Tasmania attractions

The magnificent Cataract Gorge, a river gorge on the South Esk River right at the edge of Launceston, offers a wealth of outdoor recreation that feels a world away from the city. The reserve is home to the First Basin outdoor swimming pool, the world’s longest single-span chairlift, and a Victorian-era landscaped garden.

Along the banks of the River Derwent, just south of downtown Hobart, Battery Point is one of the city’s oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods. Named after the battery of guns that once guarded its coastline; Battery Point still feels like a 19th-century fishing village, lined with weatherboard houses, cute cottages, and cozy cafés.

With a legacy dating back to 1824, Cascade Brewery is Australia’s oldest continually operating brewery, founded by English settler Peter Degraves. The historic brewery, set in Hobart at the foot of Mount Wellington, welcomes guests to its brewhouse and restaurant, and offers tours and tastings.

Just north of downtown Hobart, the hilly bushlands of Queens Domain stretch along the banks of the Derwent River. City dwellers head here to escape the urban bustle and enjoy recreational activities, which take place in the many parks, sporting complexes, and walking trails.

Nicknamed ‘The Trench’ for its cramped cells and dimly lit tunnels; Hobart Convict Penitentiary is among Hobart’s most notorious convict sites. Built in the 1830s, more than 50,000 male convicts served time at the complex, and a visit to the forner prisons provides a grim insight into Tasmania’s dark past.

Stretching across the northeastern coast of Tasmania from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point, the Bay of Fires is known for its orange-hued granite and white-sand beaches. Here, you can go hiking, camping, boating, birdwatching, fishing, swimming, and surfing.

Covering much of the southern shores of Bruny Island. South Bruny National Park is a favorite spot for hikers, birdwatchers, and surfers. Located less than an hour's drive from Hobart, the park’s natural landscapes are wild and diverse—rocky coves and deserted beaches line the coast, while dense forests, wildflower fields, and gurgling creeks lie inland.

Established in 1821 during Australia’s period of colonization, Sarah Island was used as a penal settlement where convicts were sent and forced to do the harsh labor of felling Huon pine used for shipbuilding. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, the island is Australia’s oldest penal colony and the most isolated.

Devils @ Cradle is a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the preservation of Tasmanian devils (though they also have a large number of quolls and other local creatures). See Tasmanian devils up close and personal, and learn about these mysterious marsupials and the current threats to their survival with ranger-led talks and tours.

As its name suggests, the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo in southeastern Tasmania isn’t a traditional zoo—it’s an experimental sanctuary that aims to provide the resident animals (and visitors) with the most natural wildlife experiences as possible. Here, you can interact with Tasmanian devils and other animals as they roam unrestricted, free from the pens, cages, and other barriers found at typical zoos.

This remote stretch of waterway is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and boasts approximately 117 miles (188 kilometers of the unobstructed river completely devoid of inhabitants and civilizations. Cruise along the Gordon River for a peaceful glimpse of the banks of one of the last temperate rainforests in the world.

Get a lesson in history with a visit to Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), established in 1843 by the Royal Society of Tasmania. The collection at Australia’s second-oldest museum includes archaeological and colonial relics, Aboriginal artifacts, old photographs, ephemera, and fine examples of colonial decorative arts.

Used by fishing boats and private yachts alike, Constitution Dock is best known as the finishing point for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which takes place in the week leading up to New Year’s. However, it's a vibrant spot to visit throughout the year, offering good photo opportunities and lots of great spots to grab seafood.

Among the most recognizable features of the Hobart skyline, the massive Tasman Bridge spans almost a mile (1.4 kilometers) from north of the Central Business District out into the suburbs. The bridge drew international news attention in 1975, when a bulk carrier collided into it and then sank, in what was dubbed the Tasman Bridge Disaster.

As an island state, Tasmania’s history is inextricably bound to the water, and the Maritime Museum of Tasmania dives deep into this heritage. Its collections explore how the sea has impacted the populations who have lived here throughout history, from Aboriginal peoples to European whalers to modern-day residents.

High above the forest and Huon River, visitors walk across the Tahune Forest AirWalk, a metal platform suspended in the air. The wind rustles the treetops, and birds chirp around this canopy walkway in the Huon Valley. The Huon and Picton Rivers meet below, and trails and suspension bridges create walking circuits.

Follow the journey of pioneer Dr. Douglas Mawson and the Australian Antarctic Expedition, which set sail from Hobart in 1911, at the Mawson's Huts Replica Museum. The museum recreates the huts that’s Mawson and his team lived in during their 2-year adventure and offers insight into life in Antarctica.

Bordering the Derwent River just east of downtown Hobart, the historic docklands of Sullivan’s Cove were the site of the original British settlement in Tasmania. Boats from around the globe still dock at the bustling port and the waterfront district offers a cluster of attractions to tempt visitors to the riverside.

In the heart of the historic town of Richmond, Tasmania, the Richmond Gaol provides plenty of insight into what life was like for imprisoned people in the 19th century. Features include a model jail, a flogging yard, solitary confinement, punishment cells, and even a cookhouse with an old-fashioned oven.

Reaching depths of 560 feet (170 meters, Lake St. Clair is the deepest lake in Australia and one of the most beautiful. Set at an elevation of 2,400 feet (732 meters, this cobalt lake and its forest-lined shores are part of Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park.

Among central Hobart's most recognizable buildings, St. David's Cathedral is a towering Anglican church. It was built in 1868 on a site where previous churches stood (and were subsequently destroyed by windstorms). The church’s neo-Gothic architecture and large organ are among its major draws.

Rising from the coastline of western Tasmania like soft, shapeshifting mountains, the Henty Dunes comprise a series of wind-sculpted pinnacles with sweeping views of the shoreline. The dunes extend for some 9 miles (15 km along the coast, and the tallest reach heights of nearly 100 feet (30 meters.

Founded in 1960 by Italian immigrant Claudio Alcorso, Moorilla was among the first wineries to be established on the island of Tasmania. It was acquired in 1995 by gambler and art collector David Walsh, best known as the founder of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), which sits on the same property north of Hobart.

Extending between Richmond and Port Arthur, the Convict Trail traces the history of Australia— which was initially founded as a convict settlement—back to its origin. Learn about how convicts developed the country’s infrastructure as you pass some of the tallest and most-scenic sea cliffs on the planet.

With more than 150 species from Australia and beyond, Wing's Wildlife Park is a great place to see wildlife up close. Here, you can learn about meerkats, watch Tasmanian devils devour their lunches, feed fish—or wombats—and go on a personalized guided tour led by a ranger.

An illuminated world of stalactites, rippling rock formations, and glittering crystals is waiting in Gunns Plains Caves in northwest Tasmania. Trickling underground streams, detailed rock sculptures, and the blue light of glow worms pay testament to how strangely incredible nature can be.

Sweeping views of vineyards beyond a gentle lake pair perfectly with the fine wine and dining at the estate of Josef Chromy Wines on the southeast outskirts of Launceston. This cool climate Tasmanian vineyard has one foot in the past and one in the future; high-tech winemaking served out of an original 1880s homestead.

Launceston City Park, a historic patch of green in the town’s heart, was developed by the local horticultural society in the 1820s. Today, the gardens are a tranquil oasis of European and native trees, with a duck pond, Victorian fountain, conservatory, playground, bandstand, and a Japanese macaque enclosure gifted from Japan.

The River Leven has spent a long time carving through the wilderness of north Tasmania to create Leven Canyon. Viewing platforms let you look down into this deep river canyon and out over the untouched forest that blankets the surrounding hills. As remote as Leven Canyon may feel, it’s surprisingly easy to get to.

Go back in time with a ride along one of the final remaining sections of the railway in Tasmania with a trip on the Don River Railway. This half-hour voyage takes you to Coles Beach and back, passing through lovely sections of wilderness along the way.