Australia’s only island state, Tasmania lies at the bottom of the country, isolated for thousands of years by the Bass Strait. Its capital, Hobart, lies in the far south, with historic sandstone warehouses lining the waterfront and one of Australia’s most cutting-edge modern art galleries. Feast on locally sourced produce in the innovative restaurants, go shopping at the Salamanca Market and take in the sweeping panoramas from the top of Mount Wellington.
To the south lie the apple growing landscapes of the Huon Valley, dotted with charismatic villages and cider houses, together with the expansive South West Wilderness. Its rugged peaks, dramatic beaches and untouched forests are best explored on the 7-day South Coast Track or by scenic flight into the remote camp at Melaleuca.
The East Coast is home to the breathtaking beaches of the Bay of Fires and world-renowned Wineglass Bay, which is set within beautiful Freycinet National Park. Ride the ferry to the former convict settlement at Maria Island, itself a landscape of staggering beauty, or spend a day exploring the windswept coasts of Bruny Island.
Travel from the former mining settlement of Queenstown along the West Coast Wilderness Railway to scenic Strahan, which lies on the edge of Macquarie Harbour. Boat cruises along the Gordon River take you into the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park where Australia’s conservation movement was born.
In the north of the state lies the beautiful Tamar Valley wine region where Tasmania’s cool climate grapes are grown and the northern hub of Launceston. It’s here that the iconic peak of Cradle Mountain is found, serving as the starting point for the legendary Overland Track.