Tasmania
Tasmania is an island state of Australia for travelers who want mountains, rainforest and wild coast close together, plus seafood and leatherwood honey.
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Tasmania is an island state of Australia, about 240 km south of the mainland across Bass Strait. Hobart, on the Derwent River, is the state capital and largest city, and many visitors fly in to Hobart or Launceston. The main island is surrounded by about a thousand smaller islands. Protected areas, mostly national parks, cover a large share of the land, and Cradle Mountain, Mount Field and Freycinet draw visitors, along with Wineglass Bay on the east coast.
The island has a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Autumn, from March to May, is usually settled. Summer runs from December to February, and winter from June to August is the wettest and coldest season. Port Arthur in the southeast is a former convict penal settlement. Seafood is central to local cooking, including crayfish, oysters and abalone, and leatherwood honey is a local specialty. Many visitors rely on a private vehicle, since public transport is limited in rural areas.
Tasmania in five
- Buy a parks pass for the national parksEntry to Tasmania's national parks needs a pass. Compare a holiday pass for all parks with daily passes if you will visit more than two.Parks passes
- Hire a carBuses link the main towns but not most trailheads. Distances look short on the map, yet mountain roads are slow, and wildlife is on the roads at dusk.
- Ride the shuttle at Cradle MountainIn busy periods, park at the visitor center and take the park shuttle to Dove Lake rather than driving the last stretch. Check current arrangements with the park.
- Take the ferry with your own carThe Spirit of Tasmania carries cars between Geelong in Victoria and Devonport, with day and night sailings. Book cabins early for summer.
Neighborhoods
Hobart
- Best for: First trips, food
- To airport: About 20 min by taxi
- Price band: $$
- Salamanca and the waterfront
- Day trips to Bruny and Port Arthur
- Few late flights
Skip if you want a wilderness base.
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Launceston
- Best for: Loop trips, wine
- To airport: About 15 min by taxi
- Price band: $$
- Cataract Gorge on foot
- Tamar Valley wineries
- Far from the south
Skip if you want the coast.
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Things to do in Tasmania
See all attractions in Tasmania
Need to know
- Airport
- Hobart (HBA) and Launceston (LST)
- Getting there
- Flights from the mainland, or the ferry from Geelong
- Getting around
- Car hire; buses between the main towns only
- Best base
- Hobart for the south, Launceston for the north
- Time needed
- 7–10 days for a loop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Warm, long daysJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, settledFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, settled
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Mild, calmMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Autumn colorAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°CoolMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, dark winterJunePartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dark winter
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°ColdestJulyPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cold, snow inlandAugustPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow inland
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Cool, windySeptemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Spring, changeableOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, changeable
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°MildNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Summer startsDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer starts
Average daily high and low in Hobart, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tasmania
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 37%
Hobart
10:24 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today14°8°37%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Wed17°7°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Thu18°6°17%Thursday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 17%.
- Fri15°4°60%Friday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sat11°3°92%Saturday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Sun13°4°31%Sunday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 31%.
Updated 07:06 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Launcestonabout 2 hours by car from HobartTasmania's second city, with a gorge walk and old colonial buildings.Read the guide
- Port Arthurabout 1.5 hours by car from HobartA former convict penal settlement on the Tasman Peninsula, with ruins and a harbour setting.
- Mount Field National Parkabout 1 hour by car from HobartRussell Falls, the state's most visited waterfall, with stepped falls about 58 metres high.
- Bruny Islandabout 1 hour by car and ferry from HobartCoastal walks and oyster farms, reached by a short car ferry.
Before you go to Tasmania
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Rules for Tasmania, checked
- Check whether you need an ETA, eVisitor or visa before flying to Australia, and apply before you leave home.Source
- Declare all food, plant and animal items on your incoming passenger card, including honey and cheese.
- Dial 000 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Tasmania. 112 also connects from mobile phones.
- Tasmania records many animals killed on rural roads, so drive slowly and watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk.
Plan around Tasmania
MONA, Salamanca Market and Bruny Island
Read the guideLauncestonCataract Gorge and the Tamar Valley
Read the guideAll of AustraliaETA, regions, flights and money basics
Read the guideMelbourneFerry from Geelong or a short flight
Read the guideSydneyFlights to Hobart and Launceston
Read the guideCar hire and the ferryTasmania is best by car
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for ferry and mountain weather
Read the guideTasmania FAQ
How many days do I need in Tasmania?
A week covers Hobart, the east coast and Cradle Mountain at a steady pace. Ten days lets you add the west coast or Bruny Island.
Do I need a car in Tasmania?
For most trips, yes. Buses run between Hobart, Launceston and the northwest coast, but not to most national park trailheads.
When is the best time to visit Tasmania?
December to April is warmest and most settled, with autumn color in the highlands in late April. Winter is cold, with snow on the mountains.
Is a parks pass required in Tasmania?
Yes, to enter the national parks. Buy it online before you go and keep it on your phone or dashboard.
How do I get to Tasmania from Melbourne?
Fly to Hobart or Launceston in about 1.5 hours, or take the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong to Devonport with a car. The ferry suits a road trip, and cabins sell out early in summer.