Top things to do in Tasmania in summer

Tasmanian summer days are warm and long; the perfect backdrop for jam-packed adventures or taking leisurely naps under a tree.

From downhill thrills to farm-fresh produce, beachcombing to wombat encounters, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Tasmania in summer. Keep reading to make sure you don’t miss a thing this summer.

Wildlife spotting in Tasmania’s national parks

With nearly half of Tasmania protected by World Heritage Areas and lengthy summertime daylight hours, there are plenty of opportunities to spot Tasmanian wildlife in the summer. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers front-row seats to some of Tasmania’s wildlife stars: wombats, echidnas and quolls. If you’re lucky, you may even spy a notoriously shy Tasmanian devil. If it’s wombats you seek, be sure to take a stroll on the duckboards near Ronny Creek and look out onto the open plain.

If coming eye-to-eye with a Tasmanian Devil is on your ‘must-do in Tasmania’ summer holiday list, you’re guaranteed a sighting at Devils@Cradle; watch the devils lose all manners during feeding time and meet their youngest nursery residents.

At Mount Field National Park you’ve got a great chance of spotting the elusive platypus. At Freycinet National Park be sure to keep an eye to the sky for a sighting of a soaring wedge-tailed eagle. No matter which Tasmanian national park you visit, there is an abundance of wildlife to see for patient, curious spotters out on the trails.

Explore the beaches of Tasmania

With refreshingly cool water (so clear you can see the sandy bottom), a coastline lined with boulders, mountains and forest, and sun-drenched days to enjoy it all, it’s no wonder beaches are among the top places to visit in Tasmania during summer.

Keen for some squeaky white sand between your toes? Tackle the walk into Wineglass Bay and be rewarded with panoramic views of the aptly-named bay and its azure waters to splash in. larapuna / Bay of Fires area is a treasure chest of coastal wonders where you can find your own quiet waterhole surrounded by orange, lichen-licked boulders to enjoy for the day.

At Seven Mile Beach, approximately 20mins drive from Hobart, you’ll likely get a morning nod from a passing local taking their daily swim. This long stretch of sand is perfect for castle building, kite flying or a sandy stroll. Boat Harbour on Tasmania’s north-west coast is known for its deceptively tropical looks. Take a refreshing plunge in the bracingly cold water, picnic on the sheltered shore or walk through the neighbouring Rocky Cape National Park.

Outdoor adventures in Tasmania

With a range of outdoor activities suited to all levels in Tasmania, you don’t need to sling a week of food over your back to immerse yourself in nature (unless, of course, you want to).

There are thousands of kilometres of hiking trails in Tasmania to explore, including the cliff-hugging walk to Cape Pillar; multi-day alpine pilgrimage, the Overland Track; and the short but spectacular Fluted Cape walk on Bruny Island.

Find your flow and pedal through temperate rainforest on the world-class Blue Derby and St Helens mountain bike trails. Kayak through the mirror-like water on Bathurst Harbour in the secluded Southwest National Park or take a guided expedition around the Freycinet Peninsula.

Whether you’re up for rafting on the Franklin River, birdwatching in the Tamar Island Wetlands or setting up camp at Fortescue Bay, Tasmania can dial up the adventure to suit your taste.

Festivals and events in summer

Embrace the hum of activity on Hobart’s waterfront over the holiday period. Join in on the cacophony of cheers as sailors cross the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race finish line and sample delicious local fare at Tasmania’s Taste of Summer.

Not to be missed in the north, Festivale brings frivolity and flavour to the streets of Launceston every summer. Pack your dancing shoes (in Tasmania that’s a pair of Blundstones) for Party in the Paddock and step back in time at the Evandale Village Fair and National Penny Farthing Championships.

For two-wheeled transport of a more modern variety, check out the Spoke Motorcycle Festival on Tasmania’s east coast.

Find out what’s on in Tasmania to create your own summer festival escape.

Unique island experiences

Take your island holiday to a new level in Tasmania. Some of the best attractions in summer involve getting away to an island-off-an-island.

Maria Island is a wildlife mecca where you are sure to encounter a wombling wombat or curious Cape Barren goose. This island is also home to a rich tapestry of palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) and colonial history.

Bruny Island is famed for its birdwatching, cheese, oysters and coastal bushwalks. Journey to Adventure Bay and you might spot a rare white wallaby.

Swing a golf club on picturesque greens and devour fresh seafood on King Island. Or while away the hours beach combing or fossicking for Killiecrankie diamonds on Flinders Island.

Food and wine experiences

The best places to visit in Tasmania in summer typically revolve around the island’s top food and drink experiences.

Settle in at a solar-powered vineyard in the Tamar Valley, drop in to a distillery or plan your trip around a farm-to-table dining experience; be sure to check out The Agrarian Kitchen or Fork it Farm.

For the freshest summertime seafood, make the most of Tasmania’s crayfish season (November–May) with a visit to Lobster Shack Tasmania in Bicheno. Or head to Hursey Seafoods in Stanley and you'll soon understand why it was recently named Australia's best seafood restaurant.

To taste at your own pace, take a journey along northern Tasmania’s Tasting Trail.

Family-friendly fun

Meet the feathered, furry and friendly at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, have a putt at Splash Golf Grindelwald or fly through the forest at Hollybank Treetops Adventure.

Picnic amongst the peacocks, cool off in the pool and take a scenic ride on the chairlift at Launceston Cataract Gorge.

If fart jokes are the epitome of humour in your household, you won’t want to miss the Pooseum in Richmond or the Cloaca Professional installation at Mona, also known as the ‘poo machine’.

Fishing and boating activities

Tasmania is home to some of the best calm water cruising in Australia. Seafaring visitors can enjoy a protected sail down the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, venture into remote wilderness in style with On Board or reel in a whopper on a St Helens game-fishing charter.

Pack your rod, don your waders and head out with a fly-fishing guide at Tasmania’s highland lakes. Summer is a great time to cast a line in Tasmania, with brown trout in season from August to April, and rainbow trout from October to May. Before you head out, be sure to read up on the local regulations for fishing and boating in Tasmania at Inland Fisheries Service and Fishing Tasmania.

For boat building enthusiasts, don’t miss the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart or Franklin’s Wooden Boat Centre, Australia’s only traditional boat-building school.

Relax and unwind at a wellness retreat

Slow down and settle into island time with one of Tasmania’s many wellness retreats; including spas, outdoor saunas and time spent immersed in nature.

If a soothing massage after a long day of walking is your idea of balance, a stay at the luxury-focused Saffire Freycinet or a visit to the alpine spa at Cradle Mountain might be for you. If you prefer biking over hiking, recover from the trails with a visit to the Floating Sauna Lake Derby.

Put the Wim Hof method to the test in the icy waters of kunanyi / Mount Wellington on the guided Wild Wellness Fire and Ice Walk or fully disconnect on a multi-day retreat at the Harmony Harvest Wellness Sanctuary.

Stargazing and night activities

Don’t forget to look up; Tasmania’s southern sky offers some of the most expansive stargazing on the planet. If the conditions are right, Tasmania has some of the best places in the world to spot the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis). These dancing lights aren’t always on display, but the dark sky still shines bright thanks to a lack of light pollution in Tasmania. Venture up kunanyi / Mount Wellington or let your eyes adjust on a remote beach and wait for the night sky to come alive.

If you prefer night to day, you’ll fit right in with Tasmania’s wildlife. Join a nocturnal tour to spy some of Tasmania’s glow-in-the-dark wonders or participate in a penguin tour over the summer months to see the world’s smallest species of penguin in action during breeding and nesting season.