Tasmania, sometimes known as “Tassie,” seems to be wrapped in mystery to those who have never visited Australia’s smallest state. In a small island as large as Tasmania, how do you choose the finest things to do? What do you do then? Of course, you go out and investigate it.
Tasmania, which is appropriately shaped like a heart, is also a gourmet’s paradise. The mouthwatering local treats on offer include gloriously creamy cheeses, crisp fruits, and succulent seafood, and dining at a waterfront café or restaurant is one of the most popular things to do in the port city of Hobart, Australia.
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and one of the most historically significant cities in Australia. A popular holiday location for millions of Australians and foreign tourists every year, Hobart is situated on the estuary of the River Derwent and tucked under the towering Kunanyi (Mount Wellington).
Freycinet National Park
Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List Freycinet National Park, one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful nature reserves, as well as one of its most scenic. With its location on a peninsula just south of Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park offers excellent opportunities for bird watching, camping, and scenic drives.
Besides white-sand beaches surrounded by pink granite mountains, the park is also home to swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling spots that are equally popular with photographers as they are with visitors. If you prefer to hike while exploring this protected area, you’ll find a variety of trails on-site that are suitable for short, half-day, and overnight hikes.
Visitors gush over the landscape in this national park, stating that locations such as Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach are so stunning that you might easily lose track of time enjoying your surroundings for many hours. Travelers suggest travelling the Wineglass Bay Lookout trail if you’re short on time or are new to hiking; for a more strenuous trip, many consider hiking the path to Mount Amos. The sunsets at Honeymoon Bay and the lighthouse at Cape Tourville are also highly praised by visitors.
Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, located in the northern part of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, is the crowning achievement of the state’s numerous natural marvels. It is the most visited national park in Tasmania.
This national park, which is a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, is divided into two distinct regions: Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair. The majority of the attraction’s amenities, including a visitor centre, can be found in the northern area of Cradle Mountain National Park. As well as being the starting point for the Overland Track, a 40-mile trek that takes at least six days to complete, Cradle Mountain is a popular tourist destination.
For its part, the southern Lake St Clair region has Australia’s deepest lake, along with hiking paths and picnic sites, among other attractions. Lake St Clair is also the point at which the Overland Track comes to an end.
Wellington Park
Wellington Park, which is around 13 miles west of Hobart, should be a top pick for outdoor lovers who are visiting the Tasmanian capital. A number of routes go through this natural reserve, which is rich with picnic sites and wooded gullies that are worth exploring. Hiking is the most popular mode of transportation in this park, but tourists may also go by bike, horse, or four-wheel drive vehicle for an even more thrilling experience.
Travelers who have recently visited Wellington Park have expressed great satisfaction with their experience. Wellington Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; however, amenities such as the Mount Wellington bathrooms and observation shelter are only open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tasman National Park
Tasman National Park, located on Australia’s wind-battered Tasman Peninsula, 56 kilometers east of Hobart, preserves some of the country’s most beautiful coastline landscapes. Look at a map of Tasmania and you’ll see that this park encircles the extreme southeast corner of the state, with just the ocean separating it from Antarctica on each side.
Natural beauty may be found in abundance here. Waterfalls cascade into the sea, towering dolerite cliffs plummet 300 metres to the sea, islands glimmer in the distance, and deformed rock formations bear the unrelenting power of wind and water.
You may also drive to some of the most popular sights, or take a boat out to sea to see the rising cliffs from a different perspective. You can even go fishing, which is very good here. Climbers like the dolerite cliffs in the park’s southern end, while hang-gliders enjoy Pirate’s Bay, which is located at the park’s northern end.
Bruny Island
Bruny Island is without a doubt the greatest and most popular tourist destination in Hobart. This adventure-packed 362 km² island is accessible through a 15-minute vehicle ferry from Kettering, which is located about half an hour south of Hobart and offers a variety of activities.
It’s no surprise that a visit to Bruny Island is at the top of many people’s list of things to do in Hobart, what with its renowned Neck Lookout, rocky coastlines, unusual fauna, and world-class gourmet cuisine and vegetables.
Even a day trip to Bruny Island is not enough to do justice to this beautiful island.
Southern Lights
When it comes to seeing the Aurora Australis, often known as the Southern Lights, Tasmania is the best spot to go.
It is a sight to see, and it occurs when the sun sends out bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields into space, causing the lights to appear.
As a result of these solar winds, particles that interact with the earth’s magnetic field travel across space. Auroras are produced when particles collide and release energy into the atmosphere.
While the Southern Lights may be seen throughout the year, the best time to observe them in Tasmania is during the winter months.
Mona Museum
You’ll quickly realise that this is a museum that defies all conventions and expectations. In addition, a visit to Mona may both surprise and amuse you.
After entering the museum’s lobby on the main floor, art enthusiasts may descend a spiral staircase to a subterranean gallery, where they can see works such as Sidney Nolan’s Snake, an Egyptian sarcophagus, and a machine that converts food into brown sludge, among other exhibitions. Portable touch screen devices are used to offer comments on the artworks in question.
Pumphouse Point
Staying at Pumphouse Point is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in Tasmania. A hydroelectric power pumping plant was located at Pumphouse Point in the 1940s. Pumphouse Point is an art-deco boutique hotel in Tasmania’s central alpine highlands, and it was built in the 1930s.
Pumphouse Point is a great place to curl up in front of the fire and watch Mother Nature’s spectacular display develop in front of your eyes. Pumphouse Point is the main point of a visit if you wish to learn about the history of Lake St Clair while also experiencing the natural surroundings that the lake is known for..
Port Arthur Historic Site
Make your way to the Port Arthur Historic Site if you want to learn more about Australian history. Built in 1830 as a lumber station and penal colony for British offenders, the site has grown over the years to house more than 3,500 inmates on roughly 250 acres. Today, it is one of 11 locations that make up the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites, and it is open to the public on a daily basis.