Tasmania, Australia's southernmost state, is a land apart—an island wilderness where ancient rainforests cloak mountains, pristine beaches stretch endlessly along rugged coastlines, and unique wildlife thrives in protected habitats. Often overlooked in favor of Australia's more famous destinations, Tasmania offers travelers a chance to experience some of the world's most unspoiled natural environments and a rich cultural heritage shaped by isolation and resilience.
The Last Great Temperate Wilderness
Tasmania is home to one of the world's last great temperate wilderness areas—a network of national parks and reserves covering nearly 20% of the island. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area encompasses over 1.6 million hectares of diverse ecosystems, from alpine plateaus to temperate rainforests, representing a living museum of geological and evolutionary history.
What makes Tasmania's wilderness particularly special is its status as a refuge for species that have disappeared from mainland Australia. The island's isolation has helped preserve ancient Gondwanan lineages and protected endemic species from introduced predators and habitat destruction that have devastated wildlife elsewhere.
Iconic Wilderness Areas
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
The jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain rising over the mirror-like surface of Dove Lake create one of Australia's most iconic wilderness vistas. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this park showcases the island's diverse alpine landscape, with ancient rainforests, button grass moorlands, and glacial valleys.
The park is best known for the Overland Track, a 65-kilometer trail that takes hikers through some of Tasmania's most spectacular mountain scenery. The six-day journey from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair (Australia's deepest lake) traverses landscapes that change dramatically with the weather and seasons—from snow-covered peaks in winter to wildflower-dotted meadows in summer.
For day visitors, shorter walks around Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain offer accessible wilderness experiences, with boardwalks protecting fragile alpine vegetation while providing opportunities to spot native wildlife like wombats, pademelons, and if you're lucky, the elusive Tasmanian devil.
Freycinet National Park
Tasmania's east coast offers a different kind of wilderness at Freycinet National Park, where the pink granite peaks of the Hazards mountains meet the azure waters of the Tasman Sea. This peninsula of stunning natural beauty is home to Wineglass Bay, consistently rated among the world's best beaches for its perfect crescent of white sand and crystal-clear water.
The park's diverse habitats support abundant wildlife, including black swans, white-bellied sea eagles, and Bennett's wallabies. Marine environments around the peninsula harbor dolphins, whales (during migration season), and diverse sea life.
Hiking trails range from the relatively short climb to the Wineglass Bay Lookout (approximately 1.5 hours return) to multi-day treks around the peninsula. The coastal scenery constantly changes with the light, creating a photographer's paradise, especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink granite glows with warm hues.
The Tarkine
In Tasmania's northwest lies the Tarkine, Australia's largest tract of temperate rainforest and one of the world's most significant cool-climate rainforests. This remote wilderness contains ancient myrtle forests with trees over 60 meters tall and more than 3,000 years old. The region also encompasses buttongrass plains, wild coastlines, sand dunes, and river systems.
The Tarkine holds profound cultural significance for Aboriginal Tasmanians, with archaeological evidence suggesting continuous occupation for more than 40,000 years. Middens, hut depressions, and rock engravings throughout the area attest to this rich heritage.
Despite its extraordinary ecological and cultural values, much of the Tarkine remains unprotected and vulnerable to logging and mining interests. Conservation organizations continue to advocate for comprehensive protection of this irreplaceable wilderness.
Visitors can experience the Tarkine through several touring routes, including the Tarkine Drive, which offers access to rainforest walks, lookouts, and coastal areas. The Western Explorer Road provides a more remote adventure through changing landscapes, while guided tours offer deeper insights into the region's ecological and cultural significance.
Southwest National Park
Perhaps Tasmania's most remote wilderness area, the Southwest National Park encompasses over 600,000 hectares of untamed landscape that has barely changed since prehistoric times. This vast wilderness contains some of the oldest living things on Earth, including Huon pines that have survived for over 2,000 years.
Few roads penetrate this pristine region, making it a true wilderness experience accessible primarily to experienced hikers, kayakers, or visitors arriving by light aircraft. The South Coast Track and Port Davey Track offer challenging multi-day hikes through varied landscapes, from coastal heathlands to mountain ranges.
The park's remote Bathurst Harbour and Port Davey form a marine reserve of extraordinary beauty, where tannin-rich freshwater creates a dark layer over clearer saltwater below—a rare natural phenomenon that allows normally deep-dwelling marine species to survive in shallow water.
Tasmania's Unique Wildlife
Tasmania serves as a final stronghold for many species that have disappeared or become endangered on mainland Australia. The island's isolation has not only preserved ancient lineages but also allowed the evolution of species found nowhere else on Earth.
Tasmanian Devils
The Tasmanian devil, the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, exists in the wild only in Tasmania. These stocky, black creatures with their bone-chilling screams and powerful jaws have become a symbol of Tasmania's unique wildlife heritage. Unfortunately, they face an existential threat from Devil Facial Tumour Disease, a rare transmissible cancer that has decimated wild populations.
Conservation efforts include the establishment of disease-free insurance populations, research into potential vaccines, and extensive monitoring programs. Visitors can see devils at wildlife sanctuaries like Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary near Hobart or Devils@Cradle near Cradle Mountain, where conservation breeding programs support the species' recovery.
Other Marsupials
Tasmania provides refuge for several marsupial species that have become rare or extinct on the mainland:
- Eastern Quolls: These cat-sized carnivorous marsupials are now extinct on mainland Australia but remain relatively common in Tasmania's wilderness areas.
- Tasmanian Pademelon: These small, stocky wallabies are commonly seen around dusk in forests and clearings throughout Tasmania.
- Wombats: Tasmania is home to the common wombat, often spotted grazing in open areas around dawn and dusk, particularly in parks like Cradle Mountain and Narawntapu.
- Tasmanian Bettong: This small macropod, also known as the rat-kangaroo, is endemic to Tasmania and specializes in digging for underground fungi.
Birds
Twelve bird species are found only in Tasmania, including the endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, one of the largest eagles in Australia. Other notable endemics include the green rosella, yellow wattlebird, and black currawong.
Tasmania also provides critical habitat for migratory birds, including the swift parrot, which breeds only in Tasmania before migrating to mainland Australia. The orange-bellied parrot, one of the world's most endangered birds, breeds exclusively in Tasmania's Southwest Wilderness and migrates to southern mainland Australia for winter.
Conservation Challenges and Triumphs
Tasmania's wilderness areas represent a conservation success story but also face ongoing challenges. The famous "Franklin River Blockade" of 1982-83 marked a turning point in Australian environmental history when protesters successfully prevented the damming of the wild Franklin River in Tasmania's southwest. This campaign led to the area's inclusion in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and established an important precedent for environmental protection in Australia.
Today, Tasmania continues to wrestle with balancing development, resource extraction, and conservation. Debates around forestry practices, mining proposals, and tourism development in sensitive areas remain contentious.
Climate change poses a significant threat to Tasmania's alpine ecosystems and fire-sensitive vegetation communities. Increased fire frequency and intensity, along with changing rainfall patterns, could dramatically alter environments that have remained stable for thousands of years.
Introduced species, including feral cats, foxes (though their presence remains disputed), and various plant species, threaten native wildlife and habitats. Tasmania's isolation has historically provided protection from invasive species, but modern transportation has breached this natural barrier.
Experiencing Tasmania's Wilderness Responsibly
Walking and Hiking
Tasmania offers walking experiences for every fitness level, from short boardwalk strolls to challenging multi-day wilderness treks. The island's premier hikes include:
- Overland Track: The 65km flagship hiking experience through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
- Three Capes Track: A 48km coastal track featuring some of Australia's highest sea cliffs.
- South Coast Track: A challenging 85km remote wilderness journey along Tasmania's southern coastline.
- Freycinet Peninsula Circuit: A 30km loop taking in Wineglass Bay and the peninsula's stunning coastal scenery.
For day walkers, shorter options abound in every national park. The Dove Lake Circuit at Cradle Mountain, Russell Falls track at Mount Field, and Cape Raoul walk in the Tasman Peninsula offer accessible wilderness experiences.
Wildlife Viewing
Dawn and dusk offer the best opportunities for wildlife spotting, particularly in open areas adjacent to forest edges. Maria Island, a national park accessible by ferry, offers virtually guaranteed encounters with native wildlife including wombats, kangaroos, and Cape Barren geese against a backdrop of historic ruins and stunning landscapes.
Narawntapu National Park on Tasmania's north coast is often called the "Serengeti of Tasmania" for its abundant wildlife, particularly at dusk when wombats, wallabies, and pademelons emerge to graze on the open plains.
For those interested in marine wildlife, boat tours operate from various coastal locations, offering chances to see seals, dolphins, and migrating whales (between May and November).
Responsible Tourism Practices
When visiting Tasmania's wilderness areas, responsible tourism practices are essential:
- Stay on designated tracks to prevent damage to sensitive vegetation
- Carry out all waste, including biodegradable items
- Use fuel stoves rather than lighting fires in wilderness areas
- Respect wildlife by maintaining distance and never feeding animals
- Follow biosecurity protocols, including cleaning boots between walks to prevent the spread of plant diseases like Phytophthora
- Consider carbon offsetting for travel to Tasmania
Planning Your Tasmanian Wilderness Adventure
Best Time to Visit
Tasmania experiences four distinct seasons, each offering different wilderness experiences:
- Summer (December-February): The most popular time to visit, with mild temperatures and longer daylight hours ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. Popular areas can be crowded, and accommodation should be booked well in advance.
- Autumn (March-May): A beautiful time as deciduous beech trees (locally called "fagus") turn brilliant gold, particularly in areas like Mount Field and Cradle Mountain. The weather remains relatively stable with fewer visitors.
- Winter (June-August): Many of Tasmania's mountains receive snow, creating spectacular alpine landscapes. This is the quietest tourism season but offers unique experiences like seeing Cradle Mountain reflected in Dove Lake with a dusting of snow.
- Spring (September-November): Wildflowers bloom and rivers flow strongly from winter rains and melting snow. Weather can be changeable but the wilderness comes alive with new growth and wildlife activity.
Getting Around
Tasmania's wilderness areas are best explored by car, as public transportation to remote areas is limited. Major car rental companies operate from Hobart and Launceston airports. For those without driving experience on the left side of the road, guided tours offer an alternative way to access wilderness areas.
Some of the most remote wilderness areas, like parts of the Southwest National Park, are accessible only by light aircraft, boat, or multi-day hiking expeditions.
Accommodation Options
Tasmania offers accommodation options from luxury wilderness lodges to basic camping:
- Wilderness Lodges: Properties like Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Saffire Freycinet, and Pumphouse Point offer luxury experiences in stunning natural settings.
- Eco-cabins and Retreats: Environmentally sensitive accommodations that blend with their surroundings while providing comfortable bases for wilderness exploration.
- National Park Campgrounds: Basic facilities in spectacular settings, requiring advance bookings for popular areas, especially during summer.
- Remote Hiker's Huts: On tracks like the Overland Track, basic huts provide shelter for hikers, though carrying a tent remains advised.
Conclusion: Tasmania's Enduring Wilderness
Tasmania's wilderness areas offer a precious glimpse into how our planet once was—spaces where natural processes continue largely unaltered by human intervention, where ancient species survive, and where the relationship between landscape and indigenous culture spans tens of thousands of years.
Beyond the stunning landscapes and unique wildlife, Tasmania's wilderness provides something increasingly rare in our modern world: genuine solitude and connection with nature on its own terms. Whether experienced through challenging multi-day hikes or accessible day walks, these wild places offer transformative experiences that stay with visitors long after they've returned home.
As climate change and development pressures threaten natural environments worldwide, Tasmania's wilderness areas represent both a conservation achievement to celebrate and a responsibility to protect for future generations. Every visitor becomes a stakeholder in this remarkable natural heritage, carrying away not just memories but also a deepened appreciation for the value of wild places and the importance of their preservation.