Rolling farm pastures, rugged wilderness, lush rainforest, and a vibrant food and arts scene: Tasmania really does have all the ingredients for a perfect trip. Yet plenty of travellers, Australians included, still skip the island state. After 10 days exploring it end to end, we would call that a mistake. Here are the best things to do in Tasmania, all of them first-hand.
We came for the hikes and the coastline and left wishing we had more time. From alpine peaks and highland lakes to convict history and the freshest seafood we have ever eaten, this is our guide to the 13 best places to visit in Tasmania, plus how to string them together.
Key Takeaways
- Tasmania’s headline sights span the whole island: Cradle Mountain and the Walls of Jerusalem in the highlands, Wineglass Bay and the Bay of Fires on the east coast, and Port Arthur in the south.
- Hobart and Launceston make the two natural bases, with Salamanca Market and MONA the city highlights.
- A rental car is essential; distances are short but there is no way to see the island properly without one.
- Ten days lets you cover the icons at a relaxed pace; a week is enough for a focused east-coast or highlands loop.
- Summer (December to February) is warmest, but shoulder season is quieter and still rewarding.
Tasmania at a Glance
Here is the quick overview before the detail below.
| Places covered | 13 first-hand highlights across the island |
| Main bases | Hobart (south) and Launceston (north) |
| Getting there | Short flight from mainland cities, or the Spirit of Tasmania ferry |
| Getting around | Rental car (essential), from about $25 to $40 a day |
| How long | 10 days for the full loop; a week for a focused region |
| Best time | Summer (Dec–Feb) for warmth; shoulder season for fewer crowds |
The 13 Best Places to Visit in Tasmania
Here are all 13 side by side, so you can see the region, type and what each one is best for before the detail below.
Best Places to Visit in Tasmania Compared
| Place | Region | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract Gorge | Launceston (north) | Nature reserve | Easy scenery near the city |
| Walls of Jerusalem | Central highlands | Wilderness hike | Serious multi-day bushwalking |
| Cradle Mountain | Central highlands | National park | The iconic Tassie hike |
| Corinna / Pieman River | West | Rainforest | Remote kayaking, quiet |
| Mt Field National Park | South | National park | Waterfalls, wildlife, fewer crowds |
| Salamanca + Hobart | Hobart (south) | City + market | Market, MONA, history |
| Port Arthur | Tasman Peninsula | Historic site | Convict history (UNESCO) |
| Freycinet / Wineglass Bay | East coast | National park | Beaches and coastal hikes |
| Freycinet Marine Farm | East coast | Food | The best seafood on the island |
| Bay of Fires | Northeast coast | Beaches | Orange-lichen granite and white sand |
| Maria Island | East coast | National park | Painted Cliffs, wildlife, day trip |
| Mount Wellington | Hobart (south) | Lookout | Views over Hobart, quick trip |
| South Bruny | Bruny Island (south) | National park | Beaches, wildlife, sea cliffs |
1. Cataract Gorge, Launceston
The Cataract Gorge, or simply “The Gorge” to locals, is a striking natural formation just a two-minute drive from central Launceston, and arguably the city’s biggest draw. It is an urban oasis, perfect for a swim or a picnic against a backdrop of cliffs above the South Esk River. A leisurely loop of the First Basin took us two to three hours, and with blue skies overhead it was one of the loveliest afternoons of the trip.
2. Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Our two-day hike through the Walls of Jerusalem began with a brutal four-hour climb into the heart of Tasmania’s wilderness. The park is not accessible by car and has few facilities, so getting in means serious, well-equipped bushwalking. It was cold and rainy, our 20 kg packs were punishing, and it was our first taste of how harsh Tasmania can be.
Then the weather cleared, and the Walls revealed the most extraordinary landscape of our whole trip: volcanic rock peaks, highland lakes and alpine vegetation unlike anything we had seen. It was hands down our favourite place in Tasmania. If you are a capable hiker wondering what to do in Tasmania, put this at the top of the list.
3. Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair
Cradle Mountain National Park is the island’s most famous natural attraction, and one of the most popular things to do in Tasmania. Busloads come daily to see Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake in the north and Lake St Clair in the south. Some tackle the three-to-five-hour summit hikes; most wander the short tracks and snap photos. It is touristy, but the peaks and lakes earn it. We walked up to Marion’s Lookout to escape the crowds and take in the view properly.
4. Corinna and the Pieman River
Once a remote mining town, Corinna is now an eco-tourism haven: a two-street settlement on the banks of the Pieman River with one restaurant, a few cabins, and nothing to do but soak up the untouched rainforest. We hired kayaks and spent a blissful day paddling the Pieman and Whyte Rivers, about as far from the crowds as Tasmania gets.
5. Mt Field National Park
Mt Field might be our favourite of Tasmania’s national parks, and it rarely makes international itineraries. The lack of crowds and the sheer plant diversity make it a well-kept secret and one of the best things to do in Tasmania. We loved roaming the narrow fern-lined trails, admiring the waterfalls (Russell Falls is a stunner) and meeting some of Australia’s famous wildlife along the way.
6. Salamanca Market and Hobart
We love a good market, and Salamanca is one of the best we have visited anywhere. Its 300-plus stalls of homewares, produce, clothing and local crafts sent us into a happy shopping frenzy, easily the best four hours of our time in Hobart. It sits within walking distance of Parliament House Gardens, the Salamanca Arts Centre and the pretty streets of Battery Point.
Give yourself time for the rest of Hobart too. The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is Australia’s largest private museum, a genuinely wild collection set among galleries, a winery, a wine bar and a restaurant, and it is worth booking ahead. For more of the city, see our guide to things to do in Hobart.
7. Port Arthur
On the Tasman Peninsula about 90 minutes south of Hobart, Port Arthur is a 40-hectare open-air museum on the site of a former convict colony, one of Australia’s most significant heritage areas. We expected a dry museum and got something genuinely fascinating: the introductory tour paints a vivid picture of Australia’s convict past, and the UNESCO-listed site more than lives up to its reputation.
8. Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay
Just outside the holiday town of Coles Bay, Freycinet is the east coast’s showpiece, world-famous for Wineglass Bay and its granite peaks, secluded coves and white-sand beaches. Our highlight was going off the beaten path to quieter Hazards Beach, which we liked even more than the celebrated view. We left wishing we had more time to explore the southern end of the peninsula.
9. Freycinet Marine Farm
Tasmania is renowned for its produce and seafood, and this family-owned marine farm is the pinnacle. Succulent oysters, freshly harvested mussels, local rock lobster, scallops and calamari are all on offer, and our oyster-and-mussel lunch was flat-out the best meal we had on the island. If you love seafood, it is one of the best places to visit in Tasmania, full stop.
10. Bay of Fires
On the northeast coast, the Bay of Fires has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the hottest destinations around, and it is easy to see why: fine white sand, orange lichen-splashed granite and crystal-clear water. A four-day guided walk is the classic way to experience it, but we explored it by car, stopping to admire the vivid colours where the beaches meet the boulders.
11. Maria Island National Park
Off the east coast, Maria Island blends history and natural beauty, reached by a 30-minute ferry from Triabunna (five daily). It is home to the Darlington Probation Station, a World Heritage convict site, and the beautiful Painted Cliffs, where wind and water have swirled the sandstone into colourful patterns. Hiking trails thread the coastal scenery, and you can easily spend a full day or stay over in the cabins and campgrounds.
12. Mount Wellington (kunanyi)
A 30-minute drive west of Hobart, Wellington Park is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. Mount Wellington towers over the city and delivers sweeping views over greater Hobart, Bruny Island and the South West Wilderness from the summit. There are trails to suit every level, just come prepared for all weather, as it can turn blustery up top.
13. South Bruny National Park
Some of Tasmania’s wildest beauty sits on Bruny Island, about 50 km south of Hobart, home to towering sea cliffs, rainforest and sandy beaches. It shelters roughly a third of the world’s swift parrots, and in season you might spot migrating right whales offshore. Reach it via the 20-minute car ferry from Kettering, then take your pick of 60 short hikes, caves, beaches and snorkelling spots.
How to Plan a Tasmania Road Trip
We spent 10 activity-packed days circling the island and still left wanting more, we missed the entire northwest coast and the west around Strahan and the Gordon River. If you have the time, a loop from Launceston down the west to the highlands, across to Hobart and the south, then up the east coast, links most of these highlights. Here is roughly how that route looks:
A car is essential to link it together. For more of the country’s great drives, see our roundup of the best road trips in Australia.
Tasmania is a self-drive island, and Discover Cars compares the major agencies at Hobart and Launceston airports in one search.
From about $25 to $40 a day · Pick up in Hobart or Launceston · Free cancellation on most bookings
Essential Tasmania Travel Info
Getting There
The easiest way to reach Tasmania is a short domestic flight from any major Australian city; Jetstar and others fly cheaply into Hobart and Launceston. Alternatively, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry runs between Devonport and Geelong (about an hour from Melbourne); the crossing takes around 11 hours and lets you bring your own vehicle.
Getting Around
A car is by far the best way to get around Tasmania, and booked ahead you can hire one for as little as $25 to $40 a day. It is a small price for the freedom to reach the parks, beaches and lookouts on your own schedule.
When to Go
Summer (December to February) is the warmest time, with daytime temperatures around 23°C and cool nights. Shoulder season (spring and autumn) is colder but quieter, which can be the better trade for the popular spots.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Tasmania
For a small island of half a million people, Tasmania packs in a remarkable range of sights, from alpine wilderness to convict history to world-class seafood. We left already planning a return for the west and northwest coasts. Whether you have a week or ten days, it deserves far more attention than it gets. Plan the wider trip with our Australia travel guide and Australia itinerary.
Have you been to Tasmania, or is it on your list? What would you add to these best places to visit in Tasmania?
READ NEXT: 6 Off-the-Beaten-Track Places to Visit in Tasmania
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Tasmania?
The standout things to do in Tasmania are hiking Cradle Mountain and the Walls of Jerusalem, visiting Wineglass Bay and the Bay of Fires, exploring Port Arthur’s convict history, browsing Salamanca Market in Hobart, and eating fresh seafood at Freycinet Marine Farm.
How many days do you need in Tasmania?
Ten days lets you loop the island and see the main highlights at a relaxed pace. With a week, focus on one region, either the east coast (Freycinet, Bay of Fires, Maria Island) or the highlands (Cradle Mountain, Mt Field) plus Hobart.
What is the best way to get around Tasmania?
A rental car is essential. Distances between sights are short, but public transport is limited, and a car (from about $25 to $40 a day booked ahead) is the only practical way to reach the national parks, beaches and lookouts.
What is the best time to visit Tasmania?
Summer (December to February) is warmest and best for hiking and the coast. Spring and autumn are colder but much quieter, which suits popular spots like Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay. Winter is cold but atmospheric in the highlands.
Is Tasmania worth visiting?
Absolutely. Tasmania offers some of Australia’s best wilderness, beaches, history and food in a compact, easy-to-drive island. It is less crowded than the mainland’s big-name spots and consistently one of the most rewarding places to visit in Australia.
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