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by Mark Chipperfield, The Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2016
An insider's guide to the best things to do and attractions in Tasmania and Hobart, including the Museum of Old and New Art, West Coast Wildernesss Railway, Port Arthur, Tasmania Zoo and Cradle Mountain. By Mark Chipperfield, Telegraph Travel's Tasmania expert.
£££
Franklin River Rafting (1)
Established in 1982, Tasmanian Expeditions is one of the island’s most respected eco-tourism operators. The company’s nine-day Franklin River Rafting Tour is its ultimate challenge. The Franklin is one of the world's last great wild rivers. It was heroically saved from development in the 1970s. This expedition will take you through deep gorges, quiet pools and temperate rainforest. Each trip is accompanied by professional rafting guides, all with exceptional safety records. Apart from looking after participants, guides also prepare delicious meals along the way and provide expert commentary. Although previous rafting experience is not required, anyone doing this trip should have a reasonable level of fitness.
Address: 3/33 Churchill Park Drive, Invermay, 7248
Contact: 00 61 3 6331 900; tasmanianexpeditions.com.au
Getting there: coach to Launceston (Tassielink)
Opening times: tour departures: Jul-Jan
Price: rafting tour: A$2,895
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Bay of Fires Lodge Walk (2)
Until this operation sprang into life, few people had heard of the Bay of Fires on Tasmania’s East Coast. Today, the four-day guided walk is one of the island’s signature outdoor adventures; albeit with plenty of creature comforts thrown in. This is glamping not camping. Guests carry little more than a toothbrush. The food is delicious and wholesome. And the guides somehow manage to conjure up glasses of premium Tasmanian wine. The final night is spent in a glamorous hilltop lodge. The walk, mostly along white sand beaches, is perfect for people who haven’t done much hiking before. Don’t forget your camera – this coastline is spectacular and untouched.
Address: Mount William National Park, East Coast, 7011
Contact: 00 61 3 6392 2211; bayoffires.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: tour departures: Oct-May
Price: guided walk from A$2,300
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Maria Island (3)
Just a short ferry ride from Triabunna, Maria Island is oddly captivating – full of curious ruins, curving beaches, eucalypt forest and wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian Devils and Cape Barren Geese. The four-day Maria Island Walk is a great way to explore the island. The tour includes expert guides, gourmet food (and wine) and comfortable tented accommodation. Walking is undemanding but interesting. Hardy types can climb to the top of Mount Maria. For me, this is the best-run adventure experience of its type in Tasmania. The sea looks inviting but water temperatures can be arctic – you have been warned.
Address: Darlington, Maria Island, 7000
Contact: 00 61 3 6234 2999; mariaislandwalk.com.au
Getting there: ferry to Maria Island from Triabunna
Opening times: Oct-May: daily
Price: Island Walk A$2,350, including coach travel from Hobart
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Bruny Island Cruises (4)
Rob Pennicott is an adventurer, environmentalist, philanthropist and showman. He’s also is the genius behind Tasmania’s most successful eco-tour adventure: Bruny Island Cruises. Using high-speed boats, Pennicott and his fellow guides take you along a remote stretch of Bruny Island coastline. Swaddled in waterproof clothing, passengers see seals, dolphins, seabirds and humpback whales in their natural habitat. Bruny Island is deceptively large so, to ensure that you make the 11am tour, it’s advisable to catch the 7.45am ferry from Kettering. The company also provides a pick-up service from here. After the tour allow some time to explore this dreamy little island which produces artisan cheeses, fresh berries, cool climate wine and succulent oysters.
Address: 915 Adventure Bay Road, Adventure Bay, 7150
Contact: 00 61 3 6293 1465; pennicottjourneys.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily tour, 11am-2pm
Price: three-hour cruise: A$125; children, 3-16, A$75; family, A$390
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Inala Nature Tours (5)
This highly-regarded company offers a range of personalised walking and 4WD tours of Bruny Island, which is a 15-minute ferry ride from Tasmania. The 250-hectare property is home to some 140 bird species, including a number of endangered birds. Inala is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania. Other bird species include Swift Parrots, Beautiful Firetail and Grey Goshawk. Inala Nature Tours is owned by Dr Tonia Cochran, is a botanist, zoologist and specialist wildlife guide. Inala will design a tour or bird-watching experience to meet your particular interests.
Address: 320 Cloudy Bay Road, Bruny Island, 7150
Contact: 00 61 3 6293 1217; inalabruny.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: by arrangement
Price: walking tour from A$150
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Wineglass Bay Cruise (6)
Leave the coach parties behind by stepping onto this luxurious 44-foot catamaran. Travel in style from Coles Bay along the Freycinet coast and finally step ashore at Wineglass Bay, surely the world’s most photogenic beach. Cruise beneath beautiful pink granite cliffs and discover hidden bays. Along the way you’ll see plenty of local wildlife, including white-bellied sea eagles, dolphins, Australian fur seals and whales. Keep your camera handy, there’s so much to photograph. On arrival at Wineglass Bay guests enjoy a freshly-prepared seafood lunch, including local oysters, and a glass of sparkling Tasmanian wine.
Address: Jetty Road, Coles Bay, 7125
Contact: 00 61 3 6257 0355; wineglassbaycruises.com
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: Sep-May: daily, 9.30am
Price: A$130; children, 4-14, A$85
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Bruny Island Long Weekend (7)
Bruny Island is a sparsely populated farming outpost 53 miles due south of Hobart. This three-day trip is designed to showcase the island’s remarkable mix of wildlife, pristine wilderness and fresh produce. The fully hosted tour includes a series of gentle hikes, some food foraging and a chance to see kangaroos, wallabies, parrots, dolphins, sea lions and other native species. Overnight accommodation is in safari style tents surrounded by natural bushland. Guests sample olives, wine, free-range lamb, fresh seafood and other local delicacies. A highlight is picking oysters straight from the ocean. The tariff includes private boat transfers from Hobart, all meals and drinks, park passes and a wildlife-spotting cruise. Numbers are restricted to no more than eight guests.
Address: 40 Lobdales Road, South Bruny, Tasmania 7150
Contact: 00 61 437 256 270; brunyislandlongweekend.au
Getting there: private boat transfer from Hobart
Opening times: every weekend from October to April
Price: weekend packages cost A$1695
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
££
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (8)
If you’ve ever wanted to scratch a wombat, pat a koala or feed a Tasmanian devil then you need to visit this inspirational little sanctuary just outside Hobart. Don’t miss the daily wildlife tours, which take place at 11.30am and 2pm. This privately-owned operation started as a hospital for injured or abandoned animals, but has blossomed into an ambitious conservation project. The sanctuary has been running a Tasmanian devil breeding programme for over 20 years. I love the fact that you can interact with the animals. Holding a Tasmanian devil in your arms is a remarkable experience. You’ll also encounter kangaroos, emus, wombats, possums and echidnas. Private night tours are available.
If you’ve ever wanted to scratch a wombat, pat a koala or feed a Tasmanian devil then you need to visit this inspirational little sanctuary just outside HobartCredit: Barrie Irons/Barrie Irons
Address: 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, 7030
Contact: 00 61 3 6268 1184; bonorong.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 9am-5pm
Price: adults, A$26; children, A$12; family, A$69
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Bicheno Penguin Tours (9)
Hour-long, evening Penguin tours have been running in the little township of Bicheno since 1992. They are designed to bring visitors into close proximity to the local penguin colony, but under strict environmental guidelines. No photographs are allowed, for example. Since 1992, the colony here has increased in numbers from around 40 to over 600 penguins. The best time to see penguins is from September to January, but there are good sighting throughout the year. Organisers recommend visitors wear warm clothes and covered footwear.
Address: Tasman Highway, Bicheno, 7215
Contact: 00 61 3 6375 1333; bichenopenguintours.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 5.30pm-6.30pm
Price: A$30; children, A$15
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Seahorse World (10)
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about seahorses. This will change after about 10 minutes at Seahorse World, just outside Launceston. Despite the name this is no Disneyland theme park, but a unique facility designed to help conserve these beguiling little creatures. Seahorse World grew out of research work initiated at the University of Tasmania in the 1990s and then blossomed into a commercial breeding project supplying pet wholesalers and public aquariums around the world. Join one of the “behind the scenes” tours to really appreciate the scale of the operation here. Apart from myriad species of seahorses, the aquarium also contains sea dragons, giant Tasmanian crabs and other species.
This is no Disneyland theme park, but a unique facility designed to help conserve these beguiling little creatures
Address: 200 Flinders Street, Beauty Point, 7270
Contact: 00 61 3 6383 4111; seahorseworld.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 9.30am-4.30pm
Price: A$22; children, 4-16, A$9; under 3, free; family, A$54
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not possible
Stanley Seal Cruises (11)
Apart from otters, Australian fur seals are probably the world’s most adorable aquatic creatures. The north coast of Tasmania is one of the best places to see these animals in the wild. Eco-tours last around 75 minutes and are excellent value. Booking is essential. Note that the boat doesn’t operate between June 15 and August 31. This company has been leading trips to the nearby seal colony since 2000 and claims a 100 per cent success rate for sightings. The 500-strong colony consists of males, females and juveniles. Passengers will also see a large number of birds, such as black-faced cormorants, oystercatchers and Pacific gulls. There are also great views of The Nut, an old volcanic plug rising 143 metres, Stanley’s famous landmark.
Address: Dockside, Wharf Road, Stanley, 7331
Contact: 00 61 3 6458 1294; stanleysealcruises.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: Sep-Apr: daily, 10am, 3pm. May, Jun: daily, 10am
Price: A$55; children, 5-15, A$18; family A$150
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Tasmania Zoo (12)
Billed as Tasmania’s largest wildlife park, this zoo is just 12 miles from Launceston and covers 900 acres of private native bush. The property offers a large collection of native and exotic animals, including 80 species of birds plus penguins, crocodiles, wombats, echidnas, kangaroos, quolls, reptiles, monkeys and much more. But most people are here to see the fearsome Tasmanian Devil – a native marsupial with a sweet nature but poor table manners. Don’t miss the devil feeding ritual, which happens three times daily, at 10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm. You can even pat a young devil, if you are brave enough. For something a little gentler there are feeding sessions with the Little Blue Penguins.
Address: 166 Ecclestone Road, Riverside, Launceston 7250
Contact: 00 61 3 6396 6100; tasmaniazoo.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 9am-5pm
Price: A$25; children, 2-15, A$12.50
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not possible
MONA (13)
How best to describe MONA (Museum of Old and New Art)? Often touted as Australia’s largest private art gallery, MONA is really an expression of one man’s eccentric genius. Owner David Walsh, a professional gambler, has poured A$75 million into this project – a giant concrete and metal edifice overlooking the Derwent. The museum contains 400 works of art, plus a bizarre collection of classical antiquities and pop art installations. MONA is deliberately provocative – Walsh calls it a “subversive adult Disneyland”. The current exhibition, Matthew Barney: River of Fundament (22 November 2014 to 13 April 2015) combines film, modern artworks and Egyptian antiquities. For the complete MONA experience, book an overnight stay in one of the luxury on-site pavilions (see Stay recommendation).
Address: 655 Main Road, Berriedale, Hobart, 7011
Contact: 00 61 3 6277 9900; mona.net.au
Getting there: bus to Berriedale (28)
Opening times: summer: Wed-Mon, 10am-6pm. Winter: Wed-Mon, 10am- 5pm
Price: A$20; under 18, free
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not necessary
Mount Wellington Descent (14)
This is one of the coolest things to do in Hobart. A minibus takes you from Brooke Street Pier to the top of Mount Wellington, 1,270 metres above sea level. From there you can enjoy panoramic views of Hobart, the Derwent, the Southern Ocean and surrounding countryside before climbing onto a mountain bike and free-wheeling back down the mountain and into the heart of the city. Hard core mountain bikers can choose to ride an off-road section, while more timid riders can stick to the sealed path. The track passes a number of local landmarks, including the Cascade Brewery and Female Factory and Battery Point. Afterwards stop for fish and chips at Fish Frenzy ( fishfrenzy.com.au ) at the harbour.
Address: 11-13 Franklin Wharf, Hobart, 7000
Contact: 00 61 3 6274 1880; mtwellingtondescent.com.au
Getting there: bus to Elizabeth Street (7, 8, 9, 11)
Opening times: tour: daily, 10am, 1pm
Price: A$75; children, 8-16, A$65
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
Pieman River Cruise (15)
This is a leisurely and rather stylish way to explore the Tarkine, the largest temperate rainforest in Tasmania. Cruises depart from the tiny bush settlement of Corinna and steam down to the mouth of Pieman River. Passengers travel on The Arcadia II, a magnificent wooden vessel built in 1939. Originally a luxury pleasure craft based in Hobart, she served as a supply ship in Papua New Guinea during WW2. The cruise takes passengers deep into the wilderness where you’ll be able to see platypus, sea eagles and other native species. Corinna is a remote destination, so it makes sense to book into one of the company’s new wilderness cottages for a night or two and really soak up the atmosphere (one-bedroom A$200, two-bedroom A$250, per night).
Address: Corinna, Pieman River, 7321
Contact: 00 61 3 6446 1170; corinna.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 10am
Price: A$90; children, 6-12, A$51
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: recommended
Port Arthur (16)
Immortalised in countless novels, films and television documentaries, Tasmania’s convict history exerts a powerful influence over the imagination. The principal destination for Britain’s criminal detritus in the 19th century was the penal settlement of Port Arthur, on the Tasman Peninsula. Now listed as a place of special significance by UNESCO, the site is an odd mixture of English parkland and Dante-esque horror-show. The prison was designed to break the will of its inmates; some of them mere children. Perhaps its major cruelty was to be located in a place of such beauty. The nightly ghost tours and boat trips to the Isle of the Dead are not to be missed.
Address: Arthur Highway, Port Arthur, 7182
Contact: 00 61 3 6251 2310; portarthur.org.au
Getting there: bus to Port Arthur (Tassielink), evenings only
Opening times: daily, 9.30am-5pm
Price: Bronze Pass: A$35, children A$16, family A$80
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not possible
Cascade Brewery Tour (17)
Opened in 1832, the Cascade Brewery in South Hobart is the oldest continuously operating brewery in Australia and something of a shrine for beer lovers in this part of the world. The label on its best-selling Premium Lager features the fearsome image of the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger. Although the brewery is no longer under Tasmanian ownership, Cascade fiercely protects its brewing heritage and this tour is a brilliant insight into the island’s colonial past. Visitors tour the brew house, learn about the brewing process and, of course, taste some of the famous lagers, ales and stouts. Tours run twice daily, and guests must be over 16 years.
Address: 114 Cascade Road, South Hobart, 7000
Contact: 00 61 3 6224 1117; cascadebreweryco.com.au
Getting there: bus to Cascade Road (44, 46, 47)
Opening times: daily, 10am-4pm
Price: A$25
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not necessary
Tamar River Cruise (18)
Hard to believe that Launceston was once one of Australia’s busiest ports, but 100 years ago it was. To really appreciate its maritime history book one of the morning or afternoon cruises with this excellent little company. Each tour takes about two and a half hours and is great value. Both trips visit Cataract Gorge and the various farming and wine growing communities along the Tamar River. The ticket price includes morning or afternoon tea, a fruit platter and wine- and beer-tastings. If pressed for time book the 50-minute Cataract Gorge Cruise.
Address: Home Point Cruise Terminal, Home Point Parade, Launceston, 7250
Contact: 00 61 3 6334 9900; tamarrivercruises.com.au
Getting there: bus to Seaport Boulevard (10)
Opening times: Morning Cruise: Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri,10am; Afternoon Cruise: Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri, 1.30am; Sat, Mon, Wed, 3pm
Price: A$79; children, A$35; family, A$179
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: recommended
West Coast Wilderness Railway (19)
Even if the idea of a steam railway makes your eyes glaze over, make an exception for the West Coast Wilderness Railway, which runs from the old mining town of Queenstown to the port of Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast. Built in the 1890s the track crosses some of the harshest terrain in Tasmania. Workers were forced to cut through dense rainforest and forge deep ravines. A special rack and pinion system was imported from Switzerland to manage the steep inclines. While much of the original infrastructure has been lost, today’s train is a faithful reconstruction. Upgrade to a Wilderness Carriage and enjoy a private balcony, a welcome glass of bubbles, plus complimentary morning tea and lunch.
Address: Queenstown Station, Driffield Street, Queenstown, 7467
Contact: 00 61 3 6471 0100; wcwr.com.au
Getting there: coach to Queenstown or Strahan (Tassielink)
Opening times: Aug-Nov: Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, 9am-1pm
Price: A$99; children, A$45; family, A$230
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: recommended
Queenstown Heritage Tours (20)
For many travellers Queenstown is little more that a pit stop on the drive from Hobart to Strahan and the West Coast, but the old mining town (gold and copper were found here in the 1860s) has a fascinating industrial story. This boutique touring company offers three quite distinct experiences: an underground tour of the vast Mt Lyell mine site, an exclusive tour of the Lake Margaret hydro power station, which is still in operation, and fascinating glimpse of the old gold workings at Lynchford, plus to chance to explore the ancient forest bordering Bird River. The company will also help you arrange overnight accommodation in Queenstown. These tours are a thought-provoking experience for anyone prepared to look beyond Queenstown’s blighted hillsides and grim streetscapes.
Address: 24 Sticht Street, Queenstown, Tasmania 7467
Contact: 00 61 407 049 612; queenstownheritagetours.com
Getting there: bus (730) from Hobart
Opening times: contact operator
Price: adult prices: Mt Lyell Underground Tour A$110, Lost Mines Ancient Pines A$100, Lake Margaret Hydro A$60
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: essential
£
Tamar Island Wetlands (21)
The Tamar Island Wetlands is a unique wildlife reserve just ten minutes drive from downtown Launceston. The reserve is home to many permanent and visiting animals. Some of the most prized residents include the green and gold frog, white-bellied sea eagle and platypus. A number of the birds nesting here, like the crested tern, migrate from as far afield as China and Japan. The wide, level boardwalk provides easy access for pedestrians, prams and wheelchairs alike. But make sure you visit the well-resourced interpretive centre first. Here you can learn about the site’s natural history and cultural significance. Afterwards walk out to the historic island – a pleasant mile-long stroll.
A number of the birds nesting here, like the crested tern, migrate from as far afield as China and Japan
Address: West Tamar Highway, Riverside, 7250
Contact: 00 61 3 6327 3964; parks.tas.gov.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: Oct-Mar: daily, 9am-5pm. Apr-Sep: daily, 9am-4pm
Price: A$3; children, under 16, A$2
Payment type: credit cards not accepted
Reservations: not possible
Salamanca Market (22)
Billed as Tasmania’s most popular tourist attraction, this weekly street market is also a gathering of the various artistic, agricultural and artisan food clans who live on the island. The weekly outdoor market, held every Saturday, brings Hobart’s waterfront alive with live music, food stalls and other distractions. Stop for a coffee at one of the nearby cafés. On a sunny day there is no better place to be. Each week around 300 stallholders set up shop here selling everything from organic honey to ceramics, freshly-cut flowers and children’s clothing. If you’re looking for that perfect (and authentic) Tasmanian gift, then come here.
Address: Salamanca Place, Hobart, 7000
Contact: 00 61 3 6238 2711; salamanca.com.au
Getting there: bus to Elizabeth Street (7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Opening times: Sat, 8.30am-3pm
Payment type: credit cards not accepted
Bruny Island (23)
Just 15 minutes away from Tasmania by car ferry, Bruny Island feels like a different country. Named after the French explorer Bruni d'Entrecasteaux the island is morphing from an isolated farming community into one of Australia’s eco-tourism hot spots. Bruny Island Cruises in Adventure Bay now attracts visitors from around the world who are keen to see whales, seals and dolphins in the wild. Apart from its abundant wildlife and rugged scenery, the island is also becoming something of a foodies’ paradise, producing farmhouse cheeses, premium wines and wild game meats. You’ll need a full day to even scratch the surface of this place. Stay overnight if you can. Island time is different. Rushing is a crime.
Address: Bruny Island, Tasmania, 7150
Contact: 00 61 3 6267 4494; brunyisland.org.au
Getting there: ferry to Bruny Island from Kettering
Opening times: daily, regular crossings between 7.45am-6.30pm
Price: car ferry: from A$30 for a standard vehicle
Payment type: credit cards accepted
Reservations: not possible
Low Head Pilot Station (24)
Low Head could be the name of an American heavy metal band. What you’ll find at the mouth of the Tamar River is a perfectly maintained early 19th century maritime complex comprising of a boat shed, pilot station, church, schoolhouse and various cottages. A pilot has been operating on this site since 1805, guiding vessels from the ocean through the narrow heads and into the Tamar. The nearby settlement of Georgetown is also worth visiting. There are some remarkable exhibits in the museum and if you visit on Sunday, you’ll hear the giant steam foghorn in action. It’s possible to rent one of the cottages for a very modest fee.
Address: 399 Low Head Road, Low Head, 7253
Contact: 00 61 3 6382 2826; museum.lowhead.com
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Opening times: daily, 10am-4pm
Price: A$5; children, A$3; family A$15
Payment type: credit cards not accepted
Reservations: not possible
Free things to do
Flinders Island (25)
Part of the Furneaux group of islands, Flinders is Tasmania’s last frontier. This remote, pristine and windswept place seems out of kilter with the 21st century. Traditionally reliant on farming, the island is now a mecca for outdoor types and offers plenty of scope for kayaking, mountain biking, fishing and hiking. The island is also rich in wildlife, with 120 species of birds, and exports olive oil and cool climate wine. Flinders Island Visitor Centre is a one-stop shop for booking accommodation, dining options and car hire. Book accommodation well in advance if you intend to visit during the summer months. Sharp Airlines ( sharpairlines.com ) operates a regular service from Launceston (return flights from A$362) and from Melbourne’s Essendon airport.
Address: 4 Davies Street, Whitemark, 7255
Contact: 00 61 3 6359 5002; visitflindersisland.com.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Reservations: essential
Cradle Mountain (26)
Cradle Mountain is shorthand for the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, a huge area of temperate rainforest, glacial lakes, alpine heath and rugged mountains. The park is a magnet for hikers, fly fishermen and other outdoor types. It’s also an excellent place to see quolls, platypus, Tasmanian devils (a carnivorous marsupial, found in the wild only in Tasmania) and other native species. While many people are here to tackle the six-day Overland Track, you’ll also find plenty of shorter walks. Whatever else you do, please squeeze in the day walk to Dove Lake. A visit to the former home of Gustav Weindorfer, an Austrian botanist who helped to create the national park, is recommended. There’s a wide range of accommodation available – from luxury lodges to campsites.
Address: Cradle Mountain, West Coast 7310
Contact: 00 61 3 6492 1110; parks.tas.gov.au
Getting there: no public transport: drive
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (27)
Responding to the arrival of the gender-bending MONA, this well-established cultural precinct needed to up its game. And it has. Located on Hobart’s historic waterfront, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has recently undergone a spectacular A$30 million redevelopment. The new-look precinct now offers more than 2,000 square metres of new public and exhibition spaces, a centralised visitor services hub and a new Courtyard Café. Apart from its own permanent collections, this wonderful complex regularly hosts visiting exhibitions and one-off shows. A current exhibition explores the legacy of the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). These are some of the oldest buildings in Australia, so take some time to wander around.
Apart from its own permanent collections, this wonderful complex regularly hosts visiting exhibitions and one-off shows
Address: Dunn Place, Hobart, 7000
Contact: 00 61 3 6211 4134; tmag.tas.gov.au
Getting there: bus to Dunn Place (7,8,9,11)
Opening times: daily, 10am-5pm
Reservations: not possible
Brooke Street Pier (28)
Where did that come from? In 2014 this massive 4,000 tonne structure was towed down the Derwent and ended up here, on the historic Hobart waterfront. Built from concrete and polycarbonate, this four-storey shed now houses some of Tasmania’s most interesting small food producers, artisan brewers and design studios. It also acts as a gallery space and a terminal for MONA’s high-speed catamarans. This energy-smart building is really a cornucopia of Tasmanian delights, showcasing malt whisky, craft beer, artisan cheeses and locally-smoked salmon. Highlights include McHenry & Sons Distillery, Huon Tasmanian Salmon, Grandvewe Cheese and Dick + Dora. You can also chill out in the espresso bar Adrift, which enjoys a prime location at the end of this serene, floating pier.
Address: Franklin Wharf, Hobart, 5000
Contact: 00 61 431 792 317; brookestreetpier.com
Getting there: bus 100 to the city
Opening times: daily, 7.30am-6pm
Reservations: not necessary
Penny Royal Adventure Park (29)
After years of planning, Launceston’s oldest amusement park has been reborn as the A$15 million Penny Royal Adventure Park, complete with boat rides, pirate shows, zip line rides, a climbing wall and gold panning. The extensive site also includes a café, ice cream shop, pizzeria and a pub. The theme park re-opened in March 2016 and has proved a hit with kids, large and small. Its centrepiece is the so-called Dark Ride which tells the story of notorious Tasmanian bushranger Matthew Brady who lived in the early 19th Century. For more adventurous types there are rope walk bridges, zip lines and cliff jumps. The park is very busy during local school holidays, but fairly relaxed at other times.
Address: 1 Bridge Road, Launceston, Tasmania 7250
Contact: 00 61 3 6331 2255; pennyroyal.net.au
Getting there: no public transport: walk
Opening times: 9.30am to 5pm daily
Reservations: not possible
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This article was written by Mark Chipperfield from The Daily Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
