Holidays to Tasmania
Tasmania is made for exploring. You will find relics of the island’s convict past, unspoilt natural wonders, communities that create artisinal crafts and incredible produce, and even wildlife unique to the island.
Where is Tasmania?
The island state of Tasmania can be found around 240 kilometres south of Australia’s mainland, seperated from the state of Victoria by the Bass Strait. From Tasmania, if you continued travelling south, the next stop is Antarctica, 3,000 kilometres away. This remote location is what makes the landscapes so striking.
How do you get to Tasmania?
Tasmania is well connected to mainland Australia’s major cities, with the closest being Melbourne. From Melbourne, the journey to Hobart or Launceston by plane takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. It takes 1 hour 45 minutes from Sydney and 2 hours 45 minutes from Brisbane.
Alternatively, you can take The Spirit of Tasmania ferry, from Geelong to Devonport, which operates daily. Either overnight or daytime crossings are available, with the journey taking around 10 hours. This is a good option if you’re continuing your road trip from the mainland onto Tasmania, as you can take cars on board.
What is the best way to get around in Tasmania?
Tasmania feels like a destination that is made for road tripping. The roads are excellent and the driving distances between key stops are incredibly managable; you’re never more than a few hours between A and B. Either you can take your car across to Tasmania on the ferry, or you can hire a car from a hub like Hobart or Launceston when you arrive.
Travelling by motorhome is another great option, as there plenty of campsites, and you can really embrace Tasmania’s wild side. We’d recommend picking up your motorhome in Hobart and doing a circular route.
If you’d rather not drive, there are plenty of options for escorted touring in Tasmania. This comes with the advantage of exploring alongside an expert guide and the company of likeminded travellers.
Why visit Tasmania?
Tasmania is the perfect destination for an accessible adventure. The landscapes feel wild and untamed, as though they have a life of their own, and you can really get off-grid. Despite this, the hiking trails and facilities are fantastically maintained, and you’re never too far away from an inviting café.
You can also squeeze plenty into a relatively short trip. Less than 1/3 of the size of the UK, it’s easy to explore most of the island during your visit. Tasmania ticks the boxes for incredible landscapes, adventurous activities, unique wildlife, delicious food, charming towns and fascinating history.
What is the best time to visit Tasmania?
Tasmania can get chilly, so the summer months of December, January and February make a great time to go. The temperature averages between 17°C and 23°C, with up to 15 hours of daylight each day. This time of year is ideal for hiking and outdoor activities.
The shoulder season months of March and April, the beginning of Tasmania’s autumn, is another good option, and you can get some great deals at this time of year.
How long should you spend in Tasmania?
We’d recommend spending 7 to 14 days in Tasmania. Spending between 10 days and 2 weeks in Tasmania, you can explore most of the island, whilst a week is a good amount of time to focus on either the east or west coast.
Things to do in Tasmania:
- Encounter the famous Tasmanian Devils at Bonorong Sanctuary or Devils@Cradle
- Discover Australia’s convict past in Port Arthur
- Kayak through the calm waters of Wineglass Bay or admire the view from Wineglass Bay Lookout
- Visit Australia’s oldest continually running bewery, Cascade Brewery in Hobart
- Trek the forest trails of South West National Park
- Board a scenic cruise along the Gordon River
- Experience true wilderness at the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
- Marvel at the lofty heights of Cradle Mountain
- Open your mind at Hobart’s unique Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
- Admire the orange dusted rocks at the Bay of Fires
- Encounter wombats in Cradle Mountain National Park
- Visit the world’s largest private lavender farm, Bridestowe Lavender Estate
- Sample some incredible local produce on the ‘Tasting Trail’ around the north of the island
- Ride the West Coat Wilderness Railway
- Admire the views from Mount Wellington that rises above Hobart
What wildlife can you see in Tasmania?
Perhaps the most famous of Tasmania’s wildlife is the Tasmanian devil. The world’s largest carnivorous marsupial, these unique creates exist only on the island. The adults are roughly the size of a small dog but they boast incredible jaw strength. Either visit a sanctuary to learn about Tasmanian devils from expert keepers, or you might spot one at dusk in a National Park.
Platypus are found in rivers and lakes throughout Tasmania, offering some of the best sightings in Australia. They’re most active at dawn and dusk, with Liffey River and the Huon Valley known for sightings. Common wombats are also easy to spot in Tasmania, with bettter sightings than almost anywhere on the mainland. Cradle Mountain National Park is a fantastic place to encounter them. Additionally, you can see wallabies, echidnas, quolls and kangaroos. Tasmania’s whale watching season falls between May and October, as southern right whales and humpbacks pass along the east coast.
Plan your holiday
