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Last Updated on May 15, 2021 by Amy

When I asked my friends to critique our travel plans around Australia, many people said to spend more time in Tasmania and less time in Australia’s big cities. And those friends know us well because Tasmania is exactly our kind of place.

What We Would Do Differently

Not to start off on a negative, but if I was planning Tasmania all over again, there is one thing I would do differently.  We should have done a flight through Hobart and another flight through Launceston, with a one-way car rental.  That would have given us some additional time up north and enabled us to see the city of Launceston, hike Cradle Mountain, and maybe even stay in this pretty sweet luxury lodge.

Maybe the real problem is that 8 days in Tasmania isn’t enough.

Two days in the Tasman Peninsula

Immediately after touching down in Hobart we picked up our car and took off for the Tasman Peninsula for two jam-packed days.

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys – Tasman Island

A highly rated and very well advertised travel company is the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, and we were booked for their three-hour Tasman Island Cruise.

Weather

We were concerned about the weather, as it was completely overcast out, but the staff assured us that the weather was actually great.  The cloud cover was preventing it from being windy, and sure enough, during our cruise, the winds were very calm.  Nevertheless, we were both glad to have 2-part jackets, with a warm lining and a waterproof outer shell.  I contemplated buying a beanie at the nearby store, but didn’t and was perfectly comfortable.

Briefing

We met the group at the Tasman Island Cruises office in Port Arthur.  The staff gave us a briefing where they gave us some expectations for the day and explained our route.  Because there was very little wind and a small amount of swell, we were going to get to do a full trip, one way around the peninsula.

Boarding

Next, we walked down to the dock (there was a bus available too, but you know…exercise).  There were enough people for two boats, but neither boat was full.  There was plenty of room to sit where ever you wanted.  Most people opted to sit in the back of the boat, but we sat just a few rows back, and one young couple sat all the way in the front.  Waves are more likely to splash the seats up front.  We weren’t too worried about getting wet, since it was such a calm day.

The staff handed out full-length parkas for us to wear.  It was huge, big enough to cover all your electronics too.  Seat belts must be worn in the front half of the boat.  Every time we got ready to take off, our captain called out, “secure your seat belts, check your gear”.

The Tour

We took off from Ladies Bay and stopped to see a few of the historic points of the Port Arthur Historic Site before heading out into the open water.  Our cruise took us around Cape Pillar, the Tasman Island, and up the coast, stopping at the Devil’s Kitchen and Tasman Arch. Our staff was FANTASTIC.  They were extremely knowledgeable, and DAMN that captain could drive.  He was often weaving us through the pillars and islands, making sharp turns and getting us the best views.

We got especially lucky.  The staff told us they often see common dolphins, which we did see, but we also found a spectacular pod of bottle nose dolphins that were very playful.  In addition to the dolphins, we saw fur seals and a variety of birds.

Hands down, this was our favorite thing we did in Tasmania.  It was a great way to see the coast from the water without sailing Starry Horizons all the way down to Tasmania!

Lavender & Pear Farms

After our cruise we stopped for lunch at the Port Arthur Lavender Farm.  After lunch we took a walk in the lavender fields, and popped into the store to buy a sweet.

We also discovered that the Tasman Peninsula is full of apple and pear farms.  We stopped in for a wander around a pear farm.  No pears for sale here, I’m assuming they all go to one of the cider manufacturers.

Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania

Our second day we went to visit the Port Arthur Historic Site.  This is Australia’s most infamous penal colony.  When we talk about Australia’s history, most of us recognize that Australia was a convict nation – at least white Australia was anyway.  Tasmania was the worst of the convicts in Australia….repeat offenders in the mainland prison system.  There is a fabulous museum, and as we paid our entrance fees, the staff gave us a playing card.  Down in the museum you match your card to a drawer, and the drawer holds the information about a specific convict – “your” convict.  Original charges were things like stealing handkerchiefs, and boys as young as 9 were sent to Tasmania.

We joined the free guided tour to explore the grounds, and after it was over, we split off on our own to walk in the buildings and ruins.

Additionally, in 1996, a gunman opened fire in a cafe located on the Port Arthur Historic Site and killed 35 people.  It was Australia’s last mass shooting, as this event led to a massive gun buyback program and a ban on fully automatic and semiautomatic rifles.  In the skeleton of the cafe now stands a memorial garden for the victims of the shooting.

Where We Stayed in the Tasman Peninsula

We booked a safari tent at the NRMA Port Arthur, and loved it.  The tent was clean with a kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.  One night I grilled dinner on our deck, and as the sun set, I kept an ear open to hear the sounds of the pademelons come out from the forest underbush.

Hobart, Tasmania

We drove back to the city to stay three nights in North Hobart.

Mount Wellington

Mount Wellington is about an hour drive outside of Hobart.  You drive entirely up to the top, where there are some hiking trails and a viewing platform.  The view over the city is stunning!  It’s best if you go in the afternoon, as the sun will be behind you.  On a nice day it’s crowded!

Salamanca Market

Hobart’s primary market has a great reputation, and it’s why we decided to spend our weekend in Hobart.  The time spent there was well worth it.  I got to wonder around, enjoying mostly homemade crafts.  There aren’t many fruits and vegetable stands here, but time the market well and you’ve got a fantastic lunch from one of the food vendors.  One of my favorite vendors was Otekah, which had jewelry and decor made from laser cut wood.  Another good one was one I’d heard of already – Sustomi, a reusable beeswax paper food wrap.  Melissa Baldock is a goldsmith with beautiful jewelry.  I really enjoy browsing these kinds of markets, but I never buy anything since we have limited space.

Slowing WAY Down

Unfortunately, as we were wrapping up our time in Hobart, David started to feel ill.  It was probably just a cold or a light flu, but it meant we had to knock our activities way back so he could get some rest and feel better.  Plus, I had to try not to get sick!

Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive

Since David wasn’t feeling well, we didn’t get to do most of our to-do list on the Great Eastern Drive.  It would be tough to hike an hour and a half to the Wineglass Bay Lookout when you can’t breathe properly out of your nose.  We also missed going out to Maria Island to see wombats (post by Our 21st Century Odyssey)!

Our plan had been to stay one night in Swansea, and two nights in the Bay of Fires.  Thankfully David was up for driving so we kept our reservations.  During the day we had hoped to get out to hike and see spectacular views.  Instead, David napped while I babied him with tomato soup and tea!  That doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy our time there though.

Bicheno Blowhole

We did make one stop that we enjoyed, the Bicheno Blowhole.  We had to time to kill before we could check into our accommodations, so we stopped and watched the blowhole.  David got his new drone up for some spectacular shots.

Bay of Fires Bush Retreat

This is glamping, Tasmania style.  Not only was the location gorgeous, but the staff was incredibly accommodating and helped us make sure David got some great sleep.  AND, we had our best meal in Tasmania here – the chef is absolutely amazing.  The food is all presented in the common area, served on platters per couple, and is an incredibly reasonable price.

Disclaimer:  Some of the activities mentioned in this post were received free of charge or at a discounted rate.  We were psyched to have their support, but this post reflects our honest opinion on the activity.

Up Next

Tasmania was amazing, and it was a bummer David wasn’t feeling so hot.  Fortunately, he got better quickly, because we were off to Bondi next!

Watch the Video: Wet ‘n Wild in Tassie

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