Tasmania urges mainlanders to embrace, not escape winter

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Tasmania’s key tourism body is calling on the rest of Australia to wake up this winter and book a domestic holiday to Tasmania. Tourism Tasmania is encouraging Australian travellers to lead the recovery when the mercury drops and give a much-needed boost to local businesses and operators. Tourism Tasmania launched its new winter campaign, The Off Season, in Sydney on Wednesday night with an immersive event featuring the state’s finest producers and performers amidst the darkened pines of Centennial Park.

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The winter campaign calls on mainlanders to lose their inhibitions and experience Tasmania when the locals feast harder, dance longer, and embrace the very wilderness that defines them. Whether it’s the almighty roar of a pagan bonfire, the hiss of a lakeside sauna, the beautiful mess of a seafood feast or the throb of a festival stage, Tasmania in winter is anything but chill. Tourism Tasmania wants to change how Australians see winter – as a season to embrace not escape. The campaign evokes a life of adventure in a wild spirited sense of self, where visitors are free to embrace the weirdness, wildness and wooliness of the island.

“Some people see winter as a time to hibernate and wait for the cooler season to end. We’re inviting Australians to get off the couch and embrace a wintery holiday in Tasmania,” John Fitzgerald, CEO of Tourism Tasmania said at the event. “Other parts of Australia might endure winter, but Tasmanians have a different way of doing thing. We embrace the season like nowhere else – winter is when we thrive. Tasmanians revel in the season and get out and about seeking to be enriched, alive and connected.”

The campaign is encouraging visitors to come and experience this for themselves, to sample Tasmania’s unique creative spirit, variety of experiences and nature and wilderness like nowhere else. Off Season experiences include:

Barley silo stargazing Come Dark Sky stargazing in the new observatory at McHenry Distillery. Peer into galaxies beyond the Milky Way or maybe watch an Aurora and learn about the secrets of the winter night sky. Afterwards settle in to watch the flicker of fire flames from your modern cabin and enjoy a quiet dram or two.

Everyday I’m trufflin’ Sleep in. Slow down. Snuggle up. And get truffling. Enjoy a three-night celebration of the finer things in life, featuring a truffle hunt, fine Tassie wine and truffle-inspired dining at Stillwater Seven.

Sarah Island lantern tour The nighttime World Heritage Cruise is only for the brave. Tales of fear and dread are brought to life on this dimly lit, blustery island with a dark convict history. Lashings of local whisky, mulled wine and other warm morsels keep the shivers at bay.

Maria Island walk Spend the day surrounded by fluffy wombats, learning about the island’s history, beauty and amazing wildlife. By night, curl up by a roaring fire with a glass of wine from one of the local east coast wineries.

For more information on the Off Season campaign, go to discovertasmania.com.au/off-season Lead image: Festival of Voices – Big Sing Bonfire | Credit: Lusy Productions (supplied)

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