Tasmania Holidays Guide
Beautiful Australia Holidays
For an unforgettable experience of pristine natural wilderness, you can't go past a visit to Tasmania. The heart-shaped island located 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of the mainland is about the size of Scotland. The capital city of Hobart, with the River Derwent at its feet and dramatic Mount Wellington rising above it, is a gracious city full of historical sandstone buildings and quaint settlers cottages. The city's wharf district is abuzz with vibrant dockside restaurants, cafés and the famous Salamanca Markets which are held here every Saturday. North of Hobart, the East Coast region is home to sparkling aqua-blue waters and unspoilt beaches perfect and is renowned for its eco-lodges and abundant local seafood.
Map of Tasmania Australia
Tasmania Highlights
Tasmania has a small population of about 500,000 people, half of which are located in the Hobart and Launceston districts. The remaining areas of the island are largely unpopulated wilderness areas ideal for walking, kayaking and relaxing. Tasmania has a cool temperate climate, with cold winters (June to August) and mild summers (December to February).
The Western Wilderness region is home to one of Tasmania's most popular tourist attractions: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The combination of the rugged mountain ranges surrounding the still blue waters of the lake is breathtaking and there are many walking trails in the region. Or feel like you are on the edge of the world in the wild West Coast region, where you can breath some of the world's most pristine air blown straight from Antarctica. At Kings Run you can enjoy a candle-lit dinner while watching noisy yet lovable Tasmanian Devils (the world's largest marsupial). Tasmania has some of the tallest old-growth forests in the world and tours are readily available to experience these magnificent natural wonders.
Tasmania is also well known for its fresh local produce. Small-scale producers live close to the land and sea and use old-fashioned techniques to produce food and wine of the highest standards. Around the regions you will find hundreds of farm-door outlets and restaurants selling gourmet cheeses, berries, vegetables, beef, honey, mushrooms and hand-made beer.
The main festival in Tasmania is the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in late January each year ranking as one of the world's great ocean racing events. The race ends in Hobart amid much partying and celebrating.
Tasmania Holidays Planner
While Tasmania may be Australia's smallest state, it by no means offers the least. Isolated from the mainland by the Bass Straits, "Tassie" as it is affectionately known, offers spectacular slabs of wilderness and urban life without the pomp and chaos of the mainland's crowded capitals. With an unlimited number of opportunities to explore the region's beautiful landscapes by bush-walking, cycling, rafting or trekking, Tasmania offers a brilliant opportunity to get back to nature in its rawest form.
Take a day to bush-walk or trek areas like Wineglass Bay or Cradle Mountain to gain a full sense of the breathtaking wilderness the Tasmanian landscape has to offer. The craggy terrain of the Bay of Fire with its red splashed rock offers magnificent views of the churning sea and is a great place to go camping or birdwatching. Take a four wheel drive across the island's rugged and heavily forested terrain and explore the native wildlife including the endemic Tasmanian Devil and the Platypus.
Hobart is Tasmania's small but vibrant capital and offers a number of great restaurants and accommodation for travellers. Southeast, places like Huon Valley along the coast are great for walks and trout fishing while Launceston and Tamar Valley are home to unique urban wetland reserves and the Tasman River. To the northeast, enjoy fresh seafood at great seaside towns like Birdport. Devonport is the site of the daily Bass Strait ferry services from the mainland, and is home to the World Heritage listed Mersey Bluff Lighthouse – it is also the best access point to Cradle Mountain Lake National Park.
Tasmania Accommodation Search
The following Tasmania hotels provide some of the best deals for a holiday in Australia – please search below to obtain the best available prices from over 100 booking sources: