5 Day Icons of Tasmania

First settled in the early 1900s, Tasmania’s capital city has seen a healthy boom in tourism in recent years. Today Hobart combines the charm of old with a trendy, modern edge, and attractions like Salamanca Place – an old waterfront warehouse district that now hosts swanky restaurants, galleries and cafes – define its contemporary status. Art, culture and fine dining are plentiful in town, while nature and wildlife abound in the outlying areas. Venture out to nearby Mount Wellington for hiking and mountain biking trails with spectacular views.

Idyllically located on Tasmania’s stunning east coast, the Freycinet National Park occupies the majority of the Freycinet Peninsula and offers spectacular views of the Tasman Sea. The park is packed with intriguing natural wonders including the dramatic pink granite peaks of the Hazards Range, some wonderful beaches, secluded little bays, and a diverse range of birdlife and endemic mammals. The park is perhaps best known for its perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay, voted by several travel authorities as one of the world's ten best beaches. Wineglass Bay is just one of the numerous pristine beaches that surround the park. These impressive powder white beaches are lapped by crystal clear turquoise waters providing endless opportunities for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, diving or simply relaxing on the sand with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other.

Set in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, at the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the iconic Cradle Mountain is a place of exceptional natural beauty. Lake St Clair is one of the largest lakes in Tasmania and offers great views of Cradle Mountain’s recognizable ridges. Rugged snow-topped mountains are surrounded by waterfalls, moss-covered trees, grass meadows, and rock pools as far as the eye can see. Cradle Valley is also home to several fascinating historical Aboriginal sites that can be explored via numerous hiking tracks. The mountains are inhabited by numerous wildlife species, including platypus, echidna, Tasmanian devils, and quolls.