Thousand dollar parmi

Tasmania's most outrageous winter pub lunch arrives by helicopter. Begin in Hobart with a guided whisky tasting at Sullivans Cove Distillery, then lift off for a 30min scenic helicopter flight over the River Derwent and wild Bruny Island coastline. Touch down beside a classic island pub – a gourmet chicken parmi and fireside pint await. Take time to unwind before flying back to Hobart. With only three seats per flight, this winter experience is intimate, indulgent and wonderfully brag-worthy.

For a single, a couple or a threesome. Just you and the pilot. To Bruny Island. Through the air.

What to expect (short version):

• Run sheet of the day shared via whatsapp/email the day before.
• You are met, welcomed and driven to Cambridge - 10 minutes from Hobart.
• Before takeoff, a guided whisky flight at Sullivans Cove Distillery, home of a World Champion - 50 minutes
• Helicopter Pilot meet and safety briefing - 5 minutes
• 30 minute flight to Bruny Island Hotel
• 2 Hours for lunch
• 30 minute return flight to Cambridge
• Transfer back to Hobart.

Now for the long version - what the experience is really about for you.

Now imagine this...

There’s a particular kind of traveller who doesn’t just want to visit a place — they want to feel it, remember it, and quietly know they’ve experienced something few others ever will.

You may have been to Tasmania before. Or maybe this is your first time, and your time is precious. One thing is certain — you choose to do things well.

Your day begins not at a meeting point, but at your door.

A private transfer collects you from your hotel or residence in Hobart. There’s no rush, no uncertainty — just a seamless beginning. The winter air is crisp, the light soft across the waterfront, and as you move through the city, there’s a quiet sense that something special is already underway.

Before takeoff, you pause for a guided tasting at Sullivans Cove Distillery.

This is no hurried stop. It’s a considered moment — a chance to connect with Tasmania through its most iconic spirit. A warming sip. A story shared. A gentle lift before the real one begins.

Moments later, you arrive at the helipad.

The helicopter is waiting.

There’s something unmistakable about stepping toward it — a shift in perspective before you’ve even left the ground. Your pilot welcomes you with calm professionalism. Safety briefings are clear, reassuring, and precise. Every detail is in place. This is not novelty — it is experience, compliance, and confidence.

And then, you lift.

Hobart falls away beneath you. The River Derwent opens wide and reflective, framed by winter-soft hills and distant peaks. As you follow the coastline, Tasmania reveals itself in a way few ever see — wild, expansive, and quietly breathtaking.

In just thirty minutes, you’ve travelled far beyond what roads can offer.

You descend toward Bruny Island, touching down beside a classic island pub. It feels untouched by time. No crowds. No noise. Just the unmistakable comfort of a fire burning inside.

You step through the door.

Warmth greets you instantly.

A table awaits — not simply reserved, but thoughtfully held. This is your space, your time. Privacy and discretion are assured, allowing you to settle in completely.

Then comes the moment that sparked the journey.

A gourmet chicken parmi, elevated yet honest. Golden, generous, deeply satisfying. Served with a perfectly poured pint. A parmi chaser of your choice if you desire. It’s not overcomplicated — just exceptionally well done.

Outside, the landscape calls.

You have time — more than two hours — to let the experience unfold at your own pace. Wander down to the beach. Breathe in the salt air. Or simply sit, fireside or oceanside, looking out across the mountains and the Southern Ocean.

There is no rush here.

Only space.

Eventually, it’s time to return.

The helicopter awaits once more, and as you rise back into the sky, the journey feels quieter — more reflective. The coastline you followed earlier now feels familiar, almost personal.

Back in Hobart, your private transfer is ready.

From first enquiry to final drop-off, every element has been seamlessly arranged — easily coordinated via email or WhatsApp, with a level of care that allows you to simply arrive and enjoy.

This is Tasmania, distilled.

And when you look back on your time here, you won’t list the places you went.

You’ll remember how it felt.

You flew to an island for lunch — and somehow, it became so much more.

How to secure your special parmi:

1) Contact Sam, owner + operator of Once in Tasmania & Derwent Experience, either by whatsapp +61412227111 or [email protected] with your EOI. Sam is handling the bookings, transfers and seamless handover to your helicopter for the day.

2) Note that this is a serious undertaking that is in launch stage as of Winter 2026. The Helicopter Pilot, owner of Bruny Island Hotel and Sam are intent on gathering the resources for this to be a premium, on-demand experience. With that in mind, as much advance notice is welcomed, and adverse weather conditions will have the final say up to lift off. Last minute changes that need to be made will trigger an alternate arrangment that will be favourable and with your consent.