Tasmania Tours: An Insider's Guide 🛩️
Discover the tours everyone’s talking about
Thinking about exploring Tasmania but not sure where to start? Booking a tour is hands-down the easiest way to make the most of your trip. Tasmania might look small on the map, but the distances, winding roads, and weather can catch you out. A well-chosen tour means you skip the stress, leave the car behind, and hand the logistics over to people who know this island inside-out.
This page is your insiders guide to the best Tasmania tours on the internet.
You’ll find everything from day tour escapes out of Hobart and Launceston, to multi-day packages that cover the whole island. We’ll walk you through what types of tours are on offer, how they compare, which ones suit different kinds of travellers, and where to find the best tour operators.
So lets get touring Tasmania 🚎.
Why Book a Tasmania Tour?
You could rent a car and try to cover Tasmania on your own, but ask anyone who’s driven here — it’s not as simple as it looks on the map.
🚗 The roads aren’t straight highways. They’re narrow, winding and often gravel once you’re out of the main towns. Drive at night and you’ll be dodging wallabies, wombats, and possums, which is why the roadkill toll here is so high. Add in fatigue and unfamiliarity, and what sounds like an easy trip can become stressful fast.
🗺️ Navigation isn’t always your friend either. Internet and phone coverage is patchy across much of the island. Just when you need your maps app most — in the backcountry, late in the day — you can lose signal and be left second-guessing turn-offs.
❄️ The weather is another wildcard. Tasmania is full of microclimates. One valley can be sunny while the next is shrouded in fog. In winter and spring, you’ll hit frosty roads, sudden downpours, trees across backroads, even flooded river crossings. It’s not unusual for roads to close altogether after a storm.
🏔️ Then there’s access. Some of the best experiences here simply can’t be done without the right gear or a local operator. Boat trips into deep river gorges, 4WD access to remote wilderness, or a driver who actually knows how to handle Tassie’s conditions — they’re the difference between seeing the highlights and missing out.
That’s where tours make sense. You leave the driving, the weather-watching, and the logistics to locals who live and breathe this island. Instead of worrying about patchy reception or kangaroos on the road, you’re free to soak up the scenery, taste the whisky, and watch the wildlife.
Types of Tasmania Tours
Tasmania isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of place. Some people want to tick off the icons in a single day, others want to cruise rivers and coastlines, and plenty want a guide to handle everything over a week or more. To make it easy, tours usually fall into four main categories: day tours from Hobart, day tours from Launceston, cruises, and multi-day packages.
We’ll walk through each one so you can see what’s on offer and how to choose the right fit. Let’s start with Hobart, because most travellers land here first.
Day Tours from Hobart
If you’re basing yourself in Hobart, you’re spoiled for choice. The city is within striking distance of Tasmania’s most iconic sights, and day tours take the guesswork out of getting there. Here are the big ones:
Port Arthur — Tasmania’s most important convict site, set on a wild peninsula of towering sea cliffs and hidden coves. A tour saves you the hassle of navigating the winding Tasman Peninsula roads, and often bundles in entry tickets and a harbour cruise.
Bruny Island — famous for its food and wildlife. Think cheese, oysters, berries, and a wild cruise beneath sea cliffs. Tours usually handle the ferry crossing for you and cover the island highlights without you worrying about timetables.
Mt Field National Park — home to Russell Falls, giant tree ferns, and alpine lakes. Driving there on your own means winding backroads and winter black ice; with a tour you can sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Richmond — a perfectly preserved Georgian village with the oldest bridge in Australia. Tours often include it as a stop on the way back from Port Arthur, which makes it an easy add-on.
We cover the best day tours to each of these destinations below 👇🏽
Popular types of tours from Hobart
And it’s not just destinations — Hobart is also the starting point for plenty of themed day tours, including:
🦘 Wildlife tours — guided trips to see Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, and penguins.
🍷 Food and wine tours — tastings across the Coal River Valley, Huon Valley, and local vineyards.
🥃 Whisky and distillery tours — visiting some of Tasmania’s best craft distillers.
🏫 Heritage tours — digging into Hobart’s colonial past and convict history.
🛳️ Scenic cruises — from Bruny Island’s sea cliffs to the Derwent River and Tasman Peninsula.
Most Hobart day tours bundle two or more highlights so you don’t waste time doubling back. And because the operators know the roads, ferry schedules, and weather quirks, you see more in a single day than you could manage on your own.
See our full guide to Hobart day tours →
Top Tours in Hobart City
Not every tour heads out of the city. Hobart itself has plenty to explore, and joining a local guide can show you a side of the capital you’d miss on your own. These are some of the most popular tours inside Hobart:
Cascade History Tour
Australia’s oldest operating brewery sits at the base of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. There’s two great tours – the historic site tour and the brewery tour. Both end you up in the bar and restaurant with time for a paddle and tasting platter. P for perfect! 🍻
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
A flexible way to see Hobart’s highlights without organising transport. The route loops past Salamanca, Battery Point, the waterfront, MONA ferry terminal, and Cascade Brewery. Stay longer where you like, then rejoin the bus when you’re ready.
kunanyi / Mount Wellington tours
The mountain towers over Hobart and is an easy half-day adventure. Tours drive you up to the summit for sweeping views, often with stops at waterfalls, lookouts, and short alpine walks.
Walking and heritage tours
Explore Hobart’s convict past, colonial architecture, and hidden laneways with a local guide. These tours bring the city’s history alive in a way you won’t get wandering with a map.
Food and drink tours
Hobart has grown into one of Australia’s best small-city food destinations. Guided tours take you through Salamanca Market, whisky bars, hidden cafes, and farm-gate produce stores tucked into the suburbs.
Hobart tours are perfect if you’ve just landed and don’t want to travel far, or if you only have a short window before heading out on a longer trip. They’re also a good way to get your bearings, taste what the city is about, and ease into Tasmania at a slower pace.
Umissable Day Tours from Launceston
Launceston is the northern gateway to some of Tasmania’s best scenery. Within a couple of hours you can be walking alpine boardwalks, sipping cool-climate wines, or standing on beaches that look straight out of a postcard. These are the big destinations you can tick off on a day tour:
Cradle Mountain — Tasmania’s alpine showpiece, famous for Dove Lake and boardwalks through ancient rainforest. A tour means you skip the long drive logistics and get more time on the trails.
Tamar Valley — one of Australia’s premier wine regions, dotted with cellar doors, farm gates, and scenic vineyards. Tours often combine tastings with vineyard lunches and boutique producers.
Bay of Fires & Wineglass Bay — the east coast at its best: white sand, turquoise water, and those iconic orange rocks. It’s a long return trip, but tours make it doable in a day with the best lookout and beach stops.
Cataract Gorge — right in Launceston’s backyard, this natural gorge is perfect for short walks, chairlift rides, and panoramic views. It’s often bundled into city-based or half-day tours.
Beyond the surrounding destinations, Launceston is also the starting point for popular themed tours, including:
🍽️ Food and wine tours — Tamar Valley wine trails, cheese tastings, cider houses, and farm-to-table stops.
⛰️ Adventure tours — ziplining at Hollybank, guided kayaking on rivers and lakes, or hiking with a local guide.
🛳️ Cruises — Tamar River cruises give you a water-level view of vineyards, wetlands, and city landmarks.
Because distances are longer in the north, day tours take care of the tricky driving and winding backroads. That leaves you free to taste, walk, or glide down the Tamar while someone else handles the wheel.
Top Ranking Tasmania Cruises
Some of Tasmania’s most unforgettable experiences happen on the water. From gliding through glassy rivers at dawn to powering beneath sea cliffs, cruises let you reach places no road can. Tasmania’s best cruises come in different flavours:
🌱 Eco-cruises — wildlife-focused trips spotting seals, dolphins, penguins, and seabirds.
☀️ Scenic day cruises — relaxed trips on the River Derwent, Macquarie Harbour, or Wineglass Bay.
🚤 Adventure cruises — fast boats on the Tasman Peninsula or Bruny Island that take you close to cliffs and sea caves.
⛵️ Sailing cruises — step aboard a yacht for hands-on sailing or sunset trips along Hobart’s coast and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
🥂 Dinner and tasting cruises — evening sails out of Hobart with Tasmanian wine, seafood, and city lights.
Top 7 cruise experiences across Tasmania:
Gordon River Cruise — the west coast’s signature experience. Cruises from Strahan take you through World Heritage wilderness, past mirror-flat reflections, ancient rainforest, and convict-era ruins on Sarah Island. A seminal Tasmanian tour experience. There’s a Gordon River Dinner Cruise experience for a more unique World Heritage Naure Experience.
Wineglass Bay Adults Only Cruise — a front-row seat to Tasmania’s most photographed beach. Cruises give you the full curve of white sand, the chance to spot dolphins and seabirds, and a perspective you won’t get from the lookout. Take the adults only cruise for food and wine inclusions. There’s a Wineglass Bay Cruise for kids too.
Tasman Peninsula Cruise — towering dolerite cliffs, blowholes, and sea caves at the edge of the Tasman Peninsula. Cruises here are fast-paced and dramatic, with a real sense of wild ocean energy. Hang on to the seat of your pants if the swells are up and get ready for a wildlife adventure. There’s the popular Pennicott Wilderness Cruise around Cape Pillar & Tasman Island (wildly recommend!), and a cruise around Cape Raoul paried with Porth Arthur entry tickets.
Bruny Island Cruise — best known for its wildlife-cruises, where you skim beneath 200-metre cliffs and watch for fur seals, albatross, and migrating whales. There’s a full day Bruny Island Cruise that departs by coach from Hobart and a half day cruise directly from Bruny Island if you want to take your own car.
Cataract Gorge — Launceston’s natural showpiece. Tamar River cruises often include the gorge, giving you the chance to glide through its cliffs and suspension bridge scenery. There’s a 2.5 hour Cataract Gorge Cruise including the Tamar River with local wine & beer tasting for real tour enthusiasts. Or a 50 minute Cataract Gorge Cruise that departs multiple times a day.
Maria Island Cruise — see Maria Island & incredible sealife from the water with this award winning Maria Island Cruise. The tour combines a cruise aruond Marial Island with a guided walking tour on the island including wildlife spotting and visits to painted cliffs, historic ruins, and wombat-filled paddocks.
Derwent River — right on Hobart’s doorstep, this scenic and dinner cruises take in the harbour, waterfront, and further upriver past vineyards and bays.
Cruises are one of the easiest ways to see the island’s wilder corners without tackling gravel backroads or long hikes. You simply step aboard, sit back, and watch Tasmania unfold from the water.
Multi-Day Tours & Packages
For many travellers, one day just isn’t enough. Multi-day tours are the simplest way to see Tasmania properly — you hand over the keys, the map, and the planning to someone else and let a guide take care of everything.
Multi-day tours in Tasmania usually include:
🚌 Transport in a small coach or minibus
🏩 Accommodation for 2–10 nights
📍 Guided stops at icons like Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, Wineglass Bay, and the Bay of Fires
🎟️ Entry fees to national parks and attractions
🍳 Breakfasts (and sometimes other meals)
Multiday Tasmania tour packages suit travellers without a car or those who’d rather not juggle the logistics of driving long distances along winding or gravel roads, booking hotels, and working out national park passes. They’re also a great way to meet other travellers and cover a lot of ground efficiently.
Why book a multi-day tour or package? Because Tasmania rewards time. A week lets you combine alpine hikes, convict history, wildlife cruises, and wine tasting into one seamless trip — without worrying about winding roads, patchy reception, or seasonal closures.❞
Popular Tasmania Tour Types
🥾 Walking & hiking tours
Tasmania’s wild places are hard to beat, but they aren’t always easy to reach. Guided walks take you straight into the heart of it. You might be circling Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain, hiking across the orange boulders of the Bay of Fires, or following wombat tracks on Maria Island.
The tours take care of transport, park passes, and guides who know every turn of the track. You get the stories, the shortcuts, & the confidence that you’re not missing the best views.
🍷 Food & wine tours
Tasmania punches above its weight in cool-climate wine and fresh produce. Picture sipping sparkling in the Tamar Valley, slurping oysters at a farm gate, or ducking into a tiny cellar door outside Hobart.
Food and wine tours connect the dots so you can graze your way across the island without worrying about who’s driving.
🥃 Distillery tours
Once a secret, Tasmania’s distillery scene is now world famous. Whisky, gin, even small-batch vodka — it’s all being crafted here. Much of it world-class.
Distillery tours give you behind-the-scenes access, with tastings poured by the makers themselves. Better yet, you’re chauffeured between stops so you can sample properly without a thought for the road home.
🦘Wild Tasmania tours
Wildlife is everywhere here, but finding it on your own can be hit-and-miss. Join a wilderness tour and your odds skyrocket.
Devils, wombats, penguins at dusk, albatross wheeling overhead — guides know when and where to look. Add in eco-cruises around Bruny or the Tasman Peninsula and you’ve got front-row seats to Tasmania’s wilder side.
🏛️ Heritage tours
History here isn’t just in museums. It’s under your feet in Hobart’s sandstone lanes and written on the walls at Port Arthur.
Heritage tours make sense of it all. They pull you past the polished surface and into convict stories, colonial hardships, and the people who shaped this island.
How to Choose the Right Tour
Scrolling through tours can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of options, all promising the best of Tasmania. The trick is knowing which ones match your travel style.
Travelling as a couple? Go for something immersive and slow-paced. Multi-day tours with boutique stays, distillery visits, and long winery lunches are made for two. If time’s short, a Bruny Island food and wildlife day trip ticks the box.
With kids in tow? Look for tours that balance travel time with things to keep them engaged. The Bonorong Wildlife Park, Mt Field Tour works well — history, gardens, and space to run. Wildlife tours are another hit. Kids remember spotting penguins or devils long after the plane ride home.
On your own? Small-group day tours are the easiest way to meet people and still feel looked after. Bruny, Mt Field, or the Tamar Valley are all friendly picks. Multi-day group tours give you company and a guide who makes sure you’re never left figuring it out alone.
Older travellers or those who just want comfort. Go for tours that minimise long hours in transit. Think Gordon River cruises out of Strahan, Wineglass Bay scenic cruises, or shorter day tours from Hobart that bundle two close sights. Coaches are comfortable, and the pace is gentler without missing the highlights.
Adventurers. This is where walking tours, eco-cruises, and action-based trips shine. Zipline at Hollybank, kayak with guides, hike Cradle Mountain or Maria Island. These tours suit anyone who wants to feel Tasmania rather than just look at it.
Choosing the right tour is about matching pace, comfort, and focus. Ask yourself: Do I want food and wine? Do I want wildlife? Do I want to walk? Then pick the operator who does that well. Once you filter by what matters most, the right tour jumps out at you.
Planning Your Tasmania Trip
Tours take the stress out of exploring Tasmania, but timing and logistics still matter. A little planning now means a smoother experience once you’re here.
Best time to book tours
Most tours run between September and May, when weather conditions are safer and more predictable. Summer brings long daylight hours, warmer seas, and settled skies. Autumn is our favourite season to travel Tasmania — crisp mornings, golden forests, and plenty of sunshine without the summer crowds. Winter and early spring can still be rewarding, but many operators close due to snow, icy roads, and unpredictable conditions. Read more about the seasons here: When is a good time to visit Tasmania?
Getting here
Most travellers fly into Hobart or Launceston. Hobart is the main hub for day tours, with easy access to Bruny Island, Port Arthur, and the Tasman Peninsula. Launceston is the gateway to Cradle Mountain, the Tamar Valley, and the Bay of Fires. Both airports connect daily with mainland cities. Check our guide for more details: Airports in Tasmania.
Airport transfers
Hobart Airport is well set up for visitors. The SkyBus runs every 30 minutes, linking the terminal with central hotels and the waterfront. In Launceston, things are a little different. It’s a small-town airport and you can’t always count on taxis waiting at the rank. It’s best to pre-book a taxi, arrange a rental car, or organise an airport pickup through your accommodation.
How tours work once you arrive
Most tours include hotel pickups or use central meeting points in Hobart and Launceston. You don’t need to hire a car unless you want extra flexibility. Day tours usually include national park passes, ferry tickets, and entry fees. Multi-day tours cover transport, accommodation, and most meals. Once you’re booked, operators provide clear pickup times and packing lists so you know exactly what to bring.
Booking ahead
Peak season runs December through March, when Bruny Island cruises, Gordon River boats, and Wineglass Bay excursions book out weeks in advance. Autumn is less hectic but small-group tours still fill quickly. If you’ve got your heart set on a specific experience, reserve early.
Book Your Tasmania Tour
Tasmania rewards the curious. Guided tours make it easier, safer, and richer. You don’t need to wrestle with winding backroads, patchy phone coverage, or unpredictable weather. Instead, you can focus on the things you came here for: world-class scenery, food and wine, convict history, and wildlife you won’t see anywhere else.
Whether you want a single day exploring Bruny Island, a week-long adventure covering Cradle Mountain, or a cruise into Gordon River wilderness, there’s a tour designed for you. Book ahead, pack a sense of adventure, and let the locals show you the best of Tasmania.
Tasmania Touring FAQs
What is the best time of year for Tasmania tours?
The main touring season is September to May. Summer has long daylight hours and settled weather. Autumn is a favourite for locals — crisp mornings, golden landscapes, and fewer crowds. Winter has its own beauty, but many tours don’t operate due to snow and road closures.
How long do Tasmania tours last?
Day tours usually run 8–10 hours, leaving in the morning and returning late afternoon. Multi-day tours can range from 2-day highlights to 10-day island-wide trips. Cruises range from 2-hour harbour sails to full-day wilderness journeys.
Do I need a car if I’m booking tours in Tasmania?
No. Most tours pick you up from central hotels or meeting points in Hobart or Launceston. Multi-day tours include transport and accommodation. If you’re building your own package, you may choose to rent a car for flexibility, but it’s not required.
What is usually included in Tasmania tours?
What is usually included in Tasmania tours?
Day tours often include transport, entry tickets, ferry passes, and national park fees. Multi-day tours include accommodation, breakfasts, and guided stops. Food and wine tours include tastings. Cruises usually provide morning tea or lunch depending on the itinerary.
Can I see wildlife on Tasmania tours?
Yes. Wildlife tours focus on Tasmanian devils, wombats, and penguins. Bruny Island and Tasman Peninsula cruises often see seals, dolphins, and seabirds. Maria Island is famous for its wombats and kangaroos. Guides know the best times and spots for sightings.
Where do Tasmania tours start?
Most tours depart from Hobart or Launceston. Hobart is the hub for Bruny Island, Port Arthur, Mt Field, and Richmond. Launceston covers Cradle Mountain, the Tamar Valley, Bay of Fires, and Cataract Gorge. Strahan is the starting point for Gordon River cruises.
How far in advance should I book?
In peak season (December to March), book tours at least a few weeks ahead. Bruny Island cruises, Gordon River trips, and Wineglass Bay tours often sell out. Autumn has better availability but small-group tours can still fill quickly.