4 Breathtaking Landscapes To Look Out In Tasmania

It is easy to conjure up images of ethereal natural beauty and breathtaking wilderness when thinking about Tasmania, or Tassie, as it is known locally. Ranging from rugged, snow-capped outcrops and glowy mountain ranges, to untouched white-sand bays complete with azure waters and wild plains, the island state of Tasmania boasts some of the most unbelievable landscapes in the world. A visit here would truly make you ask the question ‘Is this really Earth?’.

You can spend months here and still feel like you haven't seen it all! So to make your Tassie visit all the more perfect, here is a short guide to some of its majestic landscapes.

Cataract Gorge

A 15 minute stroll from Launceston’s vibrant city centre will take you to an astounding  80-million-year old gorge. Yep, the proximity between the man-made edifices and natural serenity is shockingly surprising is Tasmania! 

One of Tasmania's premier attractions, the gorge can be explored in many ways including along walking and hiking trails, as well as on the world’s longest single span chairlift! You can also jump aboard the Cataract Gorge cruises to explore it from the water, which is one of the popular ways to discover the true beauty and might of the gorge. Keep an eye out for peacocks wandering about!

Wineglass Bay

Often dubbed as one of the best beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay is every photographer’s wildest dreams, times ten! Spread out before you on top of the lookout is a stunning contrast of green and brown patches of mountain ranges, the white sand beach, and the turquoise waters lapping gently on the shore. 

The bay itself is shaped like a perfect crescent! It is one of those experiences which you’d know for sure that you’ll remember for the rest of your life! Take a hike to the summit of Mount Amos for the best views, but be warned, it is quite challenging and requires a good level of fitness and mobility.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

This list is not curated in any special order, but if it was, I’d easily put this wonderland on top. Home to an abundance of wallabies, wombats, Tasmanian Devils, shy platypuses, echidna, and the ever-inquisitive black jays, the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a natural gem right in the neck of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Here, you’ll find seven of Tasmania’s ten highest mountains, and Lake St Clair, which is the deepest lake in the country. The lake is the epitome of tranquillity, surrounded by dark rainforests, majestic scenery, alpine heathlands, and mountains – setting your bare foot onto the lakeside is an experience that you’ll reminisce about for years.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Port Arthur may have a brutal past, but this historic site located on a splendid harbour at the southernmost tip of the Tasman Peninsula is truly a sight to behold. What once was a wicked 19th-century penal settlement, is now but ruins and relics of the past – an open-air museum perhaps. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is surrounded by dense forest and calm waters which gives you a real sense of isolation as experienced by the convicts!

The ruins now include a massive penitentiary, the remains of the Convict Church, built by the inmates, and the solitary confinement cells, which was used to inflict mental punishment instead of the usual floggings. A tried and true way of exploring this atavistic convict settlement is by joining a full day trip from Hobart. Not only will you have access to the above mentioned locales, but also to Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, Norfolk Bay, and the highlights of Tasman National park.

NOTE: The experiences mentioned in this article including the Launceston River cruises, and the full day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart requires early booking.