Tasmania family-friendly travel guide

Tasmania is just over an hour’s flight from Melbourne. Direct flights can be taken from Sydney and Melbourne to Launceston and Hobart; from Brisbane to Hobart; Adelaide to Hobart; and from Melbourne to Devonport, Burnie and King Island.

Cruise over to Devonport from Melbourne with The Spirit of Tasmania, which departs from both ports nightly and also daily during peak periods. 

Hiring a car or bringing your own is the best way to make the most of a trip to Tasmania. As Tasmania is relatively small, road distances are short and you can easily visit several towns and attractions in a single day. Most hire cars can be collected from Hobart or Launceston. Apollo Motorhome Holidays is five minutes from Hobart Airport and has a range of campervans and motorhomes.

Major national coach companies run tours around Tasmania with itineraries varying from seven to 15 days. Tasmania’s own Redline Coaches operate regularly between major centres. TassieLink has regular services to wilderness and World Heritage regions. Half-day and full-day coach tours operate from Tasmanian cities to various local sights and attractions.

Tasmania’s smaller islands can be reached by ferry or plane. Vehicle ferries operate between Kettering and Burny Island and across the Pieman River at Triabunna. Passenger ferries cruise between several other islands. There are internal flights Hobart-Burnie, Burnie/Devonport-King Island and Launceston-Flinders Island.

Tasmania’s rich soils and mild climate have helped it become one of Australia’s best known regions for excellent dining. In particular, Tasmania produces world-class ales, beers, and wines; wonderful seafood including rock lobster, oyster and Atlantic salmon; and high quality beef and dairy products from King Island and the Tamar Valley.

What to eat

Make sure you try a scallop pie or a curried scallop pie from the St Helens Bakery or any locally owned bakery in Tassie. Up in Launceston, Hallams Waterfront Seafood Restaurant specialises in freshly caught seafood with views over the Tamar River. Lobster Shack in Bicheno on the East Coast has a mouth-watering lobster bisque with lounging sea lions as your view.

Honey

Tasmania is also renowned for their honey and sampling the rare Leatherwood variety is the bee’s knees. R, Stephens Apiary in Mole Creek produces approximately 35 per cent of Tasmania’s honey. You can buy your very own batch right from the factory door. The Honey Farm in Chudleigh is also a sweet tooth’s dream with over 50 different honeys to taste as well as well as skincare products and gifts.

Wine

If you’ve got a moment away from the kids you should try and squeeze in a visit to one of Tasmania’s award-winning wineries. Tasmania is known for its quality pinot noir. The chilly winters and mild summers also produce great sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and other varieties of cool-climate wines. Moore’s Hill in Tamar Valley offers a cosy cellar door experience with a fireplace and chocolate tasting while Pooley Wines in Coal River Valley is steeped in three generations of winemakers.

Hobart and Launceston have a good mix of national department stores and major chains, specialty boutiques, arts and crafts galleries, souvenir outlets and quirky gift emporiums. Antique shops in country towns harbour treasures like colonial relics and furniture crafted from the fragrant Huon Pine.

When in Hobart, spend a Saturday shopping for local produce, pre-loved goods, and arts and crafts at Salamanca Markets. This outdoor market hosts over 300 stalls full of artisanal goods, jewellery and food. You’ll be able to snag a few Tasmanian-made products without the worry of carting them home by foot as the Salamanca shuttle runs a continuous loop between the Hobart city centre and the markets from 9am to 2pm. Foodies will love Farm Gate Market on Sunday where you can sample barbecue octopus, raw honey or a Lady Hester sourdough doughnut.

Other hidden gems in Hobart include internationally-recognised company Beauty and the Bees, sellers of natural products freshly created from Tasmanian honey and Flywheel, a boutique stationery store with a working letterpress studio.

Launceston also gives the state capital a run for their money in the shopping stakes with a range of specialty shops that cater to your every need. From the Old Umbrella Shop which dates back to 1921, to the Pinot Shop which stocks the best of Tasmanian tipple, a day spent shopping in Launceston is sure to bring about some welcome surprises. Be sure to hit up the food market Harvest on a Saturday for some organic Tasmanian treats and round out the weekend at Esk Market on Sunday where pre-loved clothes are aplenty.

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

Pack casual, comfortable clothing. Tasmania’s maritime climate means unexpected changes in weather – so it is advisable to bring a lightweight ‘spray’ jacket and a warm jumper. If you’re planning on walking in the mountains it’s vital that you bring warm clothing that you can layer.

Australia is renowned for its laid-back, egalitarian culture. By and large, friendliness is equated with good manners.

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australia.

By and large, Tasmania is considered a safe destination, although still exercise regular safety precautions as you would at home. Take plenty of water on hikes and supervise children at all times.

The curiously shaped coastline at Wineglass Bay is a magnet for photographers and a must on anyone’s Tasmanian itinerary. The best views are from Wineglass Bay Lookout and Mount Amos.

World Heritage-listed Maria Island’s Painted Cliffs and crystal-clear waters are stunning, but the resident wombats really steal the show! It might sounds like an exaggeration … but trust is, the furry little friends are quite literally everywhere.

Located in Mt Field National Park, Russel Falls are the park’s star water feature. The tiered 45-metre-high waterfall, just an easy 20-minute return walk from the Visitor Centre, are a must for anyone’s Instagram feed. Not to mention the nearby glowworm grotto and the side trail (an extra 15 minutes) to Horseshoe Falls – much smaller, but just as majestic.

The Bridestowe Lavender Estate is so popular that they now charge for entry. Despite its recent boom in popularity, its so big you can usually get a snap or two without anyone else in it. Be sure to get a picture of the delicious lavender ice-cream… yep, lavender is on the menu as well!