Visit the impossibly beautiful island state of Tasmania to indulge in history, vast wilderness areas, spectacular mountains, small-scale production of food, wine and spirits, and intimate meetings with friendly locals. Home to just over 500,000 people, the air is fresh, the water clear, the wildlife abundant and the way of life gives you space to simply pause, reconnect and take a breath.
Hobart and South
Australia’s smallest capital city punches well above its weight when it comes to fine dining, cultural attractions, and stunning natural beauty.
Nestled between a mountain and a river, Hobart is home to a diverse range of experiences. Wander among the city's beautiful sandstone colonial architecture, drive through the wilderness to the summit of Mount Wellington or take in the view at one of Hobart’s acclaimed eateries or wine bars. No trip would be complete without a visit to The Museum of Old and New Art. Jump on the ferry in the city centre to arrive at this multi-tiered museum cut into sandstone cliffs, with a collection of provocative art. In Hobart savour delicious local produce then head out of town to take in incredible views from Mount Wellington or spend the day exploring windswept Bruny Island.
Launceston and North
With the wild Bass Strait on the doorstep of Launceston, Tasmania's northern cities including Devonport and Burnie are home to secluded beaches, tranquil waterways and coastal views. And with a wealth of wineries, it offers the perfect blend of nature and culture.
West Coast
Home to untamed rivers, ancient pine trees and giant sand dunes, the west coast is at the heart of Tasmania's wilderness. Challenge the infamous Franklin River on a white-water rafting expedition, cruise down the majestic Gordon River, hike through age-old rainforest and visit historic mining towns.
East Coast
Sample the splendours of Tasmania’s stunning east coast, from seafood and wine, to lush rainforest and powder-white beaches. Starting at Hobart, venture north through spectacular national parks, along surreal coastline, then finish in the remarkable Bay of Fires. Visit Search and Stay for holiday cabins and houses to rent around Tasmania's East Coast.
North West
Full of colour and flavour, Tasmania's north-west is the gateway to some of Tasmania's most beautiful natural places. Find classic coastal drives, food trails, national parks, nature reserves and with the world’s cleanest air found at the northwestern tip on the Cape Grim Peninsula, you’ll breathe easy.
Undeniably Tasmanian flavour
In recent years, a new wave of bars and restaurants, including Dier Makr, Fico, Templo, and Frank, opening in Hobart have led to a culinary boom for this island’s capital city. Beyond Hobart there are myriad foodie experiences worth travelling for too. From Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in the delightful Huon Valley, just 30 minutes from the city centre, to Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School & Farm in the tranquil Derwent Valley less than two hours away, and Bruny Island Cheese Co. on the windswept outpost of Bruny Island a two-hour drive, foodie gems can be found across the island. Visit Search and Stay for Bruny Island holiday accommodation.
Australia's Best Whiskey
With crisp fresh air and water, you can get a taste of some of Australia’s best whisky in Tasmania's burgeoning distillery industry. Located in the rugged wilderness of the Tasman Peninsula, the cozy McHenry Distillery produces a range of smooth, uniquely Australian spirits. Don’t miss the Sloe Gin, crafted using berries foraged from the hedgerows around northern Tasmania. Meanwhile, in the heart of Hobart there is Lark Distillery, which has grown to be one of the top malt whisky distillers in the country, creating premium spirits with time-honoured methods. You can visit both cellar doors for a taste of their pure Tasmanian whisky and gin, including over 150 malt whiskies at Lark. Visit Search and Stay and you'll find plenty of choices of holiday houses to rent around Hobart.
Hike Pristine Wilderness In Comfort
Home to some of Australia’s best walks, Tasmania has long led the charge for soft adventure and eco-tourism. Many companies offer fuss free, intimate guided walks. For example, Experiential Tasmania’s new guided walking tour in the Freycinet National Park provide day packs filled with essentials and a gourmet picnic lunch, so you can spend more time discovering the park's dramatic landscapes
Fly Fishing For Keen Anglers
Tasmania is one of the last great wild fisheries, boasting more than 3,000 lakes, rivers and streams. It’s the perfect environment for wild brown and rainbow trout and offers plenty of the rarest commodity of all – solitude. Most days it’s easy to imagine that you are the only angler on the island. Try western Lakes fishery and Walls of Jerusalem National Park, with some of the best fly fishing in Tasmania.
DarkLab
DarkLab, a creative subsidiary of Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) has announced Transformer, a major permanent artwork set to open in Ida Bay in Southern Tasmania coming to Tasmania in 2022. The transformer is a pavilion with a reflective interior, creating a lens consisting of angles and facets that interact with the landscape over the changing seasons. Don’t miss Dark Mofo, Mona's winter festival, which delves into centuries old winter solstice rituals each June with a range of cultural performances around the city. Visit Search and Stay for holiday rentals in Tasmania's South.
Australia’s mountain biking capital
There aren’t many places in the world where you can ride from the mountains to the sea. Tasmania is covered in wild mountain bike trails with ribbons of dirt tracks passing some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. The Bay of Fires Trail starts at the Blue Tier trailhead, near Derby, and ends at the east coast. This epic 42km (26 mile) ride traverses’ rainforest and sub-alpine terrain, climbs through giant granite boulders and emerges on the white sand at Swimcart Beach.
Tasmanian scenic flights
Explore the dramatic and diverse beauty of the island of Tasmania with Tasmanian Air Tours’ scenic flights and tours offering. The flight tourism company now offers a fleet of three, four and five-seat helicopters based on the edge of Hobart offering tailored trips to explore interests in wilderness and cultural experiences, food and wine, whisky and gin – whatever takes your fancy!
Tee Off At A New Course on Tasmania's North Coast
The rugged north east coast of Australia’s island state is one of the most ideal places
in the world for a links golf course. It’s on this coastal strip, where stark beaches fold into undulating farmlands, that Barnbougle Golf Links has been crafted out of an extraordinary landscape. Barnbougle, one of Australia’s iconic links golf courses that ranks amongst the world's best, has announced a new 14-hole short course to open in 2021. Shaped into the sand dunes surrounding the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th holes, the new course has been designed by a US architecture firm offering golfers a fun new routing with an added challenge, all while taking in spectacular ocean views.
Visit Search and Stay for holiday cabins and houses to rent around Tasmania.
For more information: www.visittasmania.com.au
Credit: Tourism Australia www.Australia.com @australia