Tasmania

No, it’s not its own country (Tasmania is part of Australia) but it is its own world. The isolated island of Tasmania is 250 kilometers across the Bass Strait from the state of Victoria in Mainland Australia. The wild island consists of 68,000 square kilometers (26,000 square miles) of mountain peaks, rainforests, waterfalls, and white sand beaches. Only half a million people live on Tasmania, making it a secluded destination for hiking, camping, and touring. The capital city of Hobart (where about 40% of the population reside) has the island’s main airport and is a great place to start exploring Tasmania. You won’t even need to leave Hobart to check out the scenic summit of Mount Wellington.

Highlights of Tasmania

  • The short walk on the top of Mount Wellington explores two short boardwalks and a trig station at the summit.
  • This 2.2-kilometer walk in the rainforest passes the Upper Cascades on the Liffey River to reach one of Tasmania's finest waterfalls.
  • This 12-kilometer loop in Freycinet National Park visits some of Tasmania's most beautiful beaches.
  • This 1.8 to 2.65-kilometer walk in Mount Field National Park visits one of Tasmania's most famous and beautiful waterfalls.
  • This short walk overlooks a natural bridge in cliffs on the coast of the Tasman Peninsula.
  • This 12 to 14-kilometer bushwalk reaches stunning sea cliffs at the south end of the Tasman Peninsula
  • This 3.4-kilometer loop explores an impressive natural area on the edge of Launceston.

Hikes in Tasmania, Australia

This collection of hiking tracks in Tasmania lists the hikes roughly from north to south. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next trek in Tasmania. A search feature can be used to quickly isolate the track you are looking for. Each hike links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, elevation profiles, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these tracks. Below the table is information on some other activities, camping, and lodging, followed by an interactive map of Tasmania.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Mount William895Mount William
This out and back hike tops a short summit that is the high point of Mount William National Park with panoramic views over the coastline at the northeast corner of Tasmania.
3.6 km
140 meters
-40.90896,
148.207197
Saint Columba Falls905Saint Columba Falls
This out and back hike descends into a rainforest to the base of a powerful 90-meter tall waterfall.
1.2 km
40 meters
-41.321271,
147.926203
Cataract Gorge915Cataract Gorge
This loop combines Zig-Zag Track, Cataract Walk, and Bridge Walk to explore Cataract Gorge Reserve, an impressive natural area just outside the center of Launceston.
3.4 km
80 meters
-41.445923,
147.122482
Liffey Falls925Liffey Falls
This out and back walk in the rainforest passes the Upper Cascades on the Liffey River to reach the base of lovely Liffey Falls, one of Tasmania's finest waterfalls.
2.2 km
70 meters
-41.700153,
146.759189
Apsley Waterhole945Apsley Waterhole & Lookout Track
This loop travels through a eucalyptus forest to a popular swimming hole on the Apsley River in Douglas-Apsley National Park.
1.2 km
30 meters
-41.865414,
148.190469
Friendly Beaches Freycinet950Friendly Beaches
This hike explores a long, pristine beach on the east coast of Tasmania north of the Freycinet Peninsula.
0.1 km
10 meters
-41.992685,
148.285445
Cape Tourville953Cape Tourville
This short circuit provides big views along the east coast of Freycinet Peninsula, circling 100-meter tall bluffs to reach the Cape Tourville Lighthouse.
0.6 km
10 meters
-42.122311,
148.34135
Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit960Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit
This rewarding loop through Freycinet National Park visits pristine light sand beaches at Hazards Beach and the renowned Wineglass Bay.
12 km
220 meters
-42.14581,
148.289189
Moorland Mosaic965Moorland Mosaic
This out-and-back boardwalk in Mount Field National Park crosses an alpine meadow covered with an interesting mix of plants.
0.65 km
20 meters
-42.682995,
146.611678
Russell Falls970Russell Falls & Horseshoe Falls
This hike in Mount Field National Park visits one of Tasmania's most famous and beautiful waterfalls and can be extended from 1.8 to 2.65 kilometers by venturing to the top of Russell Falls and nearby Horseshoe Falls.
1.65 km
80 meters
-42.682073,
146.716127
Pinnacles Boardwalk Mount Wellington978Pinnacles Boardwalk & Summit Trig
The short walk on the top of Mount Wellington explores two short boardwalks and a trig station at the summit.
0.75 km
20 meters
-42.89542,
147.237723
Octopus Tree980Octopus Tree and Circle Track
This loop in Hobart's Wellington Park reaches a unique eucalyptus tree with tentacles for roots that wrap around a boulder.
1.1 km
50 meters
-42.908751,
147.24798
Coal Mines Historic Site985Coal Mines Historic Site
This short loop explores the ruins of an old prison and coal mine that relied on convict laborers.
0.8 km
10 meters
-42.988141,
147.714598
Tasman Blowhole Fossil Bay Lookout990Blowhole & Fossil Bay Lookout
This short walk in Tasman National Park reaches a coastal vista point and a wave-carved tunnel through a rocky point that has the potential to spray up like a whale spout.
0.45 km
10 meters
-43.034392,
147.947942
Tasmans Arch Devils Kitchen991Tasmans Arch & Devils Kitchen
This short walk visits two impressive features on the coast of the Tasman Peninsula, a natural bridge and a chasm carved by the sea.
0.9 km
9 meters
-43.042071,
147.950548
Cape Raoul996Cape Raoul
This bushwalk explores the pristine coastline at the southwest end of the Tasman Peninsula, reaching a cape with daunting 200-meter tall cliffs dropping to swirling seas.
12 - 14 km
240 meters
-43.195255,
147.777145

Scenic Roads in Tasmania, Australia

Forester Kangaroo DriveForester Kangaroo Drive
This 11.25-kilometer scenic dirt road in Mount William National Park offers great wildlife viewing of the area’s Forest kangaroos or Bennetts wallabies.

 

Camping and Lodging in Tasmania, Australia

Big4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday ParkBig4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park
This holiday park in the coastal town of Coles Bay at the top of Freycinet Peninsula offers tent sites, campervan sites, and cabins, as well as quick access to nearby Freycinet National Park.
Launceston Caravan ParkBig4 Launceston Holiday Park
This holiday park in Launceston offers tent sites, campervan sites, and cabins on a hillside near the city center.
Friendly Beaches CampgroundFriendly Beaches Campground
This primitive campground offers oceanfront camping surrounded by beautiful beaches in Freycinet National Park.
Lime Bay State Reserve CampgroundLime Bay State Reserve Campground
This shaded campground is bordered by sandy beaches in a cove on a remote thumb of the Tasman Peninsula.
Mayfield Beach Conservation Area CampgroundMayfield Beach Conservation Area Campground
This beachfront campground is located on Great Oyster Bay on the east coast of Tasmania.
Richardsons Beach CampgroundRichardsons Beach Campground
This scenic bay side campground offers powered and non-powered campsites in Freycinet National Park.
Stumpys Bay CampgroundStumpys Bay Campground
This campground is split into four areas along Stumps Bay with numerous campsite for visitors to Mount William National Park.

 

Transportation in Tasmania, Australia

Britz Venturer CampervanVenturer Campervan
Find out more about the Venturer, an accommodating two-person campervan that can be rented from Britz.

 

View Australian tracks, campgrounds, and lodging in a larger map
Or explore hikes in Australia on the Oceania Hike Finder Map
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Coal Mines Historic Site Convict Precinct Walk Tasman Peninsula Tasmania Australia Hike Penal Colony Tour
If you think being a prisoner at a Tasmanian penal colony sounds bad, add coal mining to that prison sentence and you get something truly awful. Such was the case in the 1830s and 40s when, just after the famous Port Arthur Penal Colony was established, convict laborers were sent to another part of the Tasman Peninsula to work in coal mines (and you can imagine that working conditions in the... Read more.
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Tagged with · Mines · Ocean Views · Ruins · Saltwater River · Tasman Peninsula
Distance: 0.8 kilometers / 0.5 miles · Elevation change: 10 meters / 30 feet
By: Published: Last updated: May 6, 2017
Cape Raoul Track Tasman Peninsula Bushwalk Tasman National Park Stormlea Tasmania Cape Raoul Cliffs Walk
With some of the tallest sea cliffs in Australia, Cape Raoul is a daunting promontory jutting south from the Tasman Peninsula. While it is listed as one of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks, this hike is longer and harder than other tracks on that list at 12 to 14 kilometers (7.45 to 8.7 miles) round trip. The out and back bushwalk follows a track through wild vegetation in Tasman National... Read more.
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Tagged with · Ocean Views · Tasman National Park · Tasman Peninsula · Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks
Distance: 14 kilometers / 8.7 miles · Elevation change: 240 meters / 790 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 2, 2021
Tasmans Arch Devils Kitchen Lookout Tasman Peninsula Walk Tasman National Park Eaglehawk Neck Devil's Kitchen Tasman's Arch Sea Cliffs
The Tasman Peninsula extends into the Tasman Sea in the southeast corner of Tasmania. While the peninsula was once used as a penitentiary, a visit to the peninsula's impressive coastline today will feel like anything but prison. Just south of the narrow isthmus at Eaglehawk Neck, the east coast of the peninsula has several easy-to-reach wonders, including Tasmans Arch and Devils Kitchen (as... Read more.
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Tagged with · Australian National Parks · Eaglehawk Neck · Natural Bridges · Ocean Views · Tasman National Park · Tasman Peninsula
Distance: 0.9 kilometers / 0.55 miles · Elevation change: 5 meters / 15 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 2, 2021
Tasman Blowhole Fossil Bay Lookout Tasman Peninsula Tasman National Park The Blowhole Eaglehawk Neck Doo Town Fossil Bay Walk
The Tasman Peninsula extends into the Tasman Sea in the southeast corner of Tasmania. While the peninsula was once used as a penitentiary, a visit to the peninsula's impressive coastline today will feel like anything but prison. Just south of the narrow isthmus at Eaglehawk Neck, the east coast of the peninsula has several easy-to-reach wonders, including the Blowhole and Fossil Bay Lookout... Read more.
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Tagged with · Australian National Parks · Blowholes · Eaglehawk Neck · Ocean Views · Tasman National Park · Tasman Peninsula
Distance: 0.45 kilometers / 0.3 miles · Elevation change: 10 meters / 30 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 2, 2021
Camping Lime Bay State Reserve Campground Tasmania Australia Lime Bay Campsites Tasman Peninsula
If you're on the lookout for a campground on the Tasmanian coast with grassy plots shaded by eucalyptus trees, don't overlook Lime Bay State Reserve. This off-the-beaten-path campground is located on a remote thumb of the Tasman Peninsula, set in a picturesque bay with light sand beaches framing the campground on both sides. Lime Bay State Reserve Campground Lime Bay State Reserve... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: January 16, 2018