Tasmania: devils, gorges and prisons, old forests and glacial lakes, nature reserves and mountain parks

Bay of Fires is a long stretch of Tasmania's coast known for its white sand beaches and distinctive granite rock formations. The rocks are covered with red and orange lichens that create a striking visual effect against the pale sand. This coastal area attracts people who love to walk along the shore and explore natural landscapes. The beaches offer plenty of space to wander and take in the rugged character of Tasmania's shoreline, making it a place where visitors can experience the raw beauty of the island's coastal environment.

Mount Field National Park is a natural reserve in Tasmania that features mountain trails, waterfalls, and alpine lakes. The park offers skiing during the Australian winter on its peaks. Visitors can explore the wild landscapes typical of the island and encounter wombats and other native animals.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair is a large national park in Tasmania that takes visitors into a world of alpine peaks, mountain lakes, and ancient beech forests. The park spans vast areas and offers walking paths for different fitness levels. The landscape shifts between open high plateaus and thick forests where nature still feels wild and untamed. Mountain slopes drop steeply, lakes mirror the sky, and everywhere you see traces of the ice age. Wombats and other Tasmanian animals live in the park. The place draws hikers who want to do multi-day treks, but day visitors can also explore parts of the park.

Devils at Cradle is a research and protection center for Tasmanian devils in the Cradle Mountains. Here you can observe these small, nocturnal carnivores during guided tours. The center focuses on protecting these remarkable animals and gives visitors the chance to see them in a natural setting. You will learn about their behavior and the efforts being made to keep their population healthy.

Hobart is Tasmania's capital, established in 1804 on the Derwent estuary. The city sits around a natural harbor where fishing boats dock and water shapes daily life. The Salamanca area shows the city's historical face with sandstone buildings from the 19th century. A Saturday market here brings locals and visitors together to buy fresh produce, crafts, and antiques. Hobart blends history with the rhythm of a working port. Museums tell stories of the past, while restaurants and cafes reflect local food culture. The city is small enough to walk around but offers enough to experience history, nature, and everyday Tasmania in one place.

Mount Wellington is a 1271-meter peak that rises above Hobart and shapes the city's landscape. A road leads to the lookout point, where you can see the city, the Derwent River, and the surrounding islands. On clear days, views extend far across the bay. The mountain is easily accessible and provides quick access to expansive vistas. In winter, snow can cover the higher elevations, giving the peak a different appearance. Hikers find trails of varying difficulty here.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a care and protection center for Tasmanian wildlife. Visitors can observe Tasmanian devils, koalas, and emus in their natural surroundings. The sanctuary provides insight into Tasmania's distinctive animal life and supports the conservation of these remarkable species.

Port Arthur is a historic site in Tasmania featuring the ruins of a 19th century prison complex. More than 30 buildings and ruins remain from the period between 1830 and 1877. Walking through Port Arthur, you encounter the physical traces of colonial Australia's harsh penal system. The buildings and structures tell the stories of convicts and guards who lived here. The site sits in a natural bay with water views, blending history with coastal scenery. Visitors can explore the grounds and learn how people lived during this era of Australian history.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart is Australia's oldest botanical garden, established in 1818. This place displays plant collections from Japan, France, and Australia across its large grounds. Visitors walk through carefully arranged sections where they encounter diverse plants and trees. The garden shows the historical commitment to preserving and studying plants from around the world. As part of Tasmania's natural heritage, these gardens offer a quieter way to experience the island's connection to nature and history. The space reflects Tasmania's role as a place where natural history and cultivation come together.

The Brasserie Cascade in Hobart has been operating since 1824 and still produces beer in its original buildings. This site tells the story of Tasmania's brewing heritage and combines traditional craft with historical architecture. Visitors can explore the old facilities and wander through the gardens on the grounds. Guided tours offer insight into this long-standing brewery, which remains an important part of local history and continues to shape how people in the region think about their past.

MONA is an underground contemporary art museum in Hobart that spans three levels below ground. Visitors reach the site by ferry from Hobart's port, a journey of about 30 minutes. This museum displays modern artworks in an unusual setting that creates a distinctive experience. The subterranean location offers a special environment for exploring contemporary art. MONA reflects Tasmania's commitment to providing art lovers and curious travelers with new ways to experience creative expression.

The Hobart Penitentiary in this Tasmanian collection is a prison building constructed in 1831 and transformed into a chapel in 1859. The structure retains its colonial architecture and displays period objects. It tells the story of a bygone era and contributes to understanding Tasmania's past, where history and nature intertwine on this island.

Dove Lake is a glacial lake in this national park, sitting at 940 meters (3,084 ft) elevation. A walking track of about 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) circles the lake, offering chances to observe local wildlife. The water reflects the surrounding peaks, and the trail passes through different landscapes as it winds around the shore. This is a place where hikers encounter Tasmania's natural environment in a quiet setting.

Freycinet National Park in Tasmania covers a large area with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Visitors can walk along granite cliffs and explore the coastal landscape. The park offers different trails for all fitness levels, from easy walks to challenging hikes. The bays are quiet and invite swimming. Nature lovers come here to experience Tasmania's rugged coast and see the local plants and animals that live in this part of the island.

Cataract Gorge near Launceston is a dramatic ravine cut by the South Esk River. Granite cliffs rise steeply on either side, and walking paths run along the gorge floor, letting you explore at ground level. A chairlift carries visitors high above the river, offering a different perspective of the canyon and surrounding landscape. This gorge shows the raw power of water shaping rock over time, and it exemplifies Tasmania's rugged natural character.

This island in Tasmania is known for its local cheeses, oysters and wines. Bruny Island provides a natural habitat for echidnas, sea lions and wombats that can be observed in their wild surroundings. Visitors can explore the production of artisanal cheese and discover the wildlife in the island's unspoiled areas.

Maria Island is a car-free nature reserve off Tasmania's coast where pademelons, kangaroos, and wombats roam freely. The island holds ruins from a 19th-century penal settlement and striking limestone formations that reveal how earth and time have shaped the landscape. Visitors can walk multiple trails through the reserve, observe wildlife in natural surroundings, and learn about the island's past through its historical sites. The lack of vehicles makes it a quiet place where nature takes center stage.

Queenstown in Tasmania began as a mining town in 1890 and preserves the story of copper extraction. Visitors can descend into underground tunnels where miners once worked, and learn about this period in local museums. The town reveals how deeply mining shaped people's lives and transformed the surrounding landscape.

Cape Table is a coastal promontory on this Australian island, marked by its maritime lighthouse. Cultivated fields surround the area, blooming with tulips and poppies during the austral spring. The location offers views over the sea and connects Tasmania's maritime heritage with the quiet beauty of its working landscapes.

Wineglass Bay is a crescent-shaped beach in Freycinet National Park, framed by pink granite cliffs and coastal forest. The bay features turquoise water and white sand backed by steep rock walls. It is a popular destination for hikers who want to explore the coastal paths and enjoy views from above. Swimmers and snorkelers will find clear water and diverse marine life here. The beach is easily accessible and offers a good introduction to Tasmania's natural features.

Sheffield is a small town in Tasmania where the walls of buildings become an open-air gallery. Colorful murals painted across the main streets tell stories from the region's past. These large-scale artworks cover the facades of structures throughout the town, creating a visual narrative as you walk by. The painted walls act as a public record of local history, allowing visitors to discover the heritage of the place through the eyes of local artists.

Salamanca Place is a lively square in Hobart ringed by 19th-century sandstone warehouses. Every Saturday, this space transforms into a bustling market with around 300 stalls right along the harbor. The historic buildings create an authentic backdrop as visitors browse handcrafts, local products, and antiques. This place reflects Tasmania's history and serves as a gathering spot where locals and travelers alike experience the region's character and culture.

The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a historic railroad in Tasmania that has operated since 1896 through dense forests. The line connects Strahan and Queenstown using steam locomotives. As you travel, you see old forests, river valleys, and the rugged beauty of Tasmania's west coast. This railway tells the story of mining and early settlement in the region. For travelers, it offers a way to explore Tasmania's remote areas while stepping back in time.

The Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania is a wine region with a history stretching back to the 1840s. Along a river that winds through the landscape, vineyards produce wines that have become known for their quality. Visitors can walk among the vines, tour the wineries, and taste what local producers make. The valley shows rolling hills covered with grapevines, and many estates welcome people to stay, eat, and explore. This place represents Tasmania's connection to European winemaking traditions brought to this island long ago.

The Cape Tourville lighthouse sits in Freycinet National Park and is reached by a 600 meter wooden boardwalk. This path takes you through the landscape and reveals views of steep granite cliffs and the ocean. The concrete structure stands on a headland, offering views across the coast from above. The walk is straightforward and suits visitors wanting to experience this coastal area by the Tasmanian Sea.

The Southwestern National Park in Tasmania protects a vast wilderness area of ancient rainforests, glacial lakes, and dramatic gorges. This park captures what makes Tasmania wild: water has sculpted deep canyons, dense forests cloak steep slopes, and the landscape tells stories of time and change. Walking trails wind through these untouched lands where few people venture. Wildlife thrives here freely, from small marsupials to seabirds nesting on offshore islands. The park is where Tasmania's true nature reveals itself, a place where the environment rules and humans simply pass through as visitors.

The Franklin-Gordon Rivers represent one of Tasmania's last wild river systems. This zone features deep gorges, untamed waterways, and wet forests where ancient Tasmanian beech trees have stood for thousands of years. The landscape reveals how water and time have carved stone over millennia. Visitors find themselves in unmanaged nature where walking trails trace rushing waters and thick vegetation fills the gorges. This region embodies the wild character that draws nature lovers to Tasmania.

The Hartz Mountains form a range in Tasmania that rises to 1254 meters. Thick eucalyptus forests blanket the slopes, creating a green landscape that stretches across the land. Walkers find trails here that lead to alpine lakes. These mountains are part of Tasmania's natural richness, where nature still rules the island. In winter, the peaks may be covered with snow. The Hartz Mountains invite you to explore the wild sides of this Australian island and experience the freedom of nature.

Mole Creek Karst in Tasmania is a system of natural caves carved into limestone rock. Underground rivers and mineral formations shape this landscape. The area contains over 300 caves open for exploration. This karst terrain shows how water has sculpted stone over thousands of years. Visitors can walk through underground passages and see the mineral deposits that line the cave walls. The caves offer a window into Tasmania's geological past. Hikers and nature enthusiasts find adventure in discovering these natural caverns. Light filtering through cave openings creates memorable moments as you move through the darkness below ground.

Walls of Jerusalem is an alpine national park in Tasmania featuring ancient pine forests, glacial lakes and rocky peaks reaching approximately 1500 meters in elevation. Water and time have carved this landscape over thousands of years. The lakes reflect the sky and invite exploration. Hikers discover trails through forests that feel removed from the modern world. In winter, visitors can ski on the higher slopes. This park shows how nature maintains its raw power in Tasmania's wild regions.

Devils Gullet is a nature reserve in Tasmania with an observation point perched on the edge of a 220-meter cliff overlooking Mayberry Valley. From this vantage point, you can see steep rock faces and deep ravines carved by water over countless centuries. The lookout gives a powerful sense of how the landscape was shaped by natural forces. It is a good place for walking and observing nature in Tasmania, away from busy tourist areas.

The Tasman Bridge is a concrete beam bridge that spans the Derwent River, connecting Hobart with the eastern shore. This bridge, stretching about 1400 meters, has shaped the city's character since its completion. It is far more than a practical crossing: the bridge offers views of the bay, surrounding hills, and the water below. The bridge shows the engineering skills of its era and remains central to daily life in Hobart. It connects not only two sides of the city but also weaves together Tasmania's past and present.