More than double the state's population arrives as visitors in a single year. That is the ratio behind travel in Tasmania, and it explains why tours, lodges and cruises here are so well established.
This page gives a broad picture of what the island offers, how guided tours help with getting around, and which timing details are worth knowing before you book.
Why travel in Tasmania is popular
Tourism is a large contributor to the state's economy. For the year ending September 2016, visitors spent 10.58 million nights in the state, up 8 per cent, and visitor expenditure rose 8 per cent to $2.07 billion. Interstate visitors numbered 1.01 million, up 3 per cent. The estimated population in June 2016 was 519,128, so visitors outnumbered residents by a wide margin.
Tasmania has the smallest economy in Australia when ranked by gross state product per capita, yet tourism sits alongside aquaculture, forestry, mining and construction as a major earner. For a visitor, the practical upshot is a place used to hosting people. For wider background, the Wikipedia page on the Economy of Tasmania covers the industries behind the island.
Wilderness and national parks
The island's reputation rests on its wild country. Three tours on this site show the range.
Mt. Field and the Derwent
Mt. Field is described as Tasmania's most visited wilderness area. The full-day Mt. Field and Derwent tour runs 8 to 9 hours, from $1040. It walks through cool temperate rainforest with ancient ferns and eucalypts to Russel Falls, then visits a wildlife sanctuary. Transport, morning tea and lunch are handled by your guide.
Cradle Mountain
The two-day Cradle Mountain tour from Hobart is from $445 and includes accommodation at a lakeside lodge. Groups are capped at 13, and the hikes take in rainforest, waterfalls and alpine terrain.
The Tarkine
For something more remote, the five-day takayna / Tarkine hiking tour starts from Launceston and is from $3275. Guides are accredited and trained in wilderness first aid, and you stay in basic bush camps. We reckon this one suits committed walkers, not casual day trippers.
Hobart, Bruny Island and convict history
Hobart works as the base for several trips. The two-day Hobart and Bruny Island highlights tour, from $305, covers Salamanca Market (on Saturdays), the panoramic views from Mt Wellington and the colonial village of Richmond. It then moves to Bruny Island, with a stop at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary where kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats and koalas can be met.
Convict history is the other big draw. The cruise ship Port Arthur shore excursion takes 6 hours 30 minutes, from $239. It leaves from Macquarie Wharf in Hobart, drives 90 minutes to Port Arthur Historic Site and allows up to two and a half hours there with a guide. Weather and timing permitting, the return stops at a lavender farm and an artisan chocolate foundry.
Food, drink and gentle days out
Not every trip needs a boot-and-backpack approach. Fresh produce matters to the local economy, with berries, vegetables, cherries and apples the main categories. Our Tasmania food category is the place to browse further.
- The LARK Distillery tour is 45 minutes, from $69, with three whisky expressions to taste.
- The evening dinner cruise on the hybrid-powered Spirit of the Wild runs six hours on the Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour, from $155.
- The Toffeemont alpaca farm visit near Orielton takes 90 minutes, from $55, with sessions at 10am, 1pm or 3pm daily.
Getting around
Guided tours solve much of the transport question, because the tours listed above handle transport or collect you from Hobart or Launceston. The two-day Cradle Mountain trip returns you to Hobart by day three, and the Port Arthur excursion delivers cruise passengers back to their ship by mid-afternoon.
For planning beyond the tours, the official Discover Tasmania site is a good starting point. Our Tasmania transfers category may also help.
Timing your trip and what to book
Some timing details are fixed. Salamanca Market runs on Saturdays, and the Mt. Field lunch at the on-site Agrarian Kitchen restaurant is available on weekends only. The alpaca farm sessions run daily at set times. Check current prices and times with each operator before you book.
Accommodation is worth thinking about early. Hobart had rental vacancy rates of 0.9 per cent for houses and 1.6 per cent for units in February 2016, which pointed to a tight housing market. Bundled tours with accommodation, such as the Cradle Mountain trip, remove some of that worry. For more ideas, see our Tasmania destinations pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many people visit Tasmania?
For the year ending September 2016, interstate visitors numbered 1.01 million, and visitor expenditure reached $2.07 billion. The state's estimated population in June 2016 was 519,128.
What is the best first tour for a short stay?
The two-day Hobart and Bruny Island tour, from $305, covers the city, Mt Wellington, Richmond and wildlife in one trip. A single day can be filled with the Mt. Field tour.
Is there a tour for a cruise ship stop?
Yes. The Port Arthur shore excursion takes 6 hours 30 minutes from Macquarie Wharf in Hobart and returns you to your ship by mid-afternoon, from $239.