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Taste of Summer runs in Hobart from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, but no Viator listing carries its name. Seven tours can be booked separately for the same week, from €32.74 to €229.79 per adult (base 2 people, checked October 20, 2026), rated 4.74 to 4.99. Book the Maria Island cruise early.
Verified on via the Viator partner API (prices, ratings, availability).
I expected to find the festival on Viator. It isn’t there. Taste of Summer, Hobart’s big food festival, runs at Princes Wharf No. 1 from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, but tickets are sold through its own website, and no Viator listing carries its name. What you can book is the week around it: a winery, a brewery, a wine valley day trip, a half-day tasting, a kayak or a bike ride to stretch your legs between plates. I picked seven experiences that run in Hobart over the year-end period, all rated above 4.7 and with at least 111 reviews.
If you only book one outing, I would pick the Maria Island cruise. It has a 4.99 rating from 637 reviews, its title promises a lunch and a guided walk on the island, and Viator flags it as likely to sell out. It is also the most expensive in the selection, at €229.79 per adult for two people: booking early means you won’t have to pick another date.
Prices and availability were checked on October 20, 2026, for the window from November 3, 2026 to January 1, 2027; only the festival window (December 27 to January 3) was probed by specific dates. They may change before your trip.
Why Hobart suits a week of good food
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, the island off south-eastern Australia. The city sits on the banks of the Derwent River, at the foot of kunanyi, also called Mount Wellington. That setting explains the variety of this selection: a waterfront and a city center, a mountain you can ride down by bike, a port, Franklin Wharf, where the Maria Island cruise departs, and, in South Hobart, the Cascade brewery, whose guided tour lasts about 90 minutes.
Taste of Summer takes place at Princes Wharf No. 1, on Castray Esplanade according to the City of Hobart. The official site announces December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The City specifies an opening at 12 noon on December 27 and a closing at 10:30 p.m. on January 3. According to Carnifest, general access to the waterfront is usually free, while food and premium tickets are paid. No price for the 2026-2027 festival was found: check the organizer’s site before you travel.
For the previous edition, the Tasmanian government announced more than 70 exhibitors, 20 of them for the first time. Pulse Tasmania projected about 97,000 visitors over six days. These are projections published by the organizers, not audited figures. No attendance figure for the 2026-2027 edition exists yet, so this article publishes no number for this year.
The seven experiences below are not festival tickets. They are separate outings you can book for the same week. They fall into seven different categories: a food-focused tour, a full-day trip, a wine tour, a cruise, a brewery visit, an outdoor paddle and a bike descent. Two of them are trips to an island, but they are not alike. This split is a presentation choice, not something the organizer published.
If you extend your stay, Viator’s Tasmania listings also include Strahan, Port Arthur, Launceston and Cradle Mountain. These places are not covered here.
The 7 experiences compared
| Experience | Duration | Price per adult (base 2) | Rating (reviews) | Free cancellation | Days available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wine and food tasting tour | 5 hr | from €118.99 | 4.74 (111) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 60 of 60 |
| 2. Bruny Island, gourmet day trip | 9 hr 45 min | from €182.58 | 4.82 (834) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 59 of 60 |
| 3. Wine tour of the Vino valleys | 6 to 7 hr | from €141.65 | 4.97 (367) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 9 of 60 (Thursdays) |
| 4. Maria Island cruise | 9 hr 30 min | from €229.79 | 4.99 (637) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 58 of 60 |
| 5. Cascade brewery tour | 1 hr 30 min | from €32.74 | 4.78 (143) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 59 of 60 |
| 6. Hobart kayak tour with lunch | 2 hr 30 min | from €88.14 | 4.94 (476) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 50 of 60 |
| 7. Bike descent from kunanyi | 4 hr | €112.69 to €141.02 | 4.99 (304) | Yes, if cancelled 24 hours ahead; see the listing for conditions | 54 of 60 |
Prices and availability checked on the Viator partner API on October 20, 2026, for the period from November 3, 2026 to January 1, 2027; they may change. No Viator listing carries the festival’s name: these experiences are booked separately.
For a tight budget, the Cascade brewery visit is the most affordable. For a first trip without a car, the half-day wine tour is the easiest to fit in. For a couple who wants the sea, the Maria Island cruise. For a group of sporty friends, the kunanyi bike descent. For a family with children aged seven and over, the kayak. For wine lovers who don’t want to drive, the Vino valleys trip, provided you land on a Thursday.
The 7 experiences to book in Hobart during festival week
1. Half-day wine and food tour in Hobart
If you arrive in Hobart without a car, this is the outing I would book first. Five hours of cellar visits in southern Tasmania, with wine, chocolate and cheese, and nobody at the wheel. The half-day format fits well into a festival week: the morning stays free for a walk, and the late afternoon for the waterfront. What sets it apart from a standard cellar tour is that three products are chained along a single route, with alcoholic drinks included. The catch is confirmation: it is manual, not instant. Book early enough to receive the confirmation before you lock in the rest of your week. The meeting point is at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Davey Street in Hobart; check the exact spot on the listing. The listing provides for cancellation in bad weather, and for cancellation if there are not enough participants.
- Wine, chocolate and cheese tastings
- Alcoholic drinks included
- Mobile or paper ticket per booking
2. Full-day gourmet trip to Bruny Island
This is the outing with the most reviews in the selection: 834, the largest volume on the list. Nine hours and three quarters to discover Bruny Island, with a gourmet tasting on the menu, food and drinks mentioned in the listing, and a local guide on board. Meeting point is at the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys office, in the Dock Head building, near the Franklin Wharf lift bridge. Hotel pickup can be arranged on request. Before you book, ask how the crossing to the island works: the listing does not say, and I don’t want to let you assume. This is the outing for anyone who wants a full day without organizing anything, and who accepts a manual confirmation, with no instant time slot.
- Full day on Bruny Island
- Gourmet tasting, food and drinks mentioned in the listing
- Local guide and air-conditioned vehicle
3. Full-day wine tour of the Vino valleys
For wine lovers who want to taste without driving, this is one of the best-rated outings in the selection, with a 4.97 rating from 367 reviews. Six to seven hours in the wine valleys around Hobart, with a lunch of local produce and wine tastings included. Confirmation is instant. Its weak point is the calendar: it only runs on Thursdays, and the listing reserves it for guests aged 18 and over. Within the festival window, December 31 is the only date checked as open. If your stay is set around that date, book right away. Otherwise, keep it for another Thursday of your stay, or choose another outing from the list. The listing provides for cancellation if there are not enough participants.
- Lunch of local produce and dessert
- Wine tastings included
- Meeting point: bus area, where the driver-guide meets the group
4. Maria Island cruise with lunch
With 637 reviews and a 4.99 rating, this is one of the best-rated outings in the selection. It is also the most expensive, and Viator flags it as likely to sell out: reason enough to book it before you fix the rest of your week. The program fits into one day: a bus transfer from Hobart, a cruise, two hours on Maria Island and a guided walk. I recommend it to anyone who wants a different kind of day: no wineries, no city, sea and an island. The meeting point is at the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys booking center, in the Dock Head Building at Franklin Wharf. The listing names Maria Island Cruises as the cruise operator, a detail to keep in mind if you compare operators. The listing provides for cancellation in bad weather.
- Bus transfer from Hobart
- Two hours on Maria Island
- Pilot or guide on board
5. Cascade brewery tour
This is the tightest budget in the selection: €32.74 per adult for two people, for an hour and a half on site. A guided tour of the brewery, then a beer tasting at the Cascade Brewery Bar, in South Hobart. The meeting point is The Mill, on Cascade Road, and you should arrive fifteen minutes early for check-in. The outing fits in easily: a late afternoon after a walk in town, or a break between two longer excursions. The listing indicates an average fitness level, so check the effort required on the listing. If you are traveling with children, check the listing for any age restriction before you book.
- Guided brewery tour
- Beer tasting included
- Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in
6. Kayak tour in Hobart with lunch
For a break from the food program, this is the most active outing in the selection: two and a half hours on the water, no experience required, with lunch and equipment provided. I recommend it to families with children from age seven, and to anyone who wants to move after a few days of tastings. Departure is from Short Beach, near the playground and the oar sheds. There is no office on site: look for the operator’s vehicle, Roaring 40s Kayaking, and park on the Marieville esplanade, where parking is free. Within the festival window, the dates checked are open, but December 30 and January 2 are not confirmed by the check. Verify your exact day on the listing before paying: confirmation is not instant, and the listing provides for cancellation in bad weather.
- Lunch, local guide, kayak, life jackets and equipment
- No prior experience needed, minimum age 7
- Departure from Short Beach, free parking at Marieville
7. Bike descent from kunanyi
For cycling fans, this is the outing that links the city to the mountain. A guided descent from the summit of kunanyi, then a ride through the rainforest: four hours in total. The format is described as easy, but it requires a rider height of at least 125 cm and a maximum weight of 120 kg. The price varies with the date, between €112.69 and €141.02 per adult for two people, so compare dates before locking in your slot. The start point is at Washington Street and Wentworth Street, where parking is free all day. Arrive thirty minutes early. The most important point is the road: the descent depends on the condition of Pinnacle Road, which can be closed at any time. Check the day before. The listing provides for cancellation in bad weather, and for cancellation if there are not enough participants.
- Bike and helmet provided
- Air-conditioned vehicle transfer
- Minimum height 125 cm, maximum weight 120 kg
Preparing your trip
The outings in this selection are booked online. Three require a manual confirmation (wine and food tour, Bruny Island, kayak); the other four are confirmed immediately. Get a connection and travel insurance ready before you arrive in Hobart to avoid nasty surprises.
Connectivity from the moment you land, handy for booking outings from your phone.
Get my eSIMViator cancellation terms are those of each listing. A quote takes a few minutes.
Get a quotePractical tips for festival week
Public holidays. Christmas falls on a Friday (December 25, 2026). Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, is observed on Monday, December 28, according to the sources consulted, and January 1, 2027 is a Friday. Many shops and operators change their hours on those days. Check each operator before fixing a date, and don’t count on normal opening hours on December 25 or January 1.
The ferry to Bruny Island. The Kettering ferry crosses every day of the year, in 15 to 20 minutes, according to the Tasmanian government. Boarding works in a queue: the ticket does not correspond to a set time. Turn up at least 20 minutes before departure. Our sources do not quantify end-of-year crowds, so allow extra time. Ferry timetables change with the season: check the timetable in force on the SeaLink website before you leave. For the Bruny excursion, also ask how you get to the island before booking.
kunanyi and the Pinnacle Road. The Pinnacle Road can be closed at any time of year in snow, ice or severe conditions, according to Wellington Park and the City of Hobart. The summit is much colder than the city, about 6°C (11°F) colder, and fog can cut visibility to a few meters. I found no information on the road or descent conditions for the day of your outing: treat this point as a condition to check, not as a settled fact.
The weather. Averages are mild, with highs around 20°C (68°F) in December and 21 to 22°C (70 to 72°F) in January, and lows of 10 to 12°C (50 to 54°F). Meteonews relies on NOAA data from 1994 to 2005, a single twelve-year period. Rainfall totals diverge too much between sources to be published here: Weather2Travel counts 13 to 14 rainy days in December and in January. Bring a jacket for cool evenings and wind on the waterfront, and check the Australian Bureau of Meteorology before your outing.
Crowds. Several aggregators list cruise ship calls in Hobart in December 2026, with dates that do not match. I publish no figure. The risk to keep in mind is possible crowding on the waterfront and at Salamanca during festival week. One aggregator gives Macquarie Wharf, near Salamanca Place, as the usual berth.
Book in the right order. The Maria Island cruise carries Viator’s « likely to sell out » flag: book it early. The four outings with instant confirmation (brewery tour, wine day, cruise and bike descent) give you an answer right away. Outings with manual confirmation (wine and food tour, Bruny Island, kayak) wait for a confirmation: book them first, to keep room on the dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taste of Summer bookable on Viator?
No. No Viator listing carries the festival’s name, and tickets are sold through the organizer’s site. According to Carnifest, general access to the waterfront is usually free, while food and premium tickets are paid. The seven experiences in this article are separate outings, to be booked separately through the link on each card (Viator listings).
What are the official dates of the 2026-2027 festival?
The official festival and City of Hobart sites give December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, at Princes Wharf No. 1. The City specifies an opening at 12 noon on December 27 and a closing at 10:30 p.m. on January 3. These are the organizer’s dates: check them again on the festival site before you buy your flights.
Which outing should I pick if I only do one?
The Maria Island cruise combines a bus transfer, a cruise, two hours on the island and a guided walk, at a price from €229.79 per adult on a base of two people, with a rating of 4.99 from 637 reviews. For a tight budget, the Cascade brewery visit, at €32.74 for an hour and a half, remains the most affordable. The choice depends on how much time you want to spend on the outing.
Can you do these outings during festival week?
Most of them, yes. The Vino valleys wine tour only runs on Thursdays, and within the festival window December 31 is the only date checked as open. The kayak outing is open on the dates checked, but December 30 and January 2 are not confirmed by the check. The check of October 20, 2026 does not cover every date: confirm your exact day on the listing before you book.
Do I need to book the ferry to Bruny Island?
Not for a set time. The crossing from Kettering runs every day, in a queue, and takes 15 to 20 minutes. Turn up at least 20 minutes before departure. If your day depends on this ferry, arrive early and check the timetable in force on the operator’s site before you leave.
Can you do the kunanyi bike descent at any time?
Not without checking first. Pinnacle Road can be closed at any time for snow, ice or severe conditions, and the descent depends on its condition. The listing provides for cancellation in bad weather. The minimum rider height is 125 cm and the maximum weight is 120 kg. Check the road status on the City of Hobart’s site the day before your outing.
Sources
- Taste of Summer, official festival website — accessed October 20, 2026
- City of Hobart, Taste of Summer (upcoming events) — accessed October 20, 2026
- Carnifest, Taste of Summer 2026 — accessed October 20, 2026
- Tasmanian Government, summer festivals (December 2025) — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Pulse Tasmania, Taste of Summer 2025 (attendance projection) — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- BudgetDirect, public holidays in Tasmania — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Tasmanian Government, Bruny Island ferry — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- SeaLink, Bruny Island ferry timetable — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- City of Hobart, FAQ on snow and road closures on Mount Wellington — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Wellington Park, kunanyi / Mount Wellington — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Meteonews, Hobart climate (NOAA data 1994-2005) — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Weather2Travel, Hobart climate — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Gangwaze, cruise port calls in Hobart, December 2026 — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
- Cruiseaway, cruises in Tasmania — search excerpt retrieved October 20, 2026
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