Tasmania is the perfect place for a weekend escape, mainly because of its size and accessibility to destinations in a short drive. A place of wild and beautiful landscapes, friendly people with a relaxed island lifestyle, wonderful food and wine, and a haunting history evoked by world-famous convict ruins, you will be spolit for choice on what to see and do.
Grab your car keys and pack a weekend bag, these are some of the top places to escape to for the weekend or a short stay in Tasmania.
Huon Valley
Heading to the end of the road at Cockle Creek. Image: Kate Webster
Located in Tasmania’s South, the beautiful Huon Valley begins just 30 minutes from Hobart and extends to the southernmost place in Australia. Drive 148km south of Hobart and you will be at the most southern road’s end in Australia, Cockle Creek. Huonville sits on the banks of the tranquil Huon River and is surrounded by fruit orchards, farmland and the peaks of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Set low in the beautiful Huon Valley, Huonville is wrapped in scenery and close to some of Tasmania’s most amazing natural places. Take a wander along the main street and Wilmot Road and find shops that sell a range of first and second-hand treasures from old books and bric-a-brac to new cakes and craft.
For those who enjoy fine produce, the surrounding area produces smoked and fresh salmon, honey, mushrooms, apples, apricots, plums, cherries, pears, wines, and cider– a veritable foodie’s paradise. The Apple Shed Museum, Ciderhouse and Cafe is dedicated to the Huon Valley’s famous apple growing story.
On Tasmania’s far south tip is also a prime position to spot the Southern Lights. Explore the beach at Recherche Bay, take a drive to the Fishers Point Navigation Light and Pilot Station ruins or go even further on the well-marked track to South East Cape for stunning cliff-top views of the Southern Ocean and Maatsuyker Island. The beaches at nearby Dover also offer a nice place for a picnic lunch or even a swim.
Cute and cosey Castaway Cottage at Dover. Image: Kate Webster
Where to stay: Castaway Cottage at Dover is a little haven by the sea. This charming cottage is your home away from home, overlooking beautiful Dover Bay. This little gem is within walking distance of historic Dover’s town centre, and only a few steps from the beach.
Cradle Mountain
Wildlife spotting on hikes at Cradle Mountain. Image: Kate Webster
Without stopping, from Hobart it takes just over a four-hour drive to reach Cradle Mountain. Iconic Cradle Mountain is a place of exceptional natural beauty in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. From moss-covered ancient rainforests and deep river gorges to snow-covered mountain peaks, wild alpine moorlands and glacial lakes, the park is revered for its diverse and breath-taking landscapes. It varies in different seasons, so even return visits will offer something new. From deep snowdrifts in winter, spectacular displays of yellows, oranges and reds across the mountain slopes in autumn, playful young joeys and hungry echidnas emerging in spring, and the fragrance of wildflowers filling the air as you dip your toe into a crystal-clear lake on a summer’s day. The Park offers many world-class walking tracks to explore from short easy strolls to multi-day hikes like the Overland Track. Your weekend away will most certainly be filled with adventure here.
Cabins at Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain. Image: Kate Webster
Where to stay: Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain is set on the edge of world-heritage listed Cradle Mountain Lake St. Clair National Park. There are self-catering cabins, campsites or caravan sites (powered) to choose from. Either way, you will have a true wilderness experience that is on the doorstep of your cabin, tent or caravan.
Bruny Island
The neck on Bruny Island. Image: Kate Webster
Bruny Island has some of Tasmania’s most beautifully preserved natural environments with abundant wildlife and stunning clifftop views. The island is about 50 km long but appears to be two islands with North and South Bruny joined by a narrow strip of land called The Neck. South Bruny National Park’s towering cliffs and long sandy beaches offer loads of spots to set up a spot to see the lights. Bruny Island is accessed via a 20-min crossing on a vehicular ferry from Kettering, around a 35-min drive south of Hobart. The service runs seven days a week. To get some elevation, head to the lookout at the Neck and you can also watch the penguins come in to rest for the night. For an in depth tour of the island, catch a boat with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. The three-hour Bruny Island Cruise explores the rugged coastline of Bruny Island, taking in some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs, towering crags and pass through the narrow gap between the coast and ‘The Monument’ and feel the power of nature at the point where the Tasman Sea meets the might of the Southern Ocean. You can expect to see some coastal wildlife too, such as seals, dolphins, migrating whales and sea birds.
Free Spirit Pods is the place to be on Bruny Island. Image: Kate Webster
Where to stay: You can’t go past the eco-friendly and sustainable Free Spirit Pods. The delightful, luxurious pods are situated on the waterfront with beautiful views of Quarantine Bay. Set on eight acres to enjoy and explore, you will even have some friendly local wildlife come to visit. The open-plan studio pods, Flying Duck and Blue Wren, feature double glazed floor to ceiling bi-fold doors leading onto your spacious private deck. Each pod sleeps two adults and has room available for a couple of kids.
Tarkine Wilderness
Take a cruise down the river in the Tarkine from Corinna. Image: Kate Webster
Now this trip is a bit of a journey, taking around 4.5 hours drive from Hobart (so make sure you pack some snacks). It is worth breaking the drive along the way and stopping for lunch somewhere. Nestled in the North-West corner of Tasmania, you will find the expanse of temperate rainforest, that is the Tarkine Wilderness. This region remains a hidden treasure that expands some 477,000 hectares across uninterrupted wilderness. Not only is it home to the largest temperate rainforest in Australia and second in the world, but is alive with unique creatures and habitats not found anywhere else, housing ancient relics of both plants and animals dating back millennia. Here you can explore vast forests of myrtle, leatherwood and pine trees and engage with them as living links to Gondwanaland that it shared with Patagonia, Papua-New Guinea and New Zealand. Embark on an adventure with walks, self-guided drives, river cruises or visiting the amazing natural sights.
Stay at the historic Corinna Wilderness Lodge. Image: Kate Webster
Where to stay: The area is quite remote, so you will need a place to stay when visiting, and you can’t go past Corinna Wilderness Experience. The eco-friendly retreat Corinna once was a mining town, set in the pristine rainforest on the banks of the majestic Pieman River in Western Tasmania. It was inhabited by white settlers in 1881 and proclaimed a town in 1894, following a flood of people coming to the area in pursuit of gold. The township of Corinna (in the Pieman River State Reserve) is singularly placed in Tasmania’s history as a unique example of a remote mining town that has survived. The accommodation uses as much of the original town buildings as possible, including the original Roadman’s cottage with double bed, the old pub which is like a guest house (with single and double rooms) available for groups and sixteen new wilderness retreats built in the original style. Don’t be fooled by the disconnection from TV, phone reception and internet as you relax into “switching off” for there being nothing to do. There is a range of unique wilderness experiences, including cruises on the Pieman River in the legendary Huon pine vessel, MV Arcadia II, kayaking, walking, boating, fishing, bird watching and nature experiences.
Tahune Forest
Kayak the river with on the Tahune Adventures Twin Rivers tour. Image: Kate Webster
Located in Tasmania’s South in the beautiful Huon Valley is the Tahune Forest. It is an easy 1.5 – 2 hour drive from Hobart. Here you will find adventures galore with Tahune Forest Adventures. Take a walk high above the forest canopy on the Airwalk and look down to the place where the wild waters of the Huon and Picton Rivers mingle. You can even take it up a level and kayak on the river and see the forest from a completely different angle. King River Rafting’s Twin River Winter Adventure will have you paddling, drifting and splashing on a raft or kayak through bouncy rapids and quiet stretches of the Picton River.
Stay in a cabin on the mountain with Tahune Adventures. Image: Kate Webster
Where to stay: Why not stay up on the mountain in the Tahune Forest. Set amongst the tall trees, the Tahune Cabin offers private, self-catering accommodation for up to four people. You can even bring along your furbaby. There is a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom, and lounge area but you will need to bring your own supplies as there are no dining options and the mountain is closed for the night. This is the perfect spot to sit around the fire and stargaze, even if the Southern Lights are a no-show.
