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Have you ever wondered what to do in Tasmania?

The possibilities are endless!

You have a choice of rugged coastlines, miles of untouched wilderness, lots of bizarre animals to see, delicious fresh food and a fascinating history.

There are just so many things to do in Tasmania! It’s a favourite location of ours and one of the must see places in Australia.

Tasmania is also incredibly compact compared to the rest of Australia. From lakes to beaches to mountains, you can see all the highlights of Tasmania with only a short distance to travel….and their food is amazing!

For a list of popular Tasmania tourist attractions see our list of 20+ Must Do activities in Tasmania.

See Echidna and Wombats  in the wild

Seeing Echidna and wombats in the wild is at the top of the must do activities in Tasmania and definitely one of the more unique things to do in Tasmania.

The chances of finding an echidna or wombat in the wild isn’t always something you can count on. Especially echidna as the pads on their little feet are incredibly sensitive and the moment they sense any movement near them they curl up in a ball.

We were lucky to come across an echidna crossing the road one day, so we pulled over so to make sure he got to the other side safely…..I can feel a chicken crossing the road joke coming on!

If you are wanting a guaranteed sighting of an Echidna or a Wombat then Ronny Creek at Cradle Mountain National Park is a must do in Tasmania.

A visit to Ronny Creek in the late afternoon will pretty much guarantee that you get the opportunity to watch these amazing Australian animals quietly going about their business in the wild.

At Ronny Creek, Tasmania you can see Wombat's and Echidnas in the wild.
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Echidna searching for ants along the side of the road
At Ronny Creek, Tasmania you can see Wombat's and Echidnas in the wild.
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Wombat munching on native grasses.

Learn about Monotremes

Platypus and Echidna are known as Monotremes, Australia is the only country in the world where you will find monotremes in the wild.

Monotreme Definition: Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs rather than give birth to live young.

To see monotremes you’ll need to either take an organised tour with experts who know the best spots in Tasmania to see these elusive animals or you can see them in captivity at one of these Tasmanian wildlife parks:

Platypus House, located north of Launceston, will provide you with guaranteed sightings of Platypus and Echidna as well as the opportunity to learn all about these two very unusual and very different egg laying mammals.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is located just north of Hobart and their “aim is to rescue, rehabilitate, and preserve some of the island’s rarest and most endangered creatures“.

At Platypus House you can learn about Monotremes; Platypus and Echidnas.
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Platypus searching for food in a submerged log at Platypus House.
Learn about echidnas about Platypus House.
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Echidna feeding time at Platypus House.

Visit the Tasmania Devils

Is the Tasmanian Devil cute? Definitely not!

They’re more like a grumpy cat than a cuddly puppy dog 🙂

The Tassie Devil are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial and one of the top attractions in Tasmania. There are several zoos in Tasmania that are dedicated to maintaining the survival of these aggressive and noisy little animals.

Take a Tassie Devil Tour to find out the answers to all your questions such as; why is the Tasmanian Devil endangered, what do Tasmanian devils eat, the Tasmanian Devil life cycle and Tasmanian Devil cancer.

The Tasmanian Devil are the world's largest carnivorous marsupial.
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The Tasmanian Devil are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial.

Go animal spotting for a white Wallaby

The white Bennett’s wallabies is quite common on Bruny Island due to a lack of prey. They can be often found grazing in the open fields near Adventure Bay.

You might be wondering if the white wallabies were albinos?

Well, they are not…..although a few of them are!

The white Bennett’s wallaby has a rare genetic mutation which is the reason they have white fur. The albino version of the Bennett’s wallaby would also have pink eyes, ears and nose.

White wallaby at Bruny Island
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White wallaby at Bruny Island

Hike Tasmania’s Most Famous Day Walk

The hike to Cradle Mountain Summit is undoubtedly Tasmania’s most famous day walk and one of the highlights of Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain is a place of exceptional natural beauty and one of the best places to visit in Tasmania. The Cradle Mountain Summit Walk, a challenging 7-8 hour hike is one of the must do things in Tasmania for any outdoor enthusiast.

Click here to see the complete list of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.

Stunning views of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain.
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Stunning views of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain.
The rock scramble on the Cradle Mountain Summit Trail could be challenging in sections.
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The rock scramble to the Cradle Mountain Summit can be challenging in sections.
Stunning views over Dove Lake from the Cradle Mountain Summit Trail.
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Stunning views of Dove Lake on our day hike to Cradle Mountain Summit.
A long day spent hiking to the summit of Cradle Mountain.
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Proud of my achievement after a long day hiking to the summit of Cradle Mountain.

Pick your own fruits and berries

Take the opportunity to visit a farm and pick your own fresh fruit.

Depending on the time of the year that you are visiting Tasmania you can choose from Apples, Apricots, Blueberries, Nectarines, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Raspberries and Strawberries.

Our favorite time to visit is December / January during stone fruit season. Nothing compares to freshly picked apricots and cherries! What’s you favourite Tasmanian fruit?

Find out more about fruit picking in Tasmania.

Click HERE to download your FREE guide to the ‘Top 8 Foods to Try in Tassie!’

Where to stay while fruit picking near Hobart

Where to stay while fruit picking near Launceston

Admire the rugged coastline

If you are looking for rugged coastal views then you should plan a hike to Cape Raoul. Cape Raoul is part of the four day ‘Three Capes Walk’. It can also be done as a single day hike or if you only have a few hours, you can hike to the lookout for some fantastic views.

View from Cape Raoul Lookout
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View from Cape Raoul Lookout

Walk barefoot along deserted sandy beaches

Spoil yourself with some stunning scenery when you visit Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park.

While you are there, hike the 12.8km Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach Circuit where you will have plenty of opportunity to walk along the deserted sandy beaches.

Stunning views from the lookout of Wineglass Bay.
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Stunning views from the lookout of Wineglass Bay.
Enjoy your own company on one of the many deserted beaches that make up the Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach Circuit.
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Enjoy your own company on one of the many deserted beaches that make up the Wineglass Bay & Hazards Beach Circuit.

Visit a Convict Settlement

Visit the beautifully maintained Port Arthur Historic Site and learn about the history of Australia as a Penal Colony.

There was no escape for those early residents at the Port Arthur Penal Settlement.
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Even if you had managed to escape from Port Arthur there was nowhere you could go.
Views of Port Arthur Historic Site.
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Views of Port Arthur Historic Site.

See Australia’s oldest bridge

Visit Richmond Village to see Australia’s oldest bridge. The heritage listed arch bridge was built by convicts in 1823.

Visit the town of Richmond in Tasmania to see Australia's oldest bridge. It was built by convicts in 1823.
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Australia’s oldest bridge can be found in the town of Richmond, Tasmania.

Click here to download the Convict Trail Self Drive Itinerary.

Walk among the Trees

Visit the Huon Valley and walk among the trees on the Tahune Air Walk.  If you are feeling adventurous, try out their Eagle Hang Gliding Adventure or Kayaking & Rafting Adventures.

Walk among the trees on the Tahune Air Walk
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Walk among the trees on the Tahune Air Walk.

Photograph one of Tasmania’s 230 waterfalls

Tasmania has 230 known waterfalls.

Our favourite waterfall is Russell Falls at Mt Field National Park. One of the best things about Russell Falls is that it is wheel chair accessible so everyone can enjoy it.

To learn more about Mt Field National Park, click here to read about Hiking at Mt Field National Park and Searching for Quolls at Mt Field National Park.

Take a Tasmania Waterfalls Guided Tour.

The beautiful Russell Falls, Mt Field National Park.
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The beautiful Russell Falls, Mt Field National Park.

Take in some culture

While you are in Hobart you should take in some culture at either Mona; Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art or the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

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Visit the Lavender Fields

Visit Bridestowe Lavender Farm or Port Arthur Lavender Farm  and take the opportunity to walk among the lavender flowers. Both farms offer the opportunity to learn how lavender oil is extracted.

Sample some delicious lavender flavored foods like lavender ice cream, lavender hot chocolate and even lavender tea.

Eating a lavender ice cream should definitely be on your list of best things to do in Tasmania!

Click HERE to download your FREE guide to the ‘Top 8 Foods to Try in Tassie!’

Walk among the lavender flowers at Bridestowe Lavender Farm.
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Walk among the lavender flowers at Bridestowe Lavender Farm.

Spend a relaxing Saturday at the Markets

Wondering what’s on in Hobart?

On Saturday it’s the Salamanca Markets!

Browse the Salamanca Markets for a wide range of Tasmanian Arts & Crafts. Visit the many food and beverage stalls and enjoy the local Tasmanian produce.

The Salamanca Markets is open every Saturday from 8:30am – 1:30pm.

Do a Cave Tour

At Hastings caves and thermal springs you can take a guided tour of the caves and learn about subterranean formations. When you are done, swim in the 28 degrees Celcius thermal pool.

Photo of Hastings Caves
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Hastings Caves

Swim in a Gorge

Only a 15 min walk from the centre of Launceston and you will find yourself at the spectacular Cataract Gorge.

The gorge has many activities on offer. You can; go for a swim, walk on a suspension bridge, have lunch at the cafe, go hiking, see the Duck Reach Power Station, admire the peacocks, have a picnic lunch, go on a chairlift.

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Drive up into the Clouds

For stunning views of Hobart you should take the 21km drive to the summit of Mt Wellington which stands at 1271m and is known to often sit up above the clouds.

If you are feeling super energetic then there are plenty of hiking trails in Wellington Park.

See Australia’s first operational coal mine

Visit the Coal Mines Historic Site  and learn about Australia’s first operational coal mine. From 1834 the mine was used as punishment for the worst criminals at Port Arthur.

Visit Australia's oldest coal mine to learn the history of using convicts to mine for coal.
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Visit Australia’s oldest coal mine to learn the history of using convicts to mine for coal.

If you are interested in the history of mining in Australia you should also visit the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre which is located north of Launceston.

Go on a Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

A Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise is a must for anyone visiting Tasmania! This remains one of our all-time favourite Australian travel experiences and one would do over and again!

Cruise beyond Australia’s most southern point, along the coastline of Tasman Island National Park, in a Pennicott Wilderness Journeys custom-made boat. These special boats allow you to get right up close with mammoth cliff faces, travel through caves and bounce over waves.

While the scenery alone is enough reason to enjoy this 3-hour boat tour, the wildlife spotting makes it even more special. With seals lounging on rocks and dolphins surfing alongside the boat beside you.

The high energy personalities of each of the cruise crew members really adds to the experience, making it a fun morning adventure before you head nearby for a tour of Port Arthur.

This experience is suitable for all ages, with no minimum age limit. It’s also suitable for pregnant women, as I was pregnant at the time. They provide you protective suits to wear, but make sure you dress warmly on the day as it can be freezing!

Holly Connors: FOURAROUNDTHEWORLD.COM 

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Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

Eat some delicious Tassie Food

While in Tassie make sure you take the time to sample some of the local foods like these amazing Thai Fusion oysters on Bruny Island.

Click HERE to download your FREE guide to the ‘Top 8 Foods to Try in Tassie!’

Thai Fusion Oysters on Bruny Island
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Thai Fusion Oysters on Bruny Island

Pin it for later!

20 Must do activities in Tasmania
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Have we missed one of your favourite Tassie activities? Tell us about it in the comments below.