There’s a quiet thrill in skipping the sensible option. For some people, it’s ordering the dessert and the digestif. For me, it was scrolling past the basic car hire options and hitting ‘confirm’ on a luxury Audi Q5 through my Turo app.
Because if you’re going to explore Tasmania in winter – where the roads are winding, the scenery is cinematic, and the wine is dangerously good – why not do it in style?
Sure, I could’ve gone for something even more theatrical (there was a Mustang on the list), or a zippy Mercedes-Benz GLA, but the Audi Q5 hit that sweet spot: polished but practical, confident but not too loud. And unlike my car back home – which smells vaguely of a gym towel and has a questionable stain in the back seat thanks to my kids – this felt like slipping into a new identity.
Tassie, But Make It Luxury
The pick-up was seamless – straight from Hobart Airport, no queues, no paperwork dramas – and soon enough, I was on the open road, playlist blaring (there’s a Turo playlist on Spotify, how convenient), heated seats activated, chasing clouds into the mountains. The two-and-a-half-hour drive to Launceston is one of those journeys that makes you want to narrate your own life: rolling hills, sleepy farmland, eucalyptus forests flickering in the afternoon light.
And Launceston? It had serious Copenhagen vibes. Clean air, design-forward charm, and that same sense that everyone has really good taste in cheese (and wine).
Silo Dreams And Pinot Perfection
My hotel, Peppers Silo, was quite literally a converted grain silo, and yes, staying in a former industrial structure does feel very on-trend. Inside, though, it’s all luxe finishes and warm Tassie hospitality. The locally sourced tea, snacks, and thoughtful extras made it feel less like a hotel and more like someone stylish and well-connected had invited me to stay in their artfully restored heritage project.
After settling in, I made a beeline for Stillwater Restaurant, a local institution perched by the Tamar River. The food? Fresh, seasonal, unforgettable. The market fish practically melted on the fork, and I was this close to proposing marriage to the Broad Arrow Pinot Gris – crisp, elegant, and worth checking a bag for.
Why I’ll Never Rent Boring Again
I could’ve done this trip in a sensible sedan. I could’ve saved a few bucks and pretended that “all rental cars are the same.” But honestly? There’s something deeply satisfying about living a little larger than usual while on holiday.
Travel is the perfect time to try on a version of yourself who says yes to luxury, who books the nicer hotel, who orders the wine without squinting at the price – even just for a few days.
Because when you’re chasing fog through Tasmania with Billie Eilish on the stereo and a Pinot hangover to look forward to, trust me: you’ll be glad you picked the fancy wheels.
Whisky, Truffles And Vanilla Slice Detours
The next day was peak Tassie indulgence: I headed to Turner Stillhouse Distillery for a full-blown gin and whisky tasting (and a distillery tour, naturally). Their Rosevears Tasmanian single malt, matured in a bourbon cask, was smoky, complex and dangerously smooth – basically, Tasmania in a glass.
Dinner was back at the hotel’s Grain of the Silos, and bless the food gods, it was truffle season. Chef Thomas Pirker absolutely delivered the goods: rich, earthy flavours, warm lighting, and that smug satisfaction of knowing you’re in very good culinary hands.
The road back to Hobart came with a delicious pit stop at Ross Bakery Inn, where I sampled their famous vanilla slice – it’s an institution. Ross is tiny, charming, and full of heritage character – the perfect mid-drive palate cleanser.
In Hobart, I checked into the Mövenpick Hotel, where I discovered something life-changing: chocolate hour. Yes, an actual hour every evening where guests are treated to complimentary chocolate creations. Honestly, I wept – but thanked the gods there’s not a chip-and-gravy hour; I’d be done for.
Hikes, Wine Flights And Seafood Dreams
Next morning: hiking boots on. I made the trek to Cape Raoul Lookout, and if I squinted (and ignored the potoroo tracks), I could’ve sworn I was in Scotland. Wind-blown cliffs, misty blue ocean, and the kind of rugged, wild beauty that clears out every cobweb in your brain.
Post-hike reward? Bangor Vineyard Winery, where I ate my weight in mussels and matched every bite with a local wine. Tassie seafood + Tassie wine = a deeply spiritual experience.
For my final night, I dined at Tesoro inside the Mövenpick, and made a serious declaration: I don’t think I’ll drink wine from anywhere other than Tasmania again. Their cool-climate drops hit different. Or maybe it was just me, leaning into the fantasy version of myself who drinks Pinot with every course and knows what terms like “eraflage” mean.
Returning the Audi at the airport was as easy as picking it up. No fuss, no queue, no regrets. Just a final look back at the car that made the whole trip feel more elevated, more effortless.
Go Luxe, Or Go Home
This is the kind of trip you could do solo, with your best girlfriends, or share with a partner (if they’re good at Spotify road trip playlists). It’s a place that rewards spontaneity and style in equal measure.
Tasmania, I came for the views and the vino. I left with windswept hair, a camera roll full of truffles, and a vow: I’m coming back for you.
