Accessibility at
Tasmania’s Taste of Summer

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer is a celebration of our island’s food, drink, music and community, and we want as many people as possible to be able to experience it. We’re committed to making the Taste welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for people of all abilities, including visitors who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have limited mobility, use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, have food allergies or intolerances, or have cognitive or sensory accessibility requirements. We know accessibility needs are different for everyone. The information below is here to help you plan your visit and know what to expect before arriving at Taste.

Getting around Tasmania’s Taste of Summer

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer is held across a largely level site on Hobart’s waterfront, with step-free access throughout the majority of the festival. Food and drink stalls, seating areas, entertainment spaces and amenities have been planned with accessibility in mind. Pathways are generally wider than 900mm and clear routes are maintained throughout the festival to make moving around the site as easy as possible. Most surfaces are concrete, asphalt, smooth paving or timber, with some grassed areas. Temporary ramps are available where required. Wheelchair-accessible seating and spaces are available throughout the festival, and moveable seating is available within dining areas. Our Information Booth team can help with directions, accessible facilities or anything else you may need while you’re onsite.

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets are located at either end of the main festival building, close to the major activity areas. These locations will be identified on the festival map and through signage around the site.

Accessible parking, drop-off + public transport

Accessible parking spaces are available close to the festival site, with level access from parking areas to the entrance. Designated drop-off and pick-up areas are also available for accessible taxis, rideshare services and visitors requiring easier access to the festival entrance. Kerb ramps are in place where pavements or walkways need to be crossed. Information about public transport options will be available ahead of the festival, with our Information Booth team also able to assist once you arrive.

Wheelchairs + mobility scooters

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with step-free routes throughout the majority of the festival site. Powerpoints are available across the site for charging electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Speak to our team at the Information Booth or an event staff member and they can direct you to the nearest suitable charging point.

Companion Cards

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer proudly recognises the Companion Card. Companion Card holders can bring their support person to the Taste at no additional cost.

Assistance dogs

Registered assistance dogs are welcome throughout Tasmania’s Taste of Summer. As the Taste takes place across indoor and outdoor spaces, water bowls and accessible shaded areas are available at several locations across the festival site to help keep assistance animals comfortable. Our team can help you locate the nearest suitable area.

Hidden disabilities

Not every disability is visible. Tasmania’s Taste of Summer supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, and patrons, stallholders, contractors and staff are welcome to wear a sunflower to discreetly indicate that they may need additional time, understanding or assistance. If you need support at any stage during your visit, please speak with our team.

Quiet and sensory spaces

Festivals can be busy places. A dedicated sensory relief and quiet area is available near the Salamanca Lawns end of the festival, close to the main entry and exit. It provides somewhere to take a break from crowds, music and the general buzz of the Taste. Tasmania’s Taste of Summer includes live entertainment and can involve loud music, lighting and large crowds. Our New Year’s Eve celebrations may also include fireworks, strobe lighting and other heightened sensory experiences. We recommend checking the festival program and event information before your visit if you or someone in your group is sensitive to noise, lighting or crowds.

Food allergies and dietary requirements

With more than 85 individual food and drink stalls, there’s plenty to choose from at Tasmania’s Taste of Summer. Our carefully curated stallholder line-up includes options catering for a broad range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and other dietary needs. Dietary information is displayed at stalls where available, and stallholder teams can provide further information about ingredients and food preparation. Each stallholder operates their own food preparation space and manages their individual food safety and cross-contamination procedures. If you have a severe allergy or specific dietary requirement, we recommend speaking directly with the stallholder before ordering.

Families

We have a dedicated children’s area for children aged 12 and under and their carers, located on Salamanca Lawns. Baby change facilities are also available onsite, and children under 16 receive free general admission to the Taste.

First Aid and assistance

First Aid is available within the main event area throughout Tasmania’s Taste of Summer. Event staff receive accessibility awareness information and our Information Booth team is available throughout the festival to provide assistance, answer questions and help you find accessible facilities. All Taste employees, contractors and stallholders also undertake an event induction that includes information about emergency procedures and assisting patrons in the event of an evacuation.

Planning your visit

We know that a little information beforehand can make a big difference. Our festival map provides information about the site and key facilities, including accessible amenities, and further event information will be made available on our website ahead of the festival. Peak periods can mean larger crowds and queues. If this is something that may affect your experience, consider visiting earlier in the day or speaking with our team about how we can help.

Have a question?

Accessibility is something we’ll continue to work on. If there’s information you need before visiting, or you have a suggestion that could make Tasmania’s Taste of Summer more inclusive and accessible, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. Please contact info@tasteofsummer.com.au and our team will be happy to help you plan your visit.