Tasmania — Where to Go
Top Things to See
Hobart
Explore Hobart, with its strong links to the sea. You can discover the island's history at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania (www.maritimetas.org), the convict-era buildings of Battery Point and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (www.tmag.tas.gov.au).
Mt Wellington
Take in the views from Mt Wellington, towering 1,270m (4,170ft) to the west of Hobart, and the city's backdrop. From the lookout, the clear air offers a spectacular view of Hobart, its suburbs, the Derwent Estuary and Storm Bay.
Tasman Peninsula
Observe the Blowhole and Tasmans Arch among spectacular coastal scenery on the Tasman Peninsula. There are terrific views from Eaglehawk Neck over Pirates Bay and beyond. You can also visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park (www.tasmaniandevilpark.com).
Port Arthur
See Australia's most significant convict settlement, the Port Arthur Historic Site (www.portarthur.com.au), created with convict labor. Impressive architecture and delightful gardens belie the chilling historical prison facilities. About 12,500 convicts did brutal time here in the late 19th century.
Cataract Gorge
Walk along a rushing river and stare into the Cataract Gorge (www.launcestoncataractgorge.com.au), with its impressive basalt cliffs, which almost reaches into the middle of Launceston, and is surrounded by bushland.
Targa Tasmania
This international motorsport festival is a six-day annual racing event covering 2,000km (1,240 miles) of tarmac roads across the whole of Tasmania. With official spectator points enabling visitors to see touring, sports and GT cars, the competition has grown in popularity since it started in 1992 (www.targa.com.au).
Tasmanian art
Study original Tasmanian and Aboriginal art at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (www.qvmag.tas.gov.au), located at Inveresk and Royal Park in Launceston. The Royal Park branch also has an excellent Chinese joss house.
Cradle Mountain
Gasp at Tasmania's dramatic mountain peak, situated in Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park, famous for the Overland Track walk, and also bursting with natural wonders such as rainforest, alpine heathlands, glacial lakes and ancient pines.
Freycinet National Park
Step into Freycinet National Park on Tasmania's east coast and enjoy coastal heaths, wildflowers and the highlight: the long curve of picture-perfect Wineglass Bay with its pure white sands, fringed by peaks and bushland.
Russell Falls
Watch the cascading of 45m- (148ft-) high Russell Falls, a pretty display of nature in the Mount Field National Park, and contender for most-photographed waterfall in Australia.
Top Things to Do
Sailing
Sail into Tasmanian bliss on a boat or sailing cruise. It's a popular way to explore the port cities of Launceston and Hobart, and outlying islands. You can explore the southwest Tasmanian coast from Strahan on the west coast.
Wildlife
Go snap-happy taking photos of wildlife. Tasmania's national parks (www.parks.tas.gov.au) are home to a rich variety of animals, many of them unique to the island. They include wombats, platypus, wallabies, fairy penguins and the Tasmanian devil, a small, black, dog-like marsupial.
Tasmanian devil sanctuary
Visit Devils @ Cradle Tasmanian devil sanctuary (www.devilsatcradle.com) at the edge of Cradle Mountain. The panoramic mountain scenery plus day and night feeding tours of Tasmanian devils in their natural habitat highlight the environmental wonders of this World Heritage site.
Tahune AirWalk
Walk the Tahune AirWalk (http://adventureforests.com.au), offering a suspended 37m- (121ft-) high walkway above spectacular forest canopies. It is part of the Huon Trail which includes the Hastings thermal pool, caves and sheltered bays of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Alternatively, the Hollybank Treetops Adventure involves cable ‘flights' above Hollybank Forest Reserve.
Skiing
Hit the pistes at Ben Lomond, Tasmania's main ski resort (www.skibenlomond.com.au). Base yourself at the Creek Inn - Tasmania's highest pub. Alpine wildflowers run rampant in spring and summer when bushwalking becomes the main activity.
Walls of Jerusalem National Park
Experience utter wilderness in The Walls of Jerusalem National Park: the perfect environment for lots of hiking, but be warned, the treks are not for novices.
