Things to see and do in Tasmania

With so much newness across the island, now is a great time to get to travel a little deeper. From accommodation and infrastructure, to new trails, art, food and adventure, it’s a great time to visit (or revisit!) Tassie.

SOUTH and EAST

Maylands Lodge

Did we have you at ‘trophy mansion’? After a two year renovation, guests can now stay at Maylands Lodge - a large historic home built in New Town in 1887 by renowned architect Henry Hunter for John Pearce. John was a convict’s son and keen to get rid of the moniker so he built the epic 12-room home. Today, the urban lodge on the edge of Hobart city is a seamless blend of heritage and contemporary, with a big focus on giving back. Every booking contributes to a chosen children’s charity as well as 100% of the profit from bottled water going back to water projects. There’s also no single-use plastic, it is solar powered and has the largest onsite kitchen garden of any suburban hotel in Hobart.

Book at www.mayandslodge.com.au

Maria Island e-Bikes

Explore Maria Island National Park on Tasmania’s East Coast from a comfortable electric mountain bike with Tasmanian e-Bike Adventures. Owner and guide, Ben has enduring connections to the Maria Island National Park, with family links going back four generations, and now offers customised and immersive adventures on two wheels. Electric bikes, with wide tyres and a helpful engine boost, help riders go even further—it’s possible to cover the whole 20 kilometre stretch of national park including the fascinating sandy isthmus, sheltered bays and surf beach. Tasmanian e-Bike adventures are the only operators on Maria Island licensed to run e-bike tours, as well as holding a permit to snorkel in the renowned marine reserve off the island. They also now offer coastal adventures at Bangor, a private coastal property with 25 kilometres of epic trails and history.

More information at www.tasmanianebikeadventures.com.au

Above and Beyond Seaplanes

Jump aboard the customised seven seater de Havilland Beaver with Above and Beyond Seaplanes to see a different side of Hobart, Port Arthur and Stewarts Bay. Departing from Hobart’s waterfront, the 30-minute City Scenic adventure takes guests on a loop over the city then down the River Derwent all the way to Bruny Island, then back up the river to the Tasman Bridge before landing back at Franklin Wharf. The 90-minute Port Arthur and Three Capes Panorama flight heads toward the spectacular Tasman Peninsula and over the soaring cliffs of the iconic Three Capes before touching down at Port Arthur to stretch the legs ahead of the return journey via kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

More information, including custom charters, at www.aboveandbeyond.flights

Adventure Bay Retreat

Seventh generation Tasmanian, Jan Glover has created something special at Adventure Bay Retreat on the north coast of Bruny Island. Set on 33 acres of coastal bushland and originally opened in 2011 with The Lodge and The Cottage, Jan has recently added two more luxury accommodation options, The Studio and The Lair to the offering. The buildings have been created by local craftspeople using locally-sourced materials and the interiors feature locally crafted furniture and fittings and original art by talented Tasmanian artists. Jan also aims to keep the carbon footprint down by minimising waste, relying on local produce and including energy efficiencies in the design. They even have complimentary bikes for guests to use.

Book at www.adventurebayretreat.com.au

Mona Summer Exhibitions

Over summer, Mona is home to two new exhibitions. British artist Toby Ziegler presents a solo show, Your shadow Rising, in Australia for the first time, and French artists Fabien Giraud and Raphaël Siboni have returned to Mona with the second part of their epic project The Unmanned. Ziegler’s exhibition features the largest sculpture of his career, a huge hand based on a drawing by Hendrick Goltzius, a Dutch Baroque printmaker, draftsman, and painter. The work by Giraud and Siboni includes dozens of sculptures and two films, one shot at Mona. There are six exhibitions on display over summer, the most Mona has shown at any one time during the museum’s seven-year history.

More information at www.mona.net.au

Three Capes Lodge Walk

As the only private guided walking company with permission to stay within the national park at night, the Tasmanian Walking Co. now offers the Three Capes Lodge Walk, a 46 kilometre fully-guided walking experience along the wild and rugged cliffs of the dramatic Tasman Peninsula. Starting with an eco-cruise near historic Port Arthur, the Southern Ocean is your constant companion as you traverse soaring sea cliffs, spy incredible wildlife and flora, and absorb 37,000 years of history along the way. Settle in each night in architecturally-designed lodges to refuel with Tasmania’s finest food and drink. You can even enjoy a massage or spa treatment as you rest up. There are trips departing all year round with a maximum of 14 guests.

Find out more at www.taswalkingco.com.au/three-capes-lodge-walk/

Walk on Kunanyi

kunanyi/Mt Wellington towers over Hobart, all 1271 metres of it, a natural playground for residents and visitors to the city. Walk on Kunanyi specialise in guided day and half day walks, from the easy ‘Mountain Gems’ which is suitable for children, to the epic full day ‘Iconic Ascent’ where walkers dip their toe in the River Derwent then finish 18 kilometres later at the pinnacle. kunanyi/Mt Wellington is home to mighty swamp gums, the tallest flowering plants in the world, and many other beautiful flora and fauna. Guests will also enjoy local produce while on refuelling stops, and some itineraries includes stops at Cascade Brewery at the base of the mountain.

More information at www.walkonkunanyi.com.au

kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus

Hobart recently welcomed the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus, a city to summit shuttle bus and tour loop. The all day bus pass includes the two-hour loop tour. Guests can choose to hop-on and hop-off along the way at Fern Tree Park, The Springs, The Chalet, Big Bend or The Pinnacle. The tour takes two hours to complete, including 20 minutes to take in the panoramic views from summit. Alternatively if the goal is to get straight to the top—a one way ticket might be the answer. Guests can ride or walk back down and take in the sights along the way.

Book at www.mtwellingtonexplorer.com.au

NORTH and WEST

Unique Charters

Get out and experience remote areas of Tassie’s north in style with Unique Charters, who are now offering scenic helicopter tours directly from Peppers Silo Hotel in Launceston. Guests can choose from a range of flights from the hotel. Take the 15 minute Tamar Gorge flight, or try something longer like the Tamar Valley Wine Route, Ben Lomond Mountain Explorer or the Cradle Mountain and Great Lakes experience. There are also flights departing from Bridport (Barnbougle) and prices start from $360 for two people and can include a range of extras such as picnics, sparkling wine and pre and post lunches and dinners.

Book at www.uniquecharters.com.au

Kooparoona Niara Cliffs Walk

One of Tassie’s newest indigenous experiences, the Kooparoona Niara Cliffs Walk in Deloraine winds along the banks of the Meander River, past native plantings and artworks inspired by the Tasmanian Aboriginal culture. Join a tour with Kooparoona Niara tours - choose between a half or full day tour and explore the walk then enjoy a wander through the wilderness to see the Alum Cliffs Gorge at Toolumbunna. Kooparoona Niara is the Aboriginal name given to the Great Western Tiers, a mountain range behind the town and a significant site in Tasmanian Aboriginal culture—it means ‘mountain of the spirits’. There’s also a Yarning Circle and Fire Pit that can be booked and used by the public.

More information at www.meander.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=678

River Sledding at Meander

Wanting to recreate the simple fun of a childhood spent on the family property on the Meander River near Deloraine, founder Daniel Wickham came up with river sledding. But what’s river sledding? Up to ten guests jump on inflatable lilos and enjoy a gentle whitewater experience floating and paddling through grade one and two rapids over three tranquil kilometres. It’s fun and exciting and the perfect way to slow down and take in the beauty of the region. Tours run for 3-4 hours and start at $120 for an adult, with kids over 13 welcome to join in the fun too.

More information at www.meanderwildernessexperiences.com

Wild Mersey and Kelcey Tiers MTB

Devonport is home to Tassie’s newest mountain bike trail network with the opening of stage one of Wild Mersey, which will eventually become over 100 kilometres of mixed-landscape riding. The first stage is at the northern end of the network in the Warrawee Reserve near Latrobe, and features 15 kilometres of green, blue and black trails with epic views and flowing descents. Nearby Kelcey Tiers is another option for mountain bikers, from smooth and flowing green trails to technical black trails to test more experienced riders. A little like a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ story, the green trails were built with advanced riders in mind too, with both A and B-line options to try. The best part is that all of this is only ten minutes from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Devonport. And all across the Cradle Coast area are hand-built tracks constructed by local community mountain bike groups, so there’s plenty of dirt to explore.

Access track information via www.trailforks.com

Horsetails Falls and other Short Walks of the Cradle Coast

On the winding Lyell Highway on the way to Queenstown there’s a curious sight - a long, snaking boardwalk hugging the rocky contours of the hill, leading walkers to Horsetail Falls. The boardwalk was designed by a local company to replace an informal track, and is now safe in wet weather (when waterfalls hit their strides!). With Mount Owen is a backdrop, Horsetail Falls is a large seasonal waterfall that’s best after heavy rain. For more Short Walks of the Cradle Coast check out the new easy-to-use Google Map which includes the short walks, waterfalls and long walks in the region. And there’s so much to see in the region with each season offering something unique—endemic fagus in Autumn, fungi of all colours and shapes in Winter, flowing waterfalls in Spring and Summer and local wildlife year round.

Access the map at www.visitcradlecoast.com.au/experience/short-walks/

Travelling The Tarkine

For an ancient temperate rainforest, there’s a whole host of new things to discover in the region. There’s been a significant infrastructure upgrade with the reopening of the Milkshake Hills Regional Reserve. The reserve has been closed for nearly two years after wildfires tore through the area in 2016 and the new works include upgrades to walking tracks. Want to try some incredibly pristine seafood? Tarkine Fresh Oysters recently opened their new cafe and store serving up freshly shucked oysters from their own oyster farm nearby. Finish with something sweet from Blue Hills Honey at Mawbanna, where the Charles family set up an apiary over 60 years ago. The honey is produced via over 2000 hives placed within the Tarkine rainforest making this possibly the cleanest honey you’re likely to eat! Or take a guided tour with RoamWild in Queenstown - their Lake Margaret Hydropower tour now includes a visit to the hallowed Mt Lyell Mining & Railway companies general offices.

For a full and up-to-date listing of Tasmanian events, and information on travelling to Tasmania, visit the Discover Tasmania website discovertasmania.com.au.