13 incredible adventures to take in Tasmania

Come take a journey of discovery through the storied wilderness of western Tasmania. It’s a nature- and culture- rich region that makes you want to slow down and explore further and deeper. Whether you favor beaches or rainforests, waterfalls or rivers, you’ll find a wealth of possibilities on a journey through this land of rugged beauty. Starting with the Lyell Highway from Hobart to Queenstown, you can veer off toward any number of wilderness or cultural pursuits. Take time to venture over roads less traveled and create your own stories.

The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) takes up one-fifth of Tasmania, an area bigger than Connecticut. And it’s one of Earth’s last real wilderness areas, protecting a vast tract of temperate rainforest and its ancient plants and unique wildlife.

With a history stretching back 40,000 years, western Tasmania has Aboriginal sites brimming with artifacts and holding cave systems with Ice Age rock art. Then there are the more recent centuries of mining, pining, and convict history. Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour was the site of one of Australia’s harshest penal colonies. Hear chilling tales of men who attempted escape across windswept barrens, open water, and impenetrable forests.

A must for both serious and novice trekkers, the Overland Track wends its gorgeous way from Cradle Valley to Lake St. Clair, a hike of about 50 miles. Whether on an organized outing, or a self-guided expedition, this is one for lovers of the outdoors.

Sign up for the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, a six-day guided adventure through the heart of the TWWHA. Over landscape formed more than 150 million years ago, you’ll traverse glacially carved valleys, thick rainforests, button grass moorland, and alpine meadows, all steeped in beauty. At night, kick back with a hot shower and a delicious three-course meal prepared by your guides. Share stories with your fellow adventurers, and then retire to your comfy private hut.

Not up for overnight trekking? Take a day or half-day walk in the Cradle Mountain area. Whether you seek alpine heathland or old-growth rainforest, lakes or mountain streams, the outback here delivers. In the fall, prepare to be dazzled by the fagus (deciduous beech), as it turns from green to gold to orange. And keep your eyes peeled for local wildflowers you may not be familiar with—waratah, banksia, and hakea. As for exotic animals, look for platypus, echidna, rare and adorable spotted quolls, and, yes, Tasmanian devils. Birders will not be disappointed either.

Dramatic vistas are easy to find around Dove Lake. On a two-hour circuit of the lake, enjoy sweeping views of Cradle Mountain, the jewel of Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. And check out the fine views from Weindorfer’s Chalet, a rustic alpine retreat that was once home to the park’s founding father and his guests. Just outside the park entrance, a visitor center, shop, and café cater to visitors, while an interpretative center stands inside. Accommodations range from simple cabins to private lodges.

Escape to a secluded lakeside retreat in the wilderness. Pumphouse Point at Lake St. Clair provides luxury accommodations with local historical flavor. This new all-inclusive wilderness experience on the Southern Hemisphere’s deepest lake offers a variety of opportunities in a spellbinding natural environment. Take walks in a fjord-like wilderness. Ride mountain bikes over wooded paths. Hike bush trails. Row a dinghy for up-close views of water life. Take a fly fishing lesson—the trout fishery here is tops. After a full day, share long-table feasts of sophisticated locally sourced food with hosts and fellow guests in the Shorehouse, a converted 1940s hydroelectric pumphouse on the lake with splendid views in every direction. Or just tuck into the in-room larder filled with such local highland produce as cheeses, soups, and cured meats. Afterward, sip a Tasmanian whisky or craft beer from the "honesty bar".

The area is known as the land of a thousand lakes. Its many alpine tarns were formed by glacial action 8,000 to 20,000 years ago. Winter snows bring out a quiet, majestic side of the area.

Take the path less travelled and journey deep into the rugged mountain ranges of the west coast. Mount Murchison is a challenging 1278m alpine circuit near Tullah that rewards with views of glacial lakes. The Mount Dundas track reveals rainforest and the Fraser Creek Hut. Montezuma Falls track is suitable for both walkers and mountain bikers and follows an old abandoned tramway through rainforest until you reach Montezuma Falls – Tasmania’s highest waterfall.

Further south, near Queenstown, join a local RoamWild tour for an action-packed Mountain Heights and Wildlife Nights 4x4 adventure to Mt Owen for a serene sunset at the top of the peak. From the summit you can take in incredible 360-degree views out to the natural Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage sites of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Franklin and Gordon Rivers National Park, Hells Gates and the wild Southern Ocean beyond the west coast.

After taking in the view and watching the sun sink below the horizon, extend your adventure to discover what creeps about under cover of darkness in Tasmania's ancient rainforest armed only with a flashlight. Accompanied by your guide learn about these nocturnal creatures and listen to the stories of the piners and miners that shaped the west coast.

Go wild without roughing it on a journey from the small town of Strahan out to Macquarie Harbour and down the Gordon River. Gordon River Cruises’ Spirit of the Wild is like no other vessel in Australia. Fitted with a hybrid propulsion system consisting of both diesel engines and electric motors, it offers passengers an unparalleled experience—a quiet cruise. The environmentally sensitive silent-drive feature transports you to a primeval world, alive with the sounds of birds and wind and lapping water. Six-hour tours include guided walks and a buffet lunch.

For a luxury option, book a Fly and Cruise Tour from Hobart with Par Avion Wilderness Tours. Fly over the Central Highlands of Tasmania toward the west coast, and then cruise down the Gordon on the Spirit of the Wild.

The Franklin and Gordon Rivers, the “wild rivers” at the heart of the TWWHA, are famous as the site of Australia’s largest conservation battle. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Tasmanian government wanted to dam the Franklin for hydroelectric power. Environmentalists’ success in halting the project was a key factor in the TWWHA receiving a World Heritage listing. Earlier stories of timber extraction by convicts and pioneers have left a rich legacy of hardship and adventure in the wilderness.

A challenging and rewarding experience awaits those who take on the undammed, untamed Franklin River. Brawling through gorges and canyons, the Franklin provides Australia’s best white water rafting. Several companies offer five- to ten-day expeditions, with meals included and camping in caves along the riverbank.

Early “piners” traveled the river in search of the Huon pine that grows along its banks. Some remaining Huons are thought to be 1,000 years old. Other indigenous species include wallabies, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, and white-breasted sea eagles. Australia’s Greens movement began here in the 1980s with a blockade protest against the proposed Franklin Dam. The result is a free and wild river ecosystem.

The Franklin flows 78 miles through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, part of the TWWHA. Rapids vary from class 1 (gentle) to class 6 (extreme); some tours portage around the tougher stretches. At the end, rafters catch the Gordon River Ferry, or charter a float plane or yacht to pick them up.

A Wild Pedder Wilderness Tour plunges into Tasmania's western wilderness, offering a new activity on each of four days. From bushwalking and kayaking, to mountain climbing and caving, adventurers will bring back lively stories of thrilling experiences. Nights are spent at a wilderness lodge around roaring fires with good Tasmanian food and wine.

The trip starts with a hike through a boulder-strewn landscape sculpted by glaciers. You’ll come across hidden mountain lakes and tarns rimmed with twisted eucalyptus (gum) trees. Spend the night in Pedder Wilderness Lodge in Southwest National Park, Tasmania’s largest. Watch the sun set over the Frankland Range; linger until the sky fills with stars.

The next day brings kayaking in a gorge surrounded by craggy peaks. Paddle onto Lake Pedder with its pink quartzite beaches. Then it’s on to an ascent of button grass plains and quartzite spurs overlooking Lake Pedder. Scramble over boulders on the way up Mt. Eliza, where there are panoramic views of ranges and peaks. On the final day, explore the Florentine Valley and see some of the tallest flowering plants on Earth—the Eucalyptus regnans, which can reach up to 280 feet tall, second only to the redwood. Enter a karst cave system where a creek disappears into a dark underground abyss.

Hop aboard the West Coast Wilderness Railway, a train pulled by an 1890s steam locomotive. Passengers travel on the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest steam-operated railway line, up through spectacular wildlands and views, across historic bridges, and down to Dubbil Barril, a stop on the King River where you can pan for gold and taste Tasmanian leatherwood honey. The old engines were built to move copper ore for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, taking their loads from Queenstown to the port of Strahan.

West Coast Wilderness Railway also operates the new Heli-Steam experience near Queenstown. The itinerary includes a two-hour steam train trip, which explores fascinating mining history and takes you through an old-growth forest. And then comes a breathtaking scenic helicopter flight from Regatta Point.

With 230 waterfalls in Tasmania, visitors have a choice of picturesque settings for hiking and picnicking. About an hour west of Hobart, Russell Falls graces Mount Field National Park with three tiers of curtain-like cascades. One look and it’s easy to see why this is Tasmania’s most photographed falls. Take a night walk with a flashlight and see glow worms.

Another tiered delight, Liffey Falls steps its way down the Liffey River to a spray-pool grotto. There are a number of smaller falls leading up to the final tier and main attraction, all of them encircled by lush ancient rainforest. Stop at Deloraine Deli on the way and ask the friendly staff to help you pick out some tasty Tassie picnic supplies.

At 341 feet, Montezuma Falls is Tasmania’s highest. This one plunges deep in the wilderness, more than an hour north of Strahan. The area is rich in mining and railway history; look for the original sleepers from the old tram line. Less than an hour from Queenstown, Nelson Falls is surrounded by ancient plant species thriving in the cool, temperate rainforest. Breathe the clean, tree-scrubbed air.

An all-inclusive, guided expedition takes you deep into Tasmania’s remote and untouched south west. The landscape is scored with wild rivers, quartzite peaks, and extensive waterways. A Marine Nature Reserve (and part of the TWWHA), this area is accessible only by foot, boat, or light aircraft.

Fly from Hobart to Melaleuca, and then travel with Tasmanian Boat Charters’ crew (skipper, chef, and guide) through mirrored waters to your floating home. A boutique hotel, the Odalisque is a custom-built twenty-meter vessel equipped with hot showers and soft beds.

Guest chefs from Hobart’s best restaurants provide top-notch, modern Tasmanian fare, paired with fine Tasmanian wines. Expert guides with years of experience double as your personal walking encyclopedias, helping you unlock the secrets of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

A fly-fishing trip in the TWWHA gets to the heart and spirit of the wild highland lakes. Nestled in the Western Lakes fishery in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, RiverFly Wilderness Huts offers modern insulated lodgings a stone’s throw from Lake Ina and close by nine other lakes. Guides cater to all skill levels, from beginner to expert.

This fly fisher’s paradise averages 3,300 feet in altitude and features varied terrain, from alpine to temperate rainforest. Wild brown trout dominate the fishery, with an average size of 2.5 pounds (18 inches). The largest trout caught in recent years weighed around 17 pounds. That’s right, these are big fish, and you’re almost sure to catch one, or a dozen. Fishing from RiverFly is mostly by lake-edge and wade-polaroiding, in shallow and crystal-clear waters.

Clustered under tall snowgum trees, the huts are simple, lightweight structures, with insulated walls, canvas roofs and ceilings, and wraparound decks, all perched above the native flora on raised platforms. Among iconic Tasmanian animals inhabiting the area are wallabies, wombats, owls, and eagles. Snow-capped Mount Olympus and the heath of Skullbone Plains form a backdrop, while the gravel-sand beaches spread a welcome mat.

The remote southwestern part of Tasmania remains one of the wildest and most beautiful places on Earth. Small islands and inlets off the Indian Ocean, sapphire-colored waters, empty beaches, and cool rainforests exist far from the pulse of civilization. An excursion to this lightly explored region comes with lifelong memories and stories. A Par Avion excursion touches down in the tiny settlement of Melaleuca, which is inaccessible by road. On a guided walk you’ll hear tales, tall and true, of the local Aboriginals and of bushman Deny King. The legendary naturalist, painter, and tin miner established a recovery program for the endangered orange-bellied parrot. His passion helped protect the region as part of the TWWHA.

You’ll stay at Southwest Wilderness Camp, an eco-friendly glamping operation perched on the shores of Bathurst Harbour. Enjoy private accommodations in a lush rainforest. Guides interpret the area’s fascinating natural and local history. At night they become wilderness chefs and prepare mouthwatering Tasmanian dishes, accompanied by Tasmanian wine.

While here, venture out to explore the islands of Bathurst Harbour and walk along the remote beaches of Southwest National Park. Take a half, full, or multi-day kayaking trip in the Roaring 40s, waterways known for the prevailing westerly winds that sweep around the high southern latitudes.