Top things to do in Tasmania
You might have heard about the great hiking, but there's more to this magic isle than scenery. Art, food, beaches, history, craft beer and adventure activities make Tasmania an any-season destination.
Getting around Tasmania
Once you've landed, the easiest way to get around Tasmanian attractions is in a rental car. Driving in Tasmania is a lot like driving in New Zealand, so you'll feel right at home on the roads.
Top attractions 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 Tassie grows superb ingredients.
Tasmania natural attractions and national parks
Many Kiwis are drawn to Tasmania for its natural attractions. The island has 19 national parks and 438 conservation areas, as well as numerous reserves. 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
The steam train adventures that run between Strahan and Queenstown are a compelling reason to visit the west coast. The West Coast Wilderness Railway offers a choice of experiences, including one that includes river rafting. - 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, Cradle Valley Boardwalk, 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
Beginning in Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park, the Overland Track is a six-day hiking adventure. It takes you through deep World Heritage wilderness and there are some serious peaks for summiting along the way. You can do 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
Sometimes called 'Wineglass National Park', because it includes 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. Best things to do here include the Freycinet Peninsula Circuit, 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 , Woolmers Estate, Cascades Female Factory and Darlington Probation Station. The Port Arthur Historic Site is probably Tassie's most famous place, with more than 30 structures built by convicts.
Tasmania outdoor activities
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 endure-style trails for hard-core mountain biking. St Helens is more diverse, with family trails as well as serious downhills. Maydena Bike Park has 62 trails and a wicked 820-metre vertical elevation. 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 Shipsterns Bluff, which famously has Australia's heaviest wave. - Tasmanian devil sanctuaries
Not so long ago, Tassie'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 15 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 in Bridport, Barnbougle Lost Farm, Ratho Farm (Australia's oldest course) and the Tasman Club, on the way to Port Arthur.
Tasmanian art and culture
Tasmania has a rich history embroidered with dark tales of British occupation, convict labour and colonial hardships. 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
In recent times, Mona has put Hobart firmly on the radar of the world's art appreciators. Created by David Walsh, a colourful art collector and businessman, it's a mind-boggling experience that you can get to by boat. 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. - Grindelwald Swiss village
Established in the 1980s, Grindelwald is a residential development with a difference. It's built entirely in traditional Swiss style, resulting in a real-life fairy-tale village. Just 15 minutes north of Launceston, Grindelwald has a mini-golf course, paddle boating, a chocolate café, day spa and the world's longest bouncy jumping pillow (for kids). - Cataract Gorge Reserve
Launceston's most famous natural attraction is Cataract Gorge Reserve. You'll find amazing river and rock scenery, complemented by Victoriana structures. As well as a choice of walking trails, a very cool outdoor (free) pool and there's a scenic chairlift and suspension bridge. Duck Reach Trail leads to historic Duck Reach Power Station (now a museum). - 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, Tassie 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 Tasmania's colonial past.
Top places to eat and drink in Tasmania
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 bibimbap balls and pavlova to empanadas and seafood sausages. On any other day of the week, the area nearby is packed with respected restaurants. - Vineyards in Tasmania
There are nearly 100 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 Iron Pot Bay Vineyard or Tamar Ridge near Launceston. The east coast has a couple of goodies too - Alm Restaurant 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. It's definitely one of the best things to do in Hobart. There's a cafe here too, for hearty food that goes well with a beer.
