Must See Places in Tasmania

When travellers and tourists alike head to the land down under they rarely visit the island state of Tasmania. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly, many people are unaware at the sheer size of Australia itself. It is the size of Europe in its entiriy and very close to the entire of the United States. If you visit for a matter of weeks it can be forgiven not to have time to see Tasmania. Secondly, the likes of Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns that grab the headlines. These are great places without a doubt but Tasmania has so much to offer too and somthing unqiue for that matter. Let me explain:

Tasmania has the incredible combination of scenery and untouched wilderness, white sandy beaches and a culture in bucketloads with capital city Hobart and oldest city in Australia - Launceston. It is also has a deep, dark historical resonance that goes all the way back to the foundation of Australia and beyond as Port Arthur testifies.

There have been some fantastic hubs that give talk about just how great Tasmania is including...

9 Australian Road Trip: Tasmania - Demon's Land

Tasmania: The Natural State

This hub aims to add to the great hubs above and share some personal thoughts and experiences of some must see places in Tasmania.

When visiting Tasmania a must see place is  Hobart, the state's capital city. It is Australia’s second oldest and most southerly city, built around a beautiful harbour and close to majestic Mount Wellington.

There are so many different things you can do in Hobart including visiting the Cascade brewery, climbing Mt Wellington, shopping at Salamanca markets and much much more.

Check out 7 Awesome Things to do in Hobart

Australia's oldest city and Tasmania's 2nd largest city, Launceston can rightfully claim to be Tasmania's cultural hub with exquisite little cafes, interesting museums, tasty restaurants and fantastic old victorian architecture.

Cataract Gorge is one of the most striking features of the Launceston landscape. It is a unique natural formation within a short walk or drive from central Launceston. Here, near vertical cliffs crowd the banks of the South Esk River as it enters the Tamar. The area around the gorge is a wildlife reserve and one of Launceston’s most popular tourist attractions.

Launceston is also on the doorstep of the famous Tamar Valley, one of the most famous winemaking regions of Australia.

Strahan is located on the Macquarie Harbour to the West of Tasmania and was firstly known for one of Australia’s most dreaded penal settlement until Port Arthur was opened in the 1830’s. It then prospered during the west coast mining boom of the late 19^th century, when ore was transported to its port along the Abt Railway from Queenstown. The Abt Wilderness Railway  between Strahan and Queenstown is considered one of the world’s best railway journeys.   

Another must see is the Tasmanian World Heritage Area. Departing from Strahan, a  Gordon River Cruises will take you into the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

To the south of Strahan is the famous Tasmanian wilderness and the famous "wild" rivers of the Gordon and Franklin.

Tasmania has some incredible National parks littered across the island. Lake st Clair and Freycinet are 2 of my personal favourites. Cradle Mountain National Park is the most famous of them all and it is home to one of the best walks on the entire planet. Lonely Planet considered the Overland Trek to be one of the 10 greatest walks on the planet along with Everest Base Camp and the Inca Trail in Machu Pichu. Good company I'm sure you'll agree. If you're not a serious walker there are also tons of day walks that are equally as beautiful and way less difficult.

The scenery, vegetation and wildlife is out of this world.

The impressive Port Arthur Historic Site was created with convict labor during the 1800’s. Its architecture and delightful gardens as well as chilling prison facilities survive today for all to explore.

Port Arthur is located 60 km south east of the state capital, Hobart and was named after lieutenant governor George Arthur. The settlement started as a timber station in 1830, but was soon turned into a penal colony. It is a poignent landmark in Australia's history that you must visit to get a holistic insight into how the nation was conceived.

Ferry

You can get the Spirit of Tasmania from Port Melbourne (on the mainland near Melbourne as the name suggest) to Davenport across the Bass Strait.

Fly

alternatively you can fly into Hobart or Launceston on one of the many low cost carrier such as Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Blue.

Lodging

Tasmania is a tourist trap and does have a number of different options of places to stay up for every touring party, style and budget. Make sure you book Tasmania accommodation early though in holiday season and the summer.