Dark Mofo 2024 Cancelled

After a successful festival this year, Dark Mofo has been called off for 2024.

Dark Mofo is one of Tasmania’s biggest drawcards, attracting thousands of locals and visitors alike to the island state each year. However, the beloved festival will be taking a year off in 2024, allowing the team to work on a renewed vision for the future.

About Dark Mofo

Dark Mofo is one of Australia’s best winter festivals, having well and truly planted itself on Tasmania’s cultural calendar. The festival revels in the gloom and cold of winter, inviting locals and visitors to Hobart alike to celebrate the dark through art, food, music, fire, light and noise, all underpinned by the longest night of any Australian capital city.

Dark Mofo in Hobart, Tasmania — Dork Mofo will be cancelled for 2024. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The main thread running through the interwoven program of Dark Mofo is the exploration of centuries-old rituals. Many of the events aim to investigate and uncover the links between ancient and contemporary mythology, humans and nature, religious and secular traditions, darkness and light, birth, death and renewal.

Why is Dark Mofo being cancelled?

The news of the cancellation has come as a shock to many Dark Mofo loyalists. However, it isn’t as terrible as it sounds. Although Dark Mofo will be absent from the 2024 calendar, it won’t be forever. The team behind the festival will be taking a well-deserved break to focus on a renewed vision and set the stage for a stronger and more sustainable festival in the future.

It’s part of a broader plan of changes being made by Tourism Tasmania, who are aiming to ensure that Tasmania stays top of mind for Aussies next winter. Increased investment in the state’s off-season program, with higher-reaching paid media channels and an expanded media plan, will help bolster Tasmanian winter events.

Tourism Tasmania will also be working with Events Tas to increase the awareness of the full winter events program, with an additional $1.8 million provided to Business Events Tasmania over the next three years, with an immediate focus on winter 2024.

“We understand Dark Mofo’s need for a smaller event in 2024 as they reshape the festival for the future, and we will continue to work closely with them on their plans when the full event returns in 2025," says Premier and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Jeremy Rockliff.

According to the Dark Mofo website, 2023’s festivities left a lasting mark. However, it also exacted its toll, prompting the decision to pause, reflect and plan out a more sustainable future so people can enjoy Dark Mofo for many years.

What does the future hold for Dark Mofo?

Don’t fret, Dark Mofo won’t entirely disappear next year. Support from the Tasmanian Liberal Government has ensured two major pillars of the festival will continue next year, despite the cancellation of the overall program. Over two weekends, the ever-popular Winter Feast and the Nude Solstice Swim will return.

The two events are known program highlights, having particularly excited attendees since the conception of Dark Mofo 10 years ago. There will also be a new exhibition at MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart) as part of Dark Mofo’s tiny 2024 processions.

MONA in Hobart, Tasmania — A new exhibition will open at MONA as part of Dark Mofo. (Image: Jesse Hunniford)

The Nude Solstice Swim is a celebration of the return of light after the longest night of the year. Courageous crowds take to the cold waters of the River Derwent at sunrise, and as the name suggests, bathing suits are nowhere to be seen. The Winter Feast is a major foodie event, bringing together the best of local food, beer and wine. Guest chefs, live music and an intoxicating atmosphere have kept people coming back year after year.

Further details for these events will be announced shortly. In the meantime, we can look forward to 2025, when Dark Mofo will shine through the darkness brighter than ever.

Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

I arrive at The Tasman in Hobart at 10pm. Two McLaren 620Rs are parked out front, and a welcome cup of mulled wine – made from local chardonnay, not red wine – lands in my hand. It’s already clear this isn’t your average hotel stay. The last time I was in the Tassie capital was in 2022, when my family stayed at MACq 01 and cheered on my brother-in-law who raced in the Sydney to Hobart. This time, I’m moving away from one of my favourite Australian hotels and checking into this award-winning stay.

What I love most about Tasmania is the dedication to good produce. Farmers, chefs and locals alike create and grow some of the country’s finest offerings – plump oysters, world-class gins, irresistible cheese and fresh berries. And much of it can be savoured from the comfort of the unique accommodations peppered across the island, each impressing with its attention to detail. Perhaps none do it as well as this month’s chosen hotel, though.

Having opened its doors in December 2021, The Tasman was named in The World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2024, putting Hobart firmly on the map for international travellers. Visitors and locals are also drawn to its onsite restaurant Peppina, an Italian eatery helmed by Tassie-born and Napoli-raised chef Massimo Mele, whose food philosophy centres on using the best produce, simply.

The view from the The Aurora Suite at The Tasman — The hotel is a short walk from Salamanca Place, the waterfront and Battery Point.

The building is located in the heart of Hobart CBD in the Parliament Square precinct – a short walk from the waterfront – making it a convenient base for exploring the city. Designed by Sydney-based architects fjcstudio with heritage guidance from Design 5 and interior design practice JPDC, the project involved melding and restoring three distinct architectural styles – 1840s Georgian, 1940s Art Deco and the new Contemporary Pavilion – while celebrating the city’s maritime heritage. The result is an elegant fusion of heritage character and modern sophistication.

There are 152 rooms and suites divided into Heritage, Art Deco, and Pavilion. My room is in the Heritage part of the building and features dramatic ceilings, a mini bar stocked with local treats and a huge marble-swathed bathroom with an enticing freestanding bath and Tasmanian dairy cream and leatherwood honey soap.

I decide to order room service since the onsite speakeasy, Mary Mary, is closed and I don’t have a dinner reservation. The late-night menu tempts with seafood chowder served with crusty bread and a ham and cheese toastie – but whenever I see a cheese plate, I can’t resist. Have I ever had a truly great one in a hotel? Not even in Bordeaux. But this time, it’s different: the spread is beautifully presented with thinly sliced apple and pear, three local cheeses, honey and an assortment of crackers made onsite. I pair this with a gin and tonic made with Forty Spotted Classic Tassie Gin and Tasmanian Tonic Company gin – it’s my perfect night in.

Forty Spotted Gin and Tasmania Tonic Company tonic at The Tasman — The minibar is stocked with local treats. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

The next morning, I opt for the buffet breakfast. Hotel buffets can be hit or miss, and I generally see them as a waste of money, but my sister claimed the offering at Peppina was her favourite she’s ever had. Coincidentally, one of her closest friends is in town for a conference and, having stayed here before, chose The Tasman and breakfast at Peppina again; more assurance of its deliciousness.

The space is light and bright with two productive olive trees boosting the mood. I load up a plate of chickpeas, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach, pickles, the world’s creamiest mushroom quiche and slices of cheddar. A bit unconventional, but it’s all perfect, and I’m convinced this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had. I finish with a pear and lemon pastry, which is on par with the baked goods I savoured on a recent trip to France.

Peppina restaurant at The Tasman — Peppina celebrates seasonal Tasmanian produce.

I spend the rest of the morning and afternoon walking around Salamanca Markets and the waterfront areas in the historic Sullivans Cove precinct, enjoying 12 Bruny Island oysters for just $20 – a steal! Back at the hotel, I squeeze in a quick gym session. It’s small, but the preserved sandstone walls give it a unique charm that makes the workout feel more like a novelty rather than a chore.

There’s no spa or swimming pool onsite – a disappointment I have to admit – but what it does have is a wine cellar and that might excite me even more. The cellar is stocked with Tassie drops as well as notable international bottles. During my tasting I decide to stick with local sips, which will be paired with a charcuterie plate, and to my delight, another cheese plate. Our sommelier Adrian guides us through eight different wines, including a very tasty 2023 Syrah, Bubb + Pooley and a 2024 Pinot Noir, Stoney Rise. The region is known for its cool-climate wines, especially sparkling wine and Pinot Noir, and Adrian’s animated commentary on each pour transforms the tasting into a performance. That or the wine is just working its magic…

A cheese plate and wine glasses lined up in a wine cellar at The Tasman — Sample Tassie drops in the wine cellar. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I make the tipsy pilgrimage back to Peppina to try their dinner offering. I dive into a memorable line-up of kingfish ceviche, Bruschetta al Tonno, and gnocchi with pink oyster, nameko mushrooms, mushroom-celeriac broth and parmesan cream. Retreating to my ultra-comfy bed and almost eerily quiet room, the blend of character and comfort makes me feel like there’s nowhere I’d rather be after a full day of eating and exploring.

Although part of the Marriott family, The Tasman’s respect and celebration of its location allows it to exude personality and charm, making it feel worlds away from the impersonal atmosphere often found in large hotels. Where many hotel kitchens are fine but forgettable, The Tasman stands out for its dedication to great produce. And with rooms starting from $300 per night, it offers luxury at a more attainable price.

Details

Address: 12 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000

Best for: Couples, foodies and design-savvy travellers.

Family-friendly?: Yes

Accessibility: The Tasman has a number of accessible rooms for each room type.

Parking: Paid parking is available.

After a successful festival this year, Dark Mofo has been called off for 2024.

About Dark Mofo

Why is Dark Mofo being cancelled?

What does the future hold for Dark Mofo?

Is this sleek home Hobart’s most underrated stay?

5 of the best day trips from Hobart

This lovingly restored Tassie cottage is a vintage design dream

I finally stopped putting off that multi-gen trip – and you should too

I checked into Hobart’s most delicious hotel and didn’t want to leave

Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Details