15 Unforgettable Things To Do In Tasmania, From Adventure To The Ultra Luxe
Tassie deserves your time – brimming with incredible produce, delicious wine and spirits, stunning nature (like, everywhere is outrageously pretty), distinct seasons, impressive history and more, this small but mighty place is worthy of more than just a quick trip.
Now that most of mainland Australia has been given the green light and borders are open (with caveats, of course) you can finally board a plane and cross an actual sea to a destination. So what should you be hitting up on arrival?
Here are 15 experiences you must do down on the Apple Isle, some of which you can’t do anywhere else in the world.
#1 A hike to Wineglass Bay
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One of Tassie’s most iconic spots, this lush view in Freycinet National Park will stick with you for life. There’s two options you can take here: hiking down to the bay itself with sand so white and water so blue it seems like someone in the simulation upped the saturation, or hiking to the top of Mt Amos, which is more difficult but affords an epic view. I personally did this hike one birthday, following it with fresh oysters and champagne nearby to celebrate. Can confirm it was a great time.
If you don’t speak exercise, you could also opt for a scenic flight for as little as $155 per person, which is surprisingly affordable.
#2 A frolic in the flower fields
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How does running through fields of colourful flowers sound? From late September to October, you’ve got the gorgeous Table Cape Tulip Farm with the largest tulip fields in the Southern Hemisphere. They’re also the focal point of the Bloomin’ Tulip Festival, full of food, music, artists and activities every October to celebrate the arrival of spring.
From December through February, Bridestowe Estate is where it’s at if you want to run through fields of lavender. Check their website for changing information on the next bloom, as it can sometimes vary.
#3 Catch the Aurora Australis
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Besides Antarctica, parts of New Zealand and Tasmania are the only two places you will ever have a chance of seeing the Southern Lights – and a ticket to Tassie is chump change when compared to flying to Scandinavia.
The best spots to try your luck are Dodges Ferry, South Arm Peninsula, Rosny Hill, Howden, Seven Mile, Tinderbox and even Cockle Creek, due to the lack of light pollution. And while scientific predictions are usually unreliable, the equinox in September is a good bet, as is winter when nights are longer. You can sign up to Facebook groups like this or apps like Star Walk, Solar Monitor, Aurora Forecast and Aurora Australis Forecast & Southern Lights Alerts because ultimately, the sun decides.
#4 Explore Port Arthur (for the history and the ghost tour)
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Australia’s own former Alcatraz, Port Arthur Historic Site was Australia’s first prison and known as ‘hell on earth’ but is now considered one of the most significant convict-era sites in the world. Despite its terrible past, the buildings are beautiful and grounds lush. They also run one of the creepiest ghost tours in the country.
#5 Visit Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park
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This is one of Tasmania’s most visited attractions for a reason. Cradle Mountain National Park offers a range of day walks for visitors, or alternatively you can set off on the famous multi-day 65km trek, The Overland Track.
Either way, this part of Tassie is spectacular and has everything from ancient rainforests to alpine mountain ranges.
#7 Immerse yourself in the glory of MONA
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The Museum of Old and New Art is a must-see cultural experience. The largest privately-owned museum in Australia, the owner is totally down with the weird, the wacky and the progressive. Their annual winter festival, Dark MOFO, is also a must. (Please note, MONA is closed until late 2020 but have feast activation running).
#8 Meet a Tasmanian Devil IRL
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There are many wildlife parks that have Tasmanian Devils in Tassie, but Tasmanian Devil Unzoo is worth noting for its unique approach.
Reversing the normal ‘zoo’ concept, the Unzoo does away with exhibiting animals in traditional enclosures for the benefit of humans, instead inviting us into natural habitats in which cages or barriers are removed or concealed.
#9 Walk among the giants
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Whether you’re a nature lover or not, you can’t deny how impressive a giant tree is. The world’s tallest trees are not, in fact, in America — they’re in Tasmania.
Known as the Arve Big Tree, a whopping 87 metre tall eucalyptus tree sits 10 kilometres from Geeveston (about an hour’s drive from Hobart). It’s thought to be older than European settlement, so she’s an ageing beauty.
#10 Indulge in next-level, exclusive accommodation
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Nobody knows how to meld remote wilderness and luxury like Tasmania. There’s the small, private Satellite Island which is home to one of Tassie’s most exclusive hotels (it’s so secret most locals don’t even know about it).
There’s also the super luxe Saffire Freycinet surrounded by the natural beauty of Freycinet National Park, or the adults-only wilderness retreat on Lake St Clair, Pumphouse Point.
#11 Take a winery tour in the Tamar Valley
What’s a cheeky getaway without a trip to a wine region? The Tamar Valley delivers, with a large number of award-winning wineries.
The area is famous for chardonnays, sparkling, pinot noir and aromatic whites. It also accounts for 40 percent of Tassie’s wine production, so that’s a yes from me.
#12 Go raspberry crazy
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Tassie is known for its good food in general, but it’s particularly proud of its raspberry farms — and who doesn’t love a fresh raspberry?
Between November and May, there are a huge number of raspberry farms you can drop in on, but none more popular than The Raspberry Farm between Launceston and Devonport.
#13 Visit the otherworldly Bay of Fires
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If you’re after some draw-dropping natural scenery, the Bay of Fires is a must. Running for 50 kilometres along Tassie’s east coast, you can discover the striking rusty-red rock landscapes and white sand beaches.
Obviously hiking is a popular activity here, but there are plenty of ways to discover the bay, including swimming, kayaking and fishing.
#14 Check out the goods at the historic Salamanca Market
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It’s hard to pick just one best artisan market in Australia, but Salamanca Market is definitely a contender. Head to Hobart‘s waterfront every Saturday to check out the best local talent.
There’s over 300 stallholders selling everything from fresh flowers, to hand-crafted woodwork and ceramics, to fashion. Not to mention the endless, drool-worthy food options.
#15 Take a trip to Switzerland
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We said what we said. An extremely random fact about Tasmania is that it’s home to the town of Grindelwald, which designed in the Swiss village style by a Dutch immigrant who moved to the area.
It’s only a short 15-minute drive from Launceston, heading towards Tamar Valley — which you’re obviously going to anyway.
(Lead Image: Tourism Tasmania / Matt Donovan)
