensory swings can up the game.

The most important ingredient is simply the decision to create the space and protect it. A corner of your own. It's a small thing. But right now, it feels like exactly enough.

Make Your Own Reading Nook

Pick your spot. Look for a neglected corner, window sill, or even the end of a hallway. North-facing is ideal for Tasmanian light, but any spot that feels

slightly removed from the main flow of the house is good.

Start with the seat. A deep armchair, a luxe beanbag, a window bench with a cushion, or even a daybed in a corner. Comfort is non-negotiable, if it's not genuinely inviting, you won't use it.

Get the lighting right. Natural light for daytime reading, a dedicated lamp for evenings. A warm-toned bulb makes all the difference.

Layer in warmth. For Tasmanian winters especially, a wool throw and a cushion or two turn a seat into a sanctuary.

Add a surface. A small side table or stool nearby is all you need, somewhere to rest a cup of tea, a bookmark or candle.

Protect it. Tell the household it's yours. No charging devices, no scrolling. The nook only works if you actually treat it as a slow space.

One of Northern Tasmania's refined Country Houses: Palmerston House 1836-1897

L

1 9 t h - c e n t u r y c u l t u r

h i s t o r i c h o m e s t e a d s , s e t o n 9

B

E d w a r d i a n a d d i t i o n s , t h e 4 1 5 m ² h o m e c o m b i n e s a r c h i t e c t u r a l h e r i t a g e

w i t h t i m e l e s s e l e g a n c e

O r i g i n a l l y g r a n t e d t o T h o m a s P a l m e r i n t h e 1 8 2 0 s , t h e e s t a t e h a s

p a s s e d t h r o u g h n o t a b l e T a s m a n i a n f a m i l i e s I t n o w s t a n d s a s a

m a g n i f i c e n t r e s i d e n c e s u r r o u n d e d b y b o t a n i c a l g a r d e n s f e a t u r i n g

h e r i t a g e t r e e s , f o r m a l g a r d e n r o o m s , a l a r g e p o n d , a n d a r i v u l e t T h e p r o p e r t y i n c l u d e s m u l t i p l e o u t b u i l d i n g s , a g a r d e n e r ’ s c o t t a g e , a n d a

h e a t e d i n d o o r p o o l .

I n s i d e , t h e h o m e f e a t u r e s a g r a n d v e r a n d a h e n t r y , s p a c i o u s l i v i n g a r e a s , a l i b r a r y , l a r g e c o u n t r y k i t c h e n , a n d n u m e r o u s b e d r o o m s O r i g i n a l

f e a t u r e s s u c h a s f i r e p l a c e s , s t a i n e d g l a s s , b a y w i n d o w s , a n d w i d e

f l o o r b o a r d s h a v e b e e n c a r e f u l l y p r e s e r v e d

L o c a t e d a t t h e b a s e o f t h e G r e a t W e s t e r n T i e r s , P a l

b r e a t h t a k i n g v i e w s a n d p r o x i m i t y t o C r e s s y , L o n g f o r d , a n

HISTORY ON QUEENS DOMAIN HOBART

Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

The Queens Domain is 230 hectares of bushland, parkland and cultural sites. We parked in Federal Street, North Hobart then walked to the pedestrian bridge over the Brooker Highway, in front of the former Hobart High School.

Crossing the bridge, we followed the sealed track to the Upper Domain Road. We walked along to Max's Infinity Loop, then uphill on the mountain bike track.

At the summit, a point of interest is the Wireless Station, established in 1912 as an integral part of Australia’s early communications network. The station is now the home of Tas Maritime Radio, serving an important role in ensuring the safety of life and property at sea.

Leaving the Wireless Station, we strolled downhill to the Soldiers Memorial Avenue, which winds across the Domain to the city.

Information panels beside the track recount the history of the Soldiers Memorial Avenue, which commemorates servicemen who died on active service in the Great War, 1914 to 1918. Each serviceman is remembered with a plaque that contains a summary of their life and service.

We turned off the Avenue into the picturesque TCA Ground, where we watched the Tasmanian Tigers cricket team practice.

Returning to the Avenue, we walked on to the Gunpowder Magazine. Built by the Royal Engineers in 1850-51 to store black gunpowder, the Magazine has 600mm thick sandstone walls, a vaulted double roof, spark proof ventilation, and Franklin lightning rods to prevent explosions.

After viewing the Gunpowder Magazine, we returned to North Hobart. In a five kilometre walk, we saw interesting historic places, and panoramic views over all of Hobart and along the Derwent River.

• High foot traffic at iconic venues

• Professionally promoted large-scale events

• Curated, quality-focused maker mix

• Strong winter and Christmas buying audiences

• Established brand with loyal shoppers

Ochre Medical Centre Hobart is a friendly, centrally located practice offering comprehensive GP services in the Hobart area. We have appointments available and are delighted to be welcoming new patients.

Our Services

Women’s health • Men’s health • Children’s health

Acupuncture • Antenatal care • Contraception

Chronic disease management & health assessments

Weight loss & lifestyle management

Skin checks (full body or spot checks)

Musculoskeletal medicine

Minor procedures • Sexual health

Scan the QR code for more

You can also download our Ochre Health App to book appointments, add to calendar, check in and more or book online at ochrehealth.com.au

Ochre Medical Centre Hobart Level 1, 242 Liverpool Street, Hobart P 6223 1055 Monday - Friday 8.00 - 5.00pm

RECIPE

EASTER ROCKY ROAD

This delicious take on Rocky Road using Biscoff and Mini Eggs is perfect for Easter. Use your imagination to add your own touch with extras such as nuts, lollies and fudge.

INGREDIENTS

• 540g white chocolate, melted

• 125g butter, melted

• 200g Biscoff spread

• 150g mini marshmallows

• Small bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs

• 250g Biscoff biscuits

METHOD

Line a 23cm square cake tin with greaseproof baking paper. In a medium sized saucepan on low heat melt the chocolate, butter and Biscoff spread, stirring continuously until it’s smooth and all mixed together. Remove from heat and set aside.

Into a large bowl, break up the biscuits into coarse halves then add the marshmallows, Mini Eggs and any other optional extras. Stir to combine. Pour in the chocolate mixture and mix until it’s all well coated. Spoon the mixture into the tin, press down with the back of a spoon, then refrigerate for 5-6 hours. When you’re ready to slice it, use a hot knife and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Pic: Taming Twins

VINTAGE 2026: WORTH THE WAIT

The 2026 Tasmanian wine grape harvest has (finally) kicked off, with the island’s vineyards and wineries humming with excitement as the first grapes make their way from vine to winery. Wine Tasmania’s Viticulture & Winemaking Officer Paul Smart said the 2025/26 growing season has been anything but predictable. “It’s been a rather unusual season here in Tasmania. A very cool spring was followed by a mild summer and little rainfall, which means conditions have been dry, and grapes have ripened more slowly than usual.” The first grapes to be harvested are those destined for sparkling wine, with harvesting activity likely to continue through to late May and potentially June for later styles and varieties.

PINOT NOIR

Tassie’s big hitter, Pinot Noir, is perfect as the weather cools and the dinners become heartier.

HOME

Small Wonder Landscape Pinot Noir 2024 ($40)

A Tamar Valley gem that’s certified organic and handpicked. With a warm, compact vintage in 2024 producing something that’s generous and precise: think cranberry, dark plum and a whisper of star anise, with silky tannins and a fresh, lingering finish. Drink it now or pop a few away.

Set the vibe:

Music: In Love With You by

The Paradise, Alan Braxe and Romuald

Food: Duck pancakes

When: Friday night

AWAY

Yabby Lake Red Claw Pinot Noir 2024 ($32)

Red Claw is one of those wines that delivers serious pedigree at an everyday price. Under the hand of winemaker Tom Carson, one of Australia's most respected Pinot Noir specialists, the Mornington Peninsula 2024 vintage is bright, juicy and beautifully silky — cherry, red fruits and a touch of spice on the nose. As James Halliday once put it: "If there is a better value Pinot Noir on the market, I haven't met it yet." Hard to argue.

Set the vibe:

Music: Giving Up Air by Temper Trap

Food: Roast autumn vegetable salad

When: Tuesdays

Benny Bintruck is a messy, noisy garbage truck just trying to do his job.

A fun children’s book by Hobart author, Stephanie Williams. Available at Fullers, Dymocks and Lily&Dot locally and online (includes shipping).

“Charli is obsessed with Benny. She adores him and giggles “stinky poo stinky Benny”. - Olivia

www.bennybintruck.com

THE TASSIE BOOK CLUB

This month we have another two fabulous new/ish books from local authors. We have been absolutely swamped with new Tassie books in recent months and it doesn't look like the tide will stop coming in any time soon. We can’t keep up, but it's a great problem to have and we love to see the Tassie literary scene thriving!

Deeply original, organic and gritty (in every sense of the word), this novel doesn’t shy away from the unpleasant realities of life (in all its forms).

Grappling with the humanity of nature, and the animalism of humans, Jobe provokes readers to examine our ideas about life and death; nature and the seemingly unnatural; what binds us and what separates us. While a lack of easy answers might leave some readers unsatisfied, I’m looking forward to reading more of Jobe’s fiction in the future!

Keely Jobe’s writing credentials precede her - she is, amongst other things, the nonfiction editor at Island Magazine - but The Endling is her first novel. And what a debut! We follow the lives of niece and aunty pair, Mila and Frank, over a handful of years, as they live atop an unnamed mountain in a women-only collective in the early 1990s.

Eking out an existence with a handful of other likeminded women (and an illegal dog), Mila and Frank’s world slowly starts to unravel after an encounter with an unusual orchid. When the young women all fall pregnant, despite the ongoing lack of men in the community, the fragile balance shatters.

It’s 1999. Marnie, Sarah, Poppy and Xanthea live in a run down warehouse in Melbourne. All are struggling artists, finding their way; creating, encouraging and being fiercely protective of the group - forming deep, complicated and lifelong bonds.

Fast forward 25 years and Marnie has achieved huge success as the writer of the group, with multiple published books and film adaptations. She spoils her close friends with a last minute weekend away, in secluded Southport, Tasmania.

Book Chatter

The Global Book Crawl is back in Hobart from 20-26 April. We had great fun making a day of it last year, popping into all our favourite places for a browse, and can't wait to do it all again! Grab your passport from one of the six participating stores (Fullers Bookshop, Hobart Bookshop, Cracked and Spineless, Dymocks Centrepoint, Five Leaves Left and the State Bookstore), get at least four stamps from visiting other stores and you’ll be eligible for a free audiobook from libro.fm (families can also get a free Andy Griffiths book while stocks last)! And there are promises of other exciting surprises and special offers along the way.

Plus book launches galore! Tassie favourites Mary-Lou Stephens and Katherine Scholes are doing statewide tours for their new books, while numerous other local and visiting authors have events lined up around the island in April. Be sure to check out what's on at your local bookshop, and book a ticket before they sell out!

The book flips between Marnie’s perspective in 1999 and Sarah’s in 2025. We see how loyalty between the women remains, yet their relationships have quietly shifted over time. When one of them goes missing on holiday, cracks start appearing in the carefully constructed versions of themselves they have presented to the world and each other.

A Disappearing Act is a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first chapter. Jo Dixon builds tension slowly through layers of detail that kept me reading late into the night!

Keen to chat books with us? Find us @thewomanbookerprizeclub on Instagram or email thewbpc@gmail.com

Bespoke, Tasmanian-made wool suits. Holly wears the silk-lined Smitten suit.

ZODIAC CHECK-IN

YOUR MONTHLY ASTRO UPDATE

Words: Sara Hewitt

Aries (21 Mar - 19 Apr): Mars and Mercury moving into your sign give you a burst of confidence and momentum. Ideas come quickly and you feel ready to act. The Full Moon in Libra shines a light on relationship balance and helps clear the air. Venus and Uranus bring lively connections. The New Moon invites a moment of rest before your next bold step forward.

Taurus (20 Apr - 20 May): Venus and Uranus stir surprising thoughts around money, values, or what truly matters to you. Mars and Mercury encourage quiet reflection rather than rushing decisions. The Full Moon in Libra highlights routines and wellbeing, helping you adjust your pace. The New Moon refreshes friendships and future plans, inspiring supportive connections that help you move forward with confidence.

Gemini (21 May - 20 Jun): With Venus and Uranus entering your sign, your charm and curiosity shine. New people and ideas appear when you least expect them. Mars and Mercury energise teamwork and shared goals. The Full Moon in Libra sparks creativity and reminds you to enjoy life. The New Moon nudges your career path toward something fresh and meaningful.

Cancer (21 Jun - 22 Jul): Mars and Mercury bring strong motivation to pursue ambitions or career changes. You feel ready to step into greater responsibility. Venus and Uranus stir insight behind the scenes, encouraging reflection. The Full Moon in Libra highlights emotional needs at home. The New Moon encourages learning and exploration that expands your outlook and confidence.

Leo (23 Jul - 22 Aug): Venus and Uranus bring stimulating friendships and inspiring conversations. Mars and Mercury

spark curiosity about travel, study, or future adventures. The Full Moon in Libra highlights communication and may bring an important discussion. The New Moon opens the door to deeper trust in shared matters and encourages emotional honesty and renewed confidence.

Virgo (23 Aug - 22 Sep): Mars and Mercury push you to organise shared finances or emotional commitments with clarity. Venus and Uranus bring surprising support through friendships or community connections. The Full Moon in Libra draws attention to your self worth and personal resources. The New Moon opens a new chapter in relationships and invites meaningful cooperation.

Libra (23 Sep - 22 Oct): Mars and Mercury energise your relationship world, making conversations lively and direct. Venus and Uranus bring unexpected inspiration through travel or new perspectives. The Full Moon in your sign offers personal insight and encourages balance. The New Moon refreshes daily routines and wellbeing, helping you build healthier patterns that support long term happiness.

Scorpio (23 Oct - 21 Nov): Mars and Mercury encourage action around work, organisation, and everyday responsibilities. Venus and Uranus spark creativity and emotional honesty in close connections. The Full Moon in Libra highlights the need for rest and emotional release. The New Moon invites new joy and playful energy, helping you rediscover passions that bring excitement back.

Sagittarius (22 Nov - 21 Dec): Creative sparks fly as Mars and Mercury boost confidence in hobbies, romance, or artistic expression. Venus and Uranus bring fresh ideas to work or health routines. The Full

Moon in Libra highlights friendships and group connections. The New Moon focuses attention on home life, encouraging changes that bring comfort and emotional balance.

Capricorn (22 Dec - 19 Jan): Mars and Mercury activate home matters and family discussions, making it easier to address practical concerns. Venus and Uranus bring fun and creative surprises into your life. The Full Moon in Libra shines on career direction and public goals. The New Moon brings fresh conversations and ideas that help you move forward.

Aquarius (20 Jan - 18 Feb): Mars and Mercury sharpen your mind and encourage meaningful conversations or new learning. Venus and Uranus bring unexpected shifts around home or family life. The Full Moon in Libra expands your perspective and encourages travel or study. The New Moon highlights finances and practical planning, helping you strengthen your sense of security.

Pisces (19 Feb - 20 Mar): Venus and Uranus brighten communication and bring surprising opportunities through local connections. Mars and Mercury energise financial matters and help you take confident action. The Full Moon in Libra helps release emotional attachments that feel heavy. The New Moon in your sign brings renewal, helping you step forward with clarity and fresh purpose.

Sara is a Hobart-based astrologer with 35 years professional experience. If you would like a private psychic or astrology reading with Sara either face to face or by zoom, phone or email, please go to www. stargold.com.au for more information and to book.