Bruny Island Long Weekend + Fat Pig Farm Feast
This extended getaway combines our three-day island walk with a Farm Feast at Matthew Evans and Sadie Chrestman's Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley.
The Farm Feast takes place at Sadie Chrestman's and Matthew Evans' Fat Pig Farm. Our experience includes a long lunch with matching drinks, a farm tour and an exclusive tasting of their small-batch treats. It's a fun, inspiring, deep-dive into where we source and grow our food - something we're very passionate about! We'll take care of getting you there and back to Hobart.
After a night in Hobart, independently arranged by you, we regather to go to Bruny Island for our award-winning Bruny Island Walk. We travel by private boat from Tasmania’s capital Hobart to Bruny Island. During your visit you will be treated to coastal walks, produce directly from the source, forest camping and exquisite meals.
Introducing The Gourmet Farmer's Fat Pig Farm
Fat Pig Farm is home to Matthew, Sadie and Hedley. Together they run their 70-acre family farm in the beautiful Huon Valley, south of Hobart, where they live and nurture food from the soil to turn into great meals for the farmhouse table. Since 2011, they have been busy turning the one-time apple orchard into a mixed farm. Along with their namesake Wessex Saddleback pigs, the farm is home to chooks, a beef herd, goats, bees, ducks, and a market garden. They also milk a pair of full cream cows, harvest apples from their heritage orchard and have planted an olive grove that will supply all of their olive needs (in about a decade’s time!).
In August 2016 they opened their farm as a workshop space and lunch venue. They host Farm Feasts, taking what’s great from the garden and turning it into long, lazy meals shared around the extended farmhouse table in a purpose-built dining room.
Matthew Evans is a chef by trade who is also the host of Gourmet Farmer on SBS. He is an advocate for sustainable seafood and is a strong believer in knowing and trusting what you eat. Fat Pig Farm is an extension of this philosophy, where they do as they preach; growing and rearing as much food as they can for the table. And you’re invited to share in the spoils.
Bruny Island Long Weekend + Fat Pig Farm Testimonials
Highlights? The glamping and dining experience, the beautiful walks and the caring and engaged guides. The combination of the Fat Pig Farm dining experience combined with the Bruny Island experience. Both excellent! -Barry D. 17/11/2022
Really wonderful way to walk in some of the wilder places in Bruny with great guides, super glamping accommodation and fabulous food. -Suzy D. 17/11/2022
Absolutely stand out trip, right from the start, amazing food, comfy accommodation, fantastic scenery, and hospitality from our gorgeous guides Jonty, and Louie. They were very informative, fun and exceptional hosts at giving us an amazing experience in the Tasmanian wilderness. Incredible!! and way better than I was expecting. 10/10 Neil P. 16/12/2022
Our guides, Bryony and Rueben, were amazing. Both were willing to share their wealth of knowledge, life stories & themselves, at no time did it feel like it is just a job to them. They seem to know when anyone in the group needed quiet time to just be in the moment but also made sure no one was ever left out. The whole trip felt unique, & I felt we were getting something that other tours would not ever be able to offer. From the personal relationships with the locals to the desire to provide the best locally sourced food, beautifully prepared exceeded my expectations.
If you only ever do one organised walk do the Fat Pig Farm/Bruny Island walk. You will not be disappointed with any aspect of the trip from amazing food/scenery & the most wonderful guides who love what they do. 10/10 Terry M. 31/3/2023
Amazing! The most incredible food, beautiful locations, and such kind, hospitable, hosts. I'd definitely book again and invite friends. 10/10 Isobel S. 10/10
Day One: Fat Pig Farm
We'll meet you at the Hobart waterfront at Daci and Daci at 9.45am for coffee. It's a scenic hour-long drive to the farm that takes you through the gentle hills of the Huon Valley and along the eastern bank of the Huon River preparing you well for a leisurely afternoon in the Huon Valley.
Upon arrival at the Farm, an exclusive pre-Farm Feast beverage and food tasting takes place on the verandah from 11.30am. The tastings will be of their small-batch items or “family reserve” as they call it. It's the really yummy things that they improve gradually and refine in small batches way before they can make them in quantities grand enough for a whole Feast. This could be new gin blends using their seasonal fruit, botanicals and bush foods, or it may be a traditional style of salami or other cured meat. Really, it could be anything but it’s exclusive and delicious.
We are then joined by others at the Farm Feast and are served multiple dishes straight from their gardens and paddock - all seasonal, all grown by hand, and all cooked in the open kitchen. You will celebrate the meal with specially matched beer, wine, cider and spirits from around Tasmania. In between courses, they’ll take you on a guided tour of the farm. Be prepared for a long lazy afternoon.
We'll collect everyone from the farm and take you back to your hotels in Hobart, arriving around 5.30pm.
***Please organise your own accommodation and dinner in Hobart. This is not included. You can visit our Walker Benefits Program for recommendations and discounts.
Day Two: Hobart to Bruny Island
Approximately 5-6 hours walking and birding
This morning you will meet your tour guides and fellow guests (maximum of 10) at 7:30am at Daci and Daci, on the waterfront of Tasmania’s capital city, Hobart. Step aboard your private boat and let the adventure begin with a cruise down the Derwent River to Bruny Island. Today our goal is to walk out to a spectacular cape on the east coast of Bruny Island.
On returning from our walk we will wade out into the crystal clear waters of Great Bay to learn how the famous Bruny Island oysters are farmed and shuck them straight out of the water. The perfect way to cool down after a walk!
Next stop; our camp. After a hot shower, join us in the dining house for a drink and to share stories of the day’s adventures as the guides busy themselves preparing your dinner sourced from either on the island or in the waters surrounding it.
Day Three: East Cloudy Head
5-6 hrs walking
Day three might begin with a gentle thumping past your tent. While the inquisitive wallaby isn’t your wake-up call, his visit or the promise of warm croissants might lure you from your crisp sheets to reunite with us at the rustic wooden dining table once more.
Today’s walk is East Cloudy Head for views of Tasmania’s far south and the wild Southern Ocean. The five-hour (14km) journey begins by walking the length of Cloudy Bay Beach. Windswept and beautiful, the walk then leads us into coastal heath and up toward spectacular views of Bruny Island’s rugged south coast.
Back at camp enjoy time to sit on the deck, walk among the ferns, partake in another lavish shower or simply read a book while your guides prepare the evening meal.
Day Four: Mt Mangana
Approximately 3 hours walking
This morning you can choose a leisurely start or have some time to yourself and explore our 100-acre property and try to spot some of Bruny Island’s 150 species of birds (including all 12 Tasmanian endemics). Once we farewell camp, our goal is to climb through the ancient Gondwanan rainforest to the highest point of Bruny Island, Mt Mangana (4km, 3 hrs).
To finish your long weekend in style, Ray Jones at The Jetty Café will serve lunch as we await the arrival of our private boat on the beach below. There will also be some time to explore the gallery showcasing some of Bruny’s 60+ artists. The return boat trip to Hobart offers a scenic farewell to your adventure. Before you know it, you’ll be back at the Tasmanian capital, likely wondering if the long weekend was one big thrilling daydream from your office chair.
Your Bruny Island Long Weekend guides
What truly defines the professionalism, passion and dedication of our Bruny Island Long Weekend guides is their unparalleled focus on delivering an exemplary guided walking experience for you. This is reinforced by their passion for Bruny Island, detailed knowledge of the local flora, fauna, geology and history; and their love of cooking using local produce to deliver a diversity of delicious cuisine each evening.
We consider our guides to be highly trained and experienced artisans, seamlessly bringing together all the attributes of a great walking experience to deliver something that is truly unforgettable.
An Island Sanctuary
Our groups have exclusive use of our completely off-grid private accommodation, nestled in amongst tall eucalypts on the foothills of Mt Mangana at the southern end of Bruny Island.
With our days spent walking in wild, powerful, coastal places, our campsite is a sanctuary we can return to each evening. Featuring a gorgeous bespoke designed celery top timber kitchen and dining room, four canvas tents containing split king beds with quality linen, towels and pillows. The highlight for many of our guests is an incredible hot water shower discretely located with spectacular views!
One of the best things about our accommodation being located at the southern end of Bruny Island is the night sky. With no light pollution, the stars are just incredible and occasionally we have been lucky enough to experience the Aurora Australis.
Our Bruny Island Accommodation
Our accommodation is built completely off-grid. We harvest the rain from our roof and pressure feed this water for all of our needs, including the incredible outdoor shower. For our shower and hot water in the kitchen, we use a gas system. A solar panel on the main roof provides the power to run our pumps, small energy efficient lighting in the main structure and just two power points to enable guests to recharge their cameras (they do tend to take a lot of photos!)
The accommodation was architecturally designed to have as little impact on the site as possible. In fact, it has been designed so that it could be easily moved to another site. If this were to happen there would be little evidence of the building's footprint. We built from Celery Top Pine, supplied by Southern Forest Farm Products, just across the channel from Bruny Island at Garden Island Creek. The business has a "no waste policy". This means that all the timber used in the construction of our accommodation was salvaged from the southern forests of Tasmania, essentially the timbers left behind as waste in existing forestry coupes.
Once the accommodation was constructed we began a program to restore the rest of the land to its original state. This involved an eradication program for non-native species on the property, as well as a program to re-introduce endemics. Eucalyptus viminalis (white gums) have been planted around the property to support and encourage the very rare and threatened endemic bird species - the Forty Spotted Pardalote. These birds only exist where Eucalyptus viminalis occur and Bruny Island is a stronghold for them.
Itinerary Details
Bruny Island Long Weekend + Fat Pig Farm
Price per person for departures (inc. GST)
December 7-10, 2023 | January 18-21, 2024 | February 8-11, 2024 | $2,695
Private Group Requests | bookings@taswalkingco.com.au
- Available anytime by request for private groups.
- Each trip requires a minimum of 6 guests (Twin Share). The maximum is 10.
- All accommodation is twin share. A single supplement of $872 per person is available upon request to guarantee a private tent.
Bookings
- Phone: (03) 6392 2211.
- Email: bookings@taswalkingco.com.au
- or complete the below enquiry form
Special Interest Walks - Terms and Conditions
Our standard booking terms and conditions apply to all bookings. In addition:
- Cancellations
- more than 90 days from the scheduled departure date, a fee of $350 per person will be charged with the balance payment refunded;
- within 90 days of departure, no refund is available. Bookings are transferable to another name.
- Minimum numbers are required four months before departure.
- This walk cannot be booked in conjunction with any other offers and discounts.
COVID-19 Peace of Mind Booking Assurance
After the minimum number of bookings has been achieved, the departure will be confirmed. Due to the high fixed costs on these trips, guests on our ‘Limited Edition Walks' who postpone due to COVID-19 as per our Peace of Mind Booking Guarantee, will incur an amendment fee of $500 to reschedule to another departure date. All cancellations by guests will incur cancellation fees according to our standard terms and conditions. Bookings are transferrable.
Inclusions
- Fat Pig Farm Feast and transfers ex-Hobart.
- Three full days to explore Bruny Island with your guides.
- Two nights forest camping with a king-size bed and quality linen at our 100-acre retreat.
- Return journey to Bruny Island form the Hobart waterfront by private boat (we offer the only alternative to the long queues on the public Bruny Island ferry).
- Spectacular coastal walks.
- Exclusive access to an oyster lease, where you can help yourself to as many oysters as you like, straight out of the pristine waters ... they don't come any fresher!
- Absolute indulgence at every meal time with Tasmania's finest food and wine.
- Three lunches, two dinners, two breakfasts.
- National Park pass for the duration of the walk.
- Two qualified guides for the duration of your Bruny Island Long Weekend.
Not included
- Evening accommodation and dinner in Hobart after your Fat Pig Farm feast and before your Bruny Island Long Weekend Walk.
Additional information
- Have a burning question? Check out our FAQ page, and if you need further help please don't hesitate to contact our friendly reservations team
- Ready to start planning your next adventure and want to know what to bring. Check out our detailed gear list, including details on what's provided. If your unsure about anything on the gear list please call us or talk to you local outdoor adventure store.
Enquire
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