If you’re planning a day trip from Hobart, or building a Tassie road trip itinerary that needs one more memorable day, put Huon River Cruises on your list!

Not only is it a destination in itself, but just getting there is a fantastic experience – an easy 45-minute drive south from Hobart through lush farm land, rolling apple and cherry orchards, and the pretty riverside hamlet of Franklin, finishing your journey among the vines of Heriots Point Vineyard.

Your reward?

A relaxing, scenic cruise up the mighty Huon River on a 1948 wooden motor launch, glass of Tasmanian pinot or cider in hand as you watch the world slip by, soaking up the fascinating stories of yesteryear from your friendly skipper Scotty.

The Boat, The River, The Story

Your cruise departs from a private jetty at Heriots Point Vineyard, just a few minutes south of Franklin. Waiting for you at the jetty is La Drone, a beautifully kept Tasmanian-built timber cruiser with a cosy, weatherproof cabin and an open back deck for enjoying the 360° views.

It’s the stunning scenery, the local produce, the history of the old wooden boat, and a genuinely passionate skipper that come together to make the trip so memorable – an experience with real heart behind it.

Huon River Cruises is owned and managed by Taylor, a trained shipwright who fell for La Drone on a chance visit to the vineyard and bought her to keep her sailing rather than see her sold off. When you combine that passion with the tales of yesteryear brought to you by skipper Scotty, you know you’re in for an amazing day out!

As you cruise upstream toward Franklin, the Wellington Range provides a dramatic backdrop, the water is often glassy calm, and there’s plenty of birdlife to spot along the way. It’s the kind of unhurried, good-conversation, hand-in-hand pace that couples love most.

Two Ways to Enjoy the River

The Relaxing Afternoon Cruise (2:00pm–3:30pm) – Their most popular option, with three variations depending on your budget and preferred inclusions, and it’s the one that first introduced me and my wife to this fun day out on the water:

• Basic – Cruise the Huon, with local drinks and snacks available for purchase onboard.
• Standard – Cruise the Huon, including a gourmet grazing board complete with three Bruny Island or Tasmanian cheeses, sweet paste, tapenade, seasonal fruit or similar, and crackers.
• Premium – Cruise the Huon, including both a locally sourced grazing board and unlimited drinks for the duration of your cruise.

The Morning Tea Cruise (10:30am) is a more laid back, mid-morning alternative. Includes your choice of either locally roasted French-press coffee, pot-brewed tea, or Lucaston apple juice to accompany optional scones from Frank’s Cider House, baked fresh the same morning.

What Travellers Are Saying

Whether it’s speaking with fellow road trippers, or a quick check of TripAdvisor, reviews of Huon River Cruises are unanimous in their appreciation for this serene morning or afternoon on the river.

Why It Works So Well

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to tours and cruises across Tasmania, but there are plenty of reasons why Huon River Cruises should be at the top of your list.

1. Easy logistics: Just 45-50 minutes from Hobart by car, with the freedom to stop at roadside stalls, cider houses and wineries along the way.
2. A proper pause, not a box to tick: At 90 minutes, a cruise up the Huon is long enough to properly unwind, and short enough to fit neatly into a day trip or a broader Tasmanian itinerary.
3. All-weather comfort: The Huon Valley is renowned for its cooler conditions, which is why the enclosed, cushioned cabin of La Drone is so welcome on a crisp or drizzly Tasmanian day. A when the sun comes out you can hit the open deck at the rear and breathe in the fresh Tasmanian air!
4. Genuinely local: The produce, drinks and stories are all sourced from, and centred on, the iconic Huon Valley.

Whether you’re after a relaxed afternoon with a grazing board and a glass of local wine, or a gentle morning tea cruise with scones before continuing your Tasmanian road trip, Huon River Cruises offers one of the most authentic, unhurried ways to experience the Huon Valley.

Bookings can be made directly at huonrivercruises.com.au, and don’t forget to use the LAPOFTAS code for your complimentary glass of wine, beer or other beverage!

Special Offer: Complimentary glass of wine, beer, cider or other beverage.
How to Claim: Use the LAPOFTAS code or mention the Lap of Tasmania.