Tasmania Travel Guide

In depth travel guides on destinations in Tasmania
plus honest reviews of attractions, accommodation, and restaurants.

pilot boat in port at an island

Tasmania (TAS) is an island state of Australia. It lies off the coast of the mainland, separated by the Bass Strait.

The most populous city is Hobart, the state’s capital. As of December 2019, the population of Tasmania was around 537,000.

Weather and Best Time to Visit Tasmania

December to March are the warmest months, with an average temperature of 17–23°C.

Winter has an average range of 3–11°C.

The amount of rain varies across the state. Hobart is Australia’s second-driest capital city, with an annual average of 626mm. However, the west coast has an average of 2400mm.

No matter when you visit, bring warm clothing and a waterproof jacket. The weather can change unexpectedly.

australian indigenous boomerang

Brief History of Tasmania

The Palawa people lived in Tasmania before European settlers arrived. Kangaroos were sacred to them as they had spiritual and ancestral ties to them.

Tasmania is named after the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman. He discovered it in 1642 and called it named it Van Diemen’s Land (after Governor of the Dutch East Indies, Anthony Van Diemen).

The British first settled in Tasmania in 1803. Lieutenant John Bowen arrived on Lady Nelson with 49 soldiers, settlers and convicts. They originally settled at Risdon but moved to Sullivan’s Cove the next year. This became Hobart.

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Bucket List for Tasmania

  • Hike in Mount Wellington
  • View art at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
  • Walk around Hobart’s waterfront
  • Try local food at Salamanca Market
  • Take a tour of Hastings Caves
  • See Tasmanian Devils at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Learn about Tasmania’s horrific convict past at the Port Arthur Historic Site
  • Hike Cradle Mountain
  • Hike to Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park
  • View the beautiful Bay of Fires
  • Check out the wildlife around Bruny Island 

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