Queen Mary's other home: 14 Denmark-esque experiences

Wineglass Bay

Queen Mary is the talk of the town today, with the Aussie about to reign as the newest Queen on the Danish throne. Despite Mary subbing her hometown Hobart in Tasmania for Denmark, there are many parallels between the two - could Tasmania be the Scandinavia of the South?

Tourism Tasmania shares 14 Denmark-esque experiences in Queen Mary’s other home, where travellers can enjoy a slice of Danish culture, food and outdoor activities - an ode to the newest Danish Queen!

1. Innovative architecture.

Saffire Freycinet is beautiful accommodation featuring innovative architecture to rival Danish design; luxurious, but in a typically Tasmanian fashion (perched beside the bush and the beach, replicating a stingray); fit for a Queen.

2. Modern art. 

Mona is weird and wonderful, with lush green lawns, not dissimilar from Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

3. Embrace hygge: 

Still at Freycinet sauna and retreat by the beach, winter bathing culture takes over Tasmania in winter (or the “Off Season” as it’s known locally), milder weather makes cold plunging that little bit easier.

4. Snow and auroras:

 Like Denmark, Tasmania grows dark, culturally vibrant and atmospheric during the Off Season, except you’ll typically find snow not at sea level, but dusting alpine highlands and colossal mountains. Visit Cradle Mountain, kunanyi / Mount Wellington, Ben Lomond National Park and Mount Field National Park’s Tarn Shelf to seek frosty realms. On clear nights, in the right celestial conditions, look south for a glimpse of the Southern Lights.

5. Cool climate beverages: 

Tasmania is ideal for cultivating cool climate wine grapes, apples and cherries (Danish fruit staples). Sip Clover Hill’s delightful sparkling – this award-winning Tamar Valley producer shipped 38,000 bottles of its 1999 sparkling white to Copenhagen in 2004 to commemorate King Frederik and Queen Mary’s wedding. Or head to the Huon Valley to drink fruit ciders at locally adored institutions such as Willie Smiths Apple Shed and Frank’s Cider House, or taste juicy apples and cherries fresh from roadside stalls.

6. Enchanting forests: 

Cascade Brewery

…Except ours come with wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, quolls and rosellas. Get a dose of greenery and waterfalls in Tasmania’s forests, such as Russell Falls at Mount Field National Park, and takayna / Tarkine.

7. Cascade Brewery

Cafes: Taste sweet pastries, quality coffee, and danishes fit for a Dane at Pigeon Whole Bakers in the city. They may not do open-sandwiches like the Danes, but their bagels, baguettes and rolls are just as fresh and delicious, filled with quality local ingredients.

8. Waterfront charm: 

There’s a striking resemblance between Nyhavn and Hobart’s waterfront. Along Hunter Street, stay in sophistication at MACq 01 and learn tales of exceptional Tasmanians (beyond Queen Mary), luxuriate at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, browse a gallery of Aboriginal Fine Art at Art Mob, feast on succulent meats at Landscape Restaurant and Grill, or wander further along the docks to grab some fresh-caught Tasmanian seafood.

9. Aquatic statues: 

Denmark has the Little Mermaid, Tasmania has a bathing suit-clad woman in Binalong Bay, and a cluster of statues depicting seals, penguins, Antarctic explorers and other marine icons along the Hobart waterfront.

10. Bike-riding culture: 

Tasmania has a lot of hills, but that doesn’t stop Queen Mary and the island’s locals from embracing bike-riding. Roll around the Hobart waterfront for a gentle cycling tour, or go for scenic mountain bike trails and hardcore slopes at Derby with Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails and tours (and unwind in the lake afterwards with Derby’s Floating Sauna).

11. Fall in love in the pub: 

Mary and Frederik first met at a bar. Tasmania’s warm hospitality is down-to-earth and humble, and the clean air makes for great brews: Cascade Brewery (does brewery tours) and Shipwrights Arms are Hobart institutions.

12. Balcony fit for a queen: 

Australians love a classic balcony. Great balconies and decks (often equipped with hot tubs) include Freycinet Lodge overlooking Hazards mountain range; MACq 01 sipping cocktails overlooking harbour with backdrop of kunanyi / Mount Wellington; Devil’s Corner Cellar Door; Bay of Fires Bush Retreat; King Billy Suite at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge; Thalia Haven.

13. Experimental food: 

fine dining and fresh produce come naturally in Tasmania, with restaurants unafraid to push boundaries and embrace minimal intervention practices. Examples: Fico, Faro, Institut Polaire, Van Bone.

14. Do Tasmania like a queen: 

Hobart

Why not copy your itinerary directly from Queen Mary herself? She’s well acquainted with Tasmania’s signature spots: browse the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, learn about the island’s storied history at Port Arthur Historic Site, mingle with the distinctive wildlife at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, or browse artisan creations and small-batch food stalls at the scenic Salamanca Markets. Your queen is also a fan of Tasmania’s lesser-known spots, including the tranquil London Lakes in the Central Highlands and sunny Spring Beach in Orford – a relaxed east-coast beach town.
* Lauren Donohoe at lauren.donohoe@havasred.com