Tasmania

Along the east coast you can dine on plump oysters and other fresh seafood, sip wine with the winemaker at one of the wineries along the coast, kayak with dolphins or take the ferry to Maria Island — a wildlife haven set amongst natural beauty and convict history.

Pull back to a slower pace and soak in natural beauty, wild coastlines, picturesque towns and a slower lifestyle. Be transformed by wilderness, waterfalls and the greatest expanse of cool temperate rainforest in Australia, and second largest in the world — The Tarkine. The north west is also a bountiful food bowl and you can pick up fresh farm grown produce along the Cradle to Coast Tasting trail or taste it in the local restaurants.

Launceston is Tasmania's second major city and a vibrant hub for food and wine, culture and nature. The city is full of character, eye-catching architecture, quaint shop fronts and interesting stores. Discover handmade local products in boutique stores, galleries and design hubs.

With only 900 residents, Flinders is largely untouched wilderness and sometimes eerily quiet — bordered by more than 120 deserted beaches and surrounded by at least 65 shipwrecks.

When you first arrive at Great Oyster Bay set against the backdrop of Freycinet National Park and the three pink-granite peaks of the Hazards mountain range — you know you're somewhere different (and special). Located on Tasmania's beautiful east coast, the Freycinet National Park occupies most of the Freycinet Peninsula. The 10,000 ha park is loaded with natural assets, including the granite peaks of the Hazards that dominate the Peninsula and the iconic and much-photographed Wineglass Bay. It is also a wildlife haven to Tasmanian pademelons, white-breasted sea eagles, and red-necked wallabies. There are long and short walks across the park to secluded bays, clean beaches and bird-filled lagoons.

The Tarkine Drive in Tasmania's north west is easily accessible for anyone wanting to get back in touch with nature and experience the wilderness. The loop takes travellers through natural and dramatic landscapes surrounded by rainforest and tall eucalypts with impressive widespread views over rivers and beyond. Completing the loop is the Trowutta Arch Rain Forest Walk — a stunning and natural geological structure.

Tasmania is home to some of Australia's most iconic walks – the Bay of Fires, Maria Island, and of course, the Overland Track, to name a few. But one doesn't have to embark on a multi-day trek to experience the best of Tassie on foot. Work your way down the list of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. They give just about anybody the chance to explore some of Tassie's most scenic and iconic regions, in walks ranging from about 20 minutes to a couple of hours.

Tasmania is one of the last great wild fisheries. Glassy lagoons, remote highland lakes and freestone rivers provide seclusion and excellent dry fly fishing from September to May. There are over 3,000 lakes, rivers and streams in Tassie. You’ll be excited to discover almost all of them hold wild brown and rainbow trout. The varied terrain also creates some pretty memorable challenges.

Enter the Tarkine, the largest tract of temperate rainforest in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore with little more than a day pack as you discover the wilderness and dine on fresh produce. Freshen up in a Japanese-style washroom, dine among the ferns and settle next to a fire.

The Great Eastern Drive — it’s a place of stomach filling soul food and jaw-dropping vistas. Pristine water, rich soil and a mild climate make for a killer oyster and wine road trip. Add ocean-going adventures and friendly locals and you have all the ingredients for the perfect coastal break. Between Orford and the Bay of Fires, you’ll find picture blinding white beaches, azure water and bright orange boulders. See Tassie’s East Coast with your own eyes and it will stay with you forever. Lace up and walk off plump oysters along sandy stretches of shell-strewn beaches. Stop, take your time — the Great Eastern Drive promises a winding coastal sojourn along a blindingly beautiful coastline and ridiculous beaches, topped off with a gentle coastal breeze.