Freaky-Beautiful Island Is Australia's Most Underrated Treasure

Tasmania, an island off an island at the bottom of the world, may well be Australia’s best-kept secret. As an Australian, it took me six years of traveling to finally reach this isolated paradise, and there was an instant attraction. As I stood on the boardwalk looking out over North and South Bruny Island I knew I’d found the most magical corner of my homeland. Imagine hand-selecting all the incredible things from a country the size of the United States and concentrating them onto an island the size of West Virginia. That’s Tasmania. 

Hobart, seen from Mount Wellington

The whipping winds up here, 4,170 feet above sea level, have reached more than 100mph, and temperatures might be 50 degrees colder than at the foot of the mountain. But on a clear day, just a half-hour’s drive from the middle of Hobart, the views make up for the weather. 

Tasman Arch

This abnormal geological formation is a highlight of the Tasman National Park -- a place of rugged oceanside terrain and exquisite natural beauty.

The Garden, Bay of Fires

This 29-mile-long coast was named for actual fires in 1773 -- but the bright lichen on its granite boulders gave sticking power to the name. This dramatic landscape of pale sand, dazzling water, and orange-caked rocks draws visitors to Tasmania’s northeastern coast. 

Battery Point

Named for the gun battery that resided here and protected Hobart from marine threats, Battery Point attracts history buffs from all over. This oceanside suburb has the ultimate finish line view of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (and a spectacular sunrise over River Derwent). 

Cape Raoul Cliffs

As you reach the jagged point of the Tasman Peninsula and see the raw, untouched beauty of the Cape Raoul Cliffs, you’ll understand why the locals are proud to be Tasmanian. The majestic towering columns will leave you in awe.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Although quite a young country in comparison, Hobart houses some of the oldest architecture in Australia. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1846, making this 171-year-old building one of the city’s most historic and revered.

Gordon River Dam

In the heart of Tasmania’s southwest wilderness, lies the Gordon Dam, a 460-foot-tall concrete wall that you can abseil down. So if you’re looking for some adrenaline on your trip to Tasmania, Aardvark Adventures will let you descend the highest commercial abseil in the world. Dam.

Port Arthur

Some 40 miles from Hobart you’ll find Port Arthur, Tasmania’s most-visited tourist attraction and the location of a 1996 massacre that still ranks as the worst mass murder event in Australian history. What does it say about us that our favorite tourist attraction is an open-air museum associated with atrocity? I’ll leave that to you to theorize. 

Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain

Sitting 5,000 feet above sea level, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular (and beautiful) tourist attractions in Tasmania. Bring your best hiking boots -- the Cradle Mountain hike is a strenuous 6.5-hour return hike that involves clambering over large boulders for hundreds of meters.