Back home from the beautiful scenic Tasmania and already starting to plan for my next trip: Bali in 2 months - yay! I can’t wait to bask under the sun with an ice cold beer in my hand, especially after experiencing a week of brutal coldness in Tassie. We went in autumn and while the cold can’t be compared to winter temperatures of course, it was a lot colder than what we expected. I guess that is because Tassie is the southernmost state in Australia, which is its coldest state. Nonetheless, it was still an amazing experience and I wish we had more time there.

Tasmania is very different from other parts of Australia. It reminds me more of New Zealand, actually: massive mountain landscapes, a lot of nature and wilderness, clean air and less traffic - a nice getaway from my little city.

1) Enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Hobart from Mount Wellington Lookout - for FREE

This is a must-do when you are in Hobart! I highly recommend driving up for sunset when the city starts to light up. You can expect a 10 degree drop when you are up there, so remember to pack some warm clothes - even in the summer! Once the area turns pitch dark, you can witness the Milky Way - and the Aurora Australis if you are lucky - so make sure to stay till then!






2) Take a 15-minute vehicle ferry across to Bruny Island

This island is beautiful beyond words. It was my favourite part of the whole trip! Have a relaxing day out at Bruny Island, soak in a 360 degree picturesque scenery at the top of The Neck and indulge in some yummy gourmet tastings while you are there!

You won't be able to book the ferry in advance so I would recommend to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier to secure a spot! If the ferry is full, you have to wait for the next available timing which is usually about an hour later.















3) Experience the biggest walk of your life via the Cape Hauy Track 

The Cape Hauy Track is part of the Three Capes Track and is the most well-known and accessible walk within the Tasman National Park. The track has a lot of steps and can be physically demanding but once you reach the top of the cliff, the view will leave you breathless - no pun intended! It was pouring on and off and even had light hail when we did the track, but we made it to the end anyway! 

The 8km walk can be accomplished in 4-5 hours - take your time to enjoy the extensive views of the coast along the way!





4) Explore the Painted Cliffs of Maria Island 

The Painted Cliffs are beautifully coloured and patterned sandstone, carved and moulded by the sea, and bordered by rock pools teeming with marine life. It is a 2-hour return walk from the ferry pier. 

You will find many cute and fat, little wombats in Maria Island and also families of kangaroo on the other end of the island, near the Visitor Centre.

There are no cafes, food or drinks on the island, so pack along a picnic basket with you! There are many good spots to have picnic at, but I must warn you: it is hard to avoid areas with wombats’ droppings.

Access to Maria Island is via a 45 minutes ferry ride from Triabunna - you can book the tickets here: http://www.mariaislandferry.com.au/.





5) Climb over the stunning Bay of Fires 

Gorgeous, fiery, granite rocks on the sandy, white beach with crystal-clear water - the perfect backdrop for photos!

The Bay of Fires stretches over 50 kilometres from Binalong Bay in the south to Eddystone Point in the north, so despite being one of the most popular destination in the world, you will feel like you are the only one there.

6) Hike up Marion’s Lookout at Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 

We started our hike from Ronny Creek, went up to Marion's Lookout, then went down via Dove Lake, which took us a total of 4.5 hours, inclusive of rest time and lots of photo taking. The track we took was manageable, a lot of walking and with some steep climbing only towards the top.

We did this hike in May, towards the end of autumn. The sky was very cloudy and it was super foggy and extremely cold at the summit, so I recommend the best season to do this hike would be during summer when there is a higher chance of clear skies.

You should leave your car at the Visitor Centre’s car park and take the free shuttle bus which is available every 15 minutes, unless you are planning to end the hike going the same route back. The shuttle connects all of the popular locations and walks, including the Dove Lake Circuit, the Cradle Valley Boardwalk and the Overland Track.

A nice way to end the hike is with a cup of yummy, hot chocolate from the Visitor Centre’s cafe!




7) Wander around the iconic Salamanca Market 

A huge street market with a large variety of local produce, crafts, artisanal food and music - definitely worth a visit! The park by the side makes for an ideal location to have your takeaway lunch at. Unfortunately, the market is held only on Saturdays between 8.30am and 3.00pm so expect a busy crowd when you are there!




Here is a rough map of the route we took for our 8-day road trip. We started in the Hobart area, checking out Mount Wellington and Bruny Island first, and then eventually ended the trip back in Hobart with Salamanca Market. (click to enlarge)


Comment below if you would like me to share our detailed itinerary here, as well. 😊