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Ten best towns to discover in Tasmania

We’ve put together this list of 10 best towns to discover in Tasmania, to help with itinerary planning for your next vacation. 

Beautiful coastlines, abundant wildlife, historic villages and rugged canyons… Tasmania is a destination that captivates, with all these features and more. Providing so many amazing reasons to visit, we’ve put together this list of 10 best towns to discover in Tasmania, to help with itinerary planning for your next vacation. 

Getting to Tasmania

By air
Tasmania has four airports but the two main ones are Hobart and Launceston. The other smaller locations are Burnie and Devonport, which are serviced by smaller aircraft and less frequently than the larger ones in Hobart and Launceston.

By sea
The Spirit of Tasmania Ferry Service allows passengers to either travel on foot or with a vehicle, sailing from Victoria to Devonport. This means you can bring your own car or campervan from the mainland and use it as your means of transport around the island.

Getting around Tasmania

Bus
There are a few options for public transport around the state of Tasmania, the largest network is with Tassielink Transit, which service over fifty towns. For travel between regions, for example North to South, the Redline bus connects Launceston, Hobart, Burnie and Devonport. There are also metro services for within the cities of Hobart, Burnie and Launceston.

Campervan
An ideal method of travel in Tasmania, the decision to travel by campervan or motorhome will give you the freedom to be flexible with your itinerary. Campervan companies mostly operate from Hobart, or you can organise a campervan hire from Melbourne and bring it with you on the Spirit of Tasmania. One-way rentals are generally an option, so you can also opt to travel one way by ferry and return by air.

Car
If you have brought your own vehicle across on the ferry, then you have this covered! If not – you will find many options for car hire in the main cities. 

Ten best towns to discover in Tasmania

Penguin
Located on the north coast, just over an hour from Launceston, this friendly laidback town offers beautiful beaches, delicious cafés, bakeries and restaurants, plus, every Sunday it holds the largest of Tasmania’s undercover markets. 

As if these aren’t enough reasons, the streets of this quaint location are filled with penguin themed everything – from the garbage bins to the letterboxes and there is even a ten-foot penguin statue.

Bicheno
The central east coast is home to the seaside town of Bicheno, famed for the Bicheno Blowhole natural attraction and a colony of little penguins. The mild climate of the east coast makes this an ideal holiday destination, as do its pristine beaches. The nearby Douglas-Aspley National Park is the perfect addition to this already fabulous location, it provides walking tracks, a stunning gorge and a refreshing waterhole which is suitable for swimming.

Binalong Bay
One of the best spots to enjoy Tasmania’s “Bay of Fires”, Binalong Bay is a tiny community on the east coast. The beach here is phenomenal, and fringed by spectacular boulders that have a flaming orange tinge, hence the name “Bay of Fires”. The crystal-clear water makes for the perfect swimming location, and the lovely restaurants overlooking the bay provide the ideal lunch setting. There is a small amount of accommodation here, but for more options, St Helens is only 12 kilometres away.

Port Arthur
Once a penal settlement, the history of Port Arthur is fascinating, which includes the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site and the Coal Mines Historic Site. At Port Arthur Historic Site, you can join multiple guided tours to learn more about the convict past, including the island cemetery “Isle of the Dead” and even an after-hours ghost tour. 

This town offers more than historical attractions, it is also bursting with natural ones. The Tasman National Park is home to landmarks such as Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Remarkable Cave. 

Low Head
This underrated township on the North Coast is most well-known for its little penguin tours, which are carried out near the town’s iconic red and white lighthouse. The Low Head Coastal Reserve is a stunning piece of nature to explore, and history enthusiasts will enjoy the nearby Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum. George Town is just a few minutes away and contains Woolworths, an IGA and other food outlets to keep you stocked up for your visit.

Strahan
Strahan is famous for the Gordon River cruises that run daily, which carry you across the spectacular, reflective water, surrounded by wilderness, to Sarah Island – a historic convict settlement. The nearby Henty Sand dunes are a must visit and completely free, as are the scenic Hogarth Falls and the lookout point at Water Tower Hill. The town itself is very small, but contains an IGA for conveniences and many options for accommodation and campgrounds. 

Ross
The words quaint, charming and old-world, can all easily be used to describe this picturesque village in the midlands of Tasmania. The Ross bridge is well-known for its beauty and the fact that it was built from convict labour. There are historic buildings throughout the small town, including the church, post office and the Ross Female Factory, which was a convict workhouse for female prisoners.

Launceston
The second largest city in Tasmania, Launceston is a riverside settlement that mixes historic architecture and nature with ease. It is a delight how close to the city centre you will find the renowned Cataract Gorge, a remarkable natural attraction which can be viewed via walking trails, river cruise or chairlift. The city also has cultural attractions, such as the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.

Coles Bay
This scenic seaside town is the gateway to Freycinet National Park, which is renowned for its stunning Wineglass Bay Lookout and Wine Glass Bay Beach. Coles Bay is the perfect base to explore the surrounding coastline, from its own granite boulders and immaculate beach, to the walking trails and coves of the national park, this is a must-see location on every visit to Tasmania.

Hobart
Last, but not at all least, is Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart, and likely the place you’ll fly in and out of if you’re travelling by air. There are a few must-do attractions in this beautiful city, starting with Mount Wellington, which towers above with its often-snow-capped summit. There are parking spots along the way up, allowing you to get out and enjoy the snow and scenery, and also at the top, where you have a panoramic view of the surrounding region. The famous Salamanca Markets are held every Saturday and do not disappoint, offering food, crafts, jewellery, art and so much more. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a short drive away in the suburbs and a perfect opportunity to experience the unique endemic animals, such as the Tasmanian Devil, Pademelon and Wombat.

Photo by Laura Barry on Unsplash

News Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Posts

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

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