Exploring The Huon Valley

The Huon area is one of the state’s most pristine regions. Its complete with incredible coastlines, beautiful secluded beaches, mountains, villages, walks, wineries, and eateries – so much to explore! 

11 kilometers away find one of our favourite things to do!  Grab the deck chairs from the laundry and head to Randall’s beach. It’s a great walking beach and it has the unique feature of trees nearby so you can sit with your feet in the sun and your book in the shade. A lovely way to relax and listen to the lapping waves or go for a dip! 

From there continue around the peninsula and drop in to Grandewe a unique multi award winning sheep cheesery and distiller in Birches Bay open daily 11-5pm. Beautifully located it overlooks the picturesque D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island. As you return to Cygnet, turn into Woodbridge Road with the quaint Café and metal horse on the corner you will come to signs for Hartzview vineyard 8 -9 kilometers along. It is open Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm. With spectacular views and a big selection of wines and fortifieds it is well worth the stop.

Just over an hour away…

For an exciting activity visit Tahune Airwalk, one of the most visited tourism attractions in Tasmania. On an elevated walkway 30 metres above the forest floor, with the final cantilever section sitting at a thrilling 50 metres above the Huon River, it has sweeping views across Huon, Picton and beyond.

Hastings Caves is another must see. Newdegate Cave is the largest dolomite tourist cave in Australia. Explore further one of the two easy walking trails, pack a picnic, or enjoy a barbecue in the lovely forest surrounds. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the native wildlife that share this forest, including platypus, quolls, pademelons and birds. Relax in the Thermal Springs swimming pool, which is fed by mineral-rich thermal springs where the warm thermal pool water remains 28 degrees, year-round. The Platypus walk is a lovely 5-to-10-minute track through the forest behind the pools. Bookings are essential for this unique adventure https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/hastings-caves-state-reserve

Southern winery’s just a small selection

  • Two Buds spur 2 kms open December to March weekends only
  • Hartz View 5 kms away wines and fortified’s Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm
  • Mewstone at Flowerpot does a tasting platter weekend opening (prebooking essential)
  • Home Hill at Ranelagh good range and a lovely lunch spot (check days)
  • Kate Hill at Huonville open weekends good range

Distilleries  

  • Hunnington distillery named in the top 10 distillers in the Murrays Whisky Bible 2022
  • Charles oats Distillery
  • Hartshorn Distillery using whey biproduct which also a Sheep Cheesery

Cider Makers 

  • Pagan cider
  • Willy smiths’ cider
  • Try Old Twelfth exclusively available at The Red Velvet Lounge or Peppermint Bay Hotel

Great Food in Cygnet

Check opening hours and days as they vary

  • Red Velvet lounge groovy Cygnet chilled feel. Great breakfast coffees and lunches
  • The Porthole a great modern casual café breakfast and lunches Thurs – Sun
  • Cygnet conservatory cafe Old Bank breakfast and lunches everyday
  • The bottom Pub (commercial) great pub grub, meals all day and takeaway meal options
  • Cygnet Japanese Diner fantastic options yummy food
  • Roys bitz of old pizza open Thurs-Sun but not after 7pm! Great pizzas

Cygnet takeaway

  • Jacky’s cafe
  • Polish bakery so many choices great breads and cakes
  • Little Lush Cakerie
  • Ashcraig farm Thai and organic produce Thai food Thurs – Sun

Groceries

  • Farah’s IGA – a bit of almost everything 7 days till 8pm
  • Cygnet grocer – Greek treats and more
  • The garden larder beautiful fresh local high quality organic produce
  • Cygnet butcher famous for his smoked goods

Food options further a field

Huonville and nearby

  • The Alternative Japanese
  • Willy Smiths casual with a great vibe. Live music on weekends
  • Home Hill winery serves beautiful lunches in its rammed earth and glass modern building.

Franklin area

  • Osteria @ Petty Sessions Very Italian influenced
  • Cinnamon and Cherry, a Turkish lunch spot with a twist and loads of passion

Kettering area

  • Peppermint Bay (lovely lunch)
  • Sea Wall Café Beautiful- views in the marina

Markets 

  • Cygnet 1st  and 3rd Sundays each month
  • Judbury 2nd Sunday each month
  • Woodbridge 2nd Saturday each month