Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:20 pm
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This blog contains a list of the best day trips from Hobart, Tasmania. They are all available as group tours!
Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Australia for the first time. I only had a few weeks there, so I had a very difficult time narrowing down where I wanted to go. As soon as I read about Tasmania, I knew I had to visit. I will admit, I didn’t realize Tasmania was part of Australia before I planned this trip. It was always just a place I had heard of, but seemed kind of mythical. Little did I know, it’s only a two hour flight from Sydney! I flew in to Hobart, Tasmania’s capital. Hobart itself is a lovely city, and from there I was able to do a few amazing day trips. This was a great way to see Tasmania while basing myself in the city. This blog post outlines the best day trips from Hobart, Tasmania.
1. Freycinet National Park
Freycinet National Park was by far my favourite day trip from Hobart. This beautiful park is about a three hour drive from Hobart. It is home to the iconic Wineglass Bay, a white sand beach that has topped lists of the world’s best beaches. You can hike down to the beach, or do a much shorter hike to a viewpoint, where you can get a beautiful view of the beach from above. My other favourite spot in Freycinet was Honeymoon Bay, a beach surrounded by stunning red rocks and mountains. There are many great trails in this park for hiking, and lots of good swimming spots too!
Wineglass Bay can be accessed as a day trip from Hobart without a car. I visited the park on a group day tour, and had a great time. There are several other companies that offer day tours to Freycinet National Park as well!
2. Tasman Peninsula
The Tasman Peninsula is another must-do day trip from Hobart, Tasmania. The Tasman Peninsula is only an hour and a half drive from Hobart, and offers an abundance of beautiful sights. This area has a dramatic coastline, with steep cliffs and caves. There are lots of great hiking trails on the Tasman Peninsula!
Another activity that I loved on the Tasman Peninsula was visiting the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo. This wildlife sanctuary is a great place to go to learn about the iconic Tasmanian Devil, and the conservation efforts that are being taken to save this species, that sadly, is facing extinction.
3. Port Arthur Historic Site
Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the most popular attractions in Tasmania. This former convict settlement is very well preserved, and provides so much information about Tasmania’s convict past. While very interesting, I also found Port Arthur a bit disturbing. The conditions that some of the convicts were forced to live in were pretty horrifying, and many convicts faced very brutal treatment from the settlement guards. Regardless, I think Port Arthur is definitely a must-see if you are visiting Tasmania. If you go, take a boat tour to the Isle of the Dead, an island just off the shore of Port Arthur. This tiny island is home to the graves of over 1000 people.
Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsula, so it could be combined with your Tasman Peninsula day trip. In my opinion though, you won’t have enough time to see the peninsula, including Port Arthur, thoroughly in a day. I visited Port Arthur on an excursion with Tours Tasmania.
4. Maria Island
Maria Island is another one of the most popular day trips from Hobart. The ferry to Maria Island is about an hour and a half from Hobart. This island is rich with aboriginal history and beautiful nature. The island has many trails that make for beautiful hikes. One of the most popular spots on the island is the Painted Cliffs, which have beautiful colours and swirling patterns. If you get lucky, you might even see whales from the shores of Maria Island.
Tasmania is a unique and beautiful state, with lots of adventures to offer. Many of its most wonderous sights can can be visited as a day trip from Hobart. Even without a car, you can access some amazing places in Tasmania if you join a day tour. Time to plan your trip to Hobart!
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