Tasmania

Hobart is a city characterised by 19th century sandstone warehouses, bright sails on the water and fishing boats bobbing in the docks. Just below this historic facade is a vibrant and connected underbelly of gourmet food producers, artisans and artists. At Salamanca Place, rows of Georgian sandstone warehouses have been converted into galleries, theatres and cutting-edge restaurants. On Saturday’s the open-air Salamanca Market hums with fresh local produce arts and crafts. Explore Battery Point’s fishermen’s cottages and grand mansions, hear the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra play in Australia’s oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal, and immerse yourself in Hobart’s thriving culinary scene. Don’t miss Mona, The Museum of Old and New Art a boundary-pushing cultural icon that pairs neurone-tingling art with dining, bars and boutique accommodation in the Mona Pavilions.

A 90-minute trip to the south-east, the Tasman Peninsula reveals some of the tallest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere, wild ocean views and rolling farmlands. Here you’ll encounter one of Australia’s most important heritage sites, Port Arthur Historic Site. Dating back to 1830, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed former prison tells the stories of Australia’s convict past.  By day it is a place of insight and reflection, while by night, lantern-lit ghost tours bring spine-tingling history to life.

On the rugged west coast, journey deep into the rainforest board the West Coast Wilderness Railway, a lovingly restored heritage railway that follows the original 1890s line between Queenstown and Strahan. Traversing mountains and rives via the rare Abt rack-and-pinion system, this extraordinary experience combines spectacular wilderness with powerful stories of resilience, industry and community.  From panning for gold to exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, every journey connects travellers to Tasmania’s pioneering past and the people who shaped it.

Together, these three cultural icons showcase Tasmania’s diversity – from bold contemporary art and rich convict history to the enduring traditions of its rugged frontier – offering travellers unforgettable encounters with the island’s stories, landscape and spirit.