Tasmania has many great travel experiences for all families! On this island, food, art and wine now feature as much as renowned wilderness and compelling heritage. Outdoor fun is still in store, though, as you can go rock climbing or ziplining, or book one of many memorable wildlife cruises.
Planning a Tasmania family holiday this year? Hop over to the Apple Isle and get started on this fantastic to-do list.
1. Three Capes, South-East
Hiking through pristine wilderness is one of Tasmania’s biggest drawcards, and a great opportunity for family bonding. One of the best treks is the four-day, three-night Three Capes Track, which begins and ends at Port Arthur. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service track covers 48km of the state’s south-east, taking in eucalypt forests, coastal heaths and Australia’s highest sea cliffs. Overnight stays are in environmentally sensitive cabins equipped with shared dining facilities.
Rising 300m from the ocean. Cape Pillar is an extraordinary site offering a breathtaking coastal Dolerite sight – the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. While they can be viewed from the blade and chasm lookouts, these take a few days walk. If travelling with kids, consider one of the Tasman Island Cruises which sails there regularly. You are also likely to spot a albatross, dolphins and seals along the way.
2. Tasmazia and the village of Lower Crackpot, North-West
In the wonderfully named town of Promised Land, en route to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania’s north- west, Tasmazia is home to a colourful model village and eight mazes. Explore the town of Lower Crackpot, where each building has a Tasmanian story, or find the embassy of your forebears in Embassy Gardens, where more than 40 countries are represented. There’s also a lavender farm, a gift shop selling Tasmanian honey and souvenirs, and a café known for its delectable pancakes.
3. Penny Royal Adventures, Launceston
Go rock climbing, ziplining or experience the thrill of the cliff walk as you make your way across a dozen rope bridges at this action-packed adventure park. Located beside Cataract Gorge, Penny Royal Adventures aims to re-create 19th century Van Diemen’s Land, with a history-themed boat ride and activities such as gold panning and fossicking for gemstones. You can also jump aboard a barge to immerse yourself in the daring escapades of bushranger Matthew Brady on The Dark Ride, take a ghost tour, and fire cannons and steer the ship on the Brig Tamar Cruise.
4. Visit Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasman Peninsula
Explore the well-preserved penal colony buildings of the Port Arthur Historic Site, which was built in 1830 to house and punish more than a thousand of Tasmania’s most notorious convicts. Just a one-hour drive south-east of Hobart, the site is full of powerful stories of hardship and loss, with its dark history contrasting with the beauty of the area. You can find more early-Australian convict history at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Coal Mines Historic Site, 20km from Port Arthur, which reveals the lives of repeat offender convicts who worked underground extracting coal.
Book your Port Arthur Historic Site day tour from Hobart here
5. Bruny Island
Book a half-day boat cruise to explore the coast of Bruny Island, or jump on the vehicle ferry at Kettering, just over half an hour’s drive south of Hobart, to discover it at your own pace. The island is about 50km long but is more like two islands joined by a narrow strip of land called The Neck.
It is known for its beautiful beaches and hiking, through places such as South Bruny National Park, as well as local produce including oysters, cheese and chocolate. Accommodation ranges from campsites to luxury retreats.
Nature lovers will have a blast on a Bruny Island wildlife cruise with the chance to spot Australian fur seals, dolphins, seabirds and even migrating whales (depending on the season) in their natural habitat. The island is also a bird watcher’s paradise, with the chance to see soaring albatross, shearwater, and sea eagles. Due to the possibility of wild weather and swell, these boat tours are most appropriate for teens and adults.
6. Grindewald Swiss Village, Tamar Valley Resort
Who needs to go all the way to Switzerland? Tasmania has its very own Swiss-style village in the grounds of Tamar Valley Resort, which is set on a 60ha property. Take a paddleboat on Lake Serene, play mini golf, jump on the bouncing pillow and ride pedal karts before having lunch at the Alpenrose Lakeside Bistro & Bar, followed by an ice-cream from the Chocolate Café. There is also an electronic games arcade with skill testers, racing simulators and video arcade games.
7. Devils at Cradle Wildlife Park, Cradle Mountain
Meet three of Tasmania’s unique threatened marsupials — the Tasmanian devil, the Spotted-tailed Quoll and Eastern Quoll — at Devils @ Cradle, a wildlife sanctuary and conservation centre on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain National Park. Day keeper tours are conducted at 10.30am and 3pm and a day feeding tour at 1pm. After dark feeding tours are also held at 5.30pm and 8.30pm (during daylight savings).
8. West Coast Wilderness Railway, Strahan
Toot toot! Hop aboard the West Coast Wilderness Railway for a journey through the ancient rainforest as guides share stories of the hardships of the railway’s construction and the men, women and children who called the surrounding wilderness their home. The train stops at historic stations along the route, which offer activities such as a rainforest walk, gold panning, viewing the train being turned on a manual turntable, and tastings of wild honey.
9. Tahune Adventures, Geeveston
Go kayaking or rafting on the Picton River, expefrience zipline thrills and loat through the air on a hang glider over the Huon River at Tahune Adventures, a 90-minute drive from Hobart in Tasmania’s south. You can also walk across the Picton Swing Bridge to view the ruins of the house occupied by Police Constable Francis McPartlan, a former Irish convict whose duty it was to walk the trail to the remote Arthur Range to check timber licences.
The Tahune Airwalk is another thrilling activity where you can glide over the Huon River in the Cable Eagle Hang Glider, or airwalk your way to a cantilever 50 metres above the forest floor.
10. Mountain Biking in St Helens, North-East Coast
Ride the epic mountain biking trails in St Helens, considered some of the most scenic in the world. There is a series of stacked loops just south of the town, as well as a 42km wilderness trail that starts at the top of the Blue Tier and winds all the way down to Swimcart Beach in the beautiful Bay of Fires. Whether you like to shred some serious downhill, enjoy cross-country flow or just want a fun day on the trails with the family, the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails have something for everyone.
11. Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston
See dinosaur skeletons, colonial and bushranger artefacts and objects recovered from the wreck of Australia’s oldest merchant shipwreck, The Sydney Cove, at Queen Victoria Museum in the heart of Launceston. Kids will also love the bikes, buggies and planes on display. During the school holidays a number of activities are offered, such as creating critters out of Pom Poms, making musical instruments and learning how to create felted nests and eggs.
11. Cataract Gorge, Launceston
At under two kilometres from central Launceston, Cataract Gorge features spectacular views as well as the world’s longest single-span chairlift. Walking around each basin of water is quite breathtaking and you’re almost certain to see a wallaby or two. There are a number of walks into the gorge, and the “Cataract Walk” which follows the Gorge along its northern cliffs is the easiest for families with young children.
After exploring Cataract Gorge by foot, hop on a on a Tamar River Cruise to catch a different perspective of the gorge. The Tamar River is Australia’s longest navigable estuarine river and the cruise provides an opportunity to view the rich diversity of life along its shores.
If you’re heading to Cataract Gorge on your Tassie trip don’t forget to pack your swimmers so you can take advantage of the free swimming pool.
12. Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
Cradle Mountain can be found in Lake St Clair National Park and takes around 2.5 hours to reach from Launceston. Arriving early will ensure you miss the crowds and can easily find a spot on the shuttle buses that take visitors up from the information centre at regular intervals.
Whilst Australia’s premier alpine walk, the Overland Track may be a little beyond what the average family traveller is happy to add to their itinerary (it’s at least 65km in length), the Dove Lake circuit is a lazier 5.7 km and takes around 2 hours. If you think that’s still a little too far for the kids, you could walk to the boat house which is around 500m from the shuttle bus drop off.
Learn more: A family-friendly guide to Cradle Mountain
13. The Nut & Bull Rock fur seals, Stanley
Stanley is a little town on the North-West coast of Tasmania. It is a captivating spot which is often said to be on the edge of the world. While it has quite a historic little township it is best known for The Nut – the remnants of an ancient volcanic plug which is now a sheer-sided bluff.
It’s here you can get up close to an Australian fur seal colony with a boat cruise to Bull Rock, where seals sunbathe and frolic. The tour is suitable for all ages, and you’re never far from shore, so you won’t have to worry about taking littlies out into a rough sea.
14. Freycinct National Park & Wineglass Bay
It consistently appears on lists of the world’s best beaches, so a visit to Wineglass Bay is a must for your Tasmania itinerary. If you want to reach it on foot, though, be prepared for a big walk! The lookout takes around 1.5 hours and is a steep uphill climb with rough bush steps with hazardous cliffs.
For a hassle-free option, Wineglass Bay Cruises offers a 4.5 hour tour of the waterways surrounding Freycinet National Park, from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay. Soak in the stunning granite cliffs, sea caves and blowholes, and see lesser-known white sand beaches, including Cooks and Bryans beaches, which are only accessible by water or a full-day bushwalk. Spot little penguins and short tailed shearwaters whilst exploring the inner passage of remote Schouten Island, before heading into the Tasman Sea.
It’s also easy to fill a few hours exploring Honeymoon Bay and Coles Bay, as kids can spot fish in the clear water, gather shells and frolick in the amazing turquoise waters.
15. Bay of Fires, North-East
Situated on the northeastern coast of Tasmania, the Bay of Fires is a 50 km stretch of coastline renowned for the boulders covered with orange lichen which almost glow in contrast to the white sandy beach that surrounds them. The kids will love the clear turquoise water where they may spot sea dragons.
16. Mt Wellington – Kunanyi, Hobart
Towering over Hobart, Mount Wellington or Kunanyi, as it’s known to the indigenous people of Tasmania, is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the area. Often with a sprinkling of snow, it provides the best natural view over the city and beyond.
Visitors can also drive all the way to the summit where there is a platform that provides a safe vantage point for families to view the city. The most amazing sight is the organ pipes, a cliff of dolerite columns. Plan your visit carefully and check the forecast for low clouds that might obscure your view.
For an historical interlude, follow the Hobart Rivulet Track from the foothills of Mt Wellington. It winds down the hill from the Cascade Brewery past the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, where women convicts laboured and lived.
17. Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Peninsula
If you are heading to Port Arthur Convict Settlement to explore the heritage site, make sure you take a short detour to the Tessellated Pavement. You only need to park the car and take a short walk before encountering this geological marvel.
Even with small children, navigating the stairs down to the Tessellated Pavement shouldn’t be too difficult. Standing on the actual rocks will provide you with the best view of the site and the kids will love finding crabs between the crevices.
18. Mole Creek Karst National Park Caves
Tasmania has some very large caves across the state including the incredible Marakoopa and King Solomons Caves at Mole Creek Karst National Park. Here you will find the largest glow worm display in all of Austalia as well as underground rivers and reflection pools.
Marakoopa Cave is a must-visit for families wanting to see something truly magical. The limestone cave features two underground streams, and it’s home to more than just stalactites and stalagmites!
Watch thousands of glow worms light up the dark above you, creating a stunning natural light show. You’ll learn all about the cave’s history and ecosystem with an enthralling guided tour. Note that the cave gets chilly and damp, so it’s a good idea to rug up for this one.
Hastings Cave, which is in Southern Tasmania, is also an impressive sight. It’s the largest developed cave in Australia and also one of the rarest, having being formed by a single dolomite.
19. Trowunna Wildlife Park
You can’t go to Tasmania without tracking down a devil, and a top place to find one is at Trowunna Wildlife Park, at Mole Creek. The 65-acre sanctuary for injured and orphaned wildlife also has Australia’s largest and longest running devil conservation breeding program.
Kids will love learning all about these endangered treasures during daily feeding times. Trowunna is also home to wombats, spotted-tail and eastern quolls, masked owls, Bennetts wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos. Families can take guided tours of the park and get hands-on with interactive experiences.
20. Home Hill historic home, Devonport
Home Hill is the beautifully preserved Tasmanian home of former Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons and his family. Lyons was the first Tasmanian to become Prime Minister of Australia. He was also the first Prime Minister to win three elections in a row. He guided the nation through the turbulent period of the Great Depression and World War II.
At Home Hill families can explore Lyon’s early twentieth-century home with its original furnishings. Browse century-old memorabilia. Explore the rooms that once housed 12 children, and discover the private lives of the family. Built in 1916, the house is now staffed by knowledgeable volunteers, brimming with extra insight to connect you with Tasmanian life from many decades ago.
22. Treetops Adventure Hollybank, near Launceston
At the awesome Hollybank Treetops Adventure in Launceston, you can even take an all-weather zipline tour at dusk! As the sun sets, teenagers over 12 can get their adrenalin fix by moonlight. Or simply go for their 3-hour tour by day, which is by no means second best.
23. MONA - Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart
From antiquities to concept art, there’s plenty to excite the imagination at MONA, an expansive private art museum 13km north of Hobart’s CBD. Be warned – not all exhibits are kid-friendly, but there’s plenty that are, so download the O App to curate an age-appropriate visit.
The museum is part of a riverside estate that includes a vineyard (complete with cellar door), brewery, fine-dining restaurants, and several casual eateries. When the sun is out, people take their food out onto the sprawling lawn that offers views over the nearby Derwent River.
24. Bicheno little penguins, East Coast
The seaside town of Bicheno is known for its most adorable residents: a colony of little penguins. Book a tour with with Bicheno Penguin Tours and on most nights, you’ll see anywhere between 30 and a hundred birds walk right by on their way from the water to their burrows. As the penguins nest on a private reserve, made up of lovingly rehabilitated farmland, a tour is the only way to encounter these curious creatures.
Tour times vary depending on the time of year, and the penguins are more active during certain seasons, so be sure to check the website before planning your trip. Echidnas, wallabies and birds are fond of the region as well, so keep an eye out!
25. Trail of the Tin Dragon, North East
The Trail of the Tin Dragon snakes its way from St Helens via Weldborough to Derby and Scottsdale, telling the story of the 900 miners from China who came to Tasmania in the late nineteenth century. The state’s Tin Rush is lesser known than the infamous Gold Rush of Victoria, but no less significant to Australia’s cultural history.
There are exhibits to explore along the way, starting with the magnificent Guan Di Temple on display at Launceston’s Queen Victoria Museum. The beautiful town of Derby is still lined with historic mining huts and the quaint Schoolhouse Museum recounts the town’s mining history. At the tail end of the trail, the St Helens History Room houses the ‘Chinese Experience’ and a beautiful tin dragon sculpture.
26. Barnbougle Golf Course
An afternoon of golf, anyone? Before you answer, consider this: even if you’re not a fan of the sport, you might want to play a round at Barnbougle. Not only is it one of the finest public-access golf courses in the world, but the scenery is incredible, with three courses weaving between dunes that rise from Bass Strait.
Refreshingly, the course comes without the formality usually found at courses of this stature. For those who are just dabbling, the 14-hole Bougle Run is the perfect pick to squeeze in a round in just 90 minutes.
There are also several places to wine and dine on site, including the ocean-view Lost Farm Restaurant and casual dining at The Dunes Clubhouse, perched between the 9th and 18th greens.
27. Family-friendly Tamar Valley wineries
The Tamar Valley wine region stretches from Pipers Brook, near Barnbougle, to Relbia, south of Launceston. This is the most productive wine country in Tasmania and almost 50 percent of the island’s wine comes from this area.
Wine-loving parents tune in: the valley nurtures chardonnay, pinot noir, gewürtztraminer and riesling grapes. These cool-climate varieties also give that special sparkle to some of Australia’s best bubbly. While less family-focused than other Australian wine regions, there are still some great cellar doors where kids are welcome too.
Unique experiences at Holm Oak Vineyards include Tasmania’s only sensory garden tour and the chance to feed the resident pigs: ‘General Manager’ Pinot d’Pig, Pinot Junior and Mayonnaise. Delamere Vineyards offers a ‘pick your own picnic’ experience all ages will love.
Restaurants like Nadine’s at Pipers (Pipers Brook Vineyard) and Timbre Kitchen (Velo Wines) are an accessible alternative to a traditional cellar door. Each features local produce – and you know there’ll be a kids’ menu!
28. Australia's longest-running play, Strahan
Harbour-side Strahan is the western gatekeeper of the World Heritage Area, and it’s also home to The Ship That Never Was, Australia’s longest-running theatrical performance. This family-friendly show recounts that tale of convict shipbuilders who steal a boat from the Sarah Island (within Macquarie Harbour) slip-yard and escape from their Macquarie Harbour prison.
Comedy meets history in this outdoor production written by Richard Davey and produced by The Round Earth Company. It’s been performed in Strahan since 1994 and is still as popular as ever – so why not add this one-of-a-kind experience to your Tassie itinerary?
29. The Wall in the Wilderness, Derwent Bridge
Awe-inspiring art can be found in the forests of Tasmania! The Wall in the Wilderness is 100 metres long and over three metres high, carved with life-like figures telling the history of the Tasmanian highlands.
Even more inspiring is the fact that one man, Greg Duncan, has spent over a decade hand-carving the installation from panels of rare Huon pine. The Wall is a truly unique slice of Tasmanian culture and well worth a visit if you’re driving between Hobart and Strahan.
30. A Taste of the Huon food festival
Pack your picnic chairs and rugs for A Taste of the Huon, an annual celebration of food, wine, entertainment and arts and crafts from the Huon Valley and Channel region. The event is held at Ranelagh, 30 minutes’ drive south of Hobart, in a region that produces apples, cherries, berries, mushrooms, wine, salmon and truffles.
Planning a Tassie holiday with kids? Don’t miss these 23 awesome things to do in Hobart, including some fantastic day trips.
Opening image: A family at Cape Hauy on the Three Capes Track Image Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Content Contributors: Angela Saurine, Leah Smileski, Dan Campbell
