Best Places to Visit in Tasmania: Ultimate Travel Guide

Tasmania is renowned for its lush landscapes, with about 20% of the island designated as World Heritage-listed wilderness. The air in Tasmania is among the cleanest on Earth, and it is the birthplace of the world's first Green political party, established in 1972.

However, this pristine environment faces threats and challenges, such as the recent opening of national parks to private tourism ventures and ongoing tensions between industry and conservation efforts.

For eco-conscious travelers, it is essential to choose experiences and operators committed to sustainable practices, ensuring that this extraordinary destination is preserved for future generations. Here’s a guide to the top places to visit in Tasmania that you shouldn't miss on your next trip.

Explore top places to visit in Tasmania

Best Places to Visit In Tasmania

1. Port Arthur Historic Site

Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the greatest sites to visit in Tasmania 

The historic convict town of Port Arthur provides a sobering glimpse into Tasmania's violent past. The remains are located about an hour's drive southeast of Hobart and are part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. In 1830, Governor Sir George Arthur built a harsh penal colony where prisoners were forced to dig coal and cut timber.

Despite a terrible fire in 1897, numerous buildings remain standing, including the guard tower, chapel, model prison, and hospital. You may also look at intriguing papers and relics from the convict settlement at the museum, or explore the neighboring Coal Mines Historic Site. Admission tickets provide two days to explore all of the sights and include an introductory walking tour and a 25-minute harbor cruise.

Looking for something special to do in Tasmania? Consider going on a nocturnal lantern-lit "ghost tour" of the ruins.

After exploring Port Arthur, travel down the coast to explore the beautiful Tasman Peninsula's high sea cliffs and hidden bays.

2. Hiking at Freycinet National Park

Hiking through Freycinet National Park is one of the best things to do in Tasmania

World Heritage listing Freycinet National Park, on Tasmania's comparatively sunny east coast, is one of the country's oldest and most attractive natural reserves. The best way to enjoy the park is by hiking the many lovely routes.

The beautiful curve of powder-white sand and turquoise sea at Wineglass Bay, one of Australia's best beaches, is the highlight of this lovely peninsula. Explore unspoiled wilderness to quiet bays and lookouts, or take on the Wineglass Bay Circuit, one of Australia's best walks. Keep an eye out for some of the various birds in the park as you go. Residents include black cockatoos, kookaburras, and marine birds.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hazards, three stunning pink granite crags rising out of the sea, by taking a 20-minute walk from the lookout to the southern end of Wineglass Bay. When the peaks are illuminated by golden light at sunrise and sunset, they make for the most beautiful photos.

Located at the gateway to Freycinet National Park, Coles Bay is a small beach resort that serves as a suitable starting point for hikes and climbs in the surrounding hills. The East Coast Escape's beautiful route allows you to see the entire region.

3. Enjoy the views from kunanyi/Mount Wellington

Look at the view from Mount Wellington in Tasmania

Wavering gently to the west of Hobart, the 1,270-meter-tall kunanyi, also known as Mount Wellington, serves as a reassuring reminder of the pristine environment right outside this seaside city.

For spectacular views over Hobart, the Derwent Valley, and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, head up a winding 21-kilometer mountain route to the Pinnacle, which is frequently dusted with snow. A pavilion at the top has vintage photos of Mount Wellington and Hobart, and boardwalks lead to panoramic overlooks.

Riding a bike or trekking through the mountain's temperate rain forests is a favorite activity, and rock climbing at the unique Organ Pipes, a dolerite cliff, is well-known. One of the finest free activities in Tasmania is to stand on the peak and take in the expansive views, but make sure to pack warm clothing because the weather is famously unpredictable.

4. Tasman National Park

Some of Australia's most breathtaking coastline landscape is preserved at Tasman National Park, which is located 56 kilometers east of Hobart on the wind-whipped Tasman Peninsula. This park envelops Tasmania's furthest southeast tip, with just the ocean separating it from Antarctica, according to a map of the state.

It's a very beautiful spot. Waterfalls cascade to the sea, islands glimmer just offshore, towering dolerite cliffs plummet 300 meters to the sea, and twisted rock formations bear the unrelenting effects of wind and water.

Among the most well-known attractions of the park are the Blowhole and Tasman Arch. Remarkable Cave, Waterfall Bay, and the Devil's Kitchen—a collapsed rock arch—are a few more noteworthy locations.

Top billing goes to wildlife as well. In addition to a variety of endangered bird species, the region is home to possums, dolphins, whales, fairy penguins, and Australian fur seals. Hiking the Three Capes Track is a well-liked method to experience this breathtaking national park. 

You may also visit some of the major sights by automobile, take a boat to see the towering cliffs from sea level, or cast a line - fishing is superb here. Climbers ascend the dolerite cliffs near the park's southern extremity and hang gliders flock to Pirate's Bay.

Port Arthur, one of Australia's most tragic historical sites, is nearby and has World Heritage status.

5. Walking through the Three Capes Track

Walking at the breathtaking view in Three Capes Track

Beginning and concluding in Port Arthur, which is recognized as a World Heritage Site, the breathtakingly beautiful Three Capes Track winds through more than 48 kilometers of breathtaking Tasman National Park wilderness. After being transported by boat from Port Arthur to the trailhead, you will stroll along the edge of the continent and enjoy breathtaking views of the Tasman Sea from the cliff-top route.

Traveling through windswept heathland and immaculate eucalyptus trees, you'll witness amazing dolerite columns rising out of the water, come across fauna like wallabies and echidnas, and stay in cozy, environmentally friendly cottages.

Each hiker is given a handbook that includes stories to read while perched on thoughtfully positioned seats along the trail, as well as maps and information about the itinerary. Children and hikers of all skill levels may enjoy this four-day, three-night trek. One of the greatest things to do in Tasmania is in the spring, fall, or summer, however, tough hikers should be able to do it in the winter with the right clothing.

6. Indulge in Culture in Hobart

Hobart is one of the most important places to visit in Tasmania

The capital of Tasmania has evolved from a quiet backwater with a troubled convict past to a center of innovative culture. Undoubtedly, the stunning location of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, sandwiched between the sea and the towering mountain, has served as an inspiration to several gifted artists across all genres.

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery presents a more conventional view of the nation's natural history and art, whereas MONA: Museum of Old and New Art, which opened in 2011, pushes the boundaries of the art world with its thought-provoking and controversial displays.

Foodies will also have much to grin about. The city's waterfront sector is bustling with chic cafés and restaurants, while the restaurant strip in North Hobart offers cuisine from all over the world.

Another popular activity in Hobart is to learn about the city's rich convict heritage. Visit the Hobart Convict Penitentiary and tour Salamanca Place's old sandstone warehouses, which are now home to stores, cafés, and antique dealers. From here, you may take the Battery Point Sculpture Trail to admire exquisite convict-built structures.

Natural delights are never distant from the metropolitan bustle. Climb Kunanyi/Mount Wellington to fully enjoy Hobart's magnificent backdrop and gaze out to the World Heritage wildness in the distance.

7. Rafting in the Franklin River

White-water rafting in the Franklin River is one of the best activities in Tasmania

The breathtaking Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has come to represent one of Australia's most well-known conservation successes. This breathtaking mountainous area with its ancient forests, deep canyons, and untamed rivers was the focus of intense debate in the 1970s and 1980s around a plan to dam the Franklin River. With their battle cry of "No dams!" the opponents of the proposal prevailed, and the raw grandeur of the Franklin River and its surrounding environment still exists.

The untamed Franklin River is a symbol of Australian environmentalism. In the early 1980s, it was the site of large-scale and successful demonstrations against hydroelectric projects. Today, the river flows freely through a basin that has no buildings or cultivated land. Rafting expeditions on the 100-kilometer-long wilderness river last around seven days; rules demand that all garbage, including human excrement, be removed at the end of the trip. The "groover" - the metal box used to transport said leftovers - will never be forgotten.

8. Go around the Wildlife parks for travelers

The Tasmanian devil is the state's virtual emblem, although they are rarely seen in the wild due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease, which has destroyed their numbers over the previous two decades. biodiversity parks in Tasmania offer easy access to curious animals and other natural species, with a handful of parks leading the battle to protect and preserve Tasmania's biodiversity.

The Bonorong Wildlife Park Tasmania Sanctuary, located on the outskirts of Hobart, offers Tasmania's largest wildlife rescue program. Every year, around 500,000 animals are killed on Tasmanian roadways, and Bonorong gathers and treats wounded creatures at its on-site wildlife hospital. Visitors may roam through the facility and observe vets at work. 

To preserve the last remaining wild and isolated population of disease-free Tasmanian devils, the unfenced Tasmanian Devil Unzoo on the Tasman Peninsula collaborates closely with the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Project, monitoring and gathering data on wild devils and keeping up a devil-proof fence.

Where to Stay in Tasmania While Taking in the Views?

We recommend these wonderful Tasmania's accommodations in top tourist places:

• Saffire Freycinet is a premium eco-hotel on the Freycinet Peninsula that offers breathtaking views and glass-encased rooms from floor to ceiling.
• The mid-range Grand Chancellor Hotel Hobart has harbor views, a pillow menu, and a terrific restaurant.
• Salamanca Inn is a family-friendly all-suite hotel on Hobart's waterfront, near Salamanca Place. Choose from one- or two-bedroom suites with complete kitchens.
• The Mews Motel is a modest motel housed in a historical structure located around a 10-minute walk from Cataract Gorge and Launceston's CBD. Chat with friendly management, prepare your meals in the well-equipped outdoor kitchen, and finally retire to a comfortable bed in our home away from home.

Conclusion

Tasmania's tourism is protected as World Heritage-listed wilderness, the region offers the cleanest air on the globe, and the world's first Green campaign was created there in 1972. To preserve the beauty of this place for future generations, eco-conscious travelers should seek out activities and operators who prioritize sustainable methods. It is recommended that you check your eligibility for visa requirements ahead of time and apply for an Australia E-Visa online. Immerse yourself in Tasmania's stunning natural beauty and cultural experiences today.