The small island state of Australia, boasting fresh air, enviable food and wine produce , intriguing history and captivating natural beauty beyond compare. With over 40 per cent of the state reserved as national parks and world heritage wilderness, Tasmania is a place of wild and beautiful landscapes mixed with a dose of serenity. Here is an easy guide to the best places that must be on every traveler's bucket list to Tasmania.
Photo credit: Luke Tscharke, Tasmania Tourism
Bridestowe Lavender Fields
Time your trip to Tasmania right and you’ll get this opportunity to capture the Bridestowe lavender fields for your Tasmania photos. The lavender fields here are huge and surrounded by mountains, but they only bloom in the summer months. The best time to visit the lavender in Tasmania is in December and January.
Photo credit: Paul Fleming, Tourism Tasmania
Bay Of Fires - Suicide Beach And Binalong Bay
There are many well-known Tasmania sights to visit, but the Bay of Fires is absolutely one of the most beautiful places in Tasmania and a must-visit especially for photography lovers. A sight like no other! With fiery orange rocks alongside crystal clear blue water, the contrast is just unreal and makes for some very unique captures. If you’re searching for a more secluded spot, head to the small bay to the right of Suicide Beach. Further south along the coast you’ll reach Binalong Bay for a spectacular sunrise and sunset. A great itinerary is to drive from Hobart through the East Coast and onwards to Launceston to end your trip.
Photo credit: Jess Bonde,Tourism Tasmania
Bruny Island
Bruny Island is an easy day trip from Hobart and accessed by a narrow strip of land connected to the main island. On your way to the island along the connecting road, stop at the Neck Lookout where you can walk up to the lookout for rewarding views of the peninsula with the sea on either side. Admire the magnificent rock formations on Bruny Island. Blighs Rocks and the Arch can be found on the secluded beach at Bruny Island Neck Game Reserve. You can access it via the Cape Queen Elizabeth Track and the beach is so beautiful! While here, be sure to take advantage of the island's flourishing fine food and wine industry.
Photo credit: Luke Tscharke, Tourism Tasmania
Hobart
You can’t visit Tasmania and not spend some time exploring the cute town of Hobart. With its colourful buildings and historic houses and an array of delightful cafes. The Salamanca area, Battery Point and North Hobart boasts an ultimate food scene. If you’re a food blogger, photographer or brunch lover, there are so many amazing cafes you need to visit in Hobart! The Battery Point area is also where you’ll find the city’s historic houses and the outdoor sculpture trail, full of history and architecture built by convicts in the 1800s.
The surrounding area is filled with hottest restaurants and talented chefs, craft breweries for the beer lovers, trendy bars, and local larders to sample the best Tasmanian produce. Visit the famous markets in Salamanca Square and the historical trail around Battery Point to learn more about Hobart’s history.
Photo credit: Jason Charles Hill, Tourism Tasmania
Freycinet National Park
Freycinet is home to the renowned Wineglass Bay and the Hazards, a chain of mountains like no other. Golden hour here is absolutely magical but really any time is unforgettable. To make the most of your stay, check in to the Saffire Freycinet for the ultimate luxury Tasmanian experience. Hiking the many scenic trails here is the best way to explore the park. Wander through pristine bushland to secluded bays and lookouts, or tackle the Wineglass Bay Circuit, one of Australia's top hikes. Take the 20-minute walk from the lookout to the southern end of Wineglass Bay to admire beautiful views of the Hazards, three striking pink granite crags rising out of the sea. The peaks are best photographed at sunrise and sunset when their color deepens in the golden light.
Photo credit: Off The Path, Tourism Tasmania
Cradle Mountain National Park
As one of Tasmania’s most visited and most renowned attractions, a visit to the main midlands National Park, Cradle Mountain National Park, is an absolute must. There are a range of day walks for visitors to enjoy, or alternatively, you can set off on the famous multi-day trek, The Overland Track, that runs south from Cradle Valley to stunning Lake St. Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. Situated in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair is the jewel of the state’s many natural wonders. Glacier-carved crags; glittering lakes; beech forests; alpine heathland; and jagged dolerite peaks, including 1,616-meter-high Mount Ossa (the highest point on the island) are some of its most breathtaking features. Hiking in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is legendary. Favorite day walks include the Lake Dove Walk, with magnificent views of Cradle Mountain (1,545 meters), and the Weindorfer Walk, a six-kilometer circuit through dense forests. If you're wondering what to do in Tasmania for a week, a hiking trip here could more than fill your days. As well as Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, you'll experience the wonders of the Tarkine rainforest with optional add-ons, like a cruise on the Gordon River.
Photo credit: Jason Charles Hill, Tourism Tasmania
Exclusive Satellite Island
This small private island is home to one of Tasmania’s most exclusive accommodations on offer and is one of the most remote locations on earth to find yourself. It’s such a secret that most locals don’t even know it exists! Be sure to plan your stay in advance as this is one of the most sought after accommodation locations in Tasmania.
Fossil Cove
Tasmania is full of gorgeous beaches along a rugged coastline and along that is the hidden gem, Fossil Cove. If you’re in the South of Tasmania it only takes a short walk through bushland near Blackmans Bay. You’ll be captivated by its large rock in the shape of an arch! Enjoy the peace and privacy by the shore taking in sweeping views or dive into its waters for a pleasant snorkeling experience.
Cateract Gorge
A mere 15-minute stroll along the river from Launceston's city center, the wild and romantic Cataract Gorge is a deep chasm carved over many centuries by the South Esk River. Offering striking scenery, the gorge is one of the top attractions in Launceston.
Precipitous walking paths cut into the cliff face on both sides of the gorge, offering heart-stopping views of the river far below. The less adventurous can hop aboard the world's longest single-span chairlift, and the Kings Bridge and Gorge Restaurant also afford fine views. At Cliff Grounds on the northern side, lies a beautiful Victorian garden replete with ferns, strutting peacocks, and wallabies. River cruises offer another perspective of this quaint attraction.
Port Arthur Historical Site
The Port Arthur Historic Site is Australia's most intact and evocative convict site with more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes dating from the prison's establishment in 1830 until its closure in 1877. Feel the eery energy as you step back in time through a guided walking tour, harbour cruise or explore the museums and gallery.
