Forget Willy Wonka. The real thing is coming to Hobart.
Glenorchy City Council has unanimously approved a $150 million chocolate tourist attraction at the historic Cadbury factory site in Claremont, part of the greater Hobart area – clearing the way for what its backers are calling a game changer for Tasmanian tourism.
The council voted to green-light the Chocolate Experience at Cadbury, which is forecast to draw 431,000 visitors a year and pump more than $120 million into the state’s economy annually.
The experience is at the historic Cadbury factory site in Claremont. (Credit: Cumulus Studio)
And this is no ordinary tourist trap. Designed in collaboration with Art Processors (the experience-design enterprise behind MONA) and Tasmanian architecture firm Cumulus Studio, the project reimagines the factory’s pipes, machines and conveyor belts into what its creators describe as a “hyperreal chocolate world."
Visitors will journey through an immersive chocolate tour featuring a cacao forest, a chocolate lab, a taste kitchen, a factory control space and a build-your-own bar. There’s also a dedicated chocolate lounge showcasing local Tasmanian producers, and a masterclass kitchen for creating your own Tasmanian-inspired flavours.
A century in the making
Chocolate Central will be an interactive (Credit: Cumulus Studio with Art Processors)
The Chocolate Experience at Cadbury will bring the magic of chocolate-making to life. (Credit: Cumulus Studio)
Cadbury’s century-long Australian story actually began in Tasmania. Back in 1922, the British confectionery giant chose Claremont, just outside Hobart, as the site for its international expansion, thanks to its riverside location and close access to top-quality dairy farms. The old Cadbury visitor centre closed a decade ago, leaving a gaping hole in the state’s tourism offering.
Developer Simon Currant – the man behind Pumphouse Point – says the vision goes beyond chocolate. “From the moment visitors arrive, this will be unlike any chocolate attraction in the world," he said.
“It will be an innovative, immersive and deeply emotive experience that uses storytelling and technology to bring the magic of chocolate-making to life."
The Chocolate Lounge will be an unforgettable dining experience. (Credit: Cumulus Studio)
In partnership with Navigators Group – the operators of the MONA ferries – two new themed vessels will carry visitors from Hobart to a brand-new Cadbury Claremont ferry terminal in just 30 minutes.
The project is expected to support more than 300 construction jobs and over 200 ongoing roles. Cadbury’s parent company, Mondelēz International, is providing a brand licence and land lease, but no funding, with the project 95 per cent privately funded. Melbourne-based investment bank Kidder Williams is raising the capital, with construction due to be finished by September 2028.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tell the Cadbury story properly. “This is a next-level concept that is going to make Tasmania the must-do destination that it deserves to be."
Now the countdown to 2028 begins.
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AI Prompt
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.
In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.
Where to stay
Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.
For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).
For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.
Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.
1. Bruny Island
Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.
Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.
Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.
Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)
2. Mount Wellington
At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.
Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).
For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.
Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)
2. Port Arthur
Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.
The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.
Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.
Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)
3. Launceston
You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.
Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.
Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.
Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.
Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)
5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley
Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.
Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.
Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)
Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com.
