Upon arrival into Hobart a limousine will be waiting and you will be met by your MONA private concierge.
Ease into your stay with some refreshments & a light lunch in the source restaurant before your opportunity to experience a back of house museum visit with chief curatorial staff about the collection installation so far. Or if you’d prefer to delve straight into a wine you could opt to do a deep crystal back vintage tasting fully hosted by Master Sommelier Pip Anderson, before a 2 hour cellar and tour experience by the Moorilla team.
Your pavilion will be ready at 3pm and you can choose to relax for the next few hours with a Tasmanian salt and seaweed scrub/ massage or if you perhaps have a particular interest in books, MONA has a private library and depending on your preferences these can be arranged in your room.
In the late afternoon once the museum has shut to the public you’ll be taken on a rare fully escorted private viewing of Monaisms ( B2 B 1) with one of the museums high profile hosts. This may be David Walsh himself (owner and creator of MONA), one of the curators or possibly even an artist, all of who can provide some unique inside stories.
Before dinner enjoy a sunset cocktail & canapes by the in-house mixologist under the Armana. You’ll then be escorted down to the new restaurant Faro for dinner; a curated caterpillar plate experience and should you wish your hosts can join you to talk further.
Today after breakfast in the Source or delivered to your pavilion you’ll be whisked away by heli to Bruny Island to experience it’s beauty & sample the amazing produce such as Bruny Island Cheese. Following this a full seafood seaduction awaits, enjoy oysters shucked straight from the water, rock lobster and see your guide dive for abalone and sea urchin. Be delighted as your catch is turned into a delicious seafood feast accompanied by gourmet local produce and Tasmanian wines, boutique beers, ciders and juices.
This evening you’ll have the privilege of spending time with one of the largest collectors of contemporary art in Australia owner Penny Clive - or her curator Michael Bugetti. They will take your for private viewing of some of the pieces before an evening at Franklin Restaurant for a dinner curated by Annalise Gregory with matched wines .
This morning you’ll be collected by private vehicle from Mona and transferred to Woodbridge on the Derwent in the beautiful Derwent Valley, to drop your luggage.
After meeting your personal guide who will host you over the next three days, head out to explore the inspiring Wall in the Wilderness and possibly meet the artist, Greg Duncan. Indulge in tastings of award winning Whisky, Gin and Vodka at historic estates with behind the scenes and meet the maker opportunities.
Take time after check-in to rest & enjoy your suite before this evening enjoying a multi-course dinner, based on seasonal and locally sourced produce. The menu is individually designed each day after consultation with yourselves for any preferences.
Retire to the fireplace this evenig for a nightcap of port & sherry.
A chance to get hands on by spending a full day at the well renowned Agrarian Kitchen. Here you will enjoy a private cooking class led by Rodney Dunn, former Food Editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine and one-time apprentice to Australian chef, Tetsuya Wakuda.
Start the day in gumboots foraging in the garden for the ripest fruit and vegetables. What cannot be harvested from the garden or farm is sourced from local Tasmanian producers. The extensive tour also gives plenty of opportunity to discuss growing plants and The Agrarian Kitchen’s own gardening philosophy.
Once harvesting is complete continue in the kitchen preparing and cooking together a seasonal feast with the day culminating in a lunch including Tasmanian wines.
Your South West Wilderness experience starts as soon as you step off the helicopter. Begin with a tour of the cultural & historical sites around Melaleuca, including the old tin mine & the newly built Melaleuca Museum. You'll then be taken on an Aboriginal heritage walk, which shares the story of the Needwonnee people of the Southwest with innovative interpretive installations along a new 1.2km boardwalk. The path weaves its way through the forest and buttongrass plains beside Melaleuca lagoon. We’ll also visit the Orange Bellied Parrot viewing hide, where there may be the chance to spot this critically endangered animal & the measures being taken to save this beautiful creature.
From the jetty at Melaleuca, travel by tender through the mirrored waters of Melaleuca Inlet to Odalisque, your floating home for the next 3 days.
The next few days will be tailored to suit your particular interests, guided by the weather. The experience can be as active or as relaxing as you like – there are plenty of opportunities to go ashore for walking, beach combing and bird watching, or you may prefer to choose a soft lounge aboard the Odalisque, sip a boutique Tasmanian beer and take in the wilderness scenery from a soft lounge.
The on board expert wilderness guide & skipper, who know everything there is to know about the history, plants and wildlife of the area, will plan your shore excursions daily. The next day’s adventures are often the topic of conversation around the dinner table the night before.
This afternoon find yourself amongst the stunning Hazards and ensconce yourself in the luxury of Saffire, an indulgent base from which to discover the ‘picture perfect’ Freycinet Peninsula at either a relaxed or an active pace. A perfect opportunity to reflect on all of the unique people & places you have experienced throughout your trip.
Included in your stay are a broad range of activities that are designed to engage and connect you with this stunning location. Experience the contrasts between wetland ecology and the Tasman Sea, slip on waders and journey into the secret life of oysters and mussels, take a guided bush walk, “meet the locals” in an after dark search for Australia’s unique creatures or venture out on mountain bikes.
At extra cost helicopter excursions, boat trips to Schouten Island, sea-kayaking tours, quad biking adventures or a full day lunch picnic to Wineglass Bay can all be arranged.
