Top things to do in Tasmania

If you want to explore the whole island, Tasmania delivers a well-rounded holiday. Hobart's big on art, history and culture. National park hikes and beach walks can be found in every region. Plus there are plenty of biking, fishing and golfing opportunities. Wherever you go, it's easy to find excellent places to eat and drink, because the local ingredients are exceptional.

Tasmania natural attractions and national parks

Many Kiwis are drawn to Tasmania for its natural attractions. The island has 19 national parks and an extensive World Heritage wilderness area. All up, more than 40%  of the island's land area is protected. While some people liken Tasmania to the top of NZ's South Island, the forests and wildlife are distinctly Australian. Well-maintained hiking tracks beckon you to pull on your boots and walk on the wild side. You can also catch a train or river cruise to soak up the scenery. 

• West Coast Railway
  Heritage steam train adventures are a compelling reason to visit the west coast. The West Coast Wilderness Railway offers a choice of experiences that take you deep into the rainforest, beginning in either Strahan or Queenstown.
• Gordon River walks and cruises
  From Strahan you can catch an epic cruise along the Gordon River to explore a UNESCO World Heritage area. The calm water reflects lush rainforest, mountain peaks and misty clouds. A seat on the upper deck is a top spot for photography and feeling at one with nature. There's a choice of river cruises, from one hour to half a day.
• Cradle Mountain walks
  Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is where you'll find Tasmania's most famous view. Looking across Dove Lake to the cradle-shaped mountain is a classic Tassie experience. There are many options for walking in this park, including the Dove Lake Circuit, Crater Lake, Marion's Lookout and the short-but-gorgeous Enchanted Walk. If you want to see wombats in the wild, Ronny Creek is the place.
• Overland Track hike
  Traversing Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Overland Track is a six-day hiking adventure. It takes you deep into World Heritage wilderness and there are some serious peaks for summiting along the way. You can experience this track as a guided or self-guided journey, staying in huts or lodges. Wildlife encounters are a sure thing, as well as a range of impeccable landscapes.
• Freycinet National Park
  Best known for the picture-perfect white sand arc of Wineglass Bay, this park is extraordinary. You'll see granite formations, azure bays with white sand beaches, rocky coves and woodlands full of black peppermint trees. Highlights include the multi-day Freycinet Peninsula Circuit walk, Wineglass Bay cruises, quad biking and sea kayaking.
• Tasmania World Heritage sites
  Tasmania has around 1.4 million hectares of World Heritage wilderness, so you're definitely in for some special scenery. There are sites rich with convict history too, like Brickendon  and Woolmers Estates, Cascades Female Factory and Darlington Probation Station. The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the island's best known attractions – an open-air museum providing fascinating insight into the island's convict past.

If the wind in your hair puts a smile on your face, Tassie is your kind of place. Bring your sports gear for world-class surfing, mountain biking, fishing and golfing. Transporting sports equipment is straightforward with Air New Zealand. 

• Mountain biking Tasmania
  There are some superb bike trails in Tasmania, with grades to suit riders of all abilities. The Blue Derby Network has 125kms of enduro-style trails purpose-built for mountain biking. St Helens Mountain Bike Trails are more diverse, with family trails as well as serious downhills. Maydena Bike Park has more than 85 trails and a wicked 820-metre vertical elevation. The Mt Owen trail network comes with rugged west coast scenery. And Maria Island National Park is a spectacular sightseeing-by-bike experience that almost anyone can do.
• Surfing in Tasmania
  Tasmania's position in the Roaring Forties makes it a top spot for big waves when the conditions are right. The best swells are found at Bicheno, Bruny Island, King Island and Shipstern Bluff, which famously has Australia's heaviest wave.
• Tasmanian devil sanctuaries
  Not so long ago, the island's legendary devils were in trouble. A horrible facial tumour disease was killing them off. Now, the population is rebuilding, thanks to the breeding programmes found at specialised Tasmanian devil sanctuaries. If you want to see devils doing their stuff, slip a conservation sanctuary into your itinerary.
• Fishing in Tasmania
  If freshwater fish are your target, there are many lakes and lagoons in Tasmania to choose from. Catches include brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and Atlantic salmon. If you're interested in deep sea fishing, Eaglehawk Neck or St Helens is the place to find a charter boat. Striped trumpeter, morwong and coral perch are common catches.
• Golfing in Tasmania
  With more than 65 courses, Tasmania is a gifted golfing destination. Favourites with Kiwis include Barnbougle Dunes and Barnbougle Lost Farm in Bridport, Ratho Farm (Australia's oldest course) and the Tasman Club, on the way to Port Arthur.

Tasmania has a rich history embroidered with dark tales of British occupation, convict labour, colonial hardships and the enduring connection to country of the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people. It also has a passion for innovative art that has resulted in one of the world's best modern art museums.

• Mona - Museum of Old and New Art
  Since opening in 2011, Mona has put Hobart firmly on the radar of the world's art appreciators and it's certainly one of the best things to do in Hobart. Created by David Walsh, a colourful art collector and businessman, it's a mind-boggling experience that's always evolving. While you can drive to Mona, the ultimate way to get there is by boat from downtown Hobart. As well as provocative and unexpected art, Mona is about exceptional food and drink. Above and below the ground, it's out of this world.
• Aboriginal experiences
  The number of authentic cultural experiences is growing. In the north east of the island, wukalina walk offers a four-day journey through the magnificent landscape of wukalina (Mt William National Park) and larapuna (Bay of Fires). Another opportunity is Kipli Takara tours, who offer bush food walks at Risdon Cove. And in Launceston Kooparoona Niara Tours run cultural tours into stunning Cataract Gorge.
• Cataract Gorge Reserve
  In Launceston, Tasmania's second-largest city, the must-see natural attraction is Cataract Gorge Reserve. You'll find amazing river and rock scenery, complemented by Victoriana structures. The reserve includes a choice of walking trails, an outdoor pool (free), a scenic chairlift and a suspension bridge. Duck Reach Trail leads to historic Duck Reach Power Station, where interpretative panels tell the station's story.
• Battery Point walks
  One of the best free Hobart attractions, the Battery Point Sculpture Trail links numerical exhibits that explain the city's interesting past. While you're soaking up some history, you'll enjoy great views of the port and lower Derwent Estuary. The historical buildings of Battery Point are pretty special too.
• Colonial villages and estates
  In addition to the World Heritage site at Port Arthur, Tasmania has a 'Heritage Highway' that includes picturesque colonial towns. Driving north from Hobart, follow the route that includes Kempton, Oatlands and Ross. They all have remarkable collections of restored cottages, shops and taverns from the island's colonial past.

Tasmania's reputation as a destination for foodies is well deserved. The island's ocean and farms supply high quality ingredients to chefs, bakers and cooks who really know what they're doing. Award-winning craft beers, wines and distilled spirits are also produced in Tassie, so you can raise a glass to local creativity. 

• Salamanca Market in Hobart
  A top attraction for shopping and eating, Salamanca Market is on every Saturday from 8.30AM. It's a place for grazing on everything from tempura-battered local mushrooms and iconic Tasmanian scallop pies to miniature pancakes and homemade fudge. On any other day of the week, the area nearby is packed with respected restaurants.
• Vineyards in Tasmania
  There are cellar doors sprinkled around Tasmania, and quite a few of them have a restaurant or café. Handy to Hobart are Bangor Vineyard Shed, Frogmore Creek and Home Hill Winery Restaurant. Further afield, grab a table at Timbre Kitchen at Velo Wines or Josef Chromy near Launceston. The east coast has a couple of goodies too - Higher Ground at Milton Vineyard and Devil's Corner at Bicheno.
• Cascade Brewery 
  Just minutes from Hobart's CBD is Cascade Brewery, which was founded in 1824. It's the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia. Here you can take a tour that includes a tasting of Cascade's iconic brews. There's a cafe here too, for hearty food that goes well with a beer.