It’s a golden-ticket moment for chocolate lovers and Tassie tourism.
A $150-million project is set to transform the Cadbury Factory waterfront parklands in Hobart into a world of pure imagination. Plans have been unveiled for what’s being dubbed as the ‘world’s most extraordinary chocolate experience’, set to open in 2027.
The Willy Wonka-esque Chocolate Experience at Cadbury (CEC) promises to deliver a celebration of chocolate on a scale never before seen, with the project marking a century of Cadbury operating in Tasmania.
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Tourists were once able to visit the Cadbury factory, based in Claremont, but tours were ceased in 2008 due to new health and safety regulations. This new experience will allow chocolate lovers to once again get hands on with the magic of Cadbury.
“This is a uniquely Tasmanian story that embraces 100 years of Cadbury, provenance, innovation and artisan chocolate production, with the entire state sharing in the benefits,” says project developer Simon Currant of tourism consultancy firm Simon Currant and Associates.
Tasmanian architecture firm Cumulus Studio, together with world-renowned design company Art Processors – a David Walsh enterprise born from MONA – have shaped the creative direction of the project.
“Built on curiosity, invention and joy, this is an active sensorial experience that brings the wonder of chocolate to life, inspiring discovery and connection through generosity and hands-on fun for all ages,” says Tony Holzner of Art Processors.
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The design takes its cues from the adjacent Cadbury Factory, reimagining its pipes, machines and conveyor belts into a hyperreal chocolate world.
“The CEC is an architectural embodiment of chocolate itself – rich, layered and unforgettable,” says Peter Walker of Cumulus Studio. “It is a place where magic is not just seen, but felt, tasted and experienced in every detail.”
Visitors will journey through immersive spaces that celebrate Tasmania’s past, present and future. Highlights will include Chocolate Central, the vibrant heart of the experience; the Premium Chocolate Studio, Build Your Own Bar and a Masterclass, where visitors create and indulge in exclusive Tasmanian-flavoured Cadbury chocolates; and the decadent Chocolate Lounge. Sadly, the promised ‘world’s largest chocolate fountain’ has been dropped from the plans.
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An Immersive Chocolate Tour will bring Cadbury’s century-long Tasmanian heritage to life through a Cacao Forest, Chocolate Lab, Factory Control Room, Taste Kitchen and Emporium.
“Cadbury’s story runs deep in Tasmania, and by pairing that heritage with the best local produce, we will create a destination that locals are proud of and visitors will love,” Currant says.
The attraction is forecast to attract 550,000 visitors annually, with two new purpose-built ferries transporting more than 80 percent of visitors from Hobart to the new Claremont terminal in just 30 minutes.
You can find out more at cadburyexperience.com.au
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