This publish was written by Chelsea Loren, the Weblog & Content material Supervisor of The Blonde Overseas.
My companion and I lived in Tasmania for 2 years whereas he was finishing his Ph.D. program on the native college. Whereas he had visited Australia earlier than, neither of us had visited Tasmania and weren’t actually certain what to anticipate.
We hoped for the most effective, booked one-way tickets, and signed a lease for an residence (there was much more to it than that — try this information to working vacation visas in Australia).
And we’re so glad we did. The rugged and wild great thing about Tasmania is unmatched; it’s a land stuffed with so many tales and unbelievable wildlife.
Whereas we spent a lot of our time in Hobart, we preferred to make use of our weekends to discover the remainder of the island. As a observe, except you’re sticking to town of Hobart (extra so a city—whereas it’s residence to most of Tasmania’s inhabitants, it’s small compared to locations like New York or Los Angeles), you’ll completely want a automotive to enterprise across the island.
Whether or not you’re from Australia and planning a Tasmanian getaway otherwise you’ve all the time dreamed of visiting the land the place the Tasmanian devils are from, these are a few of the finest issues so as to add to your Tasmania itinerary.
Listed here are the highest issues to do in Tasmania!
Salamanca Market on a Saturday Morning
Discover Hobart
The capital of Tasmania, Hobart will put fairly the spell on you. Its waterfront is lined with outdated sandstone warehouses (an space affectionately often known as Salamanca), and town is brimming with colonial-era cottages and funky eateries. Whereas it’s buzzing for Tasmania requirements, it’s nonetheless quaint.
Hobart captures that quintessential salty-air coastal city feeling; you’ll be able to stroll the seaside within the morning and benefit from the sand between your toes whereas sipping espresso, after which head into city and wander at your personal tempo.
Uncover alleyways and hidden gems, have an extended lunch and savor the delights, after which take pleasure in cocktails on the waterfront.
Considered one of our favourite locations to get breakfast is Jackman & McRoss on Hampden Highway — a road recognized for vintage purchasing, situated within the severely charming neighborhood of Battery Level.
Whereas in Hobart you’ll be able to go to Cascade Brewery — Tasmania’s oldest brewery, courting again to 1824 (it simply so occurs to be the oldest frequently working brewery in Australia).
In case you time your journey good, you’ll completely wish to head to Salamanca Marketplace for its iconic Saturday farmers market.
Attempt to Catch the Southern Aurora
There’s a superb probability you’ve heard of the Aurora Borealis and seen magnificent images of it from nations near the North Pole…however do you know there’s a Southern Aurora, too?
Yep, often known as the Aurora Australis, it may be seen in locations like Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand (and, if it’s a very sturdy one, generally even on the mainland of Australia!).
The caveat: it’s not often practically as sturdy because the images you see in locations like Iceland, on prime of that, it’s not one thing you’ll be able to actually plan for. Whereas there are methods to set your self up for achievement (discovering a superb vantage level with minimal mild air pollution), there’s no assure of when they are going to happen.
Whereas we have been dwelling in Tasmania a couple of stellar ones occurred, we did get very fortunate one evening once we have been street tripping up the coast and bought to witness the Southern Aurora from a really darkish seaside.
Undoubtedly add this to your Tasmania bucket checklist, and when you’re visiting for an prolonged time period — chances are you’ll get fortunate — however don’t be disillusioned or discouraged when you don’t catch one. It simply means you’ve bought to return sooner or later, proper?
Keep at Captains Relaxation in Strahan
Captains Rest, in my view, is among the dreamiest Airbnbs you could possibly ever keep at. The island is now chockful of beautiful Airbnbs, however Captains Relaxation holds a particular place in my coronary heart.
Positioned in a distant fishing village that takes about 4 hours to drive to from Hobart or 4 hours from Launceston, it’s fairly a trek to get on the market…however it’s so price it.
The drive from Hobart will take you on winding roads by way of misty forests and as soon as you find yourself in Strahan, you’ll breathe within the crisp air and discover your humble abode.
The restored fishing cottage set on a lake has these beautiful giant home windows that permit the sunshine flood in with a view of the nonetheless waters, it’s quaint and comfy and you could possibly simply spend a few days enjoyable right here.
Go Mountain climbing in Freycinet
Wineglass Bay is the place it’s at!
This might completely be added to a street journey up the coast (it’s about 2 hours from Hobart), or function a vacation spot all by itself.
Freycinet Nationwide Park is completely beautiful with many alternative hikes to select from, although some of the well-liked is Wineglass Bay (for good cause); Wineglass Bay occurs to be some of the photographed spots in Tasmania.
It’s a gentle uphill monitor that’ll undoubtedly get you huffing a bit bit, however the path isn’t tremendous lengthy — about 2.5 hours to finish the entire thing. You’ll have views of pristine coastland, and turquoise waters, all framed by rugged peaks.
In case you’re making a visit of it, there are a couple of mattress and breakfasts within the space, campsites, or the posh resort of Saffire Freycinet.
Go to Port Arthur
Port Arthur is basically attention-grabbing because it combines an idyllic coastal setting with a brutal and storied historical past.
The historic web site in southern Tasmania is an open-air museum that particulars Tasmania’s growth as a penal colony. Ruins on the location embrace an enormous penitentiary, together with a shell of the Convict Church.
It’s a somber expertise to stroll by way of the grounds and see the solitary confinement cells and picture what life was like for these shipped to Tasmania.
In case you’re not acquainted, about 12,500 convicts have been shipped to Tasmania and served sentences between 1830 and 1877.
Port Arthur is a few 90-minute drive south-east of Hobart.
See the Animals on the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Tasmania is brimming with unbelievable wildlife and when you’re road-tripping, you’re certain to catch a glimpse of a few of the native fauna like echidnas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, paddymelons, or kookaburras. If you wish to make sure you get to see these animals and never depart it to probability, head to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bonorong is basically cool because it’s a rescue middle that gives up-close viewings of endangered wildlife together with instructional excursions.
In case you’ve ever needed to rise up near a kangaroo, that is the place; right here, you’ll be able to sit on a grassy hill and kangaroos will jump over to you so you’ll be able to feed them small pellets.
It’s about half an hour north of Hobart.
Bicheno, Tasmania
Highway Journey Alongside the East Coast
Tasmania, as a complete, is extremely lovely, however the East Coast of Tasmania is thought for being an unbelievable stretch for street journeys!
From the sleepy coastal city to Bicheno (the place they’ve penguins) all the way in which as much as the Bay of Fires, you’ll discover some unbelievable locations to find alongside the coast.
Do a Bruny Island Food Tour
I’d recommend a food tour, but at the very least, visit Bruny Island!
Located off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, the island is separated into North and South Bruny — nearly split by a narrow isthmus called the Neck.
Bruny Island is well known for its incredible local produce, fresh seafood, honey, artisan cheese, fudge, and more. Because of all the culinary delights that come from here, I’d highly recommend booking a Bruny Island Food Tour and having someone serve as your guide for the day.
Book a Recommended Food Tour Here!
See Wombats on Maria Island
Tasmania is thought for its plentiful wildlife and quite a lot of indigenous animals that may solely be discovered on the island…however generally they’re not all that simple to seek out, except the place to go.
Enter: Maria Island —the nationwide park off the east coast of Tasmania, the place yow will discover the entire state’s eleven endemic birds, Tasmanian devils, and myriad different Australian wildlife.
Maria, pronounced like ma-rye-uh (as in Mariah Carey) and never ma-ree-uh, is a hiker’s paradise with its many trails, scenic views, constructing ruins from the 1800s, and just about untouched nature.
To get to Maria Island, it’s a few 45-minute drive up from Hobart to Triabunna, the place you then board the Maria Island Ferry. You’ll have to ebook each a Parks Go (as it’s a nationwide park), in addition to your ferry ticket—it’s finest to ebook forward as seats can promote out.
The Parks Go and the ferry tickets can all be bought collectively on the Encounter Maria Island website. You can even add on baggage, or a motorcycle, when you’re selecting to convey both of these. You’ll have to examine in on the Triabunna Customer Info Centre (adjoining to the wharf) at the least half-hour previous to the departure time.
It takes about half-hour or so to journey throughout the waters and while you arrive on the island it’s turquoise waters so far as the attention can see. You may spot the occasional wombat, together with a number of buildings leftover from when the island was a burgeoning penal colony.
There aren’t any meals locations, so that is the sort of journey the place it’s essential to pack your personal picnic and sunscreen.
Visit MONA
You’re in for a unique experience at the Museum of Old and New Art. It might be some of the stunning (if not probably the most stunning) museums on this planet, they usually lean into that!
From a room with a poo machine — it actually digests meals and produces waste (you’ll be able to solely think about the odor), to a wall of vaginas, MONA is all in regards to the shock. However hey, when in Tasmania, proper?
Useful Tip
As many of those locations require you to drive, take into account that a lot of Tasmania’s wildlife are crepuscular — which means they’re most energetic through the twilight interval.
As a result of that is when mild is beginning to fade, street kill is a critical challenge in Tasmania. Keep vigilant while you’re driving.
There are undoubtedly quite a lot of different locations to see, together with unbelievable vistas and hikes (I didn’t even get to Cradle Mountain!), however this can be a nice begin when planning out your Tasmania itinerary.
Have you ever been to Tasmania earlier than? Let me know within the feedback beneath!
