Discover The Top Outdoor Attractions In Tasmania

Our Suggested List Of Things To Do In Tasmania

When planning our time in Tasmania, we were very fortunate to have friends who live in Hobart to help us create an ideal itinerary.

We planned five days to be on the island, not realizing that it is much larger than we thought and we would actually only be able to cover the south east coast. But this area is full of breathtaking views, rugged coastline and some very interesting historical sights. 

Due to our Tassie friend’s guidance, we were able to cover many of the best outdoor attractions in Tasmania and will share our favourites in the article below.

What Are The Must Sees In Tasmania?

Capital City of Hobart

The downtown area is very quaint. You can walk along the Hobart waterfront and see the boats in the harbour. Many of the old warehouses have been converted into galleries and shops, so the city has a lot of character.

There is the Salamanca Market and several different museums to visit.

And of course, the food is wonderful. Many small restaurants that offer fresh seafood and fish becomes a perfect feast when paired with the superb Tasmanian wine.

Kunanyi – Mount Wellington

Rising majestically above Hobart is Mount Wellington. The Indigenous name is Kunanyi, which is how it is rightfully referred to now.

There is a winding road that you can drive, first through temperate rainforest areas and then a more sparse landscape due to the harsher conditions on the mountain’s slopes. 

Once you drive 1.2 kms up, you can walk out to the Pinnacle Observation Boardwalk. From here, you can check out the incredible views of the city and the surrounding areas below. It was super windy on the day we visited, so we saw everything from inside the lovely glassed-in observation shelter. 

Be sure to bring a sweater or coat since the wind up here can be very strong. In fact, the highest ever recorded wind gust in Tasmania was recorded on the mountain at 174km per hour! Thankfully, that isn’t the case every day, but it can be upwards of 10 degrees cooler at the top than in the city below. 

✅ Need some transportation to get you to Mount Wellington? This tour option provides a comfortable coach with a helpful guide/driver to safely navigate the road to the summit.

Mount Field National Park

One of Tasmania’s oldest parks, located 1 1/2 hours from Hobart, is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is quite large at 162 square kilometres and has a wide variety of plant species. You do require a park pass to gain entrance. 

There are two areas that can be visited. The first is located near Lake Dobson and has long trail walks, and skiing is available.

The area we visited was near the park entrance and visitor centre. From here, there are many available shorter walks and BBQ picnic areas where we enjoyed a fabulous “barbie” lunch after our walks.

There is also some unique wildlife in the park, such as wallabies, wombats, echidnas and various birds. We saw a wallaby having his lunch, as we enjoyed ours!

Russell Falls

This walk is considered one of the Great Short Walks that is part of a series of walks in Tasmania. It is approximately 1.4 kms if you do a return loop. And it is on a level grade for most of the trek if you go in and out the same way, or it has some inclines and steps if you make the loop.

It is a lovely walk through rainforested areas with loads of tall trees, large ferns and tons of greenery on both sides of the path.

The cascading waterfall is stunning and doesn’t require any effort to view since it is right at the path’s edge. It is a very peaceful spot.

If you continue on the loop and take the steps up, you can view the waterfall from the top and have a great view of the surrounding area.

Tall Trees

Another Great Short Walk is known as the Tall Trees. Again, it is a loop of 1km where you walk through the enormous gum trees (eucalyptus) that grow in this area. It is amazing to gaze up at the trees, where many times you can’t even see the tops.

The trees have lived for hundreds of years, and some have reached upwards of 100m tall.

At one point on the walk, there is a clinometer, an instrument used to measure the height of the trees. This is an awesome short walk that we recommend doing. How often do you get to walk amongst giant trees and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the forest?

✅ This is a perfect small group tour that gives you the opportunity to experience the beauty of Mount Field and its beauty with a knowledgeable guide. It makes things simple with transportation from Hobart.

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Tasman Peninsula

If you enjoy seeing unspoiled scenery, then plan to take a boat ride along the coast of the Tasman Peninsula. This area is truly spectacular, with the highest sea cliffs in all of Australia. 

We chose a professional tour company that has been in the business for many years. They offer the option of taking the cruise directly from Port Arthur, or if you don’t have transportation, you can arrange to be picked up from Hobart. We were driving further up the coast from this area, so we drove and started from the office where we checked in and picked up our warm suits.

The boats hold approximately 40 people and are covered at the back which was important given the wind and spray while on the boat. And the water can be very choppy so be sure to take some motion sickness meds with you. They do offer everyone on the boat a ginger tablet, but I typically need more than that to feel comfortable.

The ride takes you from Port Arthur to Eaglehawk Neck. As you hug the coastline, you will be in awe of the rugged rock formations, caves, waterfalls and graceful archways created by the wind and sea. The entire time, the captain provides a running commentary of the locations that you are viewing.

This area was similar to the coastline along the Great Ocean Road, but seemed far more wild and rugged – more like the basalt columns of Iceland. It was gorgeous to see.

We also saw many birds and seals playing in the water, and a humpback whale in the distance. But as we were starting to make our way back to shore, a radio call came through that another captain had spotted a pod of orcas.

Our boat made a turnaround, and all of a sudden, we spent an amazing time viewing the pod that circled us while they moved gracefully through the water. It was incredible, and even the crew was excited! What a morning we had seeing stunning scenery and wildlife. 

✅ We loved this tour that we took. The boats were in excellent condition, we felt safe, the crew were awesome and the experience was a highlight of our trip in Tasmania.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Listed as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tasmania, this historical site is a large complex (over 40 acres) where you can see the remains of the penitentiary and supporting buildings that existed here in the 1800s.

The housing held convicts who worked in the shipbuilding yard. The facility was closed in 1877, and unfortunately, the building succumbed to a devastating fire. From that time, many of the bricks were stolen or sold, so the site is now just a framework of its original form.

It is fascinating to walk around the site and see the other buildings such as the court, library, post office, church and administrative buildings. 

The grounds are beautiful and provide a peaceful place to wander and enjoy gardens and green space. Included in the standard ticket is also a short cruise out into the harbour and around Isle of the Dead.

Unfortunately, the Port Arthur Historic Site is also the location of a horrible tragedy that took place in 1996. An armed man took the lives of 35 people, including visitors and some of the staff of the site.

It was a shock to all and resulted in the tightening of Australia’s gun laws. Here you can visit a lovely memorial reflection pool that has been constructed in remembrance of the lives lost.

✅ If you don’t have a vehicle, this is a highly rated tour that picks up from Hobart and covers the Port Arthur Historic Site with a guided tour, a stop in Richmond, some beautiful viewpoints and a chance to visit a chocolate foundry.

Freycinet National Park

This is another large park of 169 square kilometres and is very popular for its wonderful scenery. There are many designated walks but also other activities such as fishing, camping, swimming, kayaking and birdwatching. All of this in and amongst some spectacular landscapes with the majestic Hazards Mountains as the backdrop.

Remember, a park pass is required to enter this National Park.

Wineglass Bay

Likely the most popular walk in the park is to Wineglass Bay Lookout. This walk was a little more challenging as it is quite steep but there are places along the way where you can stop and take a breather. While it is only 1.3 kms each way, it has a lot of steps. But once you reach the top, the views are 100% worth it.

Trekking through the beautiful wooded areas and massive boulders makes for wonderful surroundings. As you proceed higher and higher, you are afforded peeks of the pretty blue water down below.

Of course, the viewpoint from the lookout is wonderful, with a couple of different levels of boardwalks available for seeing the stunning bay with its crystal-clear waters and sandy beach tucked inside.

There is also a walk down to the beach, but it is more difficult and requires climbing approximately 1000 steps. We decided that seeing the beach from above was more than enough for us. The day we went, the weather was perfect and gave us yet another look at Tasmania’s beauty.

Cape Tourville

If uphill climbs are not your thing, you can still enjoy the scenery in this park by taking the short walk to Cape Tourville. This is a short loop of only 600m and is quite flat and even. 

The boardwalk has been created to allow terrific views right at the cliff’s edge, where, from 100m above sea level, you can see the rugged coastline and a trail of rocks known as The Nuggets.

We enjoyed seeing the lighthouse in its prominent location and reading the signs posted along the walk providing facts about the geology, wildlife and vegetation of the area. This is a quick walk but worth taking for the coastal viewpoints.

✅ This is a perfect small group tour that takes you to Freycinet National Park from Hobart so you can see the amazing Wineglass Bay and Cape Tourville. You also stop for lunch at Devils Corner which is the same place we enjoyed.

Richmond Village

This quaint little village is worth a stop. Right in the heart of the Coal River Valley, this village has historic buildings that have been converted into boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. You can sit and have a leisurely lunch with a glass of wine, enjoy a treat from the bakery or indulge in some awesome ice cream.

It is a nice location to walk around, or you can see some of the sites, including the Richmond Gaol, the Hobart model village and the pretty bridge that dates to the early 1820s and was built by convicts.

Wineries

When you have finished exploring Richmond Village, also in the area is the famous wine region of the Coal River Valley. Tasmania has numerous wine regions, but this is the most recognized, with more than 30 wineries (and it’s easily accessible from Hobart). Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are all popular varietals in this area.

We also explored a little bit of the East Coast wine region. This one is a little smaller, with more than a dozen wineries open to the public, but it also has some wonderful scenery all along the coast and throughout the hills inland.

Here you can enjoy Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling, similar to our cool climate winery region of Niagara. There is a nice wine trail mapped out in the area or you could take a day tour too. We enjoyed lunch at the beautiful Devil’s Corner estate.

✅ Let an expert safely guide you through the wine regions. This is a great day tour from Hobart that will give you an excellent experience at a variety of wineries. And you can sip without worrying about driving.

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

We are including this on our list since the Museum of Old and New Art has a wonderful location, which can be reached by ferry ride. It is a very unique building built within a vineyard. The spot is host to many indoor and outdoor art and music events and offers loads of food and drink options.

The grounds offer many spots for lounging on bean bag seats and just on the grass to enjoy a relaxed afternoon.

But make sure to also visit the museum. It has the most unusual collection of art and artifacts on display. Even the setup of the different levels, the interior materials of the structure and the lighting are all completely different from your average art museum.

It houses an eclectic mix of art, some of which has sparked criticism from the public, so go with an open mind and enjoy it.

FAQs

How Many Days In Tasmania Is Enough?

We spent five full days, and that wasn’t nearly enough. It allowed us to explore the southeastern part of the island and some highlights in Hobart.  You probably need 7-10 days to adequately see the island.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Tasmania?

We visited in the off season in mid-November, which is their Spring. We had some lovely weather and also quite a few cool days. But this certainly didn’t stop us from doing anything. You just need to be prepared with some warmer clothing if you are spending time doing outdoor activities.

If you are looking for warmer weather, then plan to visit from December through March. But keep in mind it is a temperate climate and doesn’t typically get much above 23 degrees celsius even in the middle of summer.

Where To Stay In Tasmania

Giving yourself a base in Hobart is a good start. This gives you the ability to visit many locations on day trips. For a property with a perfect location and full services oniste, then look at The Tasman, A Luxury Collection. Or for a comfortable stay surrounded by incredible Australian artwork, check out The Henry Jones Art Hotel, also located at the waterfront.

Then you could plan to stay on the East Coast to explore that area like we did. There are a variety of types of accommodations available. If you are looking for a holiday home consider Dock of the Bay with a perfect location for exploring the area or for a resort location look at Edge of the Bay that has water views, easy beach access and an excellent onsite restaurant.

The Final Word….Discovering Outdoor Attractions In Tasmania

If you are a nature lover, then the island state of Tasmania should certainly be put on your itinerary when visiting Australia. We found the island to have some of the most beautiful scenery we saw on our whole trip. And we loved that the government has created fantastic trail systems similar to the walk to Coogee, Blue Mountains and Kings Canyon, which make it easy to explore the natural beauty that exists here. 

There is a wide range of activities and things to see, including national parks, historical sights, world-renowned wineries and cultural locations. This is a spot that we could certainly go back to since there is so much more to see. Be sure to include it on your list.