10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Tasmania

When most travelers think of Australia, iconic destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Outback usually come to mind. But tucked away just south of the mainland lies one of Australia's greatest treasures--Tasmania, affectionately known by locals as "Tassie."

Australia's smallest state is often overlooked, yet it offers some of the country's most spectacular scenery, fascinating history, abundant wildlife, and exceptional food and wine. It also boasts some of the cleanest air in the world, making it an ideal destination for travelers looking to reconnect with nature.

If you're the kind of traveler who appreciates breathtaking landscapes, fewer crowds, and authentic experiences, Tasmania deserves a place on your travel wish list.
Here are my top 10 reasons to visit.

#1 The Luxury of Space
One of Tasmania's greatest luxuries is something money can't buy--space.

Compared to Australia's larger cities and popular tourist regions, Tasmania remains wonderfully uncrowded. Scenic roads, hiking trails, beaches, and national parks often feel like they're yours alone. For travelers who love discovering destinations before everyone else does, Tassie is the definition of elbowroom.

2. Hobart – Where History Meets Modern Australia
Founded in 1804,  Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital city, where beautifully preserved colonial architecture blends effortlessly with a vibrant waterfront, outstanding restaurants, galleries, and cafés.
The city's convict history remains woven into its streets, particularly around Salamanca Place, where historic sandstone warehouses built by convict labor have been transformed into boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and wine bars.

​Don't Miss:

• Salamanca Market – Every Saturday, more than 300 stalls showcase local produce, artisan crafts, wines, spirits, cheeses, and handmade products.
• MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) – Australia's most provocative museum. Reach it by a scenic ferry ride up the Derwent River or a short drive from the city.
• Kunanyi / Mount Wellington – Just 30 minutes from downtown, the summit offers panoramic views over Hobart, the Derwent River, and beyond.

Salamanca Market, Aerial view Hobart (Photo credit Stuart Gibson), Exhibit MONA

#3: Port Arthur
About 90 minutes from Hobart sits one of Australia's most significant historic sites.

Port Arthur was once one of the British Empire's most notorious penal settlements and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautifully preserved ruins, restored buildings, museums, harbor cruises, and fascinating storytelling bring Australia's convict history to life.

Insider Tip: Stay until evening for one of the famous ghost tours. Even skeptics agree the atmosphere is unforgettable.

#4:  Explore Tasmania's Beautiful Islands
Tasmania includes more than 300 offshore islands, each with its own personality.
Two standouts are:

Bruny Island
Known for dramatic coastal scenery, towering sea cliffs, abundant wildlife, and exceptional local food, Bruny Island is a favorite day trip from Hobart. Wildlife cruises frequently spot dolphins, seals, seabirds, and migrating whales.

Maria Island National Park
Accessible only by ferry—and with no private vehicles allowed—Maria Island feels wonderfully untouched. Wombats freely wander alongside walking trails while kangaroos, Cape Barren geese, and rare birdlife thrive throughout this peaceful wildlife sanctuary.

#5 Extraordinary National Parks
Over 40% of Tasmania is protected in national parks and reserves, making it one of the world's great wilderness destinations.

• Cradle Mountain World Heritage Wilderness – Home to iconic Cradle Mountain and the legendary Overland Track, this UNESCO World Heritage wilderness offers spectacular alpine scenery, pristine lakes, and excellent hiking opportunities for every ability level.
• Freycinet National Park - Perhaps Tasmania's most photographed destination, Freycinet is famous for the brilliant turquoise waters and perfectly curved white sands of Wineglass Bay, one of Australia's most beautiful beaches.
• Bay of Fires: Named for both its orange lichen-covered granite boulders and the Aboriginal campfires once seen along its shoreline, the Bay of Fires offers pristine beaches, secluded coves, and unforgettable coastal walks. The award-winning Bay of Fires Lodge Walk combines luxury accommodations with one of Australia's finest guided hiking experiences.

 
#6 – Exceptional Luxury Lodges
Tasmania has quietly become one of Australia's premier destinations for luxury nature-based accommodations.
A few favorites include:

• Saffire Freycinet – An award-winning luxury lodge overlooking Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards Mountains.
• Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge – Cozy, upscale accommodations surrounded by ancient rainforest just outside the national park.
• Islington Hotel – An elegant boutique hotel housed in a beautifully restored 1847 mansion just minutes from Hobart's waterfront.

#7 World Class Wine
Tasmania's cool climate produces some of Australia's finest wines, particularly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines that rival many from Champagne.
The Tamar Valley Wine Route is considered one of Australia's premier wine regions, offering dozens of boutique cellar doors with spectacular vineyard views.

#8 Award Winning Whiskey, Gin, Beer and Cider
Tasmania's pure water, cool climate, and passionate distillers have earned it an international reputation for exceptional spirits.
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Today you'll find dozens of award-winning whisky distilleries, along with outstanding craft gin and vodka producers.

Beer lovers can sample everything from historic Cascade Brewery, Australia's oldest continuously operating brewery (1824), to innovative microbreweries across the island.
And thanks to Tasmania's thriving apple and pear orchards, locally crafted ciders are every bit as impressive.

Photo credit - Mitch Osborne (Tasmanian Wine), Rob Burnett (Shene Estate and Distillery), Rob Burnett (James Boag Beer), Tasmanian Tourism and Rob Burnett (Freycinet Marine Farm)

#9 A Food Lovers Paradise
Tasmania has become one of Australia's premier culinary destinations.
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Fresh seafood is legendary—oysters, mussels, scallops, abalone, crayfish, Atlantic salmon, trout, and deep-sea fish are often harvested just hours before reaching your plate.

Pair that with artisan cheeses, organic farms, cool-climate wines, award-winning olive oils, seasonal berries, black truffles, and the island's famous Leatherwood honey, and it's easy to understand why food lovers keep returning.

Many restaurants embrace a true farm-to-table philosophy that locals have practiced long before it became fashionable.

#10 – The Wildlife
Tasmania offers some of Australia's best wildlife viewing.

Of course, there's the famous Tasmanian Devil, but you'll also encounter wombats, platypuses, echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos, seals, dolphins, whales (seasonally), and little penguins.

Birdwatchers can look for several species found nowhere else on Earth, including the Green Rosella, Tasmanian Thornbill, Scrubtit, and the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote.

Tasmania isn't a destination you simply check off a list—it's one that stays with you long after you've returned home.

Whether you're hiking through ancient wilderness, enjoying world-class seafood overlooking the ocean, sipping cool-climate wines, or watching wombats graze beside a walking trail, Tasmania offers something increasingly rare in today's world: the opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience Australia at a different pace.

If your idea of travel includes spectacular scenery, authentic experiences, fewer crowds, and room to explore, Tasmania just might become your favorite part of Australia.

Ready for an experience that takes your adventure to a new level?  I'm here to help you.  Call 602-540-7338 or GO HERE to get started.  ​

This article was originally written in July 2020.