Out of your comfort zone

Challenge your mind and body this winter with exhilarating new experiences.

The Off Season is a time for sensory stimulation and outdoor exhilaration. From meltwater swims to slipping underground into wet winter caves, here’s how to infuse your trip to Tasmania with added adrenaline.

Embrace the winter dark

Sometimes, the best things happen in the dark.

Journey underground with Wild Cave Tours at Mole Creek on a guided tour with a speleologist, exploring the caves of the Great Western Tiers. You'll see reflection pools and cave waterfalls, only visible during the winter months.

Uncover a hidden world of glowing flora and fauna on a tour by torchlight, best enjoyed in winter when the sky grows dark earlier in the evening. Armed with UV torches, you’ll be coached and guided by Dr Lisa Gershwin to spot glowing wildlife such as possums and pademelons, and an array of glowing plants and fungi.

Plunge into discomfort

Will Tasmania's cooler waters give you the shivers? Almost certainly, but outdoor swimming is not to be feared.

On the east coast, take a short walk through eucalypt forest to find the aqua-blue Apsley waterhole, then continue on to the smaller plunge pools in Douglas-Apsley National Park. 

Join the Cold Plunge Club with a stay at Bay of Fires Bush Retreat or dip and steam at Cooinda beach house, with Waubs Bay only a 20m walk away. Heading inland, pay a visit to Cedar Cottage Meander for a dip in the nearby lake followed by a long soak in the outdoor tub.

Want the camaraderie of a group? Swim naked as part of Dark Mofo’s Nude Solstice Swim with a few thousand new friends in Hobart at Long Beach. Grab tickets early to secure your spot then rock up at sunrise on Saturday 21 June, the shortest day of the year.

Breathe through the cold

Sharp inhale. Long exhale. There are many ways to take your air in Tasmania.

For a personal reset join the Tasmanian Walking Company’s five-day Cold Water & Breathwork Walk with Wim Hof breathwork expert Piet Blokker.  Enjoy coastal vistas coupled with creature comforts along the way, such as cosy accommodation and freshly brewed coffee.

Fancy something a little steamier? Kuuma Nature Sauna offers sauna cruise sessions at dawn, ideal for warming up tired muscles on cold winter days. Housed in a pontoon boat, the floating sauna offers absolute water views and serenity.

If you prefer to stay on land, try hot-cold therapy during your stay at Aquila Eco Retreat or add a breathwork and contrast therapy session to your stay at Woodland Bay Retreat.

Spook yourself silly

Believe it or not, you’ll feel the spirit of the past in Tasmania.

Bring the kids to the historic Anglesea Barracks to become paranormal investigators with Tasmania's Most Haunted. Equipped with ghost-hunting tools and clues left by the ghost of 'Old Jack', the kids unravel the spine-tingling past at this former military gaol.

Hoon at high speed

Take to the hills to gather some pace this Off Season. Hurtle down a snowfield at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort, with 90min ski and snowboard lessons available to get you started or improve your skills.

To ride instead of slide, book in to the Blue Derby Pods Ride winter experience. Spend your days mountain biking on Derby's worldclass trails, stargazing around the campfire and cosying up in comfortable pod accommodation.  

If you like your high-speed pursuits with an added dash of competition, Tasmania is just the place. Join the multi-sport Winter Challenge Tasmania (August) to explore forested and coastal landscapes whilst kayaking, cycling, mountain biking and trail running. Or embrace the wilderness and join Tasmania’s trail running community for a leg of the kunanyi Trail Series (May-October).