The Tamar River runs 70 kilometres north from Launceston to the sea at Georgetown, and the valley it carves through the hills is Tasmania's best-known wine region. The climate here — cool, maritime, with reliable summer sunshine — suits pinot noir, chardonnay, and riesling particularly well, and the wines have a reputation for intensity and fineness.
The wineries are spread across both sides of the river. On the east, Pipers Brook Vineyard and Bay of Fires are the largest producers, with architecturally considered tasting rooms and restaurants worth visiting in their own right. On the west bank, Rosevears Estate sits directly above the water with views down the tidal estuary. Daniel Alps at Strathlynn, near Rosevears, has a terrace for lunch. A winery map is available from the Launceston tourist office, and most are open daily for tastings from around 10am to 5pm.
Outside the wineries, the valley offers good cycling along the quieter back roads, birdwatching in the tidal wetlands around the river mouth, and pleasant river towns like Beaconsfield — once the site of a major gold rush, now famous for the 2006 mine rescue. Georgetown, at the river's mouth, has good fishing and is a base for visiting Low Head and its fairy penguin colony.