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Wineglass Bay from the lookout, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania

No. 20 25 Great Islands to Visit 2026

Tasmania

Tasmania, Australia

Wilderness mountains, wild coasts, convict history and fine food at the bottom of Australia.

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Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Tasmania, an island state about 240 km south of mainland Australia, has a large share of its land protected as national parks. The Tasmanian Wilderness is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hobart, the capital, has a harbour, the MONA art museum and a weekly market. Around the island are white beaches, mountains and historic convict sites.

Crested Tern Tasmania ()
Crested Tern Tasmania (). Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Rooke Street, Devonport, Tasmania
Rooke Street, Devonport, Tasmania. Photo: Steven Penton, CC BY 2.0, source
Pterodroma mollis light morph - SE Tasmania
Pterodroma mollis light morph - SE Tasmania. Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

December to March is warmest, ideal for walking. Autumn (April to May) brings colourful foliage; winter is cold, with snow in the mountains.

Highlights

  • 1

    Cradle Mountain

    Lakes and peaks in Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.

  • 2

    Freycinet National Park

    Wineglass Bay and pink granite peaks on the east coast.

  • 3

    Port Arthur Historic Site

    A former convict settlement, part of a UNESCO-listed group.

  • 4

    Hobart and MONA

    The waterfront, Salamanca Market and the Museum of Old and New Art.

  • 5

    Bay of Fires

    White beaches and orange-lichen rocks in the north-east.

Getting there

Hobart and Launceston airports have flights from mainland cities. The Spirit of Tasmania car ferry crosses Bass Strait from Geelong to Devonport overnight.

Practical tips

Opening & tickets
Opening times, ticket rules and transport timetables change, so check official information before you go.
Time needed
A week or more.

Official information: Discover Tasmania (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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