Natural Attractions in Tasmania
Tasmania is home to many natural wonders, thanks to our isolation and rugged, often untouched wilderness. As a small island, much of our wilderness is accessed quite easily, and a short walk will provide opportunity to breathe some of the world’s freshest air and a moment of pause to admire the surrounding landscape. Of these landscapes, perhaps most recognisable is Wineglass Bay in the east, and Cradle Mountain in the north west, however, scratch the surface and you’ll find hidden gems just moments off the usual beaten track and natural phenomena you didn’t know existed.
Here are just some of our favourites:
The Tarkine Drive is a sealed loop road that winds through temperate rainforest and a short detour will take you onto the wild beaches of the north west coast. This region can make you feel like the only person on the planet and we recommend you are prepared for all weather. The coastline in particular can get wild and woolly, with nothing between you and the coast of Africa!
The Aurora Australis is a lady of the night and can be exceptionally hard to catch – and even harder to photograph. Sometimes known as the Southern Lights, this phenomena can be seen all over Tasmania in areas with low light pollution and large, expansive skies. To maximize your likelihood of seeing one, you will want to join one of the Facebook groups dedicated to sharing the virtually unpredictable occurrences and be ready with a camera that can take a long exposure shot.
Maria Island is well known for its Painted Cliffs and Fossil Cliffs, both unique in their own right. The Painted Cliffs are wonderfully patterned sandstone cliffs coloured by naturally occurring ground water staining the cliffs from the inside out that can be explored by foot a short distance from the convict site of Darlington. The Fossil Cliffs are also accessed by a short walk from Darlington, however, are best admired from the water with an accredited tour guide.
Some experts believe that bioluminescence in Tasmania is a result of warming ocean temperatures and changes to the ocean currents. The phenomena now occurs sporadically in the southern parts of Tasmania and there are dedicated Facebook pages to help locals and tourists share the location of it when it occurs. The organisms in the water give off a blue glow when the water is disturbed and are best viewed with low levels of light pollution at night.
Drive around an hour and a half south from Hobart and you may stumble over Hasting Caves and Thermal Springs. Take a tour into the Newdegate Cave, a dolomite cave, with a Parks and Wildlife guide and you will wonder at the huge chambers, over 40 million years in the making.
