1 Oct 2021
Updated April 2023
The secret has been out for years: Tasmania is amazing.
Home to frontier wilderness, incredible food and delicious wine, now is the ideal time to make your way to Australia’s Apple Isle.
Check out 6 reasons to book a Tasmanian getaway today!
Table of contents
Hike Cradle Mountain
Discover Tasmania's Whiskey Trail
Mountain Bike Tasmania
The Oldest Beer in Australia
Delicious Tasmanian Cheese
Hike Cradle Mountain
As the jewel in the crown of Tasmania’s many natural wonders, the majestic Lake St Clair National Park hits its peak (quite literally) at Cradle Mountain.
Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which spans over 1 million hectares, Cradle Mountain in Lake St Clair National Park is one of the world’s last remaining reserves of temperate rainforest.
Home to the world famous Overland Track, this is Australia’s premier alpine walk, beginning at the mountain and ending at what is Australia’s deepest lake, Lake St. Clair.
At 65km long, this multi-day walk will take you over glacier-carved valleys, through ancient rainforests, fragrant eucalyptus fields and stunning alpine meadows.
Tasmania’s highest peak, Mount Ossa (1617m) is a popular side trip that includes cascading waterfalls and a challenging summit.
Discover Tasmania’s Whisky Trail
The state with no whiskey!
Credit: Drink Tasmaina, Broadsheet Media, Lark Distillery
For a frankly shocking 150 years, the lawmakers of Tasmania maintained a total fire ban when it came to the distillation of alcoholic spirits.
This meant that until 1991, despite the abundance of pure Tasmanian water and fresh Tasmanian air, no locally-produced gin, no vodka, and most importantly, no whisky was being made on the Apple Isle!
It took a very sensible man by the name of Bill Lark, founder of the eponymous Lark Distillery, until the early 1990s to question such a silly law. 'How could this be true?' he must've thought to himself (probably while quaffing an inferior drink), 'surely Tasmania is the perfect place to mix it with the best?'
Clearly he was onto something because since then the industry has grown to include 22 whisky distilleries in Tasmania, many of which are knocking off serious competition at international award shows.
Thankfully, Drink Tasmania offers fully guided Premium Whisky Tours. These are a full day tour that takes in three southern distilleries and includes tastings of up to a dozen different pours.
Don't miss the opportunity to go behind the scenes and watch the distillers in their natural environment. A must-do for drinkers and foodies alike.
Tasmania is a Mountain Biker's Paradise
The hype is real. Tasmania’s exploding reputation as one of Australia’s peak MTB destinations is well earned, and two parks sum it up: Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails and Maydena Bike Park.
Blue Derby MTB Park
Credit: Blue DerbyThis is the creme da la creme of mountain biking in Australia.
Offering unparalleled natural beauty and genius trails designed by Glen Jacob and Word Trail, this park surprises and delights everyone who visits.
Whatever the secret sauce is, Blue Derby is a gift from the MTB gods. Situated in the north-eastern corner of Tasmania, there are 24 trails to ride from 'green' to 'double black.'
The Atlas and Blue Tier trails are crowd favourites, charming riders with views to the coast, trickling streams and boulder roller coasters. No matter your level, this park might change your life.
Maydena Bike Park
Credit: Maydena Bike Park
Gravity-fed and gravity-led, this park has upped the ante on Tasmania's exploding MTB scene.
Developed by local legends Dirt Art, more than 70 individual trails make Maydena a must-ride for anyone who loves getting dirty. From family-friendly scenic rides, wilderness cruises and epic pro-trails, every one of them makes the most of Maydena's unique rainforest location and includes spoonfuls of vertical elevation.
Serviced by a fleet of minibuses to get you and your bike back to the summit fast, there's no reason you can't go all day here!
Drink in Tasmania's Best Breweries
Tasmanians have some of the best beer in Australia running through their veins! Proud of their fresh air and even fresher water, a great place to start is in Hobart, where Tassie brewing began!
Cascade Brewery
Credit: Dining Tas
Cascade Brewery's 19th century heritage in South Hobart should satisfy history lovers, with views of the spectacular Mount Wellington the icing on the cake. The brewery tour of this historical building ends with a tasting of their range of internationally awarded beers, including a healthy sampling of their Cascade Pale Ale - the oldest continuously brewed beer in Australia!
James Boags
Credit: Trip Advisor - James Boags Brewery Based in Launceston, in the northeast of Tasmania, James Boag's is arguably Tasmania's most famous brewery. Producing premium beer since 1881, a visit here lets you examine every step of the beer-making process here on a 90-minute brewery tour.
Be prepared to learn about the brewery's fascinating history while soaking in the delicious smell of Tasmanian hops!
Lounge around in Tamar Valley's Best Wineries
Oozing with charm, Launceston is one of Australia’s oldest cities, and even better, is just down the road from the Tamar Valley, home to some of Australia’s best cool-climate wineries.
A combination of great produce, cool climate wine and natural attractions, the Tamar Valley stretches 60kms north-west from Launceston to the coast.
A gloriously fertile valley full of high-yielding vineyards, the Valley is famous for its chardonnays, sparklings, pinot noirs and aromatic whites. The Tamar River feeds the vineyards of the region all the way from Launceston to the white, sandy beaches of Bass Strait, making it the perfect road trip or romantic weekend away!
Eat all the Tasmanian Cheese
Tasmania’s cool climate, fertile land and hardworking artisans combine to create gorgeously creamy cheeses that are uniquely Tasmanian. Better still, many are within easy reach of Devonport, where the Spirit of Tasmania disembarks, and the capital Hobart if you're flying in.
Coal River Farm
Credit: Coal River Farm
Close to the capital, Coal River Farm is the creation of Daniel and Melanie Leesong, who gave up corporate jobs to pursue their passion for cheese! Visitors here can see firsthand the results of their collaboration, growing fresh produce and making cheese and chocolate of the highest order.
Ashgrove Cheese
Credit: Ashgrove Cheese Another bunch of cheesemakers just 25 minutes east of Devonport, the Ashgrove Cheese factory and Tasmanian Farm Store are open to the public all year-round, offering a range of deliciously creamy farm-fresh cheeses, ice-creams, bottled milks, cream and butter!
