Seven unforgettable Tasmanian experiences that’ll make you want to cross the ditch ASAP
Be surprised and delighted by an adventure like no other in Tassie. Country singer John Denver once described West Virginia as ‘almost heaven’. He could just as easily have been talking about Tasmania because the geographic gods were particularly kind to this great southern land, giving it stunning beaches, cool-temperate rainforests and the soaring peaks of Cradle Mountain. The island also runs on fresh seafood and world-class wine, whisky and craft beer.
If you’ve never been to Tassie, you’re in for a treat. And if you’re a return visitor, it’s time to reacquaint yourself with some of the amazing attractions.
THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS
You’re heard of the Northern Lights, but did you know that Tasmania is arguably the best place
to see the southern version?
Called the Aurora Australis and nicknamed ‘nature’s disco ball’, no-one knows when the vivid green, orange and purple lights will be on display. Though most commonly viewed between May and September, if the weather and atmospheric conditions are right, they can be visible across Tasmania all year round. The best viewing spots are in the south, especially Goat Bluff, around 35km south-east of Hobart.
SHUCKING FOR OYSTERS
One of Tasmania’s greatest gifts to the world is plump Pacific oysters, plucked from the sea seconds before they’re eaten.
A good place to sample them is Melshell Oyster Shack on the East Coast. Take shucking lessons, and enjoy your own briny delights with local wines and beers, or cook your own seafood kebabs and take in the fantastic view of the Swan River. There are kids activities too so, if travelling with family, you’ll get to enjoy some serenity.
MID-WINTER FESTIVALS
Winter in some parts of the world might be shorthand for hunkering down and waiting for summer. But not in Tasmania.
Join 30,000 people this winter at the Festival of Voices, an incredible opportunity to enjoy the vitality and community spirit of singing together around the warmth of a fire. A symbol of joy and unity, the festival facilitates a real sense of humanity and belonging with a huge crowd, warming up the vocal cords with choral, contemporary and cabaret musical styles.
Or drive two and a half hours north of Hobart and you’ll reach Bicheno - a relaxed coastal town known for its fresh seafood and surf breaks. Enjoy watching penguins waddle up the beach with Bicheno Penguin Tours or enjoy Bicheno Beams, the town’s annual festival of lights.
It’s not often the words science and festival appear in the same sentence but Hobart’s eightyear-running Beaker Street Festival is a week-long celebration of all things science. This year’s varied program includes steamy tent saunas and ice plunges, scientific breathwork sessions, and guided stargazing - as well as performances, talks, music, and science-based games/entertainment.
ABORIGINAL CULTURE
Discover Tasmania’s rich palawa heritage through immersive experiences that delve into the stories and culture of Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Sample delicious bush tucker on a 90 minute tour with kipli takara with an Aboriginal guide to learn the history and culture of the region, or forge a profound connection to ancient lands with the halfday kooparoona niara Cultural Trail in Launceston. Also included is the breathtaking tulampanga/ Alum Cliffs region, culturally significant as the meeting place of three Aboriginal nations.
NATURAL ENCOUNTERS
A unique combination of nature and history rewards those who explore Maria Island - off Tasmania’s East Coast. Accessible by a 30-minute ferry ride, Maria (pronounced ma-rye-ah) Island is car-free, so visitors can navigate it by foot or bike. A stunning jewel, in under an hour, you’ll be experiencing white sandy beaches, turquoise water, mountaintop vistas - with wildlife including kangaroos and wombats galore.
WINE AND WHISKY
It’s no secret that Tasmania produces some of Australia’s best cool-climate wines. Around 230 vineyards are scattered across the island, from the Tamar Valley to the Freycinet Peninsula, many with cellar doors where you can meet the maker and sample many local varieties.
If whisky is more your thing, you’ve come to the right place. More than 30 distilleries perform magic with water and barley, from larger award-winning distillers to small-batch operators. So popular has the spirit become that there’s even an annual Tasmanian Whisky Week, which this year runs from 5-11 August and is a chance for distillers and drinkers from around the globe to share their passion for whisky.
WILD ARTS
You’ve probably heard of Mona, Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art, which put Tassie on the map. But art is embraced all over the island, including in Sheffield, a rural town-turned-outdoor gallery, where more than 160 larger than life murals tell the town’s story.
Go west for the Western Wilds Art Trail which features striking modern art installations set amongst nature. If that doesn’t scratch your art itch, the Wall in the Wilderness might. Located at Derwent Bridge, this one-of-a-kind project features a relief sculpture of the region’s history, painstakingly carved into 100m of Huon Pine.
From native wildlife to art and whisky, experience it all in Tasmania. Plan your extraordinary expedition across the Tasman Sea, starting with a direct Air New Zealand Auckland-Hobart flight (from 27 October to 27 March) or via Melbourne or Sydney.