Ahhh Tasmania. Wild. Remote. Welcoming. Romantic. I am openly biased when I praise Tassie’s wonders, as it is, after all, my home. Here is my list of the top six attractions to see on a visit to Australia’s Island State – if you have a week you should be able to fit all of these in (thank me after).
1. Salamanca Market
A dramatic change to Salamanca Place occurs every Saturday morning in central Hobart, as Australia’s largest outdoor marketplace pops up between 8am – 3pm without fail every single week of the year. The market, which is home to hundreds of stalls, fills one long, wide street and is flanked by leafy trees and historic sandstone buildings. This is a great place to sample Tassie produce (don’t go past the Bruny Island Cheese Company stall, Gillespies Ginger Beer or Tempura mushrooms) or buy iconically Tasmanian products made from locally grown lavender and Huon Pine. The sandstone buildings lining the markets host interesting galleries, bookshops and stores selling an eclectic range of goods and are worth a detour if you are exhausted from the hustle and bustle of the market (or if it rains!). A hub for locals and tourists alike, this market is not to be missed – go with an appetite!
Extra tip – Salamanca is not only famous for its market but is also the centre of Hobart’s nightlife. Bars and pubs along the strip, including Grape, Cargo, Brick Factory, Irish Murphy’s and the Whaler are brimming with locals on Friday and Saturday nights.
2. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
Australia’s largest private museum is filled with a varied collection of impressive, unusual and controversial pieces of art and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Visitors are guided around with ipods and headphones to find out more about the items on display as they wish. The building itself is impressive and is mainly underground, dug into the sides of its own peninsula, which also boasts a vineyard, outdoor artworks, restaurants and accommodation. Even if you are not usually a museum person, I can almost guarantee that you will be impressed.
Extra tip – MONA often has events like Sunday Markets and free jazz on the lawns outside so it’s worth looking up what might be on when you’re visiting before you plan your trip so you can get extra bang for your buck!
3. Mt. Field National Park
One hour drive from Hobart is the gateway to Tasmania’s World Heritage Listed South West Wilderness, Mount Field National Park. Almost half of Tasmania is set aside within various national parks and reserves, which are famous for being remote and wild, but at Mount Field, you can see rare temperate rainforest and beautiful multi-tiered waterfalls only a ten minute stroll from the carpark. Whilst Russell Falls is often considered the crowning glory of the park, Horseshoe falls, which sits above it, is perhaps in it’s own way just as beautiful, and well worth the quick climb. Here, you will also find some of Australia’s tallest and largest trees and a drive up into the alpine regions of the park will allow you to see the staggering contrast of geology and vegetation within the park’s limits. I highly recommend the easy 40 minute Pandani Grove walk around Lake Dobson.
Extra tip – On the way from Hobart to Mount Field you can stop in at a Berry farm where you can pick your own berries or have lunch at the Salmon Ponds and feed the fishies. If you feel like something lighter than a full lunch, the ‘Possum Shed’ cafe has a super cute atmosphere, views over a bubbling creek, nice coffee and delicious cakes.
4. Tasman Peninsula
Mighty gravity-bending seacliffs? Check. Brutal and capitvating history? Check. Gorgeous beaches, wildlife galore and a village where every house has a novelty name? Check again. The Tasman Peninsula, an hour and a half from Hobart is a playground for history buffs and adventure seekers alike. The region’s most famous site is Port Arthur, the end of the road for Australia’s early convicts that arrived on ship from England, sometimes only for stealing a loaf of bread. Whilst the site has a tumultous past, a visit here today is fascinating, with beautiful and well preserved buildings and a well recorded history painting a vivid setting for stories of life in early Tasmania.
The region can be visited either by car or by boat on a day tour, and either way presents the opportunity to visit some incredible geological formations. If travelling by car, stop along the way at the Tessalated Pavement, Devil’s Arch, Remarkable Cave, the Blow Hole and the quaint settlement of “Doo-Town”, which is sure to raise a smile.
Extra Tip – The boat tour with Pennicott offers the most spectacular view of the seacliffs (and is easier than the 3 hour or so hike in to get above them) and is highly recommended. Marine life, including large pods of dolphins, are often sighted by guests. You can book tours online, over the phone, or via their stall at Salamanca market. If you do have the time to hike or don’t have the $$ to take the boat ride, Cape Huay is the walk that provides the most exhilirating / vertigo-inducing scenery of any of the hikes in the area. If you just can’t get enough of those views, the recently opened Three Capes Walk allows you to soak it all in over a number of days.
5. Freycinet National Park
Oh Freycinet! (pronounced Fray-see-nay) Some places seem to almost pack too much pretty. Whilst the third peninsula on my list of recommendations, this one is probably the most famous and the one you are most likely to see if you look at a postcard of Tassie. The main beach and town in the area is Coles Bay, which is in itself beautiful, but is overshadowed by the surrounding short walks with views over the ocean, Hazards Beach and of course, the iconic Wineglass Bay.
Wineglass Bay, which has been voted one of the top ten beaches in the world in travel magazines, attracts the crowds (by Tasmanian standards) and is home to a few overly friendly wallabies, but walk further down the beach and you can feel like you have the whole place to yourself – I almost feel bad letting you in on this secret, but the far end even has free camping (once you’ve paid the entry fee to get in the National Park). I would put my money on it possibly being Australia’s best value campsite. You heard it here.
If you don’t feel like staying the night, get as high as you can and climb Mt. Amos to get the best views of the bay, just avoid doing so in wet weather as those rocks can get slippery! Whilst in the area, a must-see is the adorable and romantic cove, Honeymoon Bay, a great little spot for a swim or a picnic and reminiscent of the famous Bay of Fires region to the north. If you are heading to Bay of Fires as your next stop, I recommend staying in the sleepy fishing village of Bicheno overnight. Here, you can jump on a small evening tour to see penguins arrive on the beach after dark. These guys are so nonplussed by their human spectators, last time I was there one walked right over my toes.
6. Cradle Mountain
So far, my list has been focussed on southern and eastern Tasmania, which, considering I am a southie myself, should really come as no surprise. That said, northern Tasmania has a whole host of beautiful attractions, my favourite of which is Cradle Mountain National Park. I know, another National Park, but they are what we do best!* Cradle Mountain sits behind the tranquil Dove Lake and hosts the starting point for the famous Overland Track, a famous hike in the alpine wilderness that expels its walkers one week later at Australia’s deepest lake, Lake St. Clair.
If you stay…just a little bit longer…
The above is only a brief list for a ‘taster tour’ of Tasmania. For those who have a few more days to explore Tasmania, other attractions worth visiting include:
- Bruny Island (South East)
- Bay of Fires Region (North East)
- Strahan and surrounds (West Coast)
- Local Wine Regions, including Tamar Valley (North) and the Coal River (South)
- Hastings Caves (South)
Happy travelling!!
*Apart from seafood. And possibly berries. And cheese…and wine. And beer. And apples. And cider these days too…Tasmanian’s are really into their food.
Note: This blog claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.