Do your bit and help Huon Valley farmers in securing a bumper crop of apples at the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest. Held at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed on 14 and 15 July, the revelry features apple pie, cider, costumes, storytelling, a pie-eating competition and bands. The most enjoyable part of the festivities, though, is the wassail. This tradition involves scaring evil spirits from the orchard – a rather noisy affair involving the banging of pots and pans.

Nose-to-curly-tail is on the menu at Fork It Farm, 40 minutes from Launceston, where heritage Berkshire pigs are raised on open pastures. The Pig’s Head Feast, served at a long table in a paddock on 6 May, 3 June and 5 August, showcases porky delicacies such as crispy pig’s ears with apple and cucumber jam and slow-roasted pig’s head. Reserve the on-site eco-cottage – it’s worth it for the breakfast bacon alone.

The Three Capes Lodge Walk leads hikers through spectacular Tasman National Park over four magical days, while evenings are spent in exclusive luxury lodges. And just to really gild the lily, there’s the Restaurant at the Edge of the World (18 to 21 June; 20 to 23 June; 22 to 25 June), a final-evening extravaganza of food, wine and music. After three days, hikers may feel deserving of the exceptional dégustation with matching wines. But do spare a thought for esteemed chef Luke Burgess – he does the hike with dinner supplies on his back.

In the deep silence of a cider mill, slip on a blindfold and turn up the dial on your other senses for a cider tasting like no other. Embrace the Dark at Brady’s Lookout Cider (bookings available until 31 August 2023) involves a cider mill tour, blind tasting and a hands-on experience of mixing your very own Méthode Traditionelle cider.

Book in for a Winter Warmers Cooking Class at Twamley Farm Cooking School and Gert of Gert and Ted Gourmet Catering will greet you with a hot toddy and homemade cake before you jointly create a three-course, slow-cooked feast using produce from the farm. After that, you’ll sit down together (each class has a maximum of eight students) to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Stay in the farm’s rustic-luxe stable and you won’t have far to waddle before you’re in afternoon-nap heaven.

On a wild, windy day on Tasmania’s east coast, the Tasman Sea turns inky-dark and shells tinkle as they roll across the shore. As you soak salty limbs in the outdoor heated tub of  Whale Song Shack in Falmouth, you watch a storm darken the sky. It’s time to retreat inside to light a fire, pour a glass of wine and watch a chef craft a meal from local seasonal ingredients. Book in advance for this experience and enjoy the pleasure of not only a custom-designed menu but a clean kitchen afterwards.

As winter’s longest night approaches, warm yourself before roaring fires under the stars to eat, drink, and be entertained. Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast takes place for eight nights over two weeks from 8 June along Hobart’s buzzing Princes Wharf. There will be food stalls, live music and much merriment (stallholders and entertainers are announced in May).

Join second-gen truffle farmer Anna Terry and Doug the truffle dog on a hunt for black gold at The Truffle Farm in Deloraine, the site of the unearthing of Australia’s first black truffle in 1999. These little nuggets await discovery in the cool, rich soil, developing their umami flavour until Doug’s snoot deems them ready to emerge. The hunt and a truffle tasting takes place over an hour and 15 minutes; a two-hour experience includes lunch.

Boutique distilling had its beginnings in Tasmania with Lark Distillery more than 30 years ago. A renaissance had begun. Now there are more than 50 whisky distilleries in Tasmania and an entire week in which to celebrate them. Between 7 and 13 August, Tasmanian Whisky Week is holding tours, tastings, whisky-matched dinners, masterclasses and more, with the Tasmanian Spirit Showcase as the flagship event.