Summary
Enveloped in mountains and rainforests and buffeted by the Roaring 40s winds, Tasmania is a rugged locale characterized by its adventurous offerings. The island state of Australia is ideally suited for enthusiasts of thrilling experiences. Renowned hiking paths converge here, accompanied by awe-inspiring peaks. Rivers cascade through forests dense with mosses and some of the planet’s tallest trees. This environment has facilitated the emergence of one of the world’s premier rafting excursions, along with an exceptional array of mountain biking trail networks that have developed over the past decade. As such, this island in the Southern Ocean has garnered the interest of many seeking an adrenaline rush—whether it be a week in the wilderness or a half-day adventure, with numerous activities accessible to families and individuals with limited mobility.
Below is a curated selection of Tasmania’s most remarkable outdoor adventures.
1. Rafting the Franklin River
Best for an epic journey
Recognized as the world’s premier rafting expedition by Outside magazine, the Franklin River is a rapid watercourse, surging over 125km through steep gorges, accompanied by tumultuous narratives. The campaign to protect this pristine river from damming in the early 1980s became a pivotal environmental narrative, representing a rare conservation triumph in Australia’s history, particularly influenced by the discovery of Aboriginal cultural remains along the river’s banks that contributed to Tasmania’s expansive Wilderness World Heritage designation.
Guided rafting excursions, offered by providers such as Water by Nature Tasmania and Tasmanian Expeditions, embark from Collingwood River and quickly enter the Franklin, which alternates between smooth stretches and turbulent rapids. Notably, the profound and enigmatic Great Ravine presents a full-day odyssey of rapids. Expect to spend at least seven days on the river.
2. Wildlife on Maria Island
Best for wildlife, families, and wheelchair accessibility
Tasmania’s largest island national park is replete with remnants of its convict history, yet the most captivating features here are its wildlife. In the 1960s, several endangered species were introduced to this mountainous island, a mere 30-minute ferry ride from the east coast town of Triabunna, where they prospered. Upon disembarking the ferry, visitors immediately encounter wombats—many individuals—grazing on the grassy areas surrounding the old penitentiary. Forester kangaroos, wallabies, and vibrant Cape Barren geese cohabit the terrain. If fortune favors, this locale is also the most reliable venue to observe the elusive Tasmanian devil in its natural habitat. Devils were introduced to this island in 2012 as a protective measure against the disease that threatens their species’ existence.
The Maria Island ferry is wheelchair accessible, and the vicinity around Darlington (the former convict penitentiary that operated in the 1840s) is along a level path suitable for most.
3. Kayaking for Fish and Chips
Best for families
Enhance your appetite during a half-day kayaking expedition on Hobart’s River Derwent estuary. This excursion, organized by Roaring 40s Kayaking, circumvents the shores of the historic inner-city suburb of Battery Point, paddling into Hobart’s central docks while enjoying one of the capital’s most picturesque views, with 1271m kunanyi/Mt Wellington looming above Hobart’s urban skyline. In Constitution Dock—home base for participants in the renowned Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race after Christmas—kayakers tie up, retrieving a serving of fish and chips from a dockside fish vendor, consumed on the water prior to exiting the docks and returning around Battery Point.
4. Mountain Biking in Derby
Best for adrenaline
Featuring over 125km of flowing trails carved through natural bushland and across adjacent mountains, the town of Derby epitomizes Australian mountain biking. The trails in the Blue Derby network meander through rainforests, navigate an old mining tunnel, and circle a lake on the town’s outskirts, catering to all levels of mountain biking enthusiasts. Numerous rental and trail shuttle services are available through providers like Vertigo MTB and Evolution Biking in this mountain-bike-centric community; additionally, at day’s end, riders can enjoy a restorative sauna experience on a pontoon atop the lake.
5. Boating around Tasman Peninsula
Best for coastal scenery
Observe both large and small wildlife as you glide beneath Australia’s tallest sea cliffs during a Pennicott Wilderness Journeys boat cruise along the perimeter of the Tasman Peninsula in the southeastern state. Numerous marine creatures can be spotted, including dolphins surfing the bow wave, a colony of seals, and breaching humpback whales, alongside coastal caves, towering 300m cliffs, and iconic sea formations such as the Totem Pole, renowned among climbers globally. The three-hour cruises launch from the historic convict site at Port Arthur. Waterproof attire is supplied, though it is advisable to bring warm clothing.
Due to size constraints, the boats are not wheelchair accessible, though they can accommodate individuals with mobility limitations.
6. Caving at Mole Creek
Best for a half-day adventure
The northwest town of Mole Creek indeed lives up to its name, with the surrounding Mole Creek Karst National Park hosting over 3000 caves. Park rangers conduct leisurely guided excursions of two notable caves—Marakoopa and King Solomons—while more adventurous spelunking journeys are available through Wild Cave Tours. Options include exploring the waterfall-filled chambers of the intricate Honeycomb Cave and the elegant Sassafras Cave, where still waters mirror a ceiling adorned with glowworms. Arrange for a half-day outing to explore a single cave or opt for a full day underground to visit two caves.
7. Hiking the Overland Track
Best for a multi-day hike
Winding between some of Tasmania’s loftiest and most striking mountains, the 65 km Overland Track is arguably Australia’s most iconic hike. Commencing with a view of the rugged Cradle Mountain—one of Tasmania’s hallmark natural vistas—the trail traverses valleys beneath Mt Ossa (Tasmania’s highest peak at 1617m), passing a series of alpine lakes and waterfalls en route to Lake St Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. Public hiker cabins (with camping sites) strategically divide the track into six segments. During the hiking season (October to May), movement is restricted to north to south, necessitating advance bookings, limited to 34 hikers daily. Reservations for the season open on July 1.
8. Sledding the Mersey River
Best for families
Conceptualize it as white-water rafting for one—guiding an air mattress-like “sled” down the rapids of northern Tasmania’s Mersey River. Flowing adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, near the dairy town of Meander, the river features a mix of grade I and II rapids, presenting an engaging yet secure float during excursions managed by Meander Wilderness Experiences. On these sleds, you operate independently, maneuvering them into rapids while securing your grip for the bumpy ride. Tranquil stretches of river between rapids provide ample opportunity to roll over, recline, and allow the sled to drift gently.
9. Hiking the wukalina Walk
Best for cultural immersion
Featuring azure seas, pristine sands, and granite boulders adorned in orange lichen, the Bay of Fires is arguably the most picturesque section of coastline in Tasmania. Trekking its shores via the guided four-day wukalina Walk offers an exploration of this breathtaking environment, intertwined with the ongoing culture of the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people. Managed by the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, this walk provides insights into bush tucker, middens (accumulations of shells reflecting generations of Aboriginal diets), and ancient narratives as participants traverse the radiant beaches of Mt William National Park. The first two nights are spent in a thoughtfully designed camp, inspired by traditional palawa shelters, and the final night occurs in lighthouse keeper cottages at larapuna/Eddystone Point.
10. Canyoning at Cradle Mountain
Best for adrenaline
Instead of looking up at Cradle Mountain, consider gazing down, as you may notice Dove Canyon, a geological incision in the alpine terrain. Operating from November to April, Cradle Mountain Canyons facilitates canyoning excursions through the narrow fissure—participants engage in abseiling, wading, swimming, and scrambling to navigate its intricate course. Family-friendly journeys traverse the Lost World upstream, while the Dove Canyon expedition features exhilarating jumps from 6m high ledges into deep basins, along with thrilling descents through the tumultuous Laundry Chute rock slide.
This article was first published on August 15, 2014, and updated on October 4, 2024.
