Tasmania Holidays

Holidays in Tasmania enable you to explore Australia’s great wilderness. This magical island is just a short flight or ferry trip from the mainland, but you might as well be entering another world. Here you’ll find beautiful national parks, extraordinary beaches and cosmopolitan cities a relatively short drive from one another.

Start your trip in the state capital of Hobart. This lovely old colonial town is a food and arts hotspot, drawing talent away from Melbourne just across the water. It boasts one of the world’s best galleries in MONA, which hosts a rich programme of cultural festivals throughout the year.

Foodies will delight in Salamanca Market, where talented chefs vie for your attention. You can also visit the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, where you’ll come face to face with the island’s symbol – the legendary Tasmanian Devil.

Tasmania holidays: Australia’s wild island state

Tasmania excels in national parks, making it a great choice for a self-driving holiday. Freycinet National Park, on the eastern coast, is the best known. This is a landscape of pink granite peaks, lush greenery and electric blue seas. The impossibly perfect Wine Glass Bay is the jewel in its crown.

Up in the central highlands you’ll find Cradle Mountain, which offers rugged walking routes and remarkable views. Above Hobart looms Mount Wellington, posing an irresistible challenge to climbers. Round your day off with a trip to the Bay of Fires, where the red and orange rocks capture the setting sun perfectly.

Port Arthur, a former British penal colony, is perfect for a fascinating day trip. It’s a mysterious, long-abandoned place that provides a sobering insight into the harshness of life in 18th and 19th century Australia.

Stunning Bruny Island is another must-visit destination, although it's actually two islands, connected by a sandy isthmus, and boasts some seriously dramatic landscapes.