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State · Tasmânia
Tasmânia
Tasmania is the island south of the mainland, with Hobart, the history of Port Arthur, the Cradle Mountain ranges and Wineglass Bay in Freycinet.
In the photo: Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Tasmânia
Tasmania is an island and a state, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. It is the coldest and greenest part of Australia, with about one-fifth of the land in the Tasmanian Wilderness area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is the only place where the Tasmanian devil lives free in the wild.
Hobart, the capital, sits between the River Derwent and Mount Wellington (kunanyi), from which you can see the city and the estuary. The stone warehouses at Salamanca Place, the Saturday market, the Battery Point neighborhood and the MONA museum, reached by boat, are the city's attractions. The Cascades Female Factory, a former women's prison, is part of the UNESCO convict sites.
About 95 km from Hobart, Port Arthur preserves the ruins and buildings of the old penal settlement, one of the UNESCO convict sites, as well as the Coal Mines on the same peninsula. Richmond, near the capital, has the 1823 stone bridge, the oldest still in use in Australia.
In the north, Launceston has the Cataract Gorge, a canyon within the city, and nearby are the Brickendon and Woolmers farms, another UNESCO convict site. Cradle Mountain, with Dove Lake and the start of the Overland Track, and Strahan on the west coast, from where boats run up the Gordon River, are in the UNESCO wilderness area.
On the east coast, Coles Bay is the gateway to Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay; Bicheno has little penguins and a granite coastline; and St Helens sits beside the Bay of Fires, with rocks covered in orange lichen. The island is known for oysters, salmon, apples and whiskey.
When to go
The seasons are the same as in Brazil, with temperatures lower than on the mainland. Summer (December to February) is the best time for hikes, the east coast beaches and Cradle Mountain, and the days are long. Autumn (March to May) is usually stable and colorful. In winter it is cold, and the mountains can have snow; longer tracks require preparation.
Getting there
Hobart (HBA) and Launceston (LST) receive flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which are the route for travelers coming from Brazil. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry crosses the Bass Strait, generally at night, from Geelong (near Melbourne) to Devonport, and carries cars. Within the island, driving is the most practical way to travel: Port Arthur is about 95 km from Hobart, Cradle Mountain about 150 km from Launceston and Coles Bay about 190 km from Hobart.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Tasmânia
How many days for Tasmania?
With one week you can do the main circuit: Hobart and Port Arthur, the east coast with Freycinet, Launceston and Cradle Mountain. With 4 or 5 days, choose between the south and the east coast or the north and Cradle Mountain.
Do you need a car in Tasmania?
It's the most practical way: intercity buses are few, and the parks are far from routes. In Tasmania you drive on the left, and inland roads are narrow and winding; avoid driving at dusk when animals cross the road.
How to see Wineglass Bay?
The bay lookout is on an uphill track from the Freycinet Park car park, near Coles Bay. Those with more fitness descend to the beach. There are also boat tours and scenic flights that depart from Coles Bay.
Can you do a day trip from Hobart to Port Arthur?
Yes. Port Arthur is about an hour and a half by car from Hobart, and there are day tours that depart from the capital. The ticket usually includes the guided tour and the boat across the bay.
Where to see the Tasmanian devil?
In the wild it is shy and more active at night, so the most common way to see it is in the island's wildlife sanctuaries, some near Cradle Mountain and Hobart, which work on protecting the species.