Australia is a vast country with 6 states, 2 territories, and 8 exciting capital cities to explore. Travelers could spend a year abroad in Australia and still not see all the country offers. So how do you decide where to focus a trip to Australia if you only have a few weeks?
Many people opt for staying on the East Coast in cities like Sydney or Melbourne and driving the Great Ocean Road. However, Tasmania is its own adventure that deserves a spot on any Australian travel itinerary. These are the top reasons to include it on your next trip to the land down under.
8 Lavender Fields and Lavender Ice Cream
Instagram has made Tasmania famous for its beautiful purple lavender fields with photos of couples frolicking through them holding cones of purple, lavender-flavored ice cream. Although it might seem like a trendy thing to do, no trip to Tasmania is complete without a taste of lavender ice cream.
The stunning fields of purple flowers are the perfect reason to visit Tasmania from December to February. This is when the lavender is in full bloom.
7 The Bay of Fires
The Bay of Fires is a natural wonder that is enough to attract travelers to Tasmania with its beauty. The bay is located on the northeast coast of Tasmania and takes around 4 hours to drive from the city of Hobart. The bay has a 50 km coastline that’s perfect for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, or relaxing. The Bay of Fires is named for the fires of Aboriginal people on the beach, which were visible to Captain Tobias Furneaux when he sailed past the area in 1733.
Today, the name is also fitting because of the vibrant orange lichen that covers the rocks along the coastline.
6 Epic Hikes Up Cradle Mountain
Tasmania is for nature lovers; adventurous travelers will thrive here with explorations like summiting Cradle Mountain. Located in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, the Cradle Mountain Summit hike is 12.5 km and takes about 7 hours to complete. It’s a challenging yet rewarding trek with a chance to appreciate the unique alpine vegetation of Tasmania and take in incredible views from the summit.
5 A Chance to See a Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil, previously only found in Tasmania, is the biggest carnivorous marsupial in the world. Marsupials are mammals who are carried in their mother’s pouches after birth. Tasmanian Devils can reach 30 inches long and up to 26 pounds in weight. The creatures are now endangered because of a transmissible facial cancer that passes between them as they bite one another. The disease has killed 80% of the species and has no cure.
When visiting Tasmania, travelers can see these unique animals for themselves in places like the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary rehabilitates injured wildlife or gives the animals a safe place to call home.
4 It’s the Perfect Road Trip Destination
Travelers who love a road trip will thrive in Tasmania. Renting a car for 5-7 days here is a great way to see everything the island offers without backtracking to accommodation in Hobart of Launceston every night. Travelers flying in from mainland Australia will land in Hobart or Launceston, while those taking the ferry over will start their trip from Esplanade in East Devonport.
Any of these destinations is a good starting point for a lap around Tassie, but if you’re tight on time, consider flying into Hobart and taking the ferry back to Melbourne from East Devonport. This route enables you to start your journey on the southeast side of the island and drive north towards the Bay of Fires, Bridestowe Lavender Estate, and then west to Cradle Mountain before departing from the northern coast.
3 Incredible Views at Wineglass Bay
Wineglass Bay is on the eastern coast of Tasmania in Freycinet National Park. It takes approximately 2 hours to walk to Wineglass Bay from the entrance of the national park or there are half-day trekking routes to get from the lookout point over the bay down to the beaches. On the Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay boasts some of the best beaches in Australia.
2 Unspoiled Nature at the National Parks and Reserves
Tasmania is full of national parks and reserves that ensure the incredible wildlife and biodiversity of the island remains protected. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the frequent opportunities to spot and photograph wildlife in Tasmania, including wallabies, seals, eagles, and even penguins. Some must-visit national parks in Tasmania include Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Mount Field National Park, Tasman National Park, and Southwest National Park.
1 It’s Truly a Breath of Fresh Air
Tasmania has the cleanest air in the entire world, specifically on the Northwest Coast of the island. The reason that the air is so clean here is because of how far it travels, untouched by pollution, across the ocean before arriving at these shores. Tasmania is home to the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which measures air quality as a reference point for what pollution levels are in other areas across the globe.