When I first planned my trip to Australia I gave myself a full month in Tasmania because it seemed like there was a lot to do. However, while I was traveling around Australia people kept telling me a month was too long to spend in Tasmania. Everybody said 2 weeks as plenty of time to see everything. I typically take advice I am given and settled with a happy medium of 3 weeks. I wish I hadn’t listened because I could have easily spent a month in beautiful Tasmania. I missed out on Port Arthur and Bay of Fires, which are not on this list but are two fantastic sights. Still, I am very glad for what I did see because Tasmania has a lot to offer.
Mt. Wellington
Let’s start the list off with something close to Hobart. There is a large mountain overlooking the city called Mt. Wellington. It takes nearly an hour of cumbersome driving to get to the top but the views are well worth it. There are several lookout spots and the views are offered from every direction. Looking down onto Hobart is something else and it’s interesting to see the actual layout of the city. It may not look like much but be sure to walk to the opposite side of the parking lot where you can see the geology of Mt. Wellington. The mountain is old and it shows.
MONA
Let’s see, how can I possibly describe MONA… going to this art museum makes up for not going to any other art museums for the next 5 years. It not only gets your creative side flowing but your libido moving. Yes, this is a very sexual museum and some displays may not be appropriate for children. Although they probably won’t know what they’re looking at when viewing 100 different clay-molded vaginas. Half of the museum is sexual while the other half is mind boggling. I took a long lunch break because it was simply too much to take in at once. I’ve never been an art fan but I have to admit I really enjoyed MONA. It’s different, and among other things crazy, creepy, sexy, and bizarre.
Mount Field National Park
If you like beautiful waterfalls be sure to stop by Mt. Field. There is a big visitor’s center with a cafe, souvenir shop, and lots of great information. It’s a short walk along a well maintained path to Russell Falls, a stunning waterfall surrounded by temperate rain forest. However beware of the mosquitoes! If you’re up for a longer jaunt then continue to the top of Russell Falls to Horseshoe Falls. Although not as big as its sister waterfall, Horseshoe Falls is pretty and peaceful. This walk is no more than a kilometer but there are plenty of other trails if you’re looking for a longer hike.
Unless you have a specific reason I would not recommend driving to the top of Mount Field National Park. Someone warned me it wasn’t worth it but I went anyway. He was right. It’s a long, boring drive with nothing to see besides a few lakes, which are nice enough but not worth the drive. That being said it started to rain and if the weather had been good enough to walk around Lake Dobson my opinion might be different.
Lake Pedder & Gordon Dam
If you like spectacular landscapes please take the time to drive down Gordon River Road. It takes two hours to drive from Mt Field to Gordon Dam but the mountains, lakes, and geology are other-worldly. The people and towns trickle to nothing the further you along drive. The very last town (I’m not sure how it’s even considered a town) Strathgordon was completely empty and offered nothing except accommodation and coffee. Just after this “town” there is an amazing lookout over Lake Pedder.
20 minutes further gets you to the end of the road and Gordon Dam. I’ve seen many dams but Gordon takes the cake for impressive man made structures. Between the fierce weather and lack of people it feels like the edge of the world out here.
Wineglass Bay
This is a beautiful bay in Freycinet National Park on the Eastern side of Tasmania. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great when I was here but the views were still lovely. The short hike to Wineglass Bay Lookout is packed with people but most of them don’t continue to the actual beach. If you have a couple hours walk down Isthmus Track and go to Hazards Beach, which eventually loops back to the parking lot. Hazards Beach is nearly empty but beautiful, plus it has decently warm water to swim in and plenty of shells to pick through. I’ll admit the trail after Hazards Beach is boring so be prepared for an unexciting last two kilometers back to the parking lot.
Latrobe Foodie Trail
Dazzle your taste buds in this delicious part of Northern Tasmania. I ran into some people I met on the Overland Track and we decided to spend the afternoon together, stuffing our faces. Take a day to wander around the tasty shops and try all the various offerings. Raspberry Farm Cafe has many delicious options for lunch, which include both savory and sweet. If you need a palate cleanser walk across the street to Van Diemen’s Creamery and grab an ice cream. Ashgrove Cheese Farm is the next stop and has plenty of yummy samples laid out.
Then there is The Cherry Shed where you can pick through various jams and desserts. It’s impossible to miss with the giant cherry statue on the side of the road. Next up is Anvers Chocolate, my personal favorite on this foodie trail. There are samples galore and it’s difficult not to stay around for seconds. They also have a lovely cafe and a little chocolate history room. You can even sneak a peak into their chocolate making room if you really want your mouth to water. After such an exhausting afternoon it’s best to head off the main road and visit the many wineries and cider breweries in the area.
The Nut
In the northwest part of Tasmania lies the adorable little town of Stanley. On the drive into town there is a very prominent hill that stands out. After taking a stroll through the tiny downtown area spend an hour wandering around the top of “The Nut.” There is either a chair lift or a steep ramp leading to the top. I opted to walk and it’s certainly steep, but it’s also very short. A 2km loop, Nut Circuit, offers great views of the ocean and the far-off northern Tasmania coast. There are of course also views of Stanley, and seeing its tiny size gives you an appreciation of its charm. It can be incredibly windy up there so bring a jacket, even on a sunny day.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
While in Tasmania I wanted to see a Tasmanian devil, wombat, echidna, and platypus. There were echidnas and wombats aplenty but try as I may I did not see a devil or platypus. The Tasmanian devil was to be expected because they are nocturnal and their population is being wiped out by facial cancer. So no luck with the Tasmanian devil. I also went to several places that claimed there was a “resident platypus” in the area but didn’t manage to see one of them either. Many local residents said they had never seen one because they are incredibly shy. Bummer.
In order to satisfy my devil side I went to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are kangaroos, native birds, wombats, quolls, and of course Tasmanian devils (among other things). At 11am there was a Tasmanian devil tour. Our guide took us to the devil enclosure and pulled out an unidentifiable piece of roadkill. He stepped into the pen and out scurried “Prince.” Prince tugged and tore at the piece of meat like he’d never eaten before in his life. He growled and snarled and didn’t stop tugging for a full 10 minutes. Our guide answered our questions and one of them was “Is he pulling hard?” Our guide grated his teeth and grumbled “Yes.” I didn’t see a Tamanian devil in the wild, but I’m sure glad I saw Prince. He was certainly an enthusiastic character.
Overland Track
This is a 65 km hike that starts at Cradle Mountain and ends at Lake St Clare. The views are phenomenal, huts comfortable, and it’s a great chance to see Tasmanian wildlife. I absolutely loved this hike and would recommend it to anyone with trekking experience. If you want to see beautiful Tasmanian scenery the Overland Track will fully address your desires. For tips on hiking the Overland Track yourself check out this post, or for my personal story click here.
If a 65km hike isn’t your thing but you still want a taste of the Tasmanian outdoors never fear. There are a myriad of day hikes around Lake St Clare and Cradle Mountain National Park. Or if you want an even more remote adventure than the Overland Track take a look at Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers or Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
Bruny Island
The short 20 minute ferry ride from Kettering doesn’t seem to justify a $38 ticket, but let me assure you Bruny Island is worth the trip. On the far side of the island is South Bruny National Park. The ocean views are incredible, especially from Bruny Island Lighthouse. The geology of the rocky cliffs is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I was here on a perfect day and spent a good part of the afternoon staring out over the cliffs. Absolutely beautiful.
In the middle of the island is The Neck. Be sure to pant your way up the 300 steps to the top because the views are unbeatable. In the evening there is a chance to see penguins come ashore but unfortunately this area was quarantined off when I was there. According to the information bulletin it’s usually pretty easy to see penguins on the beach.
If wildlife or views isn’t your thing there’s always the wine, whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and oysters. Yeah, see now you definitely have to go. There are enough delicious spots scattered around Bruny Island to keep your palate fully entertained. My favorites were the cider at Bruny Island Premium Wines (not to say their wine isn’t good), and the oysters at Get Shucked.
Cockle Creek
This part of Tasmania is truly close to the edge of the world. The road going south of Hobart starts off riddled with cute towns and cafes, only to drop off to nothing but gravel roads and pit toilets. Don’t let that dissuade you however, because the feeling you get standing at Cockle Creek is a significant one indeed. At the end of the Cockle Creek Road is Southwest National Park. There is plenty of free camping if you feel like relaxing on the edge of the world for a few days.
When the road dead ends it’s only a 50 meter walk to a giant whale statue and information boards explaining how low pressure systems from Antarctica are bringing gale force winds in from the west. The wind is incredibly fierce here but it’s worth taking time to read the signs and learn about the history of the area.
If you want to get to the actual southernmost edge of Tasmania hike to South Cape Bay (4 hours return). It’s a beautiful walk that starts out with forest, opens up over meadows, and ends through coastal shrub. When the trail drops you off at the beach be prepared to be swept away (pun intended). The ocean certainly isn’t calm here and it’s easy to spend your snack break watching powerful waves crash against the beaches and cliffs. It’s windy here too, so be sure to bring a jacket even on a sunny day.
It’s windy!
This trail is the very end of The South Coast Track, an 84 km hike that requires being flown in by bush pilot due to its remoteness. After my hike I picked up two hitchhikers who had just finished the track and said it was one of the best experiences of their lives, although very very cold. Tasmania sure has a lot to offer in terms of wilderness.
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