Welcome to the second installment of my new series, Tasmania Hikes and Bites. We are seeking out the best day hikes Tasmania has to offer and finding epic treats you can enjoy along the way. To get warmed up, we headed to Mt. Field National Park and enjoyed scones and carrot cake from The Possum Shed. (Read about it HERE.) For our second adventure, we kicked things up a notch with a literal climb up a mountain and a stop at a Tasmanian institution.
Let’s dive into a journey up Mt. Amos with a stop at Kate’s Berry Farm!
The Park: Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park is home to dramatic granite peaks, idyllic beaches, crystal clear water, and the mega-popular Wine Glass Bay. It’s one of the most popular national parks in Tasmania, and for good reason. There’s a treasure-trove of things to do such as kayaking, swimming, hiking, birding, and snorkeling.
And of course, there’s plenty of walks and hikes.
There are 4 options. For beginners, there’s the Wineglass Bay Lookout, which is an easy(ish) 2.6km return walk. If you want something longer, try the 11km Hazards Beach Circuit. True trekking enthusiasts will love the 30km Freycinet Circuit, which takes 2-3 days. And if you’re a sucker for pain and want to “work for the view”, Mt. Amos is the hike for you. We chose the last option….
The Hike: Mt. Amos
The hike to the top of Mt. Amos is only a 4km/2.5mi return journey. However, you have to ascend a whopping 454m/1,489 ft over that short distance.
The track is relentlessly vertical, and forget about simply walking up steps. To get to the summit of Mt Amos, you have to scramble up granite slabs and navigate tricky, slippery boulders. I’m an avid hiker, but I haven’t been close to mountains in 3 month— this one got my heart pumping, brow sweating, and legs burning.
The good news is that it’s over before you know it, and your hard work is rewarded with a jaw-dropping view of Wineglass Bay.
Key Notes:
- It ended up taking us 55 minutes to get up, and 50 to get down.
- Be sure to wear proper shoes. We did this hike 5 years ago and I foolishly wore Birkenstocks. While I was successful in the endeavor, I wouldn’t recommend it.
- Do not attempt this hike if it’s rainy.
- Wear sunscreen. Even if the air is a bit chilly, the sun in Tasmania is no joke!
- Freycinet National Park is a 2.5-3 hour drive away from Hobart. Totally doable in a day trip, but most people will visit the park as part of a multi-day trip along the East Coast.
The Bite: Kate’s Berry Farm
Kate’s Berry Farm is a Tasmania institution with a story that begins in 1988. Forty three-year-old Kate Bradley visited Tasmania for the first time, and she fell in love with it. She loved it so much that she decided to buy a 10-acre block of land in Swansea. Kate built a little shop out of mud-bricks and concrete all on her own. Through trial and error coupled with tenacity and grit, she successfully started a strawberry patch. She harvested the berries and used them for ice cream, jam, and sauces, but the business didn’t really take off until 1996 when Tourism Tasmania was established.
They launched a huge push via TV, radio, newspaper, and magazines to get Tasmania destinations on the map. And it worked. Tourism picked up in Tasmania, and Kate’s Berry Farm became a can’t miss stop for people visiting the east coast. Nearly 40 years later, Katie is 80 and sold the farm in late 2025. But the shop is still going strong, and it’s the perfect place to stop on the way to Frecyinet National Park to break up the trip. (Information from a great read HERE!)
We got an order of scones and a double scoop of boysenberry ripple ice cream. The scones had a dense, yet flaky and buttery texture, which made them the perfect conduit for the tart blackberry jam and velvety cream. Very tasty, but far from frugal. at $16AUD/$11.25USD.
While I’m a sucker for a scone, the ice cream at Kate’s Berry Farm is truly exceptional. The texture is astoundingly creamy and the flavor is pure and undeniably fresh. There are a handful of flavors on offer including strawberry, boysenberry, salted caramel, chocolate, vanilla, and lavender. We love the boysenberry, which has a tart, yet sweet flavor that’s like a blend of a blackberry and raspberry. Plus, a HUGE double scoop is only $7.50AUD/$5.25USD, which I think is a deal for fresh, handmade ice cream.
The hike up Mt. Amos with a stop at Kate’s Berry Farm is the perfect way to spend a day in Tasmania!
Stay tuned for more hikes and bites to come.
