Introducing Tasmania
Forever the butt of mainland jokes, Tasmania has shrugged off the stigma of its isolation – the whole world seems to be discovering the physically dazzling, unique and accessible island. Suitably impressed, and a tad sheepish, the rest of Australia has finally stopped laughing and started visiting. ‘Tassie’ (as it’s affectionately known) has it all: vast, uninhabited slabs of wilderness, swimming at Seven Mile Beach, bountiful wildlife in Narawntapu National Park, gourmet food and wine in the Tamar Valley, a thriving arts scene and new-found urban cool.
Out and about, the island’s natural treasures live up to the hype – bushwalking, cycling, rafting and kayaking opportunities abound. Don’t miss curvaceous Wineglass Bay, craggy Cradle Mountain and the heaven-sent Huon Valley. Wild places like these are the essence of Tasmania, and their silent, forgiving presence is slowly liberating the island from the binds of history.
This legacy takes the form of gracious guesthouses, intriguing archaeological sites and an independent ‘islander’ sensibility. City-slickers will find urban virtues (plush hotels, gastronomic temples, rockin’ music rooms) delivered with less attitude and more charm than most mainland cities. Foodies will weep over the wine, cheer for the cheese and sing about the seafood.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
Image gallery
North Bruny Island, Tasmania
Video gallery
Pristine national park, Tasmania - Lonely Planet travel video
Sights in Tasmania
Activities in Tasmania
Hobart
Laid-back colonial-era city - ideal for foodies, sailing enthusiasts and hikers.
Tours in Tasmania
Launceston
Launceston (‘Lonnie’ to locals) squats in a basin where the North and South Esk rivers meet to form the Tamar River.
Tasmania destination guides
East Coast
Tasmania’s laid-back east coast is heaven for devotees of squeaky, white-sand beaches, fishing and slow-paced seaside atmospheria.
Hotels in Tasmania
Budget Hotels & Hostels in Tasmania
Guesthouses and B&Bs in Tasmania
Apartments in Tasmania
The North
Rust-coloured, iron-rich soils and verdant pastures extend north of Launceston along the Tamar Valley and west to the Great Western Tiers.
Need to know
Entertainment in Tasmania
Devonport
Devonport is Tasmania's third-largest city, but it is much less interesting than Hobart and Launceston.
Shopping in Tasmania