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[innocento]

Hi,

I intend visiting Tasmania for about a week this December. Probably will be flying into Hobart. Whilst there I would like to take a backpacking tour of about 3-5 days around Tasmania.

Appreciate if anyone could suggest from experience

a. Must see places in Hobart and around Tasmania - beyond the guidebooks and the standard places normally mentioned
b. Suggest economical and good backpacking tours for the same and prices if possible as i am on a budget.
c. Anyother important info on Tasmania

Thanks in advance

Innocento

[andrea]

The Overland Track is one of best treks I have ever done. At 75 km though, you won't be able to do the whole thing with your time constraints but I'd recomment doing a chuck of it if you can - like Cradle Mountain. I really liked the city of Hobart itself. Tassie has a really different feel than the rest of Oz.


Happy trails,

Andrea

[ScottWoz]

The climate is certainly different there. I've heard a lot of people say that Tassie's more like New Zealand..

[will]

I'm from Tasmania, so I can give you plenty of tips on where to visit! Although given a week you'll barely be able to scratch the surface. I've spent nearly 25 years there, and there are still places I haven' seen.

Definitely spend a saturday in Hobart. Check out the Salamanca market (biggest outdoor market in Australia) and then spend the afternoon and early evening hiking up Mt Wellington. Stunning views.

As for your other six days, well, what can I say? Cradle Mountain is a must see, but then again, so if Freycinet and the Tasman Peninsula. Port Arthur receives a lot of touists, but has a LOT of history and is a really interesting place to visit for an afternoon. Also, you can do a hike to Cape Hauy or Cape Raoul on the Tasman Peninsula. They are both about 4-5 hrs return by foot, however the 250m sea cliffs are just spectacular.

Mt Field National Park is also great to visit for waterfalls and alpine hiking, and you're guaranteed to see hundreds of pandanis

Anyway, send me a PM if you want more details.

[lisartw]

oh bum! I wish i had read this before now, we were in Tassie at the end of Dec so this would have been ideal. Luckily we went to the Salamanca markets and up Mt WEllington.

Although for anyone else reading this I would add Richmond, really interesting place not too far from Hobart (and on way back to airport). Get a ticket for the Goal - facinating!

[will]

Agreed, Richmond is a great little town, well worth visiting.

Another great day trip from Hobart would be to venture south the Tahune airwalk to see some of our amazing old growth forest (before it's all cut down) and then continue on to Hastings cave.

[arrop]

Is there any good snorkelling around Hobart?

Also, How long is the trek up Mt. Wellington, we are only in Hobart for 2 nights.

Thanks

[will]

Unfortunately Hobart isn't an ideal destination for snorkelling, meaning unless there's a hidden gem I'm unaware of, there's none.

To walk from the base of Mt Wellington to the summit will take about 4 hours, or maybe longer. If you just want the highlights, get a ride up to the springs, then hike to the top from there, via the organ pipes and zig zag track. You can do it in 2 hours. Beautiful place - love it!

[ScottWoz]

Will,

Did you ever go do 'Wineglass Bay'?

[rbisset]

I never got there which is a shame but I met someone who did the overland trek and loved it. Wineglass bay looks great too.