Willie Smith's Apple Shed

Willie Smith's Apple Shed is a rustic barn-style cider house, cafe, provedore and apple museum on the Huon Highway at Grove, about half an hour south of Hobart. The good news for dog owners is that this working cidery actively welcomes dogs in its outdoor courtyard, so nobody waits in the car while you work through a tasting paddle.

The dog setup

Dogs on lead are welcome across the spacious, sheltered courtyard and lawn seating. The indoor shed is generally off limits to pets, so plan on settling outside, and bring your own water bowl rather than counting on one being supplied. Keep your dog clipped to you; the courtyard is roomy but it is still a working venue with food moving through it.

The vibe

This is the home of Willie Smith's Organic Cider, with a tasting bar pouring styles from bone dry through to heritage blends, and the kitchen works with Huon Valley produce, from cheese plates to the apple pie people come back for. The shed also doubles as a museum on the valley's apple industry, and live music lands regularly, often out in the courtyard where the dogs are.

Getting there and parking

The Apple Shed sits directly on the Huon Highway at Grove, a straightforward drive from Hobart with a gravel car park in front. Doors open from 10am seven days, closing earliest on weekdays at 4pm and later on Friday nights and weekends. Weekends get busy, so time your visit earlier if your dog prefers a calm settle.

While you're out there

For a run beforehand, the Dru Point Fenced Dog Park at Margate is on the way south, and the Cygnet Recreation Ground Fenced Dog Park covers the other end of the valley. Appelflap Cafe in Margate suits a coffee stop.

More stops are in the Tasmania dog friendly pubs guide and on the Grove destination page.