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5 incredible sides of Tasmania

28 Jul 2021

Picturesque waterways, majestic mountains, stunning coastline, diverse rainforest and cultural heritage: there really is something for everyone in Tasmania.

Here, we take a look at five distinct sides of Australia’s magnificent island state. 

1. The wild West Coast 

Tasmania’s rugged west coast is far less travelled compared with the east coast, but there are many incredible secrets to unlock – in particular, the Franklin-Gordon Rivers National Park is full of wonders just waiting to be explored. 

The Franklin-Gordon Rivers National Park is wild and untamed, with spectacular mountain peaks, breathtaking gorges and pristine rivers abundant throughout the landscape. The best way to discover some of the West Coast’s best corners is via a cruise along the Gordon River.

2. World-renowned Cradle Mountain 

This spectacular World Heritage Area is hugely popular with travellers due not only to its sheer beauty, but also to its accessibility just a little more than two hours’ drive from Launceston.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers something for everyone. If you’re only there for the day, there are plenty of hiking options for all abilities, whether it’s a short walk to Crater Lake or Dove Lake, or a full-day return trip to the summit of Cradle Mountain. Not only can you soak in the World Heritage Listed scenery, but you will also have the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife including wombats, pademelons, currawongs and echidnas.

For those with a bit more time on their hands and a healthy sense of adventure, the six-day Overland Track throughout the National Park is one of not just Australia’s, but also the world’s, most famous hikes.

3. Australia’s largest temperate rainforest

Located in Tasmania’s far north-west corner, the Tarkine Forest Reserve is a massive, wildly diverse and largely unspoilt area featuring temperate rainforest, sand dunes and coastal heathland.  The plant and animal life is rich and varied, with creatures ranging from the platypus to the wombat, echidna, possum, bandicoot, possum and glider, as well as the famous Tasmanian Devil, calling the forest home. 

Furthermore, the Tarkine is rich in Indigenous history with strong links to Tasmania’s Indigenous people, for 40,000 years the home to the Tasmanian tarkiner people. In fact, the name “Tarkine” means “belonging to, or of, the tarkiner.”

4. The sunny East Coast

There is so much to see on Tasmania’s East Coast. Starting from Hobart and heading north via Triabunna and Swansea, you can soon find yourself in the world-renowned Freycinet Peninsula region, which features Wineglass Bay, one of the world’s most iconic beaches.

Continue north from there and you’ll reach the town of St Helen’s, from which you have quick access to the scenic beachside community of Binalong Bay and the extraordinary Bay of Fires, where orange lichen-covered rocks line the coast mixing with clean white beaches and sparkling blue water. The area is also well-known for its snorkelling and diving, with scenic reefs, corals, underwater caves and endless sea life.

5. Historic Port Arthur 

The village of Port Arthur, located on the Tasman peninsula in Tasmania’s south-easternmost reaches, is famed for its well-preserved penal colony buildings. You can easily spend a day wandering among Port Arthur’s convict-era prisons and well-maintained gardens, discover its darkest secrets on a ghost tour, or take a cruise out on the bay and visit the Isle of the Dead cemetery island.

Not only that, but if you’ve got some extra time and want to experience the natural wonders of the Tasman Peninsula, don’t miss the incredible Three Capes region (including Cape Hauy, Cape Raoul and Cape Pillar), where you can experience some of the most exhilarating clifftop views you’re ever likely to find.

Planning a trip to Tassie?
Thursday 14 October – Saturday 24 October, 2021

Coal River Coaches’ 11 Day Vintage Tour is a great way to experience a wide and diverse selection of what Tasmania has to offer. Coal River Coaches’ luxury touring class coaches come complete with climate control, USB charging points, and luxury leather reclining seats with footrests. 

The 11 Day Vintage Tour is $3,699 per person, twin share, or $4,899 per person, single room, and has been designed with over 55s and retired individuals and couples in mind.

Tour highlights include: 

  • 10 nights of quality accommodation in 4-star properties
  • Luxury Coach Touring
  • Hobart & Launceston City Sights & Surrounds Tour
  • Entry to The Wall in the Wilderness
  • Full Day Tour of Port Arthur Historic Site
  • A spectacular Gordon River Cruise
  • A Tarkine “Edge of the World Half Day Tour”
  • Dove Lake and magnificent Cradle Mountain National Park
  • The Nut return chairlift at Stanley
  • Josef Chromy Wines – Go Behind the Label Tour
  • National Park Passes included

For further information or to view other fantastic Tasmania tours, visit the Coal River Coaches website.

Coal River Coaches is a Probus national partner.