Tasmania
Tasmania (AKA Tassie) is one of my favourite places in Australia and not spoken about enough. Everyone thinks of the east coast when heading to Oz but don't go without hopping over to Tassie for a mix of national parks, epic coastlines, and charming towns. I've been twice and both trips were as great as each other.
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How to get there
I've taken both the ferry from Melbourne and flown from Sydney when visiting Tassie. When I took the ferry I worked on board during the day which is a good way to reduce the amount of time off work. The first time I went I was in a camper van and the second time I hired a car. I don't think public transport is really an option for getting around. Unless someone can tell me otherwise.
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When to go
Both times I visited in February, which is obviously the middle/end of summer down under and there is a real mix in weather. It tends to be a bit cooler than mainland Australia, especially at the top of Cradle Mountain but you'll also get hot sunny days.​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Top picks of where to go in Tasmania
Hobart
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A gorgeous little city. Like everywhere in Australia, you're going to find good food and good coffee. MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art) is a must. Dedicate a day to heading here. It's super cool and quirky and as you approach in a camoflaged "ROMA" catamaran it feels like you're arriving at a Bond villain's secret lair. It's innovative architecture, built into the side of the sandstone cliffs, is mostly underground descending into a subterranean labyrinth. The place is bizarre and it will make you question everything, including which one of the multiple plastered vulvas looks most like your own (if you have one).
You can get the boat from Hobart Waterfront and either travel standard or, if you don't want to sit on the sheep or tigers with the commoners, you can pay extra to travel in the posh pit.
Where to stay
After a week in a tiny campervan, I treated myself to a couple of nights at MACq 01 which is right on the harbour waterfront. I actually got stuck in Tassie for an extra week the first time I went thanks to one of Melbourne's many (many) lock downs. I ended up working here from the lobby bar, while camping down the road in one of the out of city campsites. I racked up quite the bill on flat whites.
The second time I stayed at Vibe Hotel which was more middle of the road but still in a good location.
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Where to Eat
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Wineglass Bay - Freycinet​
Mount Amos is one of my favourite hikes and definitely not for the faint hearted. It's less of a trail and more of a natural obstacle course on the way up and a slip and slide on the way down. A good pair of walking shoes with solid good grip is essential. If it's even the slightest bit wet you'll be on your arse most of the way down. I know, I ripped a hole in my shorts the first time I did this. The climb up is a mix of open faced smooth, almost vertical rock that you have to scramble up with momentum and crevices that you have to wedge your feet and hands into. The views from the top are epic and if you start early you may be lucky enough to have them to yourself, at least for a few minutes. On the way down, I'm sure they'd recommended you go down backwards like a ladder but instead I found myself alternating between an awkward crab walk and a full on bum shuffle most of the way.
Both times I’ve done this, I’ve skipped the walk down to the beach—but honestly, I reckon it’s worth it. Next time I'll give it a go. ​​​
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​Where to stay
The first time, I went full off-grid adventurer and camped at one of the off-road ‘campsites.’ Very basic. A long-drop toilet. Enough said.
The second time, I upgraded and stayed at Numie glamping spot, nestled in the bushland right on the water front. Here, they have thought of every single tiny detail to make this a rememberable experience. Beautiful cosy tents, comfy bedding, lavender flower arrangements, a little welcome note, all the utensils you'd ever need. After the sun went down, we lit up the wood fire and sat on the leather bean bags sipping red wine and playing cards. Each tent has it's own private toilet and shower tent next door as well as personal dining pod. I only stayed one night but definitely wished I had booked for longer. Although this time I was with my chum, Nicola, there was a solo traveler staying as well, which reassured me that I’d be more than happy coming back alone for a peaceful getaway.
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Where to eat
Wanting to fully immerse ourselves in the camping experience, we bought food from the local shops to eat outside our tent while taking in the surroundings of the Tasmanian bushland, spotting the odd Joey bouncing past as the sun went down. Of course no camping trip would be complete without a bottle of Jansz, Tasmanian's finest sparking wine.
We did also sneak in a cheeky pre-dinner wine at Freycinet Lodge, perched on the outdoor deck with stunning views over Richardson’s Beach. Highly recommend for a sundowner moment.​​​
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Bay of Fires
I only made it to the Bay of Fires on my first trip due to time constraints, but it is wonderful. If you can squeeze it into your itinerary, do it. The famous orange-lichen-covered rocks glow as the light shifts. Both sunrise and sunset here are magical, which we watched at Jeanneret beach (I think). Armed with a bottle of Jansz, a camp chair, and a prime spot on the rocks to the right of the bay, we watched the sky put on a ridiculous show. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, a giant rainbow stretched across the entire bay.
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Where to stay
For this trip, I was in a camper van and found a free off-road campsite at Jeanneret, just seconds from the beach. This meant that dragging myself out of bed at 5:30 am for sunrise wasn’t quite as painful as it could have been and could head down in my PJs.
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Cradle Mountain
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Where to stay
Both times I stayed at Tullah Lakeside Lodge, where there are spots to both camp or park a camper van as well as cabins/rooms. It's about a half an hour drive from Cradle Mountain visitor centre where you get the bus into the park.
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After a long day of hiking, we treated ourselves to a massage at Cradle Mountain Lodge followed by a glass of red, snuggled up in front of the fire at the Tavern Bar.
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Where to eat
We ate at the bar at Tullah Lakeside Lodge as well as the Tavern Bar in side Cradle Mountain National Park
