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Huon Valley Wine and Cider Trail
Wines, ciders, and views worth lingering over.
- Kate Hill Wines - Huon Valley
TasALERT real-time fire, emergency warnings | FUEL CHECK Tas
In Southern Tasmania’s Huon Valley, the good life flows a little slower — and often straight from the barrel. This is orchard and vineyard country, where cool-climate wines meet crisp craft ciders, and the scenery is every bit as intoxicating as what’s in your glass.
The Huon Valley Wine and Cider Trail invites you to wind your way through rolling hills, riverside villages, and farm gates brimming with local flavour. Here, passionate makers pour their heart (and plenty of Tasmanian sunshine) into every drop — from elegant pinots and aromatic whites to small-batch apple ciders that taste like the valley itself.
It’s more than a tasting tour; it’s a chance to meet the growers, hear their stories, and linger over long lunches with views that make you forget about the time. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape from Hobart, a self-drive adventure with friends, or a slow-travel food journey, this trail blends award-winning drinks, paddock-to-plate dining, and a warm local welcome you’ll remember long after the last sip.
Read on to discover our favourite cellar doors and cider stops, and start plotting your own Huon Valley tasting adventure.
Just 25 minutes south of Hobart in Grove, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed is a Huon Valley icon — and a must-stop on the Wine and Cider Trail. Housed in a character-filled 1942 apple packing shed, it’s home to Willie Smith’s award‑winning ciders and a warm country welcome.
Enjoy a cider tasting or join a distillery tour, then settle in for a meal celebrating local, seasonal, and sustainable produce. The Saturday morning artisan market is a favourite for fresh produce, baked treats, and handmade goods. Inside, the museum tells the story of Tasmania’s apple‑growing heritage through the eyes of the Smith family.
Address: 2064 Huon Hwy, Grove TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Open hours: Monday–Thursday 10am–4:30pm, Friday 10am–9pm, and weekends 10am–5pm. Open year‑round (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
Since 2008, Kate Hill Wines has been crafting award‑winning cool‑climate wines in the heart of the Huon Valley. Kate and her husband Charles transformed a historic 19th‑century apple shed into a working winery and tasting room, later expanding to a second site with a four‑hectare vineyard and an intimate cellar door beside an 1800s heritage‑listed cottage.
Kate’s winemaking journey spans some of the world’s premier wine regions — South Australia, France, California, and Chile — and her wines have collected a string of gold medals and trophies.
Relax in the peaceful gardens, share a bottle while gazing towards the Sleeping Beauty range or Hartz Mountains National Park, and let the kids roam in the open space.
Address: 21 Dowlings Rd, Huonville TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Open hours: Six days a week from 11am–4pm (closed Tuesdays and public holidays).
In the heart of Ranelagh, Home Hill Vineyard and Winery has built a reputation as one of Tasmania’s most celebrated boutique wineries. Their Kelly’s Pinot Noir claimed Australia’s most prestigious wine honour, the Jimmy Watson Trophy, in 2015, cementing their place among the country’s best Pinot Noir producers.
At the rammed‑earth cellar door, you can taste their award‑winning range, which also includes Chardonnay, Sylvaner, Sparkling, and Dessert wines. The restaurant — awarded an AGFG Chef’s Hat in 2023 — serves seasonal menus that showcase Tasmanian produce, paired perfectly with those cool‑climate drops.
Take in sweeping views over surrounding vines, rolling pastures, and the Sleeping Beauty and Wellington ranges — the perfect backdrop for a long lunch.
Address: 38 Nairn Rd, Ranelagh TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Open hours: Cellar door open daily 10am–5pm. Restaurant open Thursday–Monday.
Housed in the historic 1870s St John’s Church Hall, Frank’s Cider Bar & Café is a Franklin favourite just 40 minutes south of Hobart. Overlooking the Huon River, this welcoming spot serves award‑winning ciders made from apples and pears grown on the Clark family orchard, which has been farming in Franklin since 1836.
Enjoy free tastings, then settle in for a Huon Valley‑inspired menu featuring local seafood, seasonal produce, and cider‑infused treats like their famous apple cider scones. The on‑site museum offers a fascinating look at the region’s apple‑growing heritage.
Address: 3328 Huon Hwy, Franklin TAS 7113 (Google Map)
Open hours: The Cafe is open 10am-4pm daily.
Harvest and Light is the Huon’s only dedicated tasting house, pairing Tasmanian wine, spirits, cider, and craft beer with a unique small‑batch picklery and photography gallery. The gallery features local landscapes and macro photographic art, while the picklery preserves the best of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Enjoy a grazing platter highlighting house‑made preserves, or settle in with a tasting flight of locally produced beverages.
Address: 6 Church St, Geeveston TAS 7116 (Google Map)
Open hours: Thursday 11 am–6 pm, Friday 11 am–8 pm, Saturday 9 am–8 pm, Sunday 11 am–6 pm. Check their website for current times and booking information.
About 4km north of Cygnet, Pagan Cider is the southernmost cider cellar door in Australia, set among a working cherry orchard. Their ‘whole‑fruit’ ciders are made with real Tasmanian apples, pears, cherries, and seasonal fruits — no added sugar, just pure fruit flavour.
Sample their core range alongside small‑batch seasonal releases, then enjoy a glass in the sunny courtyard or family‑friendly event space.
Address: 7891 Channel Hwy, Cygnet TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Open hours: Pagan Cider is open 11am-4pm daily.
Established in 1996, Two Bud Spur Vineyard is one of Tasmania’s southernmost vineyards, producing small‑batch cool‑climate wines with minimal intervention. Their eco‑friendly straw‑bale winery and cellar door offer an intimate tasting experience.
Address: 1033a Woodbridge Hill Rd, Gardners Bay TAS 7112 (Google Map)
Open hours: Weekends during summer (December–March) from 11am–5pm or by appointment. Check Two Bud Spur website.
Hartzview Vineyard offers an impressive line‑up: wines, ports, liqueurs, mead, and cassis — all made from 100% Tasmanian fruit. Taste Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and unique fortified fruit wines like Blackberry, Raspberry, Cherry, and Spiced Apple Mead.
The Wine Centre houses a café, gallery, and providore, and there’s on‑site spa accommodation. History lovers can take the self‑guided walk to the restored fruit pickers’ huts, once home to seasonal workers and Italian POWs.
Address: 70 Dillons Rd, Gardners Bay TAS 7112 (Google Map)
Open hours: 10am–4pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Pure Mist is a multi‑award‑winning water and gin distillery, harvesting mist droplets from the Huon Valley to produce still and sparkling water, plus premium gin and pre‑mixed drinks. Visit their cellar door for tastings and a look at their 40‑acre farm and production facility.
Address: 101 Scotts Rd, Geeveston TAS 7116 (Google Map)
Open hours: 10am–5pm Wednesday to Sunday. Check on the Pure Mist website for current opening hours.
Altaness is a by‑appointment‑only boutique winery crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a hidden corner of the Huon Valley. Visitors enjoy a personalised tasting in the relaxed winery and packing shed, with insights into cool‑climate viticulture and winemaking.
Address: 10 Haltons Rd, Lymington TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Bookings essential: Call or SMS Duncan on 0417 824 325 or email altanesswinery@gmail.com.
With a mission to produce Australia’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Sailor Seeks Horse revitalised a neglected Huon Valley vineyard and turned it into one of the region’s most exciting wine labels. Tastings are by arrangement, offering insight into their journey from London careers to hands‑on winemaking in Tasmania.
Address: 102 Armstrongs Rd, Cradoc TAS 7109 (Google Map)
Contact: Locals are welcome to pick up from the vineyard by appointment. Contact Sailor Seeks Horse (Visit Website)
From small‑batch cider to gold‑medal Pinot Noir, the Huon Valley Wine and Cider Trail is a celebration of Southern Tasmania’s flavours and landscapes. Take your time, meet the makers, and soak in the views — whether you’re raising a glass at a vineyard overlooking the Sleeping Beauty range or enjoying a long lunch by the Huon River. With so many stops to explore, every visit is a little different, but one thing stays the same: the taste of the Huon will stay with you long after you’ve headed home.
You can visit a handful of stops in half a day, but to truly enjoy the trail — with tastings, long lunches, and scenic stops — a full day or weekend is ideal. Many visitors choose to explore 3–5 venues at a leisurely pace.
The trail begins just 25 minutes south of Hobart at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in Grove, but you can start from any point depending on your travel plans.
The region specialises in cool‑climate wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. You’ll also find excellent Rosé, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Sparkling wines, along with award‑winning craft ciders.
Many venues welcome walk‑ins, but some — especially smaller vineyards like Altaness, Two Bud Spur Vineyard, or boutique distilleries — require bookings. It’s always best to check ahead, especially on weekends or during peak holiday seasons.
Yes. While tastings are for adults, many venues have outdoor spaces, gardens, farm animals, or activities that children enjoy. Elsewhere Vineyard, Home Hill, and Willie Smith’s are especially welcoming for families.
The trail is best explored by car for flexibility, but some tour operators offer guided Huon Valley wine and cider tours departing from Hobart. This is also a great option if you’d prefer not to drive after tastings.
Absolutely. Many venues have on‑site restaurants or cafés serving seasonal, locally sourced menus. Highlights include Home Hill’s AGFG Chef’s Hat restaurant, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, and Frank’s Cider Bar & Café.
The trail is open year‑round. Summer offers lush orchards and long evenings, autumn brings colourful foliage and harvest festivals, winter is cosy with roaring fires and rich reds, and spring showcases fresh blossoms and new‑season produce.
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