WanderDiscover Tasmania’s untamed wilderness, award-winning whisky trails, and UNESCO sites. From Southern Lights to Tasmanian devils, plan your perfect escape to Australia’s most pristine state.
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TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA – Be clued in on top travel tips, best times to visit and hidden gems. We are not gatekeeping Australia’s best-kept secret anymore.
Tasmania – the ultimate holiday for everyone
From rugged mountains of the Cradle Mountain to the crystal-clear waters of Wineglass Bay, the pristine beaches of Bruny Island, dotted with charming historic towns like Launceston and Hobart, and home to unique wildlife such as the iconic Tasmanian Devil, Tasmania offers an escape away from the worldly feel of typical tourist trails. Tasmania, the island state of Australia at its Southern tip, is so underrated.
The island packs a punch when it comes to its gastronomy exploits and history. Thriving with an array of award winners such as the vineyards in Tamar Valley, and earning the coveted title of UNESCO City of Gastronomy given to only 36 in the world, Tasmania also comes with an impressive slew of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Surprisingly, only a fraction of the 7.4 million who flock to Australia venture into this Southern paradise.
While mainland Australia suffers from overtourism, Tasmania retains its authentic charm. Just by spending a few days in Tasmania, one finally gets a sense of what it means to truly live. Here, you get to picnic with the wombats, be awe-struck by the Aurora Australis (the Southern Lights), savour fresh seafood and oysters, learn from history at its heritage-listed convict sites and take on world-class hikes. You will find your soul restoring in nature, your body savouring the clean, sustainable food, your mind hungry to learn from its history and you get to do all these while breathing in the freshest air on the planet, without throngs of crowds.
From practical travel tips to hidden gems, discover why Tasmania should be on your travel radar right now. Read on.
Did you know?
Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state and least populous state with slightly over half a million people. In comparison, it is the same size as Sri Lanka which houses over a whopping 22 million people.
How to get to Tasmania
An island off an island, Tasmania is accessible via both flight and ferry. We flew on a domestic flight, Jetstar, from Melbourne to Tasmania which took only an hour. Virgin Australia and Qantas also offer daily flights to both Launceston and Hobart. You can also fly from Sydney (2 hours).
If time is on your side, the Spirit of Tasmania ferries between Melbourne and Devonport offers the unrivalled experience of sailing across Bass Strait. However, ferry tickets may cost more than flights for the experience.
TIP: It may be cheaper to fly to Launceston rather than Hobart, capital of Tasmania. Make a loop around the island with a rental car, and you will still get to cover the two main cities of Tasmania and all around the island.
Did you know?
More than 24% of Tasmania, about one and a half million hectares, is listed as Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
UNESCO Heritage sites
From National Parks to convict sites, Tasmania is brimming with UNESCO Heritage sites that are worth your time. Since the eighties, close to a fifth of Tasmania has been placed on the World Heritage List.
With its rich convict history, almost half of all the Australian convict sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list are located in Tasmania. So be sure to make a trip to the well-preserved convict sites such as Port Arthur Historic Site, Coal Mines Historic Site, Cascades Female Factory, Darlington Probation Station, Brickendon Estate, and Woolmers Estate. Tasmania’s convict history has no lack of compelling stories to share.
Visiting Port Arthur Historic Site, we were blown away, not just by the well-preserved architecture but the varied stories of the convicts who played an integral part in shaping the country’s colonial past. We were surprised that many craftsmen were trained within the prison walls, producing stone, bricks, furniture, clothing to boats and ships. Each ticket entitles you to a 20 minute harbour cruise and a two-day entry.
Book Port Arthur tours.
TIP: Be sure to plan your time at Port Arthur strategically and uncover fascinating untold stories during the free guided tours at different attractions.
Meet the wildlife
In the pristine forests of the Tasman Peninsula resides the natural habitat of wildlife such as the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial, the Tasmanian devil, wombat, wallabies, possums, currawongs, quoll, echidnas, platypus and more.
Did you know?
National parks and reserves provide a home for Tasmania’s native and endemic wildlife, including threatened and vulnerable species.
TIP: Get acquainted with the dos-and-don’ts when encountering wildlife. Some general guidelines:
- Do not feed them.
- Drive with caution. Long stretches of the road passes by native wildlife habitats. Bear in mind that you are sharing the road with wildlife that are typically active during dawn and dusk. Go slower if need be.
- Turn off the flash of your camera/smartphone to avoid startling wildlife.
See the iconic Tasmanian Devil!
Did you know?
Tasmania produces one of the freshest air in the planet.
Embrace nature
If you’re looking for nature, Tasmania has it in spades. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park – World Heritage Listed and one of its most well-known National Parks – beckons with its diverse, captivating landscapes and unique wildlife, not seen anywhere else.
Cradle Mountain is truly built for the people. There are different trails for different fitness levels, from short trails to tracks that would span days to complete. When we were there, we witnessed families with baby strollers and elderly people admiring the fresh air and hiking along the wooden boardwalks along the scenic Dove Lake, with the backdrop of the Cradle Mountain itself.
TIP
- Carry your trash with you.
- Don’t underestimate the terrain and weather, especially alpine areas such as Cradle Mountain. Weather in alpine areas are known to change frequently and quickly, so be prepared.
According to the National Park website, “Snow, rain, wind and sun are all possible at any time of the year, and bushfires can occur between October and March.” Deaths have caught up with unprepared hikers, so do not take the advice lightly.
Get your hiking gear from Amazon.
Things to do and what to eat in Cradle Mountain.
Book a two-day tour of Cradle Mountain via Klook.
Did you know?
Cradle Mountain is shaped by glacial erosion and deposition over the past two million years.
UNESCO City of gastronomy – Launceston
Launceston is Tasmania’s nod to its paddock-to-plate culture, placing the city firmly on the gourmet map. Known as the City of Gastronomy, and only 36 of such cities worldwide, Launceston shines with its range of diverse gourmet offerings.
From the popular award-winning restaurant Stillwater that is housed in an 1830s flour mill at the mouth of Cataract Gorge, to Black Cow Bistro serving up the best Tasmanian beef, to Havilah’s sustainably-sourced menu, to Agrarian Kitchen’s farm-to-table dining to Timbre’s seasonal food and wine; there’s no lack of dining options to satisfy even the most discerning palate.
We had the good fortune to score a reservation at Stillwater, awarded 14 chef hat awards in Australia’s Good Food Guide – the highest in North Restaurant Awards. We were not only blown away by the food, the ambience and service were top-notched. Besides its brilliant presentation, the sauces used, and the overall combination of the freshest local and sustainably sourced ingredients made each bite an exquisite dining experience. Highly recommend!
Besides great food, the jewel of Launceston lies in Cataract Gorge. Its’ claim to fame is the world’s longest single chairlift spanning at 308m which offers a vantage viewpoint of the absolutely gorgeous naturally formed basin. Spend an entire day here or a couple of hours, there’s no shortage of trails or things to do at this natural beauty. Look out for peacocks and wallabies too.
We opted for a cruise with drinks and seasonal fruits onboard to see Cataract Gorge from the river. However, you can easily spend an entire day swimming, hiking or simply lazing around the stunning Gorge. We suggest a picnic here while you take in the beauty of the Jurassic-aged Gorge and take a dip into its icy-cool waters.
TIP: During Summer, and warmer days, don’t miss taking a dip in the public swimming pool in Cataract Gorge. It is free. Even better, for a more back-to-nature experience, take a cool dip into the waters of the Gorge anytime of the year!
Did you know?
The geological features of Cataract Gorge hark back to the Jurassic era when dinosaurs roamed the land.
What to do, where to stay in Launceston.
Farmers markets
There’s no better way to support local than to go local. Visiting the Farmers’ Markets is one of the surefire ways to ensure your tourist dollars go back to the community.
In Tasmania, namely Launceston’s Harvest Market and Hobart’s Salamanca Market, you will find hundreds of locals touting their wares and produce, from homemade crafts, clothing and accessories, beef jerky, gin, whisky and beer and of course, seafood. The creative vibe and energy at these markets are undeniable. You can’t get any more local than that.
We were happy to try out many of its local brews from beer to gin to whisky, as well as local produce such as freshly shucked oysters and beef jerky with different spicy ratings. The locals were friendly and more than happy to chat with you on their produce and brews.
TIP: Make a pitstop at Hobart’s Saturday only Salamanca Market which holds over 300 stalls from food and drinks to clothing, music and crafts.
Award-winning vineyards
Thanks to its ideal cool climate, Tasmania houses a whopping 230 individual vineyards. You will find some of the world’s best wineries and vineyards at the Tamar Valley. Besides award winning whiskies, the region is also famous for its gin and vodkas, among other spirits.
Don’t drink and drive. Book Tamar Valley tours.
For those who do not have the time to venture into Tamar Valley, there’s loads more to offer in terms of drinks. Be it taking a tour at James Boag Brewery at Launceston or having a flight of whisky at The Still, Lark Whisky Bar in Hobart, there’s so many more distilleries and breweries to uncover in Tasmania.
Take it all in and secure a tour of Tasmania’s Wine, Beer, Cider, & Spirits, Tasting Tour from Hobart.
Keen to taste Tasmanian’s best? Try Lark Single Malt Whisky or Taverner’s Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky Honey Mead.
Did you know?
Besides Scotland and Japan, Tasmania produces some of the top whiskies in the world. Its world-class drams have won the hearts of judges and garnered numerous awards, even though Tasmanians produce only 0.01% of the world’s whisky.
There’s a saying in Tasmania, “Come to Mona for the paintings, stay for the pinots.”
What is Art?
Love it or hate it. If you are an art enthusiast, or if you are jaded of the staid manner in which classical art is presented or have a secret desire to be titillated into discussions over art, MONA is it. MONA, Museum of Old and New Art, is Australia’s largest private art museum and is not apologetic about its unique stance it takes towards Art.
One cannot mention MONA without talking about its founder and owner David Walsh. Mind you, this is a man whose claim to fame is a professional gambler who once hauled in A$63 million in a single big horse race. His tongue-in-cheek and uncanny ability to present art in its brutal origins may come across as in-your-face or thought-provoking — depending on the audience and your state of mind.
Whether you are there to admire the engineering feat that cost an estimated A$80 million to build, there’s much to see, explore, and ponder at the underground museum. Give MONA a chance and see for yourself what Art can be, or should be.
Book Mona ferry.
TIP: Make dining at MONA a part of the museum experience. Check out their seven dining and drinking establishments in-house and you will not be disappointed.
Did you know?
Multi-millionaire David Walsh’s memoir, A Bone of Fact, is a thrilling mix of how he made his first bucks to how he fossilized his vision for MONA.
Dancing lights of the South
Apart from the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis found in Scandinavian countries, there’s another natural phenomenon known as the Southern Lights or the Aurora Australis. You guessed it, it’s spotted in Tasmania.
Displaying a spectacular display of green, white, red, pink, purple or blue, the Southern Lights is said to be seen year-round, especially during the Winter months from May to August, when it is at its darkest. How amazing is that?
TIP: Some popular spots include Mount Wellington/Kunanyi, southern shores of Bruny Island, Goat Bluff, Tinderbox and more.
Did you know?
Antarctica and Tasmania are the top places to view the Aurora Astralis due to the earth’s magnetic field that is closest to its surface and the North and South Poles. The atoms bring various colours forth, green and red representing oxygen, and nitrogen reflected in green and blue.
More tips on travelling around Tasmania
- Rent a car with Trip.com.
Due to its sheer size, travelling by car is one of the best ways to see Tasmania. Pick up your rental car in Launceston or Hobart and get 8% off!
- Best time to visit
Tasmania has something to engage in anytime of the year. However, the Australia Summer from December to February tend to be warmer with most activities available.
- Tipping culture
Despite the high level of service we experienced in Australia, there’s no tipping culture in Tasmania. A standard service charge is typically added to your bill unless you are buying from small businesses and farmers’ markets. Of course, there’s no stopping you from rewarding the wait staff should you be impressed by their services.
- Changing climate
As with many parts of Australia, Tasmania’s location in the alpine area means that you need to be prepared for unpredictable weather. And by unpredictable, we mean that the weather in one day can take the form of four different seasons.
Be sure to check online beforehand and with the Visitor Centre on the day of visit, especially if you are embarking on a hike in their National Parks. Mastering the art of layering helps when the temperature takes a sudden turn within a day.
Do not belittle the change in climate in one location. We experienced a high of mid-thirties degree celsius versus a low twenty degree celsius in less than 12 hours!
- Number of days
Due to its vastness and the many things to do in Tasmania, spend at least 7 days to cover both Launceston and Hobart. We spent a total of 7 nights taking a round trip from Launceston to Hobart, then taking in the scenic Eastern coastal drive back to Launceston and Cradle Mountain. We would willingly spend more time exploring the rest of Tasmania!
Whether you are here for nature, food, alcohol, wildlife, flora or history, there’s so much for to love about and explore in Tasmania. Find out for yourself and plan your trip to Tasmania with Trip.com, Klook and gear up at Amazon today!
