Everything to know about travelling to Tasmania

Tasmania is a beautiful state with wild and rugged scenery, unique wildlife, rich history and fantastic local produce. This is by far one of the most beautiful states I have visited! Here you can do everything from trying local produce, hiking, boating, beach hopping and more. Trust me when I say Tasmania should be on your Australian bucket list!  

This blog post contains some important information about travelling and around Tasmania, accommodation, activities and more. 

You might be interested in….6 places you MUST visit in Tasmania!

This post contains affiliate links, I may receive a small compensation if you use them – don’t worry it’s not extra cost to you! 

Travel Insurance 

It’s always important to have travel insurance on any of your overseas or domestic holidays! This will help cover medical expenses, stolen items, lost baggage and so much more. I always go with Covermore insurance, as they have some of the best coverage for medical and high value items. 

Entering Australia 

It is always best to check the Australia government website or your local government website for information on travelling and entering Australia. 

Domestic

If you have already arrived in Australia or are from Australia, you will not need to go through customs if you enter Tasmania via flying. To travel to Tasmania as an Australia you only need a form of government ID (passport, license etc). As an international traveller you will need your valid passport. You will still need to go through security checks at the airport. 

International

If you are travelling to Tasmania internationally, you will need to complete the standard procedure for entering Australia prior to boarding the domestic flight (usually in Sydney or Melbourne). The domestic terminal is separate from the international one, so you will need to complete the correct custom and immigration forms. 

How to get to Tasmania?

As Tasmania is located off the coast of mainland Australia, there are only two ways you can get there; boat or flying. 

By Air

This is the quickest and easiest way to reach Tasmania. Most international visitors to Australia will fly into Sydney or Melbourne, before catching a connecting flight to Hobart or Launceston. These flights usually operate daily. 

The following airlines fly to Tasmania. 

By Ferry

The second way to get to Tasmania is via ferry. The Spirit of Tasmania operates daily between Melbourne and Devonport. This trip takes anywhere between 9-11hrs. There are restaurants, bars, activities for kids and a cinema onboard. This is the best option if you are completing the Big Lap of Australia or want to take your car with you. 

How to travel around Tasmania 

The best way to travel around Tasmania is via self-drive or a tour. There are regular public transport services in the main cities of Tasmania and a few public transport services that run rurally. 

Self-Drive

This is always going to be my recommendation for travelling anywhere around Australia, whether that be by car or campervan. I personally recommend a campervan as its much cheaper and allows you to camp in some beautiful destinations.

I have a review here of the campervan I rented for my trip around Tasmania through Spaceship Rentals

Tour

There are a variety of tours you can choose from which will take you to various attractions around Tasmania. 

Tourhub offers some great deals on tours around Tasmania. This 6 day tour takes you to places such as Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, Freycinet National Park and Mt Field National park. Or this 12 day tour takes you to some more rural and historic places.

Viator and get your guide are also great places to look for shorter/day tours.  

Public Transport

You can get around Tassie via the public transport Tassielink. However, the places these buses stop is limited, and I would recommend one of the above two options instead.  

What’s the weather like?

Tasmania is one of the only states in Australia that really does have 4 seasons. It is also one of the coldest states in Australia. In summer temperatures can reach the high 30’s and in winter the temperatures can reach freezing (yes it snows in Tasmania!). The best time to visit is either in spring or summer, when the temperatures are at their warmest.

WinterSpringSummerAutumn
June to August September to November September to November March to May 

How long will I need?

As long as possible. Although it’s a small state, there is an abundance of things to do and places to explore. I recommend you have at least 2 weeks to explore some of the main attractions Tasmania has to offer at a comfortable pace. 

What is there to do in Tassie?

National Parks

Tasmania has some of the most untouched wilderness Australia has to offer. Including some of the best multi and day hikes. Tasmania has a total of 19 national parks and many of them are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most famous national park is Cradle Mountain, known for its vivid lakes, natural beauty, and wildlife. 

National Park Pass

To enter the national parks of Tasmania, you will need to buy a valid park pass. This will give you access to each one, as well as the shuttle service offered in Cradle Mountain. You can buy 24hr or holiday passes. It is better value to buy the holiday pass if you plan on visiting multiple national parks. 

You can purchase national park passes at the visitor centres at all major Tasmania national parks or online.

Visit the Cities

The three major cities in Tasmania are Hobart, Launceston and Devonport. All to which have their own charm. There is a lot to see in the cities, so I do recommend spending a day or two in each to explore what they have to offer.  

Where to stay in Tassie?

You have a range of accommodation choices in Tasmania from hotels, cabins, camping and bush camping. There is something to suit everyone. 

Hotels, Motels and Cabins

To find the best deals on accommodation options in Tasmania, I recommend looking at booking.com. They have a large range of options even in some of the most rural parts of Tassie. 

 

Camping

Tasmania is excellent for camping and known for some incredible camping spots. The best way to find campsites around Tasmania is either via Wikicamps app, Campermate or the National parks website.

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