Here’s a selection of Tasmania’s top natural attractions. Yes, there are many more, and if you plan to visit the state’s historic, artistic and culinary attractions as well, along with all the wonderful short stops along the way, you’ll need a LOT of time.
1. kunanyi / Mount Wellington
Hobart’s kunanyi / Mount Wellington is so impressive that even longtime locals regularly visit the summit.
It is only about a 20-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD, although conditions and road conditions can affect travel times.
On a clear day, the summit provides an incredible panorama of Hobart, the Derwent River, Bruny Island and the surrounding mountains and coastline. After snow, the summit can be an especially spectacular place to visit.
The road to the summit winds through temperate rainforest before reaching sub-alpine vegetation and exposed dolerite rock near the top.
The mountain offers numerous walking tracks, picnic areas and spectacular lookouts. Walking conditions vary considerably, from relatively easy walks to demanding alpine tracks.
The Organ Pipes are among the mountain’s most distinctive features, with towering dolerite columns formed during the Jurassic period.
Weather can change rapidly at higher elevations, even in summer, so warm and waterproof clothing is advisable.
2. Cataract Gorge
Cataract Gorge Reserve is just a short drive from central Launceston and is one of Tasmania’s most accessible natural attractions.
Visitors can walk from central Launceston to the gorge, while extensive walking tracks provide access to the river, gardens, bushland and panoramic lookouts.
The First Basin is the main visitor area and includes lawns, picnic facilities, a cafe, swimming pool and walking tracks. The Gorge Scenic Chairlift provides another way to experience the gorge, while an inclinator provides free access for visitors with mobility difficulties.
The First Basin swimming pool generally operates during the warmer months, typically from November to March, although opening dates can vary with weather and conditions.
The gorge combines dramatic river scenery with gardens and recreational facilities, making it unusual among Australian urban reserves.
3. Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania’s most famous natural attractions and forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The mountain lies at the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, surrounded by glacial lakes, ancient rainforest and alpine vegetation.
There are numerous walks in the area, ranging from short, accessible walks to demanding alpine routes.
The Enchanted Walk is a short 1.1-kilometre circuit through rainforest, while the Dove Lake Circuit is a 6-kilometre walk beneath Cradle Mountain and through a variety of Tasmanian vegetation.
More experienced walkers can tackle the Cradle Mountain summit, while the famous Overland Track begins at the Cradle Mountain end of the national park and continues south to Lake St Clair.
The Overland Track is a serious six-day wilderness walk requiring preparation and appropriate equipment. Bookings and fees apply during the main walking season.
Visitors should also be aware that access to Dove Lake is now managed by a shuttle-bus system during operating hours. A valid parks pass is required, and an additional shuttle fee applies to adults who do not have an eligible Cradle Mountain Icon Parks Pass or Overland Track Pass.
Accommodation is available around Cradle Mountain and Cradle Valley, but it can become heavily booked during peak periods.
4. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are among Hobart’s most attractive visitor destinations.
Established in 1818, the gardens occupy a historic site on the Queens Domain, about two kilometres from the Hobart CBD. They contain a significant collection of heritage trees and plants, along with extensive collections of Tasmanian and other temperate flora.
One of the highlights is the Subantarctic Plant House, which recreates the cold, wet conditions experienced by plants from subantarctic islands.
The gardens also contain historic buildings and structures, including the Superintendent’s Cottage and the Arthur Wall, a remarkable 19th-century heated wall designed to assist the cultivation of fruit trees.
There is a visitor centre, shop, kiosk and restaurant, and the gardens provide a peaceful place to explore close to the centre of Hobart.
Entry is free. The gardens are open seven days a week, 365 days a year, although opening hours vary seasonally. From October to March they are open from 8am to 6.30pm, and from April to September from 8am to 5pm.
The Conservatory is currently closed for restoration, and visitors may encounter temporary path diversions associated with major tree works.
5. Tasman National Park
Tasman National Park is famous for its spectacular coastline, dramatic sea cliffs and rugged coastal landscapes.
A network of walking tracks provides views over cliffs, beaches, islands, waterfalls and the Southern Ocean. Some of Tasmania’s most impressive coastal scenery can be found around the Tasman Peninsula.
Tasmans Arch, the Blowhole, Devils Kitchen, the Tessellated Pavement, Remarkable Cave and Waterfall Bay are among the area’s best-known attractions.
The Waterfall Bay Great Short Walk provides particularly good views of the coastline, while longer walks lead towards Fortescue Bay and Cape Hauy.
The famous Port Arthur Historic Site is also nearby, making the Tasman Peninsula an excellent destination for combining natural and historical attractions.
Tasman National Park is about a 90-minute drive from Hobart via Sorell and the Tasman Peninsula.
Check current park alerts before travelling. For example, the Tasmans Arch and Devils Kitchen visitor site is closed from 15 April to 17 October 2026 for infrastructure improvements, with access to the Waterfall Bay Track from Devils Kitchen also affected during this period.
6. Wineglass Bay
Wineglass Bay is one of Tasmania’s most recognisable natural attractions and a major feature of Freycinet National Park.
The bay is surrounded by the dramatic pink granite peaks of the Hazards and has a sweeping white sandy beach and clear waters.
Freycinet National Park occupies a large peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast, with the Tasman Sea to the east and Great Oyster Bay to the west.
The Wineglass Bay Track leads to the famous lookout and continues down to the beach. The complete return walk is about 6 kilometres and generally takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours, depending on fitness and stops.
Other attractions include the Hazards Range, Friendly Beaches, Honeymoon Bay and the many walking tracks throughout the park.
Moulting Lagoon, near Coles Bay and Swansea, is an important wetland recognised under the Ramsar Convention for its significance to waterbirds and migratory birds.
Freycinet National Park has a visitor centre, picnic facilities, toilets and other visitor services. A valid parks pass is required to enter the national park.
Accommodation around Freycinet ranges from camping and holiday parks to hotels, lodges and luxury retreats.
7. Lake Pedder
The original Lake Pedder was a natural glacial lake, but it was transformed into the much larger present-day Lake Pedder impoundment as part of Tasmania’s hydro-electric development.
Three dams were constructed in 1971–72 to enlarge the original lake and form the present Lake Pedder impoundment. The Gordon Power Scheme subsequently linked Lake Pedder with Lake Gordon.
The lake lies in Tasmania’s remote south-west within the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The modern Lake Pedder has a surface area of about 241 square kilometres at full supply level, making it one of Tasmania’s largest lakes.
The surrounding landscape is spectacular, with extensive wilderness, mountain ranges, buttongrass plains and rainforest.
The region is also popular with experienced bushwalkers, anglers, boaters and kayakers, although visitors should be prepared for rapidly changing weather and the remoteness of the area.
8. The Nut, Stanley
Stanley village sits at the base of The Nut, a spectacular sheer-sided volcanic plug rising about 143 metres above the town.
The Nut is in Tasmania’s far north-west and provides magnificent views across Stanley, Bass Strait and the surrounding coastline.
Visitors can climb the walking track to the summit or take the chairlift. The summit has a circular walking track of about 2 kilometres, with several lookouts providing panoramic views.
The Nut Chairlift travels about 250 metres and rises approximately 95 metres, taking around five minutes to reach the summit.
Stanley is also an excellent base for exploring Tasmania’s north-west coast and the takayna / Tarkine region. Accommodation and camping are available in and around the town.
Wildlife attractions include little penguins, seals and seabirds, with local operators offering wildlife and coastal tours.
Stanley was historically the administrative centre of the Van Diemen’s Land Company, established under royal charter in 1824. Highfield Historic Site, the former residence of the company’s manager, is nearby.
9. Tahune Airwalk
The Tahune Airwalk is a spectacular elevated walkway through the forests of southern Tasmania near Geeveston.
The walkway rises up to 30 metres above the forest floor, with the cantilever section reaching about 50 metres above the Huon River. It provides spectacular views towards the junction of the Huon and Picton rivers and the mountains of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The Airwalk is 619 metres long, with the full return walk taking about 45 minutes, although visitors can easily spend longer exploring the site.
Tahune Adventures also includes the Huon Pine Walk and Swinging Bridges Track as part of its site entry.
The attraction is currently open daily from 10am to 4pm, except on Christmas Day and during hazardous weather conditions. Current admission prices are $35 for adults, $17.50 for children aged 5–16, and $31.50 for concessions.
The Tahune site is about a 90-minute drive south of Hobart and makes a worthwhile addition to a trip through Tasmania’s Huon Valley.