Tasmania, island state south of the mainland · Australia
A wild, green island of mountains, beaches and ancient forest, with convict history, a bold art museum, Hobart's waterfront and some of the best food and drink in Australia.
Photo: BennyG3255 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tasmania is an island about the size of Ireland, 240 km south of the Australian mainland across Bass Strait, and it has long been the country's most unspoilt and least visited state. Around a fifth of it is a World Heritage Area, with mountains, rainforest, wild rivers and beaches, and it is home to unusual animals including the Tasmanian devil, wombats and wallabies. The Palawa people have lived here for at least 40,000 years.
European settlement began in 1803, and the island was a major convict destination, with the notorious Port Arthur penal settlement and other sites now on the UNESCO Australian Convict Sites list. Hobart, on the Derwent River beneath Mount Wellington, is the capital and the second-oldest city in the country, with Georgian sandstone warehouses, a lively waterfront and a Saturday market at Salamanca Place.
In recent years the island has become a food and culture destination. The Museum of Old and New Art, MONA, opened in 2011 and changed the way people saw the state, and Tasmania's whisky, cool-climate wine, cheese, seafood and cider are all outstanding. But the wilderness is still the main attraction, with day walks and multi-day trails through spectacular scenery.
Why visit
Tasmania combines wild landscapes, food and history in one compact, walkable island.
Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and the south-west offer some of Australia's best walking.
A provocative art museum, a lively waterfront and historic streets.
Oysters, cheese, whisky, cider and wine, at cellar doors and farm gates.
Port Arthur and other sites tell a dark story.
Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas and wallabies are easily seen.
Main attractions
The island is best explored by car, with a base in Hobart and a loop through the east and north-west.
The waterfront of the capital, with sandstone warehouses, Battery Point's old streets and the Saturday Salamanca Market, which sells produce and crafts.
Tip Go early to the market, and stay for lunch on the docks.
A privately owned museum built into a sandstone cliff on the Derwent, with a provocative collection of ancient and contemporary art, a winery and a brewery. Reached by ferry from Hobart.
Tip Take the ferry, and allow at least three hours.
The mountain that towers over Hobart, at 1,271 metres, with a road to the summit and views across the city and Derwent estuary. Its Aboriginal name is kunanyi.
Tip Bring warm clothes, as it is much colder at the top.
The most famous convict site in Australia, a settlement of stone buildings and gardens on the Tasman Peninsula, an hour from Hobart. It is also the site of a 1996 massacre, which is commemorated with a memorial garden.
Tip Allow half a day.
A national park on the east coast, with pink granite peaks and the perfect beach of Wineglass Bay, reached by a walk to the lookout in about an hour return.
Tip Continue down to the beach if you can.
The dramatic peak in the north-west, with a lake circuit walk of about 2 hours, and the start of the Overland Track, a 65-km multi-day walk.
Tip Book the Overland Track well in advance.
An island off the south of Hobart, reached by a short ferry, with oysters, cheese, chocolate, whisky, cliffs and wildlife.
Tip Take a day tour or drive yourself.
Things to do
Tasmania is best for walking, eating and taking your time.
A well-graded path to the lookout, and on to the beach.
Tip Go early to avoid crowds.
See the art, eat and taste at the vineyard.
Tip Buy tickets online.
Wildlife parks and sanctuaries let you see devils, wombats and other animals.
Tip Visit at feeding time.
Distilleries, cellar doors and farm gates offer tastings and fresh seafood.
Tip Book a driver for tastings.
Even a day walk from Cradle Mountain gives a taste of the wilderness.
Tip Check the weather.
A coast of white sand, turquoise water and orange lichen-covered rocks in the north-east.
Tip Stay near Binalong Bay.
Local food
Tasmania punches above its weight in food and drink, with cold, clean waters and fertile land.
Fresh oysters, scallops, salmon, abalone and rock lobster.
Where to try it Bruny Island, Hobart's waterfront and the east coast.
Artisan cheeses from Bruny Island, King Island and northern dairies.
Where to try it Cellar doors and markets.
Tasmanian whisky has won international awards.
Where to try it Distilleries near Hobart.
Cool-climate pinot noir, sparkling wine and cider, from the Huon Valley and Tamar Valley.
Where to try it Cellar doors and MONA.
A classic Tasmanian pie filled with scallops and a curry sauce.
Where to try it Bakeries and pie shops.
A distinctive honey from the native leatherwood tree.
Where to try it Markets and shops.
Accommodation
Stay in Hobart as a base, with a few nights in Freycinet or Cradle Mountain.
Transport
Tasmania is reached by air or by ferry from Melbourne.
A car is essential for most of the island.
When to go
Tasmania has a cool, changeable maritime climate. Summer is best for walking and beaches, and autumn is often clear and calm.
Long, mild days, ideal for walking. The busiest and most expensive time.
Settled weather, autumn colours and fewer people.
Cold and wet, with snow in the mountains and the Dark Mofo festival in June.
Variable, with wildflowers and green landscapes.
Worth planning around: Winter in the mountains, unless you are equipped, and Christmas week for prices.
Itinerary
Hobart and its surroundings, then the east coast and Cradle Mountain.
The waterfront and the market.
Convict history.
Food and cliffs.
Wineglass Bay.
Across the island.
Dove Lake.
Travel tips
A few tips make Tasmania easier.
FAQ
At least five days, and a week is better.
December to March, with autumn also lovely.
Yes. It has some of Australia's best scenery, food and history, and is relatively uncrowded.
Yes, in wildlife parks and sanctuaries. Seeing one in the wild is rarer.
Yes, for most of the island.
Yes, on the Spirit of Tasmania. Book well in advance.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Tasmania, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Victoria, south-east Australia, Australia
A sophisticated city of coffee culture, street art, grand Victorian architecture, galleries, markets and sport, with day trips to the Yarra Valley, Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road.
Don't miss Wandering the laneways with a flat white in hand, from Hosier Lane's murals to the hidden cafés behind Flinders Street.
Explore Destination — MelbourneVictoria, south-west coast, Australia
A war memorial road built by returned soldiers, winding past Bells Beach, Lorne, Apollo Bay, the Otway rainforest and the Twelve Apostles, with wildlife, waterfalls and shipwreck history.
Don't miss The Twelve Apostles at sunset, as the limestone stacks glow gold in the surf.
Explore Destination — The Great Ocean RoadNew South Wales, east coast, Australia
Australia's largest city: the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, the Botanic Garden, Bondi and Manly beaches, cliff walks, ferries and a lively food and café scene.
Don't miss A ferry across the harbour at sunset, with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge lit gold behind you.
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