The ultimate Tasmania driving route for foodies

At 41 Degrees South Aquaculture visitors can discover all about salmon farming and ginseng production before tasting, while those with a sweeter tooth can explore Belgian treats from truffles to waffles at Anvers Chocolate Factory in Latrobe.

If you have a designated driver then the Seven Sheds Brewery, Meadery and Hop Garden should be on the itinerary.

Launceston and Tamar Valley

Tasmania's second city has several top-notch restaurants that make it worthy of a night or two, with fine diner Stillwater, overlooking the Tamar River, the long-time standout.

Lovers of beef will enjoy the range of Tasmanian beef cuts at the Black Cow Bistro, under the same management as Stillwater, while Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant recently underwent a revamp and change of menu.

Other reliably good dining choices include the Italian accented Novaro's, Brisbane Street Bistro, Pierre's and long-time upmarket Cantonese favourite Me Wah.

For those who want to dine among the vines, Timbre Kitchen at Velo Vineyard, a short drive north of the city, has recently been taken over by chef Matt Adams and partner Shannon Bushby. Locally raised and ethically sourced food with an Asian twang is the drawcard here, along with fresh oysters.

Alternatively, pick up some deli provisions at the Wursthaus Kitchen in town, Alps and Amici or Nigel's Gourmet on Tamar and enjoy a picnic at one of the many cellar doors in the Tamar. Moores Hill, Holm Oak and Goaty Hill are among the stars, or head to Pipers River to visit Sinapius and Delamere.

South of town, en route to Hobart or the East Coast, one of the best winery restaurants in the state can be found at Josef Chromy winery at Relbia, while UtSi Cafe at Perth, once a Methodist Church, is a great stop for good coffee and some gourmet snacks.

East Coast

Turn left after Launceston at Campbell Town and combine spectacular views with fresh local produce as you head south along the East Coast Drive.

Tucked away off the main road, the recently refurbished Piermont Homestead Restaurant at Swansea is well worth a stop to sample chef Chad Woodford's take on fresh seafood (particularly scallops).

Palate restaurant at Saffire Freycinet is ostensibly for in-house guests only, but it wouldn't hurt to ask for a table; alternatively, there are some great views and local produce stars at The Bay restaurant at Freycinet Lodge.

At Freycinet Marine Farm in Coles Bay, visitors can savour delicate oysters and mussels, plucked straight from the sea.

Milton (with a delightful deck) and Spring Vale wineries feature pop-up eateries over the summer holiday period, while there are two dining choices at the specatcular Devil's Corner complex, 10 minutes south of Bicheno.

In addition to spectacular views of the Hazards and Freycinet Peninsula, The Fishers' serves fresh seafood and Tombolo Cafe pizza from a wood-fired oven.

Hobart and surrounds

From French to South American, Thai to Middle Eastern, Hobart now offers a wide range of dining experiences. The area around Salamanca Place is dotted with interesting eating establishments including Smolt, Maldini's and Jack Greene, while Sullivans Cove and North Hobart are other popular dining precincts.

Foodies flock to Franklin, where chef David Moyle orchestrates dishes from an open kitchen that are both innovative and artistic. The wine list showcases "natural" wines.

Other restaurants where a reservation is recommended include South American-accented Frank, tiny European-style bistro Templo and the Glass House, where hipsters hang out at the end of Brooke Street Pier.

Other stars include Me Wah, Aloft, Tasmanian Quartermasters, Hearth Pizza, Urban Greek and the Black-Footed Pig for tapas.

Willing Brothers, a popular wine bar, has just opened an offshoot, Etties, where Ethos Eat Drink was formerly sited.

Lark Distillery is a magnet for whisky lovers, the Shipwright's Arms a traditional English-style pub and Preachers and Cargo Bar popular late-night hangouts. Markets? Hobart has a whole host of them.

Hobart is surrounded by three cool-climate wine regions; the Derwent Valley to the north, Coal River Valley to the east and the sleepy Huon Valley to the south. The Osteria at Stefano Lubiana Wines (Derwent), Frogmore Creek (Coal River) and Home Hill (Huon) are all attractive lunch venues.

The deep south

After Hobart, drivers can either go south-east to the Tasman Peninsula, towards Port Arthur (check out the Nonesuch Distillery and the Bangor Oyster Shed) , or south-west to the Huon Valley, the orchard region that originally gave Tasmania the name "The Apple Isle".

After you pass Home Hill and the Willie Smith's Apple Shed, with its own cider museum, gourmet attractions include the hamlets of Cygnet, Franklin and Geeveston.

Artsy Cygnet boasts eateries including the now-vegetarian Red Velvet Lounge and iconic and rustic Lotus Eaters Cafe, along with a new artisan bakery and the Port Cygnet Diner. Just outside town, Pagan Cider is about to launch a food truck selling barbecued meats three nights a week.

Huonville is home to artisan chocolatier The Cat's Tongue and gourmet cafe The Local, while Franklin's drawcard is Frank's Cider (with tastings conducted in a former church).

Geeveston, where the ABC-TV series Rosehaven was largely filmed, is home to both Masaaki's, where you'll find arguably the best sushi in the state, and slick newcomer The Old Bank Cafe.

*One note of caution for visitors. Cafes and restaurants in Tasmania are sometimes not open early in the week, and tend to close earlier than those on the mainland. It pays to call ahead.