Tassie is perhaps the most unknown and least travelled state in Australia. For those who love hiking and national parks, it is an island paradise, boasting 19 beautiful national parks and over 800 wildlife reserves. It’s relatively easy to get to, especially from Melbourne. Flights are quite cheap from Melbourne and Sydney into Hobart, the major city in Tasmania. Additionally, there is an overnight ferry you can hop on from the Port of Melbourne.
Hobart is a quiet town, famous for its oysters and craft whiskeys. The waterfront is a very cool area filled with restaurants on the docks overlooking the marinas on the River Derwent. The Salamanca Market, a huge street market held on Saturdays, is a major tourist attraction in Hobart. If you head to Hobart over a weekend, the market is a must do. The second must do activity in Hobart is the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). This museum is by far the best museum the members of Permanent Holiday have visited. Its exhibits are extremely radical and eclectic, ranging from religious paintings to hyper-sexualized sculptures. If you have extra time in the city and want to do something active, take a bus out to Mt. Wellington and do the day hike up part of the mountain. There a several hostel options for cheap in the city center and it’s quite easy to get around on foot or by bus. Although we stayed at YHA Hobart, we didn't like it much and recommend the Pickled Frog instead.
Renting a car is the most efficient way to venture out of Hobart and travel around Tasmania. You will be able to rent a car at either the Hobart airport or in the city (they are 30 minutes apart by car). The Permanent Holiday team visited a couple of the most famous national parks on the island, including Freycinet National Park and Maria Island National Park.
Freycinet National Park is a massive peninsula on the east coast of Tassie, with blue green water and orange-shaded rock. Here, you can choose from numerous hikes ranging from a couple hours to full and multi-day treks. If you are looking for an intense and somewhat dangerous mountainous hike, try out the Mt. Amos trail. It's fairly tough so bring water and good hiking shoes, and be prepared to get on all fours. Your hard work pays off big time, however, with unbelievable views of Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach. For a less intense day hike, do the Wineglass Bay trail, which will take you by what is considered a top ten beach in the world.
For animal lovers, Maria Island National Park is known for providing excellent wildlife spotting opportunities on a secluded island off the east coast. Drive to Triabunna to catch a ferry out to the island, where you’ll be able to walk or bike around and see some of Australia’s indigenous wildlife. On the trails, be on the lookout for wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, Cape Barren geese, and, of course, the famous Tasmanian Devils. Be sure to check out the painted cliffs at low tide, where you’ll see some patterned sandstone walls along the shoreline. These two national parks are on the east coast of Tasmania, but there are many more beautiful places to visit.
