Bird in Hand boosts links with Tasmania

Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is to link with Adelaide Hills wine producer Bird in Hand on a new project next year.

Bird in Hand, which has recently acquired vineyards on the Apple Isle, will introduce a tasting room, offer wine and food experiences, and manage the on-site restaurant and kiosk in the gardens.

A fine dining experience similar to Bird in Hand’s LVN Restaurant in Woodside will feature among the offerings, showcasing the produce, art, flora and fauna of Tasmania.

With work underway to redesign the food and beverage facilities throughout the gardens, Bird in Hand’s decision to pursue the contract with the Botanical Gardens strengthens its growth strategy in Tasmania.

This includes the recent acquisition of a long-term winery lease in Rowella, in the West Tamar, and ongoing wine production at its Seymour property, located on the east coast of the island state.

The upcoming tasting room at the Botanical Gardens will showcase Bird in Hand’s new Tasmania range, set to launch later this year, along with a selection of other locally crafted beverages.

“With our expansion of wine production in Tasmania, our winemaking team is focused heavily on showcasing the cool-climate qualities of the region,” says Andrew Nugent, who co-founded Bird in Hand with wife Susie.

“What better place to now pour these spectacular varietals than one of Australia’s premier gardens? When paired with our culinary vision for the Botanical Gardens andthe Bird in Hand service style, it’s an alignment we are excited to see evolve over the coming years.”

The 14-hectare Botanical Gardens has nurtured rare, native and intriguing plants for over 200 years.

“The Bird in Hand estate in Woodside showcases a core pillar of the brand: an enduring respect for the Indigenous cultures and traditional owners of the land upon which we are situated. This is something inherent in our operations and an approach on which we place the utmost importance,” Nugent says.

“Our Woodside property also highlights Susie’s love of garden design. While the grounds are much smaller in scale and cross-section of plants, they are tended to equally in passion for nurturing natural places of joy and contemplation – an ever-changing backdrop to memorable moments of generous hospitality.”


Located at 11 Lower Domain Road, Queens Domain, Hobart, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens open 365 days a year. Hospitality venue opening hours are yet to be announced.