East Coast Tasmania Wine Trail: A One-Day Route From Swansea to Bicheno
Tasmania's East Coast packs a dozen cellar doors into one short stretch of the Tasman Highway. Swansea to Bicheno is 43 km, about 35 minutes without stops, so you can taste your way up the coast in a day and still be on the water for sunset.
Before you go
Pick three or four cellar doors, not all of them. Each stop deserves time.
Have a designated driver, and share tastings.
Opening hours change with the season, so check each cellar door's hours on the day.
Morning: Swansea and Cranbrook
Start in Swansea with a coffee and a walk along the foreshore, then head north. The highway between Swansea and Cranbrook runs through the heart of East Coast wine country, with cellar doors and long lunches among the vines.
Early afternoon: towards Freycinet
Continue north towards Freycinet, with the Hazards rising ahead of you as you near the Coles Bay turnoff.
Late afternoon: Coles Bay Road and Kitty's Mistake
Turn onto Coles Bay Road towards Freycinet National Park. On the shore of Moulting Lagoon, Kitty's Mistake, the cellar door at Wineglass Bay Estate, is the last stop of the day. Order a glass or bottle of our small-batch East Coast wine, take it out onto the big lawn by the water, play a game of bocce, and stay for the sunset. On weekends and through summer there is live music too. It is open daily from 12pm to 5.30pm.
Evening: dinner at WADE
Stay for dinner at WADE, in the same barn, from 5.30pm. Bookings are recommended.
Make it two days
The best way to do this route is not to rush it. Stay at Wineglass Bay Estate, finish the wine trail with dinner at WADE, and spend the next morning walking to Wineglass Bay.