Theme Parks and Attractions

Where to go and things to do on the Apple Isle...

For those who haven't visited Australia's smallest state, Tasmania or "Tassie," seems shrouded in mystique. Perhaps it's the state's far-flung location some 300 km south of the Australian mainland across stormy Bass Strait. Maybe it's the vast expanses of windswept wilderness - almost half of Tasmania's land mass lies in national parks and World Heritage Areas with sparkling alpine lakes, wild rivers, and mist-cloaked peaks.

Perhaps it's the bizarre wildlife - from real life Tasmanian devils to the extinct thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger. Or is it the haunting convict history and beautifully preserved heritage towns that seem frozen in time? Today, this mystique lures more and more travelers who are discovering the island's many jewels.

Map of Australia
Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain

North West Tasmania
Set in the picturesque surrounds of mountainous terrains, ample greenery and reflective views of Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain shows off Mother Nature's work in full force. With breathtaking views penetrating from every angle, taking advantage of Cradle Mountain's landscape is an adventure every visitor should consider pursuing. If you're a natural born wanderer and want to explore at your own pace, there are multiple self-guided walking tracks that all boast scenic rainforest vistas and awe inspiring waterfalls.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Brighton, a 30-minute drive north of Hobart, Tasmania
The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary boasts wombats, koalas, birds, quolls and many amazing natives including the Tasmanian devils which are active during the day so they can be viewed at any time. We have over 80 free-roaming kangaroos that you can hand-feed with complimentary kangaroo food provided on entry and they love a scratch under the chin! We offer a very hands-on experience, allowing you to view and share special moments with Australia's unique wildlife. Your entry will also help continue the work with education, conservation and rehabilitation of Tasmania's threatened wildlife. Bonorong's dedicated volunteers run Tasmania's only 24-hour wildlife rescue service.
Port Arthur

Port Arthur

100 kms south east of Hobart, Tasmania
The Port Arthur Historic Site is Australia's most intact and evocative convict site and one of Australia's great tourist attractions. Located on the scenic Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. The 40 hectare site has more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes dating from the prison's establishment in 1830 until its closure in 1877. During this time around 12,500 convicts served sentences and for many it was a living hell. Features available include a guided walking tour, harbour cruise, entry to the museum, the Convict Study Centre and Interpretation Gallery, and the site of the dockyard.
Cataract Gorge

Cataract Gorge

Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston's own piece of wilderness just 15 minutes walk from the city centre. Here you'll find walking and hiking trails, the world's longest single span chairlift, swimming pool, restaurant, kiosk, cafe peacocks and wildlife, beautiful gardens, suspension bridge, inclinator for easy access, Interpretation Centre and panoramic lookouts with spectacular views.
Kunanyi/Mt Wellington

Kunanyi/Mt Wellington

Hobart, Tasmania
Kunanyi/Mt Wellington is a wilderness experience just a 20-minute drive from Hobart and is much loved by locals. The 21-km drive to the summit passes through temperate rainforest to sub-alpine flora and glacial rock formations, ending in panoramic views of Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula. No other city in Australia has a vista like this one. The interpretation centre at the top protects you from the blustering winds while an open viewing platform on the western side of the car park looks out to the World Heritage Wilderness Area beyond.
Bruny Island

Bruny Island

South-eastern coast of Tasmania
Bruny Island is Tasmania's premier island destination and home of the beautiful South Bruny National Park, Bruny Island provides the ultimate Tasmanian wilderness experience. On land, you can venture into the wilderness on one of the many Bruny Island bushwalks. On sea, you can join travel on an eco-cruise exploring the stunning coastline of the island. Bruny Island offers tantalising locally produced food and premium quality wine. You will find hand made fudge, chocolate, truffles, berries, cheese and fresh oysters. Wildlife is abundant. Fur seals and fairy penguins swim offshore, while white wallaby, wombats, wallabies, and echidnas are some of the more charismatic land animals. Built by convicts between 1836 and 1838, Cape Bruny Lighthouse offers beautiful views of the surging Southern Ocean. Bruny Island is also home to Australia's southern-most vineyard and there are some excellent restaurants and cafes scattered across the island's townships.
Coles Bay & Freycinet National Park

Coles Bay & Freycinet National Park

Currumbin, Gold Coast
The pretty coastal town of Coles Bay is framed by the rugged pink-hued granite peaks of the Hazards mountains and the sheltered waters of Great Oyster Bay. This is an excellent base from which to explore Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay. Take a swim in the clear ocean, go fishing or enjoy a long walk at one of the local beaches, including Richardson's, Muirs and the incredible Friendly Beaches. Freycinet National Park is a short drive from Coles Bay and can be explored in anything for a couple of hours to several days. Coles Bay and Freycinet is a hub for outdoor experiences - go sea kayaking, take a cruise to Wineglass Bay, join a luxury sailing and walking experience, jump on board a fishing charter, take a scenic flight over the Peninsula or try a four-wheel drive or quad bike experience. Or, just pack a picnic and lose an afternoon on one of the Peninsula's beautiful beaches.
Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Milsons Point, Tasmania
The Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park lies in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is a region of dramatic mountain peaks, beautiful rainforest, deep river valleys and spectacular gorges. The park is famous for the wild and pristine rivers that twist their way through the wilderness. The park supports a diverse range of vegetation, dominated by cool temperate rainforest, drier eucalypt forests and picturesque button grass moorland. The park also contains Aboriginal and convict historic sites.

Tasmania Zoo

Launceston, Tasmania
Welcome to Tasmania's largest wildlife park! Tasmania Zoo is only 18km from Launceston, right in the foothills of the Tamar Valley. We are dedicated to continuous contribution to wildlife conservation and to the education of the community at large. Tasmania Zoo exhibits the largest collection of rare, exotic and native species in Tasmania, exhibits the second largest collection of primates in any private Australian Zoo and is the only zoo in Australasia to exhibit the Celebes Crested Macaque. What trip to Tasmania would be complete without experiencing a real life Tasmanian Devil!? Penguins, crocodiles, kangaroos, reptiles, monkeys, echidnas, quolls, and even crocodiles all call this amazing zoo home.

West Coast Wilderness Railway

Queenstown, Tasmania
Step back in history and climb aboard a majestic steam train. Travel from the heart of Queenstown deep into the West Coast mountains to the beginning of the iconic Abt Rack and Pinion section of track, the first of its kind in Australia. Journey deep into the heritage of the wild Tasmanian West Coast, where tales of resilience and triumph showcase the iconic local spirit. Discover how the Feud of the Irishmen helped shape this rugged and isolated region. Experience much more than a railway journey within a wilderness setting. The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a must-do experience.
Tasman National Park

Tasman National Park

South-East, Tasmania
Tasman National Park protects diverse forest and spectacular coastline from Cape Surville to Waterfall Bay and Fortescue Bay, and from Cape Hauy to Cape Pillar and Cape Raoul. The park incorporates several off-shore islands, including Fossil Island, Hippolyte Rocks and Tasman Island. It is an area of great beauty and natural diversity, including some of the most stunning coastal scenery anywhere in Australia. Not suprisingly, the park offers some of the best coastal walks in the country. Many interesting rock formations can be found along the coastline, while the southern end of the park has some of the highest and most spectacular sea cliffs in Australia.
Salamanca Markets

Salamanca Markets

Salamanca Markets
Salamanca Place was established as a warehouse and storage area close to the existing waterfront in the 1830's. The original sandstone has been restored on buildings where it had been rendered or painted and enhanced with trendy interiors containing bars, eateries, galleries and predominantly craft or gourmet based retail outlets along with the iconic weekly Salamanca Markets.
Mt Field National Park

Mt Field National Park

North Queensland
Mt Field National Park is one of Tasmania's most loved national parks. The park has a wide variety of scenic features and wildlife and offers a great range of facilities for day visitors. Few other national parks in Australia offer such a diversity in vegetation, ranging from tall swamp gum forests and massive tree ferns at the base of the mountain, through rainforest along the Lake Dobson Road, to alpine vegetation at the higher elevations.

Hollybank Treetops Adventure

Hollybank Treetops Adventure

South East Queensland
The Hollybank Treetops Adventure is built amongst the pine trees of Hollybank Forest, located 20min from Launceston. Fly through the treetops on the zipline Treetops Adventure Tour or glide through the forest on our Segway Tour. Treetops Adventure Tours combine the adrenaline and thrill of a high wire canopy ride, with an informative and highly entertaining outlook of the forest. With the choice of a day tour or night tour, you can have two completely different experiences flying through the air! During the day, get a great bird's eye look of the wonders the forest has to offer. Or by night, experience the mystique and thrill of flying through the night with nothing but a helmet lamp illuminating your way!

The Nut

Stanley, North Tasmania
The Nut is the core of an extinct volcano - a fascinating geological formation stands at 152 metres and towers above Stanley, providing stunning 360 degree views of the township, Bass Straight, and the Rocky Cape National Park. What better way to take in the breathtaking views of the historical and picturesque coastal village of Stanley than from a leisurely chairlift ride. The Nut Chairlift traverses a distance of 250 meters, rising 95 meters. After a leisurely five minute ride to the top of The Nut, you can explore the plateau, soak up the incredible views and take advantage of the superb photographic opportunities.
East Coast Natureworld

East Coast Natureworld

Bicheno, Tasmania
East Coast Natureworld is set amongst 150 acres of natural parkland, lagoons and beach frontage. The perfect place to experience Tasmania's unique animals, birds, reptiles. Operating for over thirty years, Natureworld offers a more intimate, interactive, and ultimately enjoyable experience with Tasmanian wildlife. Originally a birdlife park, Natureworld has evolved into a nature world, where Tasmanian wildlife, birdlife and flora can be seen and appreciated by all.

Maritime Museum of Tasmania

Maritime Museum of Tasmania

Hobart, Tasmania
The Maritime Museum of Tasmania explores, preserves and interprets Tasmania's rich maritime past. You will find informative displays about aboriginal watercraft, early European explorers and whalers. You can learn how important sailing and steam ships were for developing Tasmanian industries that exported the raw materials and products of the islands, such as apples, minerals and timber. The historic Carnegie Building is a fitting home to the museum's collection of ship models, artefacts, paintings and images. Discover the craft and art of ship building through displays of boat builder's tools and historic dinghies. Navigational instruments show how mariners found their way across the seas while archaeological discoveries from shipwrecks around the Tasmanian islands show how challenging, difficult and dangerous the seafarer's life could be.

Flinders Island

North East Tasmania
Flinders Island is located off mainland Tasmania's North East Coast and offers the ultimate escape with peace and quiet, natural beauty and plenty of local attractions. Flinders is the largest of the Furneaux Group of 52 islands and offers a range of great experiences - from walking beautiful, long deserted beaches and lazy scenic drives to fishing, golfing, diving and even fossicking for 'Killiecrankie diamonds'. Beyond the green rolling hills of farmland, there's also a world of natural wonders to explore, from the pristine coastline to the rugged pink and grey granite mountain ranges of the Strzelecki National Park, not to mention plants and animals found nowhere else on earth.
Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition Centre

Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition Centre

Wynyard, North Tasmania
If you're the type of traveller that wants to connect with a place and its people or you enjoy the nostalgic experience of times gone by then place the Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition Centre on your must-visit list for Tasmania. The establishment showcases an unlikely collection of treasured assets of the Wynyard community. The most prestigious is the Ransley Veteran Car Collection includes the equal oldest Ford in the world, the 1903 Model A. Visitors can enjoy reading stories of famous explorers, Bass and Flinders, who first named Table Cape when sailing along the coast in 1798. The volcanic plug, which rises to almost 190 metres above sea level, is Wynyard's most prominent geographical feature. The community's presence continues at the centre in the Wonders of Wynyard Art Gallery. Changing exhibitions showcase the work of local artists and groups including paintings, sculptures, photographs, textiles and much more.

National Automotive Museum of Tasmania

north-west Hobart, Tasmania
Come and experience the history, elegance and style of one of Australia's most significant motoring collections. The museum comes alive with four sensational theme displays each year as well as constantly changing exhibits in the main hall, and a mezzanine floor packed with motorcycles.
Queen Victoria Museum

Queen Victoria Museum

Launceston, Tasmania
The Queen Victoria Museum should be on the top of your places to go in Launceston if you are interested in Tasmanian history, heritage and natural sciencees - they even have a Planetarium! It is Australia's largest regional museum and is situated on two key sites: the museum at Inveresk and the art gallery at Royal Park and is proudly operated by the Launceston City Council. Queen Victoria Museum is located in the cultural precinct of Inveresk in a 1870s era railway workshop, with the University of Tasmania's Visual and Performing Arts centre right next-door. It has a number of exhibition spaces for permanent and touring shows. The Inveresk site is home to the preserved railway workshops and a permanent exhibition called Tasmanian Connections, revealing a range of stories from the Museum's social history and natural science collections. Visitors can see dinosaurs, death masks, planes soaring high above and artefacts from Australia's oldest merchant shipwreck, the Sydney Cove.
Zoodoo Wildlife Park

Zoodoo Wildlife Park

Richmond, Tasmania
For a uniquely interactive animal experience visit Zoodoo Wildlife Park, located just 6 kilometres from the Historic town of Richmond. Zoodoo has a large range of Native Australian, Exotic and Agricultural animals. Visitors are thrilled with the up close and personal experiences available. Zoodoo has Tasmania's only Safari Bus Tour, The safari tour is an exciting and unique animal experience with larger exotic animals. The Native Australian Park features Wombats, Gliders, Possums, Quolls and Tasmanian Devils. The grasslands of the native park is home to roaming, friendly wallaby, kangaroo and deer who are always eager to greet you. Tasmanian Devil Feeding and Information sessions are run daily. Zoodoo Also has a farm yard full of a variety of agricultural animals such as sheep, ponies, goats, chooks and many more. Big Cat keepers give daily presentations on Tasmania's only Bengal Tigers and our rare African White Lions.
Museum of Old and New Art - Mona

Museum of Old and New Art - Mona

655 Main Road, Berriedale, Tasmania
Australia's largest privately-owned museum showcases a collection including modern and contemporary artworks, antiquities and ethnographic pieces. The 3.5ha site, just north of Hobart, also includes the Ether Building Function Centre, Moorilla winery and vineyard, Cellar Door, Wine Bar and Barrel Room, Void Bar, a 63-seat cinema, Cinemona, The Source Restaurant, Mona Library and Gallery, as well as eight contemporary accommodation pavilions. Off-site and nearby is the Moo Brew brewery.