A group of islands south of the Australian continent, Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state, in terms of area and population. That’s because there are only about 570,000 people living on the island. But small is beautiful and well worth the trip in Tasmania’s case!
The state, which consists of 1000 islands, is known for its natural environment. Think of many national parks, green rugged landscapes, the Tasmanian devil, and waterfalls. And its larger centres, like Hobart and Launceston, are charming historic places to spend time. State capital, Hobart is your departure point for most Tasmania Tours offered by We Tour Australia.
We’ve put together a list of our favourite things to do in Tasmania…
Wineglass Bay from Wineglass Bay Walking Track
Freycinet National Park is as much a destination as it is an attraction. The national park is located on the east side of Tasmania. And its 168 square kilometres, offer plenty to do.
The most popular and well known attraction is, arguably, Wineglass Bay. It regularly makes lists of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. The lookout walk is a must do, offering stunning views over Wineglass Bay, some of the peaks and the Tasman Sea.
The waters around Freycinet National Park are often visited by whales in the winter months. And the park is also a good place to see Tasmania’s distinctive birds and other mammals. You can easily spend the day here relaxing, being active and watching wildlife. (Australia’s National Parks website offers a great guide to the wonders of Tasmania’s most well-know national park.)
With a visit to the Port Arthur Historic site you travel back in time. From 1830 Port Arthur grew into an important penal settlement within the penal system of the colonies. And around 1853 it became an industrial prison. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the historic site started opening up to tourists and by 2010 the historic site was included on the World Heritage List.
With an entry ticket, you have two days to explore everything that the Port Arthur Historic site has to offer. Visit the gallery to see interactive exhibits and presentations on the history of the site and its people. A guided introductory walking tour and a 20-minute harbour cruise are also part of the ticket. There is much to explore as you can wander around more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens and walking trails.
Port Arthur Historic site
In Hobart you’ll find 19th century sandstone buildings and cafes around every corner. Go to Battery Point. This is a historic district in the centre of town with narrow streets and colonial-era buildings. Hobart is also home to Mona, a museum of old and new art and enjoy art from all eras.
More interested in nature than art and architecture? A visit to Mount Wellington should be on your agenda. You can climb to the summit in 1.5/2 hours. Driving on Pinnacle Road will also bring you to the top. It is a stunning place to be all day, but a sunrise or sunset visit is magical.
Maria Island gives you the ultimate island experience. White beaches, untouched nature, and historic ruins. It’s all there. Besides a few park rangers, the island is uninhabited. So, this is the place to be if you want to find peace and quiet. With a width of 13 kilometres and a length of 20, it is very easy to explore the island on foot or by bicycle. Bikes can be pre-booked at ‘Encounter Maria Island‘.
Mountain biking on Maria Island
Launceston is a mix of country and city vibes. It is one of the two cities out of the whole of Australia that has the label ‘UNESCO City of Gastronomy’. The famous farmers market is a popular Saturday morning activity. Just on the edge of the riverside city, there is the Cataract Gorge Reserve. It is only a half an hour walk from the city centre. You will arrive in this 65-million-old gorge, and you will immediately feel the serenity and calmness of this place. There are some really nice walking trails and even a chairlift at 308 meters.
Are you interested in historic rail activities? At Don River Railway you can learn all about Tasmanian railway history courtesy of the volunteers that run the railway.
You can start your experience with a 30-minute return train ride. This train ride takes you along the eastern bank of the Don River, to the junction in Coles Beach. Before this ride or after your return, take a look at the museum and workshop to see heritage locomotives and carriages in real life.
Russel Falls is one of Tasmania’s most famous waterfalls. It is located in the southern part of the central highlands in Mt Field National Park, Tasmania’s first national park. This majestic waterfall is downstream of the nearby Horshoe Falls on Russel Falls Creek.
You can reach the falls after a short and easy 25-minute walk through lush temperate forest from the national park’s visitor centre. Keep an eye out for, a quintessentially Australian local, platypus in the creek as you walk to and from the falls.
Interested in more waterfalls? The Lady Barron Falls are a 30-minute walk away.
Cradle Mountain
You’ll find Cradle Mountain in the Central Highlands region of Lake St Clair National Park. With a height of 1,545 meters it is the sixth-highest mountain in Tasmania. Wildlife is abundant here.
You can spot Tasmanian Devils, quolls, platypus, echidna, wombats and the black currawong here. Indeed, this magical place, offers your best chance of seeing the Tasmanian Devils in their natural habitat.
You can do many multi-day hikes in this magical place. But you can also come here for a day. Visit the visitor centre or explore the park. There is plenty to do!
Why not mix all this nature with a sampling of local refreshments?
About 32 vineyards belong to the Tamar Valley Wine Region. The region extends from the north of Launceston and 50 kilometres to the Tamar River and includes the towns of Saltash and Torpoint.
The valley is known for its variety of wines. If you like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, then this is your place to be.
Overall, 40 percent of Tasmanian wine production comes from the Tamar Valley. You can walk, cycle or drive through here yourself or go on a guided tour.
Hellyers Road Distillery
In addition to the many wineries, Tasmania is also rich in distilleries, boasting the most of any Australian state.
This is partly due to the cooler weather of this Southern Ocean island state. The climate here is similar to, the world’s greatest whisky-producing country, Scotland. In addition, all the ingredients needed for whisky are grown on the island.
During We Tour Australia’s ‘Perfect Tasmania‘, ‘Tassie’s Parks and Nature‘ and ‘Tastes of Tasmania‘ tours, you will visit either the Western Tiers Distillery or Hellyers Road Whisky Distillery.
There are, of course, many more things to do and see in Tasmania. You can visit Tasmania’s own website, the Tourism Australia website or TripAdvisor if you want more ideas on how to explore this beautiful island.
Finally, as you can see Tasmania is very diverse. With the tours of We Tour Australia, there are plenty of choices when it comes to tours with specific regions or interests. Are you interested in one of the tours? Do you want more information? Contact us and we will be happy to help you!
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