From top to bottom, Tasmania is awash with avenues for exploration — it’s at times treacherous and mysterious, but that’s only gasoline to an adventurous spark. Stay grounded or reach for the sky, it’s time we investigated the most unforgettable experiences Tasmania has in its treasure chest.
Experience Dark Mofo
Hobart is home to arguably Australia’s most intriguing museum. The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has catapulted Hobart from a sleepy beachside town to a bustling tourist haven. Every year around June, the museum awakens its mysterious son, Dark Mofo. Dark Mofo is a festival like none other, enveloping Tasmania’s capital with a gloomy haze that exhilarates its guests. An exploration of art and music, landmark exhibitions collide with inimitable performances — I’ll let you devise the boundaries of your comfort zone.
Absorb Port Arthur’s paranormal activity
Guns were outlawed in Australia upon a cruel shooting at the covert Port Arthur prison. Prior to that, it was home to hundreds of convicts as Australia began its European evolution. Night falls, and a gloomy mist overcomes the former penal settlement as the spirits of thousands of deceased prisoners rise. Take a ghost tour and get in touch with the darkness that overshadows the ruins. Open everyday bar December 25.
Discover Wineglass Bay
There’s a little crevice, hidden on Tasmania’s eastern coast that confounds eager explorers day after day. The picturesque Wineglass Bay is a natural phenomenon — pink granite mountains rise from the water surface to form a sheltered waterway accommodating a sandy paradise. Whether you hike, swim, kayak or rock climb, let Wineglass Bay take you away.
Hike the Overland Track
Tasmania’s most famous walk, the Overland Track, connects you with the northern and southern reaches of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. More than 9,000 walkers complete the 65km trail each year which takes hikers through all manner of terrains — sheer mountains, alpine plains, wild rivers and temperate rainforest.
Explore Cataract Gorge
Just a 15-minute walk from Launceston’s city centre lies a hidden piece of wilderness capturing the imagination of eager wanderers, young and old. The natural formation is set before a stunning backdrop of sky-reaching cliffs which monster the serene South Esk River. Opportunities lie in romantic picnics, summer swims and a ride down the world’s longest single span chairlift.
Stay on a farm at Brickendon
Tasmania is decorated with rich farmlands driving much of Australia’s beef and dairy industry. The people that drive these luscious grasslands are generous and often open their doors for travellers to stay. Brickendon, just 26km south of Launceston, is one of the island’s most storied farm estates with history dating back to 1824. Stay in a farm cottage and take a stroll through the paddocks or along the Macquarie River, this is a place to unwind and relax.
Scuba dive the east coast
Tasmania’s east coast is a hub for deep water diving, with Bicheno and its Paradise Reef a particular standout. It doesn’t get much attention beneath the diving mecca of the Great Barrier Reef, however, Tasmania is home to more than 45,000 hectares of marine reserve making its water underworld a must-see. From seal sightings to caves and shipwrecks, Tasmania is an underrated diving hotspot.
