Here we are in Tasmania, an island isolated from the mainland. The name of this state island comes from the fact that the island is home to the Tasmanian devil, a carnivorous marsupial. It is often known as a “wild dog” with black fur and pungent odour.
If you have traveled to Australia before, then you’d know some of the Aussie slangs they use. Let’s just say Tasmania is better well known as “Tassie” in Australia land.

I often hear people comparing Tassie to the likes of New Zealand; filled with beautiful landscapes, fresh air and quiet towns. Having been here twice and New Zealand, there is some truth about the statement above. Tasmania has its own character though. It is much colder than the rest of mainland Australia throughout the year and because it is located 4,630km from the nearest Antarctica, you can watch the Aurora Australis (southern lights) from here.

Because Tasmania is rich with wildlife, scenic coastlines and tasty fresh produce (this is where I had the best oysters in my life), a great way to experience all of that is by car. When I was here, I started my drive from Launceston and slowly made my way to Hobart. I spent a few days in each town and made stops along the way. Each town is small enough, not too crowded with people. I’d recommend you’d take your time, explore slowly and take in the culture. I have a thing for long drives (check my Mount Kosciuszko post) My road map was simple this time.

The capital of Tasmania, Hobart is quite unique compared to the other cities of Australia. The town itself is quite hilly, resembling a little bit of San Francisco (what I had seen in the movies) The city is a grid (like Melbourne) but really small. I mentioned quiet towns previously and I meant it. Most places are closed by 5pm and some earlier, 4pm!

I traveled to Tasmania from mainland Australia. It is easy to fly in from any state although it might be worth checking out the Spirit of Tasmania which is an overnight ship sail that departs from Station Pier, Victoria to The Esplanade, Tasmania and vice versa. They even allow you to bring your vehicles along, giving you the pleasure to do your road trips easily.

One of the highlights of my trip was Wineglass bay in Freycinet National park. To reach the bay, you will need to do a hike. It is actually not accessible by car. It takes about a total of 1 – 2 hours return to visit both the look out point and down into the bay. The bay was actually hidden and not visible throughout the hike which made me question myself if there really was a bay. However, alas towards to last 10 mins, we finally made it to the lookout point. The view at the lookout point was breathtaking albeit the long and tiring walk. From there, we head further down to be greeted by the blue and beautiful bay.

THINGS TO DO:

1. Rent a car, go around from town to town and drive along the coastal areas.
2. Head out to Wineglass bay, do the hike and be rewarded with white sands and blue waters
3. If you happened to be in Hobart on a Saturday, take the opportunity to visit the Salamanca market (It operates between 8.30am to 3.00pm, for more information click here)
4. Give fish and chips a go at Fish Frenzy located at Elizabeth pier in Hobart (They serve some very delicious fish and chips!)
5. Definitely try the Tasmanian oysters
6. Swing by Port Arthur for a brief history about Tasmania
7. With such beautiful landscapes, it is a good opportunity to engage yourself with any kind of outdoor activity (You’re looking at: flying fox, hand gliding, surfing, fishing)
8. If you are up for more exciting things, do the overland hike to the top of Cradle mountain. It is said to be one of the best hikes in the world. (I have not done it and would love a chance to!) It is recommended you do this hike over a few days, allowing time to cover each area. Find out more before you decide to do this track