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What makes Tasmania an outdoor lover’s dream?

Home to real-life devils and 2,000-year-old trees, this epic isle takes travelers on an adventure of a lifetime.

At Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park , hikers tackle multiday trails that pass through a landscape of ancient forests and alpine heaths.

“Explore the possibilities” reads the license plate of my rental car, complete with a Tasmanian tiger peeking out from between two numbers. Challenge accepted, I think, tossing my hiking boots in the trunk and setting the GPS to the nearest national park.

Once mocked as a backwater, Tasmania is now one of Australia ’s fastest-growing tourism destinations and one of National Geographic’s Best Trips to take in 2020 . Key to the appeal of Australia’s southernmost state is its raw natural beauty, which it owes largely to a combination of its remoteness (airport expansion plans are under way, but international flights are still a few years off) and the enduring green spirit of its half million or so residents.

Swathed in 2,000-year-old trees and home to real-life devils (and even “tigers,” if you believe the rumors that the officially extinct thylacine lives on), it’s the stuff outdoor adventures are made of.

After making the trek here, visitors find that most of Tassie’s attractions are surprisingly accessible. It takes just four hours to drive the length of the state. No matter where you base yourself, opportunities to become immersed in nature are never far away—nearly half the state is designated national park, after all. Curious to discover if Tassie’s newest adventure experiences are as spectacular as they appear on my social media feeds, I headed to Hobart to explore the adrenalized enticements “within cooee” (within reach) of the capital.

Where to hike

“Bit cuter than the tiger snake, isn’t it?” guide Joel Kovacs jokes, as a pademelon (like a mini-kangaroo) hops across our path along the Three Capes Track, pausing a few feet away to peer at us through a hedge of cutting grass once used by the Palawa (Aboriginal people of Tasmania) for basket-weaving. Along with the trio of Bennett’s wallabies and the deadly tiger snake that had joined us on the track, not to mention the echidna we spot later that day, it’s been a wildlife-watching boon.

But the views remain the highlight of this four-day, 30-mile trail skirting the soaring dolerite cliffs that prop up the Tasman Peninsula, a windswept wilderness jutting off the state’s southeastern tip. Unveiled in 2015 to tremendous expectations, Tasmania’s newest multiday trail comes complete with architect-designed bunkhouses and a smattering of “story seats” inviting walkers to contemplate the history of the peninsula while taking a breather.

Last year, Tasmanian Walking Company , which runs luxe guided hikes on some of Tassie’s top trails, launched the Three Capes Lodge Walk, with groups overnighting at private eco-sensitive cliffside lodges discreetly tucked off the main trail. Considering the gourmet meals, the local wine I don’t have to carry in myself, and the two guides’ knowledge, it’s a truly transformative way to experience the trail, which is unlike any other in Tassie. But the 880-odd tracks that lace the state’s national parks, reserves, and conservation areas each have their own unique aspects. And variety isn’t the only selling point.

Related: This is what it’s like to see Australia’s Great Barrier Reef up close.

“Even the trails with the best infrastructure don’t detract from the feeling of being immersed in the wilderness,” says Kovacs, a Hobart native who has tramped many of them in his decade of guiding. “Tassie’s trails haven’t been widened like you’ll see in New Zealand and elsewhere to accommodate big crowds, and I hope they’ll stay that way.” Kovacs’s favorite is the Overland Track, a six-day traverse of Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park .

High on my own wish list is the Wukalina Walk, a four-day Aboriginal-guided trek launched last year in the Bay of Fires, so-called partly for its orange lichen-covered granite boulders.

Red-necked wallabies find a haven in Narawntapu National Park , a seaside reserve of wetlands, lagoons, and sand dunes on Tasmania’s northern coast.

The island’s natural beauties include a superb fairy wren at the York Town Historic Site, the location of the first British settlement in Tasmania in the early 1800s.

More casual walkers find a diversity of day hikes to choose from. I squeeze in a quick jaunt to Russell Falls (and Horseshoe Falls upstream), in Mount Field National Park , which tumbles through a rainforest setting immortalized on Tasmania’s first stamp collection designed to promote tourism in 1899.

Other notable strolls include the Dove Lake Circuit beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay Lookout for Freycinet National Park’s best view, and the Springlawn Nature Walk in Narawntapu National Park on the north coast for its wildlife. These are just three of 60 short walks listed by the Parks & Wildlife Service as the state’s best, and big developments are on the way.

A proposal to build six eco-sensitive hiker’s huts along the South Coast Track—Tasmania’s most remote trail—was greenlighted last year, while this past July saw the announcement of plans to develop a walking route in the Tyndall Range on the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area .

Where to bike

Peering over my handlebars at the steep, rocky single track jagging down between the snow gum trees, I wonder if I’ve overestimated my ability. But after navigating a few tight corners without falling off, I settle into the ride down Maydena Bike Park , allowing myself to steal longer glimpses of the ever changing landscape as we descend more than 2,600 feet through a web of 62 trails (and counting) threading down a hillside northwest of Hobart.

“I like to think of this section as our own Jurassic Park,” assistant manager Luke Reed tells me as we weave between lofty king ferns in the temperate rainforest that hugs the slopes. Since decamping from the mainland two years ago when he got wind of the Maydena development, Reed says he hasn’t looked back. “There’s just so much to do here,” he says. “We’ve got Marriott’s Falls and Mount Field just down the road, and I still haven’t ridden all the trails in Maydena.”

While Maydena is Tasmania’s only all-downhill bike park, it’s just one of a growing number of top mountain bike parks popping up around the state. Just north of Launceston, Hollybank Mountain Bike Park opened in 2014 with a six-mile descent called the Juggernaut that draws riders from around the world.

The following year, the former tin-mining town of Derby transformed into Australia’s premier mountain biking destination overnight following the opening of Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails . And the scene continues to evolve, with the first section of the St. Helens Mountain Bike Trail Network, 40 miles southeast of Derby, having opened in November.

“You can even ride some of the Mount Wellington trails,” says Reed, as we peel off our helmets. Relieved to have completed a lap of Maydena without having to test the limits of my travel insurance, I take his word for it.

Where to kayak

My guide, Liam Weaver, sees it first. Following his lead, I kayak slowly toward the small brown lump moving across the water. Suddenly it stops, its slick furry body and iconic “duck bill” more visible as it pauses on the surface for a few seconds before diving under the tannin-stained water. It’s my first wild platypus sighting, and I’m rapt.

“On some trips we spot more than 20,” says Weaver, grinning back at me, and I snap back to scanning the river for more platypus activity.

Opened in 2015, wilderness retreat Pumphouse Point frames a wintry scene at Lake St. Clair. The glacier-carved basin is Australia’s deepest freshwater lake.

Fog rolls in over the fertile Tamar River valley, home to several wineries.

One of Australia’s most elusive creatures, these shy monotremes (egg-laying mammals) thrive in the upper Derwent River, which snakes down a rural valley northwest of Hobart lined with sheep farms and hop plantations that scent the air with an odd mix of lanolin and beer. Weaver estimates 30 to 50 breeding pairs of platypuses make their homes here, setting the scene for Tassie Bound ’s flagship kayaking tour.

“When Liam first took me down here on a kayak, it felt like we were being gifted an opportunity to create a unique, sustainable tourism experience,” Liam’s wife and business partner, Fiona, tells me after the tour. She also runs Wild Island Women , Tasmania’s first female adventure community. “Even some locals are unaware that we have this incredible wildlife-spotting opportunity on our doorstep,” she says.

Even if you don’t see any platypuses, it’s a ridiculously scenic afternoon paddle downriver. Three years since launching the tour, Tassie Bound remains the only operator on the river, which adds to the sense of adventure. The couple also run various other kayaking tours, and there’s some beautiful kayaking to be had around the Freycinet Peninsula, though keen paddlers in search of the ultimate off-grid adventure would be wise to check out Roaring 40s Kayaking ’s multiday expeditions in the rugged, hidden waterways of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Operated in the same region is Australia’s most spectacular white-water rafting experience, an eight-day adventure down the Franklin River, which was saved from a dam project in the ’70s, thanks to one of the most significant environmental campaigns in Australia’s history.

“The experience of paddling down the untamed wilderness of the Franklin, which has no man-made infrastructure whatsoever, is incredibly powerful,” says Tassie-born Elias Eichler, who runs Franklin River Rafting with his wife and fellow rafting guide, Franzi. “The water is so pure we have a cup hanging off the side of the boat that you can just dunk in the river if you get thirsty. Where else can you do that these days?”

Where to eat

From King Island Dairy cheeses to Bruny Island oysters, Tasmania’s edible output is legendary, and with more than half a dozen established food and drink trails across the state, choosing your own culinary itinerary is one of Tassie’s most rewarding soft adventures.

Given its ideal climate for malting, Tassie’s Whisky Trail is a good place to start. Following a suitably weird morning at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tassie’s flagship cultural institution and an adventure in itself, I drop into Shene Estate , just a 30-minute drive north of Hobart. The Kernke family has painstakingly restored an exquisite 19th-century Gothic-Revival sandstone stables and barn, the latter now acting as the tasting room of the family distillery.

The first release of their triple-distilled Mackey whisky won the gold medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, but I’m partial to their Poltergeist gin. It was named in honor of the pagan witch-protection symbols etched into the buildings during colonial times, though Anne Kernke, who runs tours and tastings by appointment, hints there’s more to the story. She once experienced the sensation of someone sitting on her bed when she was in it, and nobody else was around. “We love a property with spirit, so we thought we had better make some,” she winks as she pours me a gin and tonic.

Other paths reveal the spectrum of Tasmania’s tastes. Oenophiles follow the blue-and-yellow signs along the 105-mile loop north from Launceston to discover more than 30 cellar doors on the Tamar Valley Wine Route . The Made on Bruny Island gourmet trail is ideal for oyster and cheese lovers.

While tucking into a perfectly battered fillet of trevalla from one of Hobart’s famous floating fish-and-chip shops, I think that if there’s a downside to seeking adventure in Tasmania, it’s that no matter how hard you throw yourself into it, you’ll be lucky to go home any lighter.

Taking another bite, I figure I can live with that.

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8 reasons to visit Tasmania, Australia's beautiful island state

Tucked away at the bottom of the map in splendid isolation, Tasmania is satisfying the new nomad’s appetite for low-key, off-grid adventure. This teardrop of unspoilt land below mainland Australia may be the size of Ireland – easily scaled by car in a few days – yet its vast array of landscapes makes it thrilling to explore at a leisurely pace. Prehistoric forests, mountains and a dramatic coastline – some parts rugged, some white-powder smooth – can witness four seasons in a day and make outdoor pursuits such as hiking, cycling and sailing integral to Tasmanian culture . Benefitting from a cooler climate compared to its mainland neighbour and the cleanest air in the world, the island state has a wine-making tradition that’s turning heads. As is its locavore food scene, whose epicentre can be found in the capital Hobart, with a crush of seafood and farm-to-fork restaurants as well as the famous Salamanca Market. Accompanying this is a home-grown cultural movement, galvanised by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), a globally celebrated contemporary gallery and Australia’s largest privately owned museum. From the windswept highlands to Maria Island's Painted Cliffs carved out by the Tasman Sea, here are eight reasons to visit Tasmania, Australia’s beautiful island state .

As Tasmania’s second biggest city (more a large town), Launceston or ‘Lonnie’ as it’s affectionately named by locals, recalls English Victoriana in its prime, with 19th-century architecture and lush gardens filled with curious wildlife, community festivals and a bohemian creative scene. Art lovers should head to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art gallery (now in two locations) for a mix of colonial, Aboriginal and modern art, and to the Design Centre to see the work of the region’s architects and furniture designers. Food and wine spills into the city from the vineyards, farms and pretty orchards of the Tamar Valley – a world-famous wine region – with a host of produce-led restaurants, wine bars and a weekly farmers’ market. Meanwhile, closer to the edge of the city, the magnificent Cataract Gorge Reserve lures in hikers. Here, cliff-hugging trails peer either side over the pounding South Esk River, which is flanked by enormous boulders and crossed with a handsome white suspension bridge first built in the 19th century. The river opens up into the First Basin (a deep pool of water formed by two faults intersecting) with a large man-made swimming pool alongside it and the world’s longest single-span chairlift surging above. Look out for echidna, pademelons and even peacocks (they roam the Victorian gardens, alongside the wallabies).

The Bay of Fires

Stretching from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point on the north-eastern coast, the Bay of Fires is one of Tasmania’s natural wonders. Dry coastal grasses billowing in the wind give way to beaches laden with vibrant orange boulders – their warm ochre hues caused by lichen that clings to the granite rocks, in sharp contrast to the Tasman Sea’s brilliant blues. But the bay was, in fact, originally named after the fires that adventurer Captain Tobias Furneaux saw the Aboriginal people light on the beaches in 1773. Hike this theatrical landscape and watch how Tasmania’s erratic weather can escalate a gently lapping sea to waves pounding the rocks in a matter of hours. Divers and snorkellers can explore the colourful reefs teeming with marine life and vivid sponges, divers can even venture through the underwater tunnels formed by the granite boulders, while kayakers should make for the serene Ansons Bay Lagoon.

Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair

Visually somewhere between the Scottish Highlands and Mars, Tasmania’s Central Highlands are ruggedly resplendent with mountains surging from mossy plateaus where more than 3,000 lakes have some of the best trout fishing in the world. During winter, a thick layer of snow carpets this eerie wilderness, its tarns ice over and an alpine sensibility sets in. On its fringes, bucolic farms and villages recall Thomas Hardy’s English countryside. Map out your own section of the famous Overland Track that runs through Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park and commit a full day to reaching the summit, weaving through myrtle forests with Brothers Grimm-style streams and waterfalls, or simply marvel at its peak from Dove Lake’s peaceful shores. Those without the time or energy to complete the six-day Overland Track through Cradle Valley’s craggy landscape to Lake St Clair can drive to the park’s southern entrance, Derwent Bridge. In summer, the banks of Lake St Clair bloom with wildflowers, while all year round, night can bring a spectacular show of southern lights (aurora Australis) whose reflections dance across the water.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

A trip to Australia’s island state isn’t complete without taking in the imposing Walls of Jerusalem. The national park can only be covered on foot from Mersey Forest road and is not for the faint-hearted – the walk from the car park itself scales marshland and rocky terrain and several hikes are multi-day affairs. But the majority of the track comprises raised wooden boards, allowing visitors to carve through the conifer forests and alpine valleys at ease. The dolerite plateau’s orange, mossy colours rise to meet the greens and greys of coarse trees vying for space amid the jagged rock edges. King David’s Peak is arguably the most impressive natural phenomenon to aim for, rising more than 4,900ft above sea level, although the track offers many breathtaking views from Wild Dog Creek to Dixon’s Kingdom. The national park is at the mercy of the Highlands’ capricious weather, so walkers are advised to come well equipped.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

To the west of the Central Highlands lies Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, another of Tasmania’s jaw-dropping national parks where pure, fresh water trickles down mountains through ancient rainforests, lush vegetation and rocks before forming the spectacular Franklin, Olga and Gordon rivers. Easily accessible by car from Strahan, the park comprises a series of short walks (for a multi-day trail, bushwalkers can ascend towards Frenchmans Cap, which towers over the green and wild river gorges), gentle jaunts along the Gordon on boats or more adrenalin-pumping water-rafting trips. This remote, exuberant landscape is also home to caves hiding ancient Aboriginal artefacts, as well as huon pine trees that can live for more than 3,000 years.

Freycinet National Park

On the east coast of Tasmania there’s an exotic peninsula of white-sand bays, hidden coves, azure lagoons and the striking knuckles of the granite mountains known as the Hazards. The smooth edges and ethereal colours of Freycinet Peninsula feel more tropical than central Tasmania, with a balmier climate and crimson-pink sunsets. Take the trail that brushes the edge of the shore and carves through pretty flora and fauna towards a lookout with stunning views across turquoise-coloured Wineglass Bay, and over the Tasman Sea from Cape Tourville Lighthouse. Avid hikers can scale the full peninsula, a two-day walk covering more secluded spots such as Bryans and Cooks beaches. Pack a picnic and keep your eyes peeled for a kaleidoscopic array of birds, as well as possums and wombats.

Maria Island

With its convict history, Maria island – a place of sparse, grassy hills and jagged cliffs – feels like the end of the earth. With no cars and no predators, unusual birds, including forty-spotted pardalotes, and wildlife such as pademelons, possums and wombats roam free and kangaroos have been known to sunbathe along the beach. And when Maria switches on the sunshine, there’s nothing quite like it. The island’s chiselled Painted Cliffs are a striking natural wonder. Take a boat tour to explore the large caves and pretty coves lining the coast, with regular sightings of seals and dolphins. History nerds should mountain bike, hike or anchor at Darlington Probation Station, preserved since its days as a 19th-century penal settlement.

Hobart is Tasmania’s low-key cosmopolitan capital, showcasing the trappings of good living – from fresh, simple produce and craft beer to culture with provenance and a healthy outdoor scene. Its food and wine have earned a reputation worldwide due to the annual Taste of Tasmania – Australia’s largest and longest running food and wine festival – and the rise of globally acclaimed restaurants helmed by star chefs with sustainable philosophies. Overlooking this lively city is Mount Wellington – perfectly placed for walking off any indulgence through cool eucalyptus trees. For some years, Hobart has lured creatives over from the mainland, along with the crowds, with its edgy arts scene and ongoing roster of arts and music festivals. The vanguard of this movement is MONA – a treasure trove of provocative contemporary art founded and funded by poker mastermind David Walsh, a controversial character who can be credited with putting Hobart on the global art map. Spend Saturday perusing the stalls of fresh fish, local food, jewellery and trinkets at bustling Salamanca Market on the waterfront then hop onboard MONA’s futuristic ferry where craft beer is paired with River Derwent views.

To discover more and plan your trip to Tasmania, visit discovertasmania.com.au

The Ultimate Tasmanian Road Trip

Driving around Tasmania is the best way to see this island state in its entirety. In the last half a decade, Tasmania has found itself on top of everyone’s to-do list. Mainlanders have heard of its rugged beauty, farm-to-table produce and quirky arts scene that has put Tasmania on the map. So, what are you waiting for? Here is the ultimate guide to plan your Tasmanian road trip!

Planning your Tasmanian Road Trip

Before you make your way to Tasmania, it is important to know that the success of a Tassie road trip lies in the planning and preparation. As any local will tell you, it’s all about knowing where to go and when, given our major shifts in seasons to determine what kind of adventure you will be having.

Start by deciding where you will fly or cruise into. Hobart is the capital city in the South of the island where most travellers decide to begin their Tasmanian road trip. Another (and arguably better) entry point is in the North of the island, the second largest city named Launceston . Flights are plentiful from Melbourne and Sydney, with direct access to the Gold Coast and Brisbane, too. It is often cheaper to fly into Launceston, so be sure to research both options. A final choice could be to catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne, which docks at Devonport in the North.

Booking Accommodation

If you are visiting Tasmania in Spring or Summer, I would highly recommend you book your accommodation before you arrive. Summer is peak season in Tasmania and many accommodation offerings will be booked months in advance.

There are some great Airbnbs on offer in Tasmania ‘s biggest cities Hobart and Launceston, as well as some secret special stays off the beaten path. The best hotels are usually privately owned and operated, with a real focus on bringing the warm Tasmanian hospitality straight to you. Plus, many of the boutique properties support other local business owners so it is a great way to support this ecosystem of small business owners.

Arriving in Tasmania

The  Spirit of Tasmania  is the only way to transport your vehicle to the island.

The ferry leaves Melbourne at either 9am or 6pm and arrives in Devonport roughly 10 hours later. It is more enjoyable in the summertime when the seas aren’t as rough.

Fares start at $87 one way for your vehicle. Fares for people start at $60, however, a cabin for $180 is highly recommended if you are travelling overnight.

The more affordable way to travel to Tasmania is by flying. Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin have multiple flights a day to Launceston and Hobart out of all major Australian cities. From there you can rent a car for the duration of your trip. You can travel in a circular motion to return to your port of entry, or choose to fly into Hobart/Launceston and out of the alternative city.

This article will begin in Launceston as it is my hometown and preferred port of entry into Tasmania. It is the second-largest city on the island, located in the North.

Stay: The newly opened Stillwater Seven is your best choice for luxury and style. The small boutique hotel exists inside a renovated 1830’s flour mill and hosts not only accommodation but also impeccable food. It is widely regarded as the best restaurant in the city and when a room comes with breakfast, who could say no! The Red Feather Inn is a great choice for travellers seeking a quieter escape, in a countryside town just ten minutes drive from the airport.

Eat: Geronimo is the perfect choice for light bites and inventive cocktails in a cool, dark setting. You will find a gastronomically focused menu without the hefty price tag, making it a great choice for sharing a few dishes. Stillwater is hard to beat for a casual-refined dining experience and arguably the most inventive chef in the city. Their sister restaurant The Black Cow Bistro is unbeatable for meat lovers. Finish off your evenings at Charlie’s Dessert House , Launceston’s only late-night dessert restaurant offering a full sweets menu, patisserie and one of the best coffees in town.

Do: Bridestowe Lavender Farm has become one of the heroes of the Northeast region. Time your visit in January to see the fields in full bloom. The Tamar Valley wine region is where you will find ample vineyards to explore – offering a local drop and matching local cheeses to round out the experience. If you are arriving by boat, be sure to stop at Ashgrove Cheese en route to Launceston, as well as the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm for an entire menu based on raspberries.

Bay of Fires

Launceston to Bay of Fires: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Stay: Over on the East Coast luxury getaways are plentiful. ArtHouse is a great option for an exclusive use retreat, perfect for the isolated escape. For the more adventurous traveller, there are ample camping spots to be found as well as a handful of B&B’s should you be looking for a middle-range escape.

Bay of Fires to Freycinet: 90 minutes

Stay: The luxurious Saffire Freycinet takes the cake for Tasmania’s most luxurious accommodation. This all-inclusive resort has long been the benchmark for luxury hotels on the island and continues to command $2,000 a night room rates. More affordable luxury is nearby at Freycinet Eco Lodge (starting at $300) with spectacular views and a restaurant on site.

Do: This area is renowned for its many hikes. The easiest and most popular is to Wineglass Bay. The lookout is where you’ll get an epic view from above but the extra effort to reach the beach down below pays dividends. Mount Amos is a wonderful three-hour hike if you can brave the early start. There’s no better place to capture a sunrise than the summit.

Freycinet to Hobart: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Not only is Hobart the capital city of Tasmania, but it is also the cultural capital. Home to many great art galleries, cafes, restaurants and boutique hotels, there is enough charm in this city to spend the bulk of your trip taking in all Hobart has to offer. You’ll need at least two nights here, but could easily spend up to four.

Stay: The beautiful Islington Hotel has long been a home away from home for me, so much so that I rarely stay anywhere else. There’s also the Henry Jones Art Hotel on the harbour, as well as the designer-friendly Salamanca Warf Hotel .

Eat: The Argentinian restaurant Frank is great for a long lunch or late dinner. Glass House is a hard concept to beat architecturally (the food is also great). Born in Brunswick is great for brunch and a casual lunch in trendy North Hobart. Out of town, drop into The Agrarian Kitchen for a hearty local meal.

Do: It wouldn’t be a trip to Tassie without visit the MONA museum , arguably what put Tasmania on the map. Salamanca Market is another must-visit if you time your visit on a weekend. For early risers, make your way up Mount Wellington for epic sunrise views (fear not lazy travellers, you can drive).

Huon Valley & Bruny Island

Hobart to Huon Valley: 45 minutes

Next on the agenda is one of Tasmania’s less talked about gems, but much loved by locals: The Huon Valley and Bruny Island . It won’t take you long to escape the city and arrive in rolling hills and cider country.

Stay: This is B&B country so be sure to shop around for what tickles your fancy. Book ahead to be sure you don’t miss out as this is one of the areas where accommodation is few and far between.

Eat: Willie Smith’s Apple Shed is a must stop. The cider is to die for and the setting is nothing short of a postcard. Lotus Eater’s Cafe is great for a light bite at lunch, with many vegan and gluten-free options and a casual outdoor setting.

Do: The Tarkine Forest Airwalk is a great way to immerse yourself with nature. Bruny Island is but a ferry trip away, offering another great escape just off the coast of Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain

Huon Valley to Cradle Mountain: 5 hours, 45 minutes

A trip to the Central Highlands is not for the faint-hearted or the time-sensitive traveller. Once you have arrived down South you have a few options. Firstly, you could fly out of Hobart and call it a day. Secondly, you could make a return trip to Launceston and check out the Midlands along the way (stopping at Ross , Oatlands and Campbell Town ). Finally, you could venture to the West Coast, stop at Strahan for a night, and venture onwards to Cradle Mountain .

Stay: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge is the peak of accommodation offerings here in the middle of the island state. For the more adventurous traveller, the 5 day Overland Track offers epic views of the terrain and gives you an all-encompassing Tassie experience.

Eat: It’s no secret this part of Tasmania falls short on eating choices. The food offerings here are limited and nothing to write home about.

Do: The Overland Track is a trip to remember.

Still want more?

The 50 Best Places in Tasmania

The Best luxury hotels in Tasmania

Hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania

Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania © Pierre Destribats

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• Getting to Tasmania

Reconnect with nature, wildlife and your taste buds on a trip to the impossibly beautiful island state of Tasmania.

Tasmania’s natural beauty is captivating, its cultural experiences are diverse, and its food and drink offering is enviable. Get a true taste of Tasmania in its fresh apple cider, cheeses, wine and oysters, and experience a dose of its serenity with its powder-white beaches and laid-back luxury. 

Tasmania's natural beauty abounds around every corner, and thanks to its compact size, it's easy to see a good portion of it by travelling just outside the capital city of Hobart. It's also a wildlife haven, so wherever you travel, you're likely to spot wombats, pademelons and wallabies. 

• Visit Hobart's most fascinating art gallery, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
• Wander white sand beaches lining calm blue waters of Freycinet National Park
• Head out for a true adventure on one of the state's famous walking tracks  

Tasmania may be Australia’s island state, but it’s still easily accessible from the mainland.

The two major Tassie cities, Hobart and Launceston, have direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. You can also travel by sea using the car ferry, Spirit of Tasmania, which crosses between mainland Australia (from Geelong) to the Tasmanian city of Devonport (near Launceston) daily. Driving is a great way to get around after arriving in Tasmania, with incredible road trips like the Great Eastern Drive waiting to be discovered.

Popular destinations in Tasmania

Launceston, Devonport and Burnie

Cradle Mountain

Tasman Peninsula

Tasmania's West Coast

Trips and itineraries.

Circle Tasmania road trip

5 days road tripping Tasmania's Great Eastern Drive

A 10-day taste of gourmet Tasmania

5 days of Instagram worthy sights in Tasmania

6-day journey through Tasmania's western wilds

Things to do in tasmania.

Tasmania's best islands

Food and wine trails in Tasmania

Tasmania's top hiking trails

Looking for more inspiration? Go to discovertasmania.com

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We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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Sip and savour: why Tasmania’s whisky industry is world-class

With the help of a pristine environment, Tasmania’s artisans have forged a vibrant whisky industry. The founders of Waubs Harbour Whisky, from Bicheno, tell how natural ingredients, a coastal climate and connection to other premium producers have helped them find success.

Whisky takes years to mature to perfection, but the single malts made by Waubs Harbour Whisky have been developing for far longer.

The head distiller, Rob Polmear, has spent more than a decade working in some of Tasmania’s top distilleries, such as the venerated Overeem Whisky and the trailblazing Lark Distillery .

But Waubs Harbour Whisky has been growing organically for much of Rob’s life – he grew up turning Tasmania’s pristine ingredients into artisan products, such as cheese made with local pepperberries, honey from hives, and salmon he’d catch and smoke himself.

Rob Polmear, head distiller. Photograph: Ideas Banq.

“I just always thought everyone was like me,” he says. “Maybe it’s because life is slower here, so you’ve got time to make things and appreciate them; it’s very normal to keep bees, go hunting or foraging.”

Rob’s passion for the natural world around him ultimately led him to study for a master of marine and Antarctic science at the University of Tasmania. But eager to blend his science knowledge and creativity as a craftsman, he turned to making Tasmanian whisky. In his time at Overeem and Lark, Rob worked with some of Tasmania’s finest distillers, turning grain, water and yeast into world-class whisky using barrels, patience and a precise understanding of fermentation and distillation.

In 2017, a conversation sitting around a fire brought Waub’s Harbour’s single malt to life. Rob, his brother Tim, and Tim’s wife, Bec, were discussing the formula for crafting the perfect whisky. They talked about their shared love of the coast and maritime-style whisky, such as the seaside single malts crafted by some of Scotland’s foremost malt maestros.

Tim says: “Whisky is so much about provenance and we wanted to be as close to that wild Tasmanian maritime environment as we could be.”

It’s hard to imagine a distillery that could sit closer to the ocean, with Waubs Harbour occupying an old oyster hatchery in the beautiful east coast town of Bicheno.

The distillery’s name pays tribute to the town’s early history and a local hero, the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) woman, Wauba Debar. A sealer’s slave, she rescued two men from drowning in the early 19th century after a wild storm hit their ship, and the location became known as Waubs Harbour, or Waubs Boat Harbour.

Today her gravestone is a significant landmark in what is now the town of Bicheno.

Tim says that at the time, it was unheard of for a palawa woman to be buried and commemorated alongside non-Aboriginal locals.

Tim adds that while the story is well known in Bicheno, the distillery founders wanted to tell it to a wider audience, and felt a personal tie, given their family has Aboriginal heritage.

“That was such a strong story to us that we just loved the idea of telling it through our distillery,” Tim says.

Photographs: Andrew Wilson and Tim Hughes

Farm fresh, ocean matured

That old oyster hatchery is integral to each bottle of whisky the Polmear family produces. Tasmania’s coastal air acts like an ingredient: Rob says it provides temperate conditions, while the constant battering of sea air affects each barrel.

Photograph: Ideas Banq

Rob says: “Over time, you get provenance forced into our barrels. You can’t get around that. If you come to the distillery, you can see that everything is salt-laden, and how it gets into the walls.”

Rob says the salinity in the air affects what the distillery produces in the same way that salt makes your steak or potatoes taste better. But as any home cook will attest, salt won’t do much if the base ingredients aren’t any good – and Rob says the process starts with local barley and pristine water.

“Tassie barley is a must for us and we like to use [it] from a single farm when we can,” Rob says.

And their water has a chemistry that’s different to other sites in Tasmania, Rob says, adding another element to the provenance story. “The Apsley River – that’s an awesome water supply.”

Using local ingredients is one of many ways Waubs Harbour is committed to making sustainable whisky. Distilling requires energy-intensive chilling machines, but once again, the ocean is an ally in making Waubs Harbour’s single malts. By repurposing the old hatchery’s infrastructure, the distillers are able to use fresh ocean water to cool their system, and they use heat recovery across their process as an energy-saving measure.

A small state of big flavours

The sea air and ingredients don’t just lift Waubs Harbour whiskies – they affect the makers too.

In Bicheno , Tim will often start a workday by swimming with other locals; a favourite pastime he recommends to any visitor. You’re likely to see large flocks of crested terns or muttons as they fly past – or a pod of dolphins chasing mackerel, if you’re lucky.

“There’s so much energy that comes from being on the water and looking into it,” Tim says. “I get itchy feet if I’m ever inland for too long.”

Tim says Waubs Harbour has received lots of support from the state’s other whisky makers, such as Overeem, one of Tasmania’s first single malt makers.

“It’s an inspiration how they go about things,” Tim says. “They’re so meticulous and produce exceptional whisky.”

He adds that whisky lovers should always seek out drops from Patrick Maguire of Sullivans Cove , who helped launch Tasmania onto the world stage when one of his whiskies was declared the world’s best single malt at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014.

“He’s been such a good friend of our distillery since we started,” Tim says. “He’s very humble and in a way, he has no right to be – given they’ve picked up such important awards on the global stage.”

Rob says that this kind of collaboration isn’t unique to whisky makers in Tasmania. The state’s other small producers share a desire to grow together.

Once they’ve been used to make whisky, Waubs Harbour’s grains are picked up by farmer Will from Pig Creek Homestead to feed his livestock. Will in turn works closely with Fingal Meatworks, and wants to see a baker set up on his farm.

“He’s just a prime example of someone who wants to create that same community culture and bring people together,” Rob says.

It’s a slow approach, in which flavour trumps size, and it’s an approach to which Rob says Waubs Harbour is devoted.

“We’re about flavour, not yield.”

That commitment to quality over quantity is one that Rob says is shared by the countless small producers across the state.

“There’s a culture or philosophy about producing in Tassie where things are slower and driven by a sense of craft and pure passion for creating quality.”

Explore more tales from the island at Discover Tasmania.

• Tourism Tasmania: Tales from the island
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Giant kelp forests on Tasman Peninsula survive marine heatwave, brings 'hope' amid climate change

Tucked away in a picturesque bay on the south-eastern tip of Tasmania is a precious underwater field of dreams.

Here, giant kelp has been painstakingly grown by hand, and there are now high hopes that one day, as a result of this effort, Tasmania's kelp forests will once again flourish.

The bay is the site of a restoration project that aims to regrow the unique seaweed species that once grew so densely here, that it was difficult for fishers to navigate through.

In an effort to protect the fragile nature of the site, the ABC is not identifying its exact location.

Conservationist and citizen scientist Mick Baron has been a dive instructor in this part of Tasmania since 1991 and has witnessed the decline of these kelp forests.

Around 1996, he participated in a documentary showcasing the kelp, but within two years the kelp forests had gone.

"We thought, 'It'll come back,' but it didn't," Mick says.

"North to south, it's all gone.

"It was pretty distressing to see what was happening."

According to Scott Bennett, a marine scientist with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), there's one main cause behind the kelp dieback.

"Fairly and squarely, [it's] climate change," he says.

Mick explained that global warming has had a devastating impact on the giant kelp, as well as overgrazing from sea urchins and damage from recreational fishing.

"I knew from the beginning what it was; warmer water, lack of nutrients, [and the] East Australian Current strengthening," he says.

'Foundation' of reef ecosystem

Biologist Craig Sanderson has been studying seaweed for 40 years in Tasmania.

"The seaweed biomass on the east coast probably peaked around the 1950s and in the early '70s," he says.

"But from the '50s to now we've seen a 95 per cent loss on the east coast of Tasmania."

And this giant kelp isn't just any plant — Scott describes it as the "foundational engine" of coastal marine ecosystems.

"They're hugely productive," he says.

"[The kelp] supports a whole host of other species — both in terms of habitat and food."

Attempts to save kelp

Locals have watched on in despair as their world-renowned   piece of marine paradise loses a critical part of what makes it so special.

"The reefs we have here are truly incredible," Scott says.

"We have such rich biodiversity and so many unique species on our reefs here — it really is a wonderland underwater.

"It was always a childhood dream to work on these systems."

Over the years, there have been a few efforts to try and get the giant kelp going again.

About seven years ago,   Mick and Craig were involved in a rudimentary attempt to restore the kelp forests.

They started with a permit and some juvenile kelp plants that they tied to bricks to anchor them to the sea bed.

"Lo and behold, some of them grew!" Mick says.

"They went from things you could hardly see on the strings to plants over 10 metres high in 18 months."

While they were able to get the kelp to grow, the plants were continually washed away.

"They were so thin and sparse and had a lot of buoyancy, and the buoyancy would lift the bricks," Mick says.

"They'd float away and get destroyed on the shore."

In the last few years, a team of IMAS scientists have been refining the approach.

Scott is coordinating the restoration project, which starts by growing the kelp from seeds in a laboratory.

The plants are then tied with twine to PVC piping and grafted to smaller kelp species that are already established on the reef.

"[The roots] hold fast to existing kelp and are fantastic," Scott says.

"That pins the twine in place, and the giant kelp grows quickly … and attaches itself to the rock and substrate underneath."

A new field of kelp

After starting 18 months ago, the early plants have already grown to the surface, and they’re not floating away.

There is now a field of giant kelp measuring about 3,500 square metres     — roughly half a football field — which Scott says is really exciting to see.

"As scientists, we spend our lives documenting the problems and challenges we face," he says.

"Now we have this opportunity to actually turn this around and do something positive and put back."

And with an "office" as magical as this one, it's easy to see why Scott's enthusiastic about his work.

"You've got all this life up through the canopy, and as a diver, you can experience that," Scott says.

"You can fly up through the canopy, you can drop down to the bottom — so it's like being able to fly through a forest."

Snorkelling among the kelp as they're lit by dappled sunshine, they almost look like little soldiers at the forefront of the species being re-established.

Fears as weather warms

Despite the progress, the sobering reality is that this fledgling underwater forest remains vulnerable to warming ocean temperatures.

The water temperature around the Tasman Peninsula is usually 16–17 degrees Celsius.

However, a marine heatwave that started in December saw this increase to 20C by late February.

"Conditions are still very warm and the cumulative heat stress on kelp is high," Scott says.

While it is too early to know the full impact of the heatwave, the kelp losses haven't been to the extent the team feared.

"A lot of the large established plants are very stressed and have died back from the surface," Scott says.

"However, importantly, the lower parts of the kelps are surviving.

"So we are hopeful they will bounce back over autumn, once temperatures recede."

And, to the team's delight, juvenile plants have begun growing on their own.

"A number of baby kelps have re-rooted naturally to the reef from our restored kelps," Scott says.

"These younger plants are looking healthy, and are generally less susceptible to the impacts of the heatwave."

The team are encouraged enough that replanting will commence again in April, and they also plan to expand the project into other areas along Tasmania's east coast.

"This shows a great deal of promise and that kelp forest restoration can be done," Scott says.

"It's mind-boggling when we think back to how rich and productive these reefs were, and now that is entirely gone.

"At the same time, there is a lot of hope that we can bring back some of that.

Watch more about the Tasman Peninsula in the latest episode of Back Roads on Tuesday, March 26 at 8:00pm on ABC TV or stream any time on  ABC iview. 

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